Patent ID: 7614179

Claim:
A device attachable to a line, the device comprising: an elongate generally cylindrical solid member having first and second opposite outer ends, a longitudinal axis defined between the first and second opposite outer ends, an aperture for receiving a line extending through the solid member along a portion of the longitudinal axis, opposed first and second sidewalls defining the aperture and further defining a slot extending axially along a length of the solid member and further extending laterally from the aperture to an outer surface of the solid member, the first sidewall and the outer surface of the solid member forming a first edge, the second sidewall and the outer surface of the solid member forming a second edge, the first and second edges rounded such that they form smooth rounded surfaces going from the outer surface of the solid member to the aperture; the solid member further including projections having respective bases adjacent the aperture, the projections comprising a first projection on the first sidewall projected toward the second sidewall and a second projection on the second sidewall projected toward the first sidewall, the first and second projections further extending outwardly from their respective bases toward the outer surface, wherein the first and second projections are tapered such that a lateral spacing between the first and second projections and their respective opposing sidewalls decreases progressively from the outer surface to their respective bases, wherein the projections are offset from one another in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the solid member and thereby adapted to shape a line into a circuitous path around the projections when the line is contained in the aperture; the solid member further including first and second barbs near the first and second outer ends respectively, each barb extending from one of the first and second sidewalls towards the other of the first and second sidewalls and cooperating with said other of said first and second sidewalls to form a gap adapted to admit insertion of the line laterally into the aperture, wherein a tip of each of the barbs includes a rounded ridge adjacent the aperture that extends in a direction approximately parallel to the first and second sidewalls, each tip adapted to retain the line against lateral movement out of the aperture, a widest portion of each barb comprising a generally planar surface which is located between the slot and the aperture, the generally planar surface extending both transverse to and between the first and second sidewalls, each of the barbs tapering from the widest portion toward the slot, and wherein the rounded ridge is located on an end of the generally planar surface which is furthest from the respective sidewall from which the respective barb extends.