Improvements in Cleats for Holding Ropes, Cords, and Chains.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 17th Nov., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cleats for Holding Ropes, Cords, and Chains.
We, CHARLES AMBROSE McEvor, of 69 Victoria Street, in the City of
Westminster, Engineer, and THOMAS WEBSTER, of 3 Howard Street, Strand,
London, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention has mainly for its object to construct a cleat not only in such a
manner that a rope cord or chain having tension upon it can be rapidly and securely
locked to it but also in such a manner that if the taut end of the cord rope or chain
is allowed to slacken and there is any tension on the opposite end of the cord the
cord shall still be locked and impeded from being drawn past the cleat the same
portion of the cord remaining held by the cleat whether the cord be pulled in one
direction or the other.
The cleat is formed with a broad base plate whereby it may be fixed in position―
with a tapering metal pillar extending outwards from the base plate-at right
angles to it-the smaller end of the pillar being the outer one-and with a concave
disc fixed to the outer end of the pillar parallel with the base plate as has before
been proposed.
According to our invention we make the pillar of oblong form in cross section
and flat on its two larger opposite sides. Its two ends or smaller sides we make to
incline at equal angles to the base and the slope of both towards one another we
make to quickly increase at a distance from the outer end and then again to
decrease so as to form a shoulder on each inclined end. The outer end of the
concave disc which is fixed to the top of the pillar we make to extend towards the
base plate beyond where the shoulders are formed on the inclined ends of
the pillar.
When a rope or cord under tension is given one turn round the stem of a cleat
so constructed it will slide up the stem until it comes above the shoulder and the
portion of the cord which comes between the under side of the disc and the taut
cord gets jammed against the disc and is firmly held as in other cleats. If the cord
slackens and there is tension on the opposite end of the cord the cord will not be
drawn around the stem but will remain stationary-the portion that before was
nipped against the disc now nipping the portion of the cord over which it laps
either against the broad flat side of the stem or against the shoulder or against
both.
The drawing annexed shews a cleat constructed in the above manner.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, Figure 2 a side elevation and Figure 3 a plan
of the cleat and rope held by it.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section and Figure 5 an end view of the cleat
alone.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of the cleat.
A is the base plate which may be oblong as shewn or circular or of other desired
form. B the tapering stem. the concave disc secured to the outer end of the
stem. C the shoulder formed near the outer end of the stem and D is a cord
wound around the stem B.
Preferably the inner surface of the concave disc is corrugated with corrugations
extending around it. The sides of the pillar may also be corrugated lengthwise.
If slightly more than one complete turn around the pillar is given to the rope to
lock and hold it then the flat sided pillar might be formed without the notch at
the top-or if after forming a notch around the upper end of the pillar the extreme

page_text: end of the pillar is made to incline outwards as shewn in Figure 5 then the pillar
might be circular in cross section and not flat sided.
Cleats constructed as above described are especially applicable for use on sailing
boats for holding ropes as they act well in whatever position they are fixed, in
addition to possessing the advantage of holding the rope without its being able to
slip in either direction whichever end of the rope may be pulled on.
The cleats can also be used for holding window blind cords and for other such
like uses.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A cleat composed of a base plate, a pillar oblong in cross section extending
from it the two narrower sides or ends of which are inclined towards one another at
equal angles to the base and have a shoulder formed on them near their outer ends
and of a concave disc fixed on the end of the pillar with its concave side towards
the base plate substantially as described.
2. A cleat composed of a base plate a pillar of oblong form in cross section
extending from it-the two broader sides of the pillar being flat and at right angles
to the base and the two narrower sides or ends inclined towards one another at
equal angles to the base and of a concave disc at the end of the pillar with its
concave side towards the base plate substantially as described.
3. The construction of cleats substantially as herein before described with
reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
4. The construction of cleats substantially as herein before described with
reference to Figure 5.
Dated this 10th day of October 1894.
C. A. MCEVOY.
THOMAS WEBSTER.