Patent Description:
The rope according to the invention may be used offshore as well as onshore, for example as a lifting rope, a towing rope, a mooring rope, or the like.

A rope of the type as initially identified above is known from <CIT>. See for example the rope <NUM> or the rope <NUM> of <FIG> of the Abstract of <CIT>. It is seen that said rope <NUM> has the end connector segment <NUM> having the first rope-branch-eye <NUM> and the second rope-branch-eye <NUM>. Similarly, said rope <NUM> has the end connector segment <NUM> having the first rope-branch-eye <NUM> and the second rope-branch-eye <NUM>. It is further seen that a connecting component in the form of the shown connecting spool <NUM> can be used to connect the ropes <NUM> and <NUM> together end-to-end.

It is further noted that <FIG> of <CIT> discloses a safety belt for skis having a fixed eye <NUM>.

It is further noted that <FIG> of <CIT> discloses a rope according to the pre-characterizing portion of the appended independent claim <NUM>.

It is further noted that <CIT> discloses a mooring rope for marine craft which eliminates the need to tie knots when mooring the craft. The rope of <CIT> is divided to form slits at spaced locations along at least portion of the rope, a knot being provided at the end of the rope. To moore a craft the rope is passed around the mooring post or the like and the knot inserted through a selected slit. Under tension the knot cannot be removed from the slit. Alternately there may be a short second rope with a knot at each end, whereby the mooring rope is passed around the mooring post, the short rope connecting two cooperating slits in the mooring rope.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative rope, which allows for alternative favourable manners of connecting the rope to other ropes and/or to other types of external objects.

For that purpose the invention provides a rope according to the appended independent claim <NUM>, use of such a rope according to the appended independent claim <NUM>, and a method of manufacturing such a rope according to the appended independent claim <NUM>. The invention furthermore provides an assembly according to the appended independent claim <NUM>, and use of such an assembly according to the appended independent claim <NUM>. Specific embodiments of the invention are set forth in the appended dependent claims <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>.

Hence, the invention provides a rope, wherein the rope along a longitudinal rope direction of the rope towards a longitudinal rope end of the rope successively comprises at least a main rope segment, a branching position and an end connector segment, wherein the end connector segment comprises a first rope-branch and a second rope-branch, wherein each of the first rope-branch and the second rope-branch at said branching position is branched off from the main rope segment,.

Such an end connector segment, which comprises such a first rope-branch and such a second rope-branch, allows for many various favourable manners of connecting a rope according to the invention to other ropes and/or to other types of external objects.

Naturally, as used herein, a "noosed portion" of a rope (or of a rope-branch) is referring to an adjustable loop (eye) of the rope (or of the rope-branch), wherein said adjustable loop is tightened as the rope (or the rope-branch) is pulled when a rope having a thickened portion has been inserted through the adjustable loop, so that a tight and secure connection is formed in that the rope having the thickened portion is trapped in the tightened loop. Logically, as used herein, a "noosed connection" refers to such a tight and secure connection. Similarly, as used herein, a "thickened portion" of a rope (or of a rope-branch) refers to a thickened portion of a rope that is insertable through such a noosed portion of a rope to form such a noosed connection.

In a first preferable embodiment of a rope according to the invention:.

This first preferable embodiment of a rope according to the invention allows to manufacture the rope, including its specifically configured end connector segment, of a more or less continuously stranded rope construction, providing the advantages of a strong, flexible, soft and compact rope construction.

As mentioned, according to the invention said first rope-branch comprises said noosed first rope-branch portion, and said second rope-branch comprises said thickened second rope-branch portion.

Such a rope according to the invention allows to easily realize a rope-eye at the longitudinal rope end of the rope, and to easily effectuate connection of the rope via the realized rope-eye. That is, a rope according to the invention allows for a use of the rope, wherein a noosed connection is made between said noosed first rope-branch portion of the first rope-branch, on the one hand, and said thickened second rope-branch portion of the second rope-branch, on the other hand, so that the first rope-branch and the second rope-branch together are forming a rope-eye at said longitudinal rope end of the rope, wherein said rope-eye is suitable for connecting the rope to external objects.

As used herein, an attainable maximum first effective length of the first rope-branch equals a vertical first length along the first rope-branch as measured in a first reference condition of the rope, wherein in said first reference condition the first rope-branch, as well as its noosed first rope-branch portion or its thickened first rope-branch portion, as the case may be, are as much as possible in a first plumb line configuration, in which the very end of the noosed first rope-branch portion or of the thickened first rope-branch portion, as the case may be, corresponds to the lowest part of the noosed first rope-branch portion or of the thickened first rope-branch portion, as the case may be, and is considered to be a concentrated first plumb mass point of the first plumb line configuration, and wherein said vertical first length is measured from the branching position up to said very end of the noosed first rope-branch portion or of the thickened first rope-branch portion, as the case may be.

Analogously, as used herein, an attainable maximum second effective length of the second rope-branch equals a vertical second length along the second rope-branch as measured in a second reference condition of the rope, wherein in said second reference condition the second rope-branch, as well as its noosed second rope-branch portion or its thickened second rope-branch portion, as the case may be, are as much as possible in a second plumb line configuration, in which the very end of the noosed second rope-branch portion or of the thickened second rope-branch portion, as the case may be, corresponds to the lowest part of the noosed second rope-branch portion or of the thickened second rope-branch portion, as the case may be, and is considered to be a concentrated second plumb mass point of the second plumb line configuration, and wherein said vertical first length is measured from the branching position up to said very end of the noosed second rope-branch portion or of the thickened second rope-branch portion, as the case may be.

In further preferable embodiments of a rope according to the invention, the attainable maximum first effective length of the first rope-branch is higher than <NUM>% of the attainable maximum second effective length of the second rope-branch, more preferably higher than <NUM>% of said attainable maximum second effective length, and yet more preferably higher than <NUM>% of said attainable maximum second effective length, and yet more preferably higher than <NUM>% of said attainable maximum second effective length, and yet more preferably higher than <NUM>% of said attainable maximum second effective length, and yet more preferably higher than <NUM>% of said attainable maximum second effective length.

In other further preferable embodiments of a rope according to the invention, the attainable maximum second effective length of the second rope-branch is higher than <NUM>% of the attainable maximum first effective length of the first rope-branch, more preferably higher than <NUM>% of said attainable maximum first effective length, and yet more preferably higher than <NUM>% of said attainable maximum first effective length, and yet more preferably higher than <NUM>% of said attainable maximum first effective length, and yet more preferably higher than <NUM>% of said attainable maximum first effective length, and yet more preferably higher than <NUM>% of said attainable maximum first effective length.

All ropes according to the last-mentioned further preferable embodiments and the last-mentioned other further preferable embodiments have in common that such a rope has mutually unequal maximum effective lengths of the first rope-branch and the second rope-branch. Such mutually unequal maximum effective lengths further contribute to providing many various favourable manners of connecting a rope according to the invention to other ropes and to other types of external objects.

In the following, the invention is further elucidated with reference to non-limiting embodiments and with reference to the schematic figures in the attached drawing, in which the following is shown.

Now, reference is first made to the rope <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>. The reference signs used in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> are referring to the above-mentioned parts and aspects of the invention, as well as to related parts and aspects, in the following manner.

Based on the above introductory description, including the brief description of the drawing figures, and based on the above-listed reference signs used in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, the examples of <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> are readily self-explanatory. The following brief additional explanations are given of <FIG>, which illustrate a use according to the invention of the rope <NUM> according to the invention.

In <FIG> a noosed connection has been made between the noosed first rope-branch portion 21N of the first rope-branch <NUM>, on the one hand, and the thickened second rope-branch portion 22T of the second rope-branch <NUM>, on the other hand, so that the first rope-branch <NUM> and the second rope-branch <NUM> together are forming the rope-eye <NUM> at the longitudinal rope end <NUM> of the rope <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a situation, in which, before said noosed connection was made, an end portion of the longer first rope-branch <NUM> had been passed through the lifting lug <NUM> of an external object in the form of the shown hoisting load <NUM>.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, showing an example not falling within the scope of the claims, in which the rope <NUM> comprises the main rope segment <NUM>, the branching position <NUM> and the end connector segment <NUM>. The end connector segment <NUM> comprises the first rope-branch <NUM>, which has the thickened first rope-branch portion 121T, and the second rope-branch <NUM>, which has the thickened second rope-branch portion 122T. <FIG> additionally shows another rope <NUM>, which has two noosed rope portions 110N at its two opposite rope ends, respectively. In <FIG> a noosed connection has been made between the thickened first rope-branch portion 121T of the rope <NUM> and one of the two noosed rope portions 110N of the rope <NUM>, while another noosed connection has been made between the thickened second rope-branch portion 122T of the rope <NUM> and the other of the two noosed rope portions 110N of the rope <NUM>.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which show the rope <NUM> comprising the main rope segment <NUM>, the branching position <NUM> and the end connector segment <NUM>. The end connector segment <NUM> comprises the first rope-branch <NUM>, which has the noosed first rope-branch portion 221N, and the second rope-branch <NUM>, which has the noosed second rope-branch portion 122N. <FIG> additionally shows another rope <NUM>, which has two thickened rope portions 210T at its two opposite rope ends, respectively. In <FIG> a noosed connection has been made between the noosed first rope-branch portion 221N of the rope <NUM> and one of the two thickened rope portions 210T of the rope <NUM>, while another noosed connection has been made between the noosed second rope-branch portion 222N of the rope <NUM> and the other of the two thickened rope portions 210T of the rope <NUM>.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which show the rope <NUM> comprising the main rope segment <NUM>, the branching position <NUM> and the end connector segment <NUM>. The end connector segment <NUM> comprises the first rope-branch <NUM>, which has the noosed first rope-branch portion 321N, and the second rope-branch <NUM>, which has the thickened second rope-branch portion 322T. <FIG> additionally shows another rope <NUM>, which has a thickened rope portion 310T at one of its two opposite rope ends, and a noosed rope portion 310N at the other of its two opposite rope ends. In <FIG> a noosed connection has been made between the noosed first rope-branch portion 321N of the rope <NUM> and the thickened rope portion 310T of the rope <NUM>, while another noosed connection has been made between the thickened second rope-branch portion 322T of the rope <NUM> and the noosed rope portion 310N of the rope <NUM>.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, <FIG> which illustrate an example of a first embodiment of a method of manufacturing a rope according to the invention.

The rope <NUM>" of <FIG> comprises a main rope segment <NUM>" of, for example, braided or laid rope strands. The rope <NUM>" further comprises the branching position <NUM> and a rope end segment <NUM>". In the shown example, the rope end segment <NUM>" comprises twelve rope strands <NUM>. It is noted that the construction of the rope end segment <NUM>" previously was identical to and integral with the rope construction of the main rope segment <NUM>". In fact, the twelve rope strands <NUM> of the rope end segment <NUM>" as shown in <FIG> were obtained by mutually disentangling (for example un-braiding or un-laying) the rope strands of said previously identical and integral rope construction.

The rope <NUM>' of <FIG> has the same main rope segment <NUM>" and the same branching position <NUM> as the rope <NUM>" of <FIG>. However, the rope <NUM>' of <FIG> has a rope end segment <NUM>', which is different from the rope end segment <NUM>" of the rope <NUM>" of <FIG>. That is, the rope <NUM>' of <FIG> has two rope end portions <NUM>' and <NUM>'. Each of said rope end portions <NUM>' and <NUM>' has been obtained by mutually entangling (for example braiding or laying) six of the twelve rope strands <NUM> of the rope <NUM>" of <FIG>. Purely to illustratively elucidate this, the twelve mutually disentangled rope strands <NUM> in <FIG> are shown in two separately arranged groups, each having six mutually disentangled rope strands <NUM>.

The rope <NUM> of <FIG>, which is the same as the rope <NUM> of <FIG>, may be obtained by transforming the rope end portion <NUM>' of the rope <NUM>' of <FIG> into the first rope-branch <NUM> having the noosed first rope-branch portion 21N, and by transforming the rope end portion <NUM>' of the rope <NUM>' of <FIG> into the second rope-branch <NUM> having the thickened second rope-branch portion 22T. Said transformations can be performed by many various methods, including many various methods known in the art, for making such a noosed first rope-branch portion 21N and such a thickened second rope-branch portion 22T.

It is noted that the mutually unequal lengths L1 and L2 of the two rope-branches <NUM> and <NUM> of the rope <NUM> (see <FIG>) may for example be obtained by considerably shortening the rope strands <NUM> used for the rope end portion <NUM>' in <FIG> prior to transforming the rope end portion <NUM>' into the second rope-branch <NUM> of <FIG>.

<FIG> shows another example of a rope that may be obtained from the rope <NUM>' of <FIG>. The rope <NUM> of <FIG> comprises the main rope segment <NUM>, the branching position <NUM> and the end connector segment <NUM>. The end connector segment <NUM> comprises the first rope-branch <NUM>, which has the noosed first rope-branch portion 421N, and the second rope-branch <NUM>, which has the thickened second rope-branch portion 422T. The rope <NUM> of <FIG> may be obtained by transforming the rope end portion <NUM>' of the rope <NUM>' of <FIG> into the first rope-branch <NUM> having the noosed first rope-branch portion 421N, and by transforming the rope end portion <NUM>' of the rope <NUM>' of <FIG> into the second rope-branch <NUM> having the thickened second rope-branch portion 422T. It is seen that in the example of <FIG> the attainable maximum second effective length of the second rope-branch <NUM> is higher than the attainable maximum first effective length of the first rope-branch <NUM>.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which illustrate an example of a second embodiment of a method of manufacturing a rope according to the invention, more specifically a method of manufacturing the rope <NUM> of <FIG>.

<FIG> shows two separate first and second ropes 501A and 501B, respectively. The first rope 501A comprises the noosed first rope-branch portion 521N. The rope 501B comprises the thickened second rope-branch portion 522T. Each of the first and second ropes 501A and 501B can be manufactured by many various methods.

The rope <NUM> of <FIG> is obtained by splicing an end portion of a main rope segment of the rope 501B into an intermediate portion of a main rope segment of the rope 501A in such manner that the rope <NUM> has the shown main rope segment <NUM>, the shown branching position <NUM> and the shown end connector segment <NUM> having the shown two rope-branches <NUM> and <NUM>, wherein the first rope-branch <NUM> comprises the noosed first rope-branch portion 521N of the first rope 501A as the noosed first rope-branch portion 521N of the rope <NUM>, and wherein the second rope-branch <NUM> comprises the thickened second rope-branch portion 522T of the second rope 501B as the thickened second rope-branch portion 522T of the rope <NUM>.

It is noted that many various splicing techniques may be applied for said splicing of the end portion of the main rope segment of the rope 501B into the intermediate portion of the main rope segment of the rope 501A.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which illustrate an example of a third embodiment of a method of manufacturing a rope according to the invention, more specifically a method of manufacturing the rope <NUM> of <FIG>.

<FIG> shows two separate first and second ropes 601A and 601B, respectively. The first rope 601A comprises the noosed first rope-branch portion 621N. The rope 601B comprises the thickened second rope-branch portion 622T. Each of the first and second ropes 601A and 601B can be manufactured by many various methods.

The rope <NUM> of <FIG> is obtained by splicing an end portion of a main rope segment of the rope 601A into an intermediate portion of a main rope segment of the rope 601B in such manner that the rope <NUM> has the shown main rope segment <NUM>, the shown branching position <NUM> and the shown end connector segment <NUM> having the shown two rope-branches <NUM> and <NUM>, wherein the first rope-branch <NUM> comprises the noosed first rope-branch portion 621N of the first rope 601A as the noosed first rope-branch portion 621N of the rope <NUM>, and wherein the second rope-branch <NUM> comprises the thickened second rope-branch portion 622T of the second rope 601B as the thickened second rope-branch portion 622T of the rope <NUM>.

It is noted that many various splicing techniques may be applied for said splicing of the end portion of the main rope segment of the rope 601A into the intermediate portion of the main rope segment of the rope 601B.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which illustrate an example of a fourth embodiment of a method of manufacturing a rope according to the invention, more specifically a method of manufacturing the rope <NUM> of <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a rope <NUM>' of multiple load-bearing sub-ropes 741A, 741B, 742A, 742B within an outer jacket <NUM>.

The rope <NUM> of <FIG> is obtained by coupling the sub-ropes 741A, 741B together and by coupling the sub-ropes 742A, 742B together, in such manner that the rope <NUM> has the shown main rope segment <NUM>, the shown branching position <NUM> and the shown end connector segment <NUM> having the shown two rope-branches <NUM> and <NUM>, wherein the first rope-branch <NUM> comprises the shown noosed first rope-branch portion 721N of the rope <NUM>, and wherein the second rope-branch <NUM> comprises the shown thickened second rope-branch portion 722T of the rope <NUM>.

It is noted that many various coupling techniques may be applied for said coupling the sub-ropes 741A, 741B together and for said coupling the sub-ropes 742A, 742B together. Said many various coupling techniques may comprise many various splicing techniques for splicing the sub-ropes 741A, 741B into one another and for splicing the sub-ropes 742A, 742B into one another. Said many various coupling techniques may further comprise many various techniques for forming the noosed first rope-branch portion 721N and for forming the thickened second rope-branch portion 722T.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which illustrate a rope which is not according to the invention, but which is useful for understanding the invention, wherein the noosed first rope-branch portion of the rope of <FIG> is different from that of the rope of <FIG>.

In the examples of <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> it is seen that each time a noosed portion of the rope concerned is of a type in which the line of the adjustable loop that forms the noosed portion is transversely running through itself in a transversely slidable manner. This is a known embodiment of a noosed portion of a rope for making a noosed connection with a thickened portion of a rope.

The rope <NUM> of <FIG> comprises the main rope segment <NUM>, the branching position <NUM> and the end connector segment <NUM>. The end connector segment <NUM> comprises the first rope-branch <NUM>, which has the noosed first rope-branch portion 821N, and the second rope-branch <NUM>, which has the thickened second rope-branch portion 822T. The difference between the noosed first rope-branch portion 821N of the rope <NUM> of <FIG> and the noosed portion 21N of the rope <NUM> of <FIG> is that the noosed first rope-branch portion 821N is not of the known type in which the line of the adjustable loop that forms the noosed portion is transversely running through itself in a transversely slidable manner. Instead, the line of the adjustable loop that forms the noosed portion 821N of the rope <NUM> of <FIG> is coaxially running through itself in a coaxially slidable manner. Also this coaxially slidable embodiment is a known embodiment of a noosed portion of a rope for making a noosed connection with a thickened portion of a rope.

The difference between the shown situations of <FIG> is that in <FIG> the adjustable loop that forms the noosed portion 821N of the rope <NUM> is in a more tightened condition than in <FIG>.

It is further noted that each of the above-mentioned examples of a method of manufacturing a rope according to the invention (said examples being illustrated by <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>) can be used to manufacture a rope according to the above-mentioned "first preferable embodiment" of a rope according to the invention. As mentioned in the introduction of the present disclosure, said "first preferable embodiment" of a rope is characterized in that:.

If so manufactured, the respective ropes shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> have the following features.

For the rope <NUM> of <FIG>, the main rope segment <NUM> and the first rope-branch <NUM> are each containing said first plurality of strands, while the main rope segment <NUM> and the second rope-branch <NUM> are each containing said second plurality of strands.

Similarly, the respective ropes shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> may be manufactured to have the following features.

For the rope <NUM> of <FIG>, not falling within the scope of the claims, the main rope segment <NUM> and the first rope-branch <NUM> are each containing said first plurality of strands, while the main rope segment <NUM> and the second rope-branch <NUM> are each containing said second plurality of strands.

It is remarked that the above-mentioned examples do not limit the invention, and that various alternatives are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, many various types of embodiments of the thickened first rope-branch portion and of the thickened second rope-branch portion are possible. Such a thickened rope-branch portion may for example be formed by a line being knotted together, which can be done in many various manners. In lieu of such a knot formed by a line being knotted together, or in addition to such a knot, it is also possible to form a thickened rope-branch portion from less soft materials, such as by assembling parts of plastic and/or metal with the rope line.

Claim 1:
A rope (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>), wherein the rope along a longitudinal rope direction (<NUM>) of the rope towards a longitudinal rope end (<NUM>) of the rope successively comprises at least a main rope segment (<NUM>), a branching position (<NUM>) and an end connector segment (<NUM>), wherein the end connector segment comprises a first rope-branch (<NUM>) and a second rope-branch (<NUM>), wherein each of the first rope-branch and the second rope-branch at said branching position is branched off from the main rope segment,
wherein the second rope-branch (<NUM>) comprises a thickened second rope-branch portion (22T), and
wherein the first rope-branch (<NUM>) comprises a noosed first rope-branch portion (21N) for making a noosed connection with the thickened second rope-branch portion (22T),
characterized in that the noosed first rope-branch portion (21N) is formed by an adjustable loop having a line, which is transversely running through itself in a transversely slidable manner.