IMPROVED MEANS OF SECURING OR MAKING FAST CORDS AND ROPES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic George Riley, of South Lambeth, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS OF SECURING OR
MAKING FAST CORDS AND ROPES."
Sealed the 26th November 1878, and dated the 13th June 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic George Riley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th June 1878.
FREDERIC GEORGE RILEY, of South Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, Engineer.
"IMPROVED MEANS OF SECURING OR MAKING FAST CORDS AND ROPES."
My Invention relates to an improved cleat or means of securing or making fast
cords and ropes, applicable for retaining the cords of Venetian and other blinds, for
belaying ropes on boats and on board ship, and generally for other similar
purposes.
And my Invention consists in the combination with a pulley or sheave, or it may
be a fixed jaw of a pulley or sheave turning or fixed on an eccentric axis, and so
arranged in relation to the first pulley sheave or jaw as to grip a rope or cord passing
between the two.
The pulleys may be grooved and roughened to increase their grip, or may be
covered with india-rubber to enable the pulleys or jaws to grip the cord or rope
over a larger portion of its surface to avoid flattening or otherwise damaging the
same.
The pulleys may be single, double, treble, or in any number, according to the
number of cords or ropes to be secured.
The eccentric is acted on by a weighted lever or spring, by which it is made to
tend always to remain in one position, viz., either that in which it is in or out of
action, according to requirements. This lever or spring may either be acted on by
hand to throw the eccentric pulley into action (ie., into the position in which it
will grip the cord or rope passing over the other pulley), or it may be acted on by
the cord or rope itself passing over or through eyes in the lever.

page_text: In order to allow the cords to run out in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1,
they should be held clear of the eccentric sheave B, as shown by the dotted lines in
said Figure.
To secure the cords in any position it is only necessary to let them come suffi-
ciently in contact with sheave B, which is then immediately thrown up to the
position, Figure 2, and nips the cords between it and the sheave A.
The application of this cleat for the purpose of belaying ropes on boats and ships
will be readily understood without further illustration.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing the
same, I would observe that I am aware that a device in which an eccentric sheave
was intended to grip the cord has before been proposed, but in that arrangement
the cord was nipped between the eccentric and a fixed surface, and I lay no claim
to such device, but what I do claim as my Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is, the combination of the two sheaves or pulleys
mounted to rotate, the one on a concentric and the other on an eccentric axis, and
applied to hold or secure blind and other cords or ropes, substantially as shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederic George Riley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness to the signature of
Fredo. Geo. Riley,
NICHOLSON HURST,
FREDERIC GEORGE RILEY. (LS.)