Patent ID: 7337504

Claim:
A rope cleat which comprises: a base having a flat surface; an abutment means for gripping rope mounted on said base surface and having an abutment surface perpendicular to said base surface; a first spindle having one end mounted on said base surface and extending perpendicularly away from said base surface; a first cam rotatably mounted on said first spindle; said first cam having a first cam surface perpendicular to said base surface and convex toward said abutment surface; said first cam operably arranged to permit positioning a rope between said first cam surface and said abutment surface and to provide that when tension is applied to said rope in one direction, said rope is seized between said first cam surface and abutment surface by said first cam rotating toward said abutment means and when tension is applied to said rope in an opposite direction, said rope is released from between said first cam surface and abutment surface permitting withdrawal of said rope; a pedestal having one end secured to said base surface and extending perpendicularly away from said base surface; a cover slidably engaging another end of said pedestal and operably arranged for sliding over said cam and an abutment between said retain position and said release position whereby said rope is retained between said abutment surface and said first cam surface when said cover is in a retain position and for permitting engagement and withdrawal of said rope from between said abutment surface and said first cam surface when said cover is in a release position.