Abstract:
This cord tensioning device allows for the easy attachment of an item needing to be secured, such as a tent or tarp to various types of anchor points without the ability to tie knots. The device includes: a body portion having a major surface said body portion having a distal section and a proximal section; at least two openings dimensioned to receive a cord, one of said openings located in the proximity the proximal section and the other of said openings located in proximity of the distal section. The proximal section further includes a head section and two arm sections and a slot between each of the head and arm sections. The slots are sized to be smaller than the interior shoulder portion and will frictionally hold a cord within the slot.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Current cord tensioning devices do not provide a means to organize the cord when the attached item (tent/tarp) is being taken down and stored. Un-organized cords often lead to the cord becoming tangled, requiring extra time and effort to set up the item attached (tent/tarp). 
         [0002]    Most cord tensioning devices have limited functionality in the field and cannot be used with an anchor point that is accessible such as a tent peg, as well as, an anchor point that is NOT accessible such as tree trunk. 
         [0003]    Also current cord tensioning devices are not intuitive and can be difficult to use. The user is required to remember multiple mechanical step and often resulting in confusion and extended set-up time. 
         [0004]    No cord tensioning devise combines the functions described above to benefit the user by: reducing set-up time, providing multiple options for set-up, and being easy to remember how to use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    One object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the known art described above and to achieve one or more of the objectives described above. The foregoing and further objects of the invention are accomplished according to one aspect of the invention provides a cord tensioning device that includes: a body portion having a major surface said body portion having a distal section and a proximal section; at least two openings dimensioned to receive a cord, one of said openings located in the proximity the proximal section and the other of said openings located in proximity of the distal section. The proximal section further includes a head section and two arm sections and a slot between each of the head and arm sections, the slots being smaller than the interior shoulder portion thereof and being adapted to frictionally hold a cord within the slot. In a preferred embodiment, the device is animal-shaped. 
         [0006]    According to another aspect of the invention, there has been provided a combination cord tensioning device described above and a cord sized to be used with the cord tensioning device. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of the invention, there has been provided a method of organizing a cord on a cord tensioning device comprising: providing cord tensioning device described above, wherein the distal section further comprises two leg sections and a tail section; providing a cord having a first end extending from one side of the device through the proximal end opening, along the axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and through the distal end opening; wrapping the portion of the cord extending away from the proximal opening around the body portion of the device until substantially all of the cord has been wrapped and a segment remains unwrapped; bringing the segment under one of the legs between the legs and tail section and up to the proximal section, through one of the slots, across the head section and through the other slot. 
         [0008]    According to yet another aspect of the invention, there has been provided, a method of anchoring an item to be secured to an anchor point, comprising: providing a cord tensioning device as described above; providing a cord having a first end extending from one side of the device through the proximal end opening, along the axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and through the distal end opening; securing the first end to the rear of the device to prevent the first end from passing back through the distal opening; attaching the other end of the cord to an item to be secured; pulling the portion of the cord that extends between the two openings to form a loop; extending the loop over a free end of an anchor; moving the device relative to the cord in a direction toward the item to be secured to tension the cord, whereby when the cord is tensioned the portion of the cord that passes through the proximal opening is kinked and forced to contact the edges of the opening, wherein the friction between the cord and the edges of the opening maintains the cord under tension. 
         [0009]    According to yet another aspect of the invention, there has been provided, a method of anchoring an item to be secured to an anchor point, comprising: providing a cord tensioning device as described above, a body portion having a major surface, said body portion having a distal section and a proximal section, two openings dimensioned to receive a cord, one of said openings located in the proximity the proximal section and the other of said openings located in proximity of the distal section, said proximal section further comprising a head section and two arm sections and a slot between each of the head and arm sections, the slots being smaller than the interior shoulder portion thereof and being adapted to frictionally hold a cord within the slot; providing a cord having a first end extending from one side of the device through the proximal end opening; securing the first end to the rear of the device to prevent the first end from passing back through the proximal opening; attaching the other end of the cord to an item to be secured; wrapping the device and first end of the cord around an anchor point and extending the device and first end back toward the item to be secured; inserting the portion of the cord that extends between the item to be secured and the anchor point into each of the slots through the shoulder portion, whereby the portion of the cord between the slots extends across the head section; and tensioning the cord before or after insertion into the slots, whereby when the cord is tensioned the portion of the cord that passes through the slots and across the head section is kinked and forced to contact the edges of the slots, wherein the friction between the cord and the edges of the slots maintains the cord under tension. 
         [0010]    Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from detailed consideration of the preferred embodiments that follow. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1A  shows an elevation view of the cord tensioning device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  shows a side elevation view the cord tensioning device. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 2A-2F  visually depicts a method of organizing the cord on the device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a method of securing an item to an anchor according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a method of securing an item to an anchor according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    One aspect of the present invention provides a cord tensioning device. The cord that can be used in the cord tensioning device can include natural or synthetic rope or twine. Preferably, the cord is lightweight nylon kernmantle rope, commonly called parachute cord. The cord can also be a monofilament line. The cord can be sized to meet the use at hand as well as the size of the cord tensioner. A preferred dimension of the cord is in the range of 1-3 mm, preferably 1.5-1.9 mm, most preferably 1.7 mm. 
         [0017]    A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . The tension includes a body portion  2 , which has a major surface  3 . The major surface has a proximal end and a distal end. An proximal opening  4  is located at the proximal end, and a distal opening  5  is located at the distal end. Head section  6  and arm sections  7  extend from the proximal end of the body portion. Slot  8  is located between each of the head and arm sections. The slots  8  are smaller than the shoulder portions  9 , which can act to hold a cord within the slot  8  by frictional engagement. More specifically, the width of the slot portion  8  will have a smaller dimension than the diameter of the cord. When the cord is inserted into the slot  8  through to the shoulder portion  9 , the cord an/or the tensioner will deform in order for the larger diameter cord to pass through the slot  8 . When the cord passes through the shoulder, the cord and/or tensioner will quickly return to their original shape(s), resulting in a “snapping” sound. 
         [0018]    For those embodiments that include a cord organizing feature, the cord tensioner will also include leg sections  11  and tail section  12 , extending from the distal end of the body portion. The function of tail and legs will become apparent from the description of the use of the tensioner below. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the major surface  3  of tensioner has a curvilinear shape  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . For those embodiments where the tensioner has a curvilinear shape, the cord runs along the outside of the curve as shown in  FIG. 1B . One advantage of a curvilinear shape is that it increases the amount of kink in the cord as described in more detail below, thus, making the cord more secure. 
         [0020]    The side portions of the device as formed by the arms, body portion and legs can be curved inwardly, as shown by reference numeral  14  in  FIG. 1A . This can also be case the “belly” or “waist” of the tensioner, particularly when the tensioner is animal shaped. 
         [0021]    In a particularly preferred embodiment, the tensioner can be in the shape of an animal. A particularly preferred shape is a bear-like shape. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, the animal shape serves a surprising and useful purpose of facilitating usage by making instructions for use easier to remember as will be described in more detail below. 
         [0022]    The tensioner can be made from any suitable material, particularly those materials that will be able to maintain the cord in a kink when the cord is tensioned in the device as described above. Suitable materials can include plastic and metals, such as aluminum, steel and titanium. A particularly preferred material is titanium, because of its light weight, ideal for hiking and backpacking activities where minimal weight is highly sought after. The tensioner is sized to meet the cord that will be used with the tensioner. In a preferred embodiment, the major surface has dimensions of approximately 1 inch×1.25 inches. 
         [0023]    According to one aspect of the invention, the cord tensioner can also be used to organize a cord in addition to tensioning cords. A preferred method of organizing a cord is shown in connection with  FIGS. 2A-2F . As shown in  FIG. 2A , the cord  15  to be organized has the first end  16  attached to the rear side of the tensioner through distal opening  5  as shown in  FIG. 1B . The end  16  can be secured with a knot or any other structure suitable for preventing the cord end from moving through hole  5 . The cord then extends along the major surface of the body portion  3  and through the proximal opening or hole  4 . To organize or store the cord, the user wraps the cord which extends away from the proximal opening around the body or waist portion  14  of the tensioner until there is a short length remaining, generally around four to six inches. The cord is then brought under a first leg section  11  between the legs and tail section  12 , up to the proximal section through one of the slots  8  with a snap engagement ( 26 ), across the head section and through the other slot  8 , also with a snap engagement ( 26 ). Now the cord is secured to the cord tensioner and can be stored or further used. If the cord tensioner is in the shape of an animal, the self evident designation of the head and tail section will assist the user in remembering how to perform the organizing procedure i.e. “wrap around waist the bring up through the legs and around the shoulders” 
         [0024]    According to another aspect of the invention, the cord tensioner can be used to provide an easily adjustable length of cord to secure two items together, preferably an anchor (fixed or otherwise) and an object to be secured. Since camping is one activity in which the cord tensioner is often used, the item to be secured is often a tent, tarp, etc. Likewise, the anchor will often be a stake, rock or tree. However, any item to be secured can be used as can any anchor capable of securing the item. Other possible uses can be wherever ropes or cords are used to secure items, such as nautical, household, etc. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  shows one anchoring technique where the anchor point  25  has an accessible or free end. In other words, the end of the anchor can be inserted into a closed loop of the cord. As noted above, an example of a free ended anchor is a tent stake. A cord is provided having a first end  16  extending from one side of the device through the proximal end opening  4 , along the axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and through the distal end opening  5 . The first end  16  is secured to the rear of the device to prevent the first end from passing back through the distal opening, such as by a knot. The other end of the cord  19  is attached to the item to be secured  24 , such as a tent. 
         [0026]    A loop  20 , also called a belly loop, is formed by pulling the portion of the cord that extends between the two openings  4 ,  5 . The loop  20  is extended over a free end of an anchor  25 . The device is moved relative to the cord in a direction toward the item to be secured to tension the cord. When the cord reaches its desired length and is under tension, the device is allowed to assume an approximately parallel configuration relative to the cord. This forces the cord to pass through the proximal opening  4  in a kinked configuration  21 . In other words, the cord, which is approximately parallel to the major surface  3 , is forced through the opening in an approximately perpendicular configuration. This shift from parallel to perpendicular back to parallel forms the kink in the cord. The tension on the cord forces the cord against the edges of opening  4 . The friction between the cord and the opening hold maintains the cord under tension and thus maintaining the item fixed relative to the anchor. 
         [0027]    To adjust the length of the cord, the device can be slide along the length of the cord, preferably by removing some tension in the kink  21  to lower the frictional force holding the cord in place relative to the device. To reduce the tension in the kink, the device or the cord is manipulated in a direction that reduces the curvature of the cord as it passes the proximal opening  4 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  shows another anchoring technique where the anchor point  25  has an inaccessible end. In other words, a loop cannot be passed over the anchor. An example is a tree, where a free end of a cord has to pass around the anchor in order to form a loop. the end of the anchor can be inserted into a closed loop of the cord. In this embodiment, a cord is provided having a first end  16  extending from one side of the device through the proximal end opening  4 , along the axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and through the distal end opening  5 . The first end  16  is secured to the rear of the device to prevent the first end from passing back through the distal opening, such as by a knot. The other end of the cord  19  is attached to the item to be secured  24 , such as a tent or tarp. 
         [0029]    The device  1  and the first end of the cord  16  are wrapped around an anchor point. After wrapping, the cord and device are back toward the item to be secured  24 . The portion of the cord  22  that extends between the item to be secured and the anchor point is inserted into each of the slots  8  through the shoulder portion  9 . This results in the portion of the cord between the slots  23  extending across the head section. When the cord reaches its desired length and is under tension, the device is in an approximately parallel configuration relative to the cord. This forces the cord to pass under the arms  7  through slots  8  and across head section  6  in a kinked configuration  21 . In other words, the cord, which is approximately parallel to the major surface  3 , is forced through the slots in an approximately perpendicular configuration. This shift from parallel to perpendicular back to parallel forms the kink in the cord. The tension on the cord forces the cord against the edges of slot  8 . The friction between the cord and the opening hold maintains the cord under tension and thus maintaining the item fixed relative to the anchor. 
         [0030]    To adjust the length of the cord, the device can be slide along the length of the cord, preferably by removing some tension in the kink  21  to lower the frictional force holding the cord in place relative to the device. 
         [0031]    The cord tensioner can be made by techniques well know in the art. For example, if the cord tensioner is metal, the cord tensioner can be stamped or cut out of metal stock. The curve to the cord tensioner can be added before or after the cord tensioner is formed. For example, the metal stock that the cord tensioner is cut or stamped from can be a pipe having a large radius of curvature. Cord tensioner&#39;s that are made of plastic can be formed techniques known in the art such as thermal forming, injection molding, stamping etc. For those tensioners that are titanium, the titanium item is preferably made by cutting by laser from a titanium tube and the surface and edges are finished (softened) in a vibration tumbler. The logo, if present, is etched and burned into the titanium surface with laser. 
         [0032]    As is evident from the previous description the tensioner device has many advantages and unique features, including: 1) a user friendly animal shape; 2) the additional utility of being a cord organizer; and the tensioning features that includes requiring no knots; adjustable and the ability to work with multiple anchoring types. 
         [0033]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the compounds, compositions and processes of this invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations, provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
         [0034]    The disclosure of all publications cited above are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entireties to the same extent as if each were incorporated by reference individually. 
       PARTS LIST 
       [0000]    
       
           1 . cord tensioner 
           2 . body portion 
           3 . major surface of body portion 
           4 . proximal opening 
           5 . distal opening 
           6 . head section 
           7 . arm section 
           8 . slot 
           9 . shoulder portion 
           10 . curvilinear surface leg section 
           12 . tail section 
           13 . side portions 
           14 . inward curve of side portion (belly/waist) 
           15 . cord 
           16 . first end of cord 
           17 . portion of cord extending away from the proximal opening 
           18 . remaining unwrapped segment of cord 
           19 . other end of cord 
           20 . loop (belly loop) 
           21 . kink in cord 
           22 . portion of cord extending between item to be secured and anchor point 
           23 . portion of cord between slots 
           24 . item to be secured 
           25 . anchor point 
           26 . “snap” engagement of cord