Patent ID: 7204107

Claim:
A tethering system comprising: an elongate flexible element having a length; and an anchoring system, the anchoring system comprising a block defining first and second surfaces, the anchoring system further comprising (a) a first anchoring assembly for bearing a first portion of the elongate flexible element against the first surface with the first anchoring assembly in a first state to maintain the first portion of the elongate flexible element substantially fixed against movement relative to the first surface, and (b) a second anchoring assembly for bearing a second portion of the elongate flexible element against the second surface with the second anchoring assembly in a first state to maintain the second portion of the elongate flexible element substantially fixed against movement relative to the second surface, the first anchoring assembly changeable selectively between its first state and a second state wherein the first portion of the elongate flexible element can move relative to the first surface, the second anchoring assembly changeable selectively between its first state and a second state wherein the second portion of the elongate flexible element can move relative to the second surface, the elongate flexible element formable into a loop with a diameter between the first and second portions, the loop maintainable in a selected diameter with the first and second anchoring assemblies in their first states, the diameter of the loop variable by placing the first anchoring assembly in its second state and moving the first portion of the elongate flexible element relative to the first surface to produce a changed diameter for the loop, the first anchoring assembly changeable from its second state into its first state to thereby maintain the changed diameter for the loop, wherein the block has first and second openings bounded respectively by the first and second surfaces, wherein there is a bore through the block that intersects each of the first and second openings, the bore having first and second ends, wherein the first anchoring assembly comprises a first anchoring element that is threadably connected to the block and extended through the first end of the bore in a first direction to force the first portion of the elongate flexible element in the first opening into a portion of the bore that resides between the first and second openings without extending fully through the elongate flexible element, wherein the second anchoring assembly comprises a second anchoring element that is threadably connected to the block and extended through the second end of the bore opposite to the first direction to force the second portion of the elongate flexible element in the second opening into the portion of the bore without extending fully through the elongate flexible element.