Patent ID: 8381364

Claim:
A collapsible wedge for holding a wire rope within a socket, the wedge comprising (i) a base, (ii) an arm coupled to the base, the base and the arm collectively defining a narrow front end, a wide rear end, rearwardly diverging sides extending between the front and rear ends, and an external channel along the sides and rear end in which is received the wire rope to be secured in the socket, and (iii) a removable support proximate the front end which maintains the arm in a spaced position relative to the base to secure the wire rope in the socket when in use and which when removed permits movement of the arm toward the base to reduce the width of the wedge and permit release of the wire rope, wherein the base includes a brace that projects outward to overlap and abut a front end of the arm to restrict forward movement of the arm while securing the wire rope.