Rope comprising a means of attachment fixed to an end held by a screw housed in a spacer

Abstract

Rope comprising an end piece (3), fixed at one end (5) by a screw (7) and carrying a fastening means (9). According to the invention, the end piece (3) is fitted onto a heat-shrinkable sleeve (11) covering the end (5) while the screw (7) is housed in a spacer (13), attached by gluing into a hole (15, 17) in the end (5) and the heat-shrinkable sleeve (11) and is tightened onto the end piece (3) by a nut (19).

Description

Title of the invention: Rope comprising an attachment means fixed to an end held by a screw housed in a spacer

[0001] The invention relates to a rope comprising an end piece, fixed at one end by a screw and carrying a means of attachment.

[0002] A rope of this type is particularly suited to recreational water features, such as wave pools, which reproduce the phenomenon of waves and are equipped with various devices allowing users to participate in a fun and sporty underwater course. The attachment point is designed to suspend the user over the pool, in a dynamic manner that allows them to be transported from point A to point B. For user safety, the rope's attachment point must comply with the specifications of standards NF 363 and NF 12 275, which define the requirements for connectors in the field of mountaineering. These standards stipulate, in particular, that the rope must withstand a load of 20 kN with the finger closed for a period of 3 minutes and 3 seconds. Furthermore, a tensile strength of 2500 daN in vertical tension and 1500 daN in axial tension is required.

[0003] These standards apply to polymer ropes.

[0004] The main advantage of polypropylene ropes is that they are lightweight, at least able to float on water, while remaining inexpensive. Furthermore, their chemical inertness gives them good stability in heated, chlorinated water.

[0005] Nylon ropes, now very widespread, offer usable elasticity mainly for mountaineering, do not float and lose up to 20% of their strength when wet.

[0006] Kevlar and very high molecular weight polyethylene (HMPE) are also used for high-strength ropes, but are rigid, have low elasticity, and are brittle. These are used for maritime activities.

[0007] With regard to polymer ropes, it should be noted that in order to reinforce said ropes at their ends, tips exist in the form of rings, these tips being burned with the rope to give a monolithic assembly which prevents the rope from fraying and provides mechanical reinforcement.

[0008] Various rope attachment systems are known:

[0009] - the ring or plate having an oblong for the rope to pass through;

[0010] - rope stops and fixed hooks;

[0011] - the rope clamp, comprising two plates connected to each other by at least one bolt;

[0012] - the jam cleat, commonly used in the maritime sector, where a plate receives legs forming a pivot joint that clamp the rope in a position data.

[0013] - the end piece, consisting of a female ferrule into which the cord is inserted, The ferrule has a ring, hook, or link for attaching to a support. The ferrule holds the rope in place via a screw.

[0014] One of the aims of the invention is to provide a rope with an attachment means, suitable for use in aquatic basins.

[0015] For this purpose, the invention relates to a rope comprising an end piece, fixed at one end by a screw and carrying a fastening means, characterized in that the end piece is fitted onto a heat-shrinkable sleeve covering the end while the screw is housed in a spacer, attached by gluing in a hole in the end piece and the heat-shrinkable sleeve and is tightened on the end piece by a nut.

[0016] Advantageously, the fastening means includes a nut and a safety element forming a stop to lock the nut in a closed position of the fastening means.

[0017] Other advantages of the invention are described in the exposition below, illustrated by the following drawings:

[0018] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of an example of an embodiment of a rope according to the invention.

[0019] [Fig.2] is an exploded view of [Fig.1].

[0020] [Fig.3] is an exploded view of [Fig.1], limited to the end of the rope without the tip.

[0021] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of a fixing plate having two anchor points each receiving a fastening means.

[0022] [Fig.5] is a front view of a safety element of the fastening means.

[0023] With reference to figures 1 to 3, a rope 1 comprises an end piece 3, fixed to one end 5 by a screw 7 passed through a hole 6 in the end piece 3. The latter carries a fastening means 9 and is fitted onto a heat-shrink sleeve 11 covering the end 5. The screw 7 is housed in a spacer 13, attached by gluing in a hole 15, 17 respectively in the end 5 and in the heat-shrink sleeve 11. It is tightened on the end piece 3 by a nut 19 opposite the hole 6.

[0024] The rope 1 is preferably made of polymer material, and the end 5 is melted to fuse the rope fibers and prevent them from unraveling. The attachment means 9 is, for example, a link or a ring. The heat-shrink tubing 11 and the end cap 3 cover a typical distance of 5 centimeters. The hole 15 cuts the rope fibers. For this reason, the spacer 13 is glued in place to restore continuity between the fibers. Thus, the spacer 13 protects the rope 1 against shearing and wear of the fibers in contact with the fastening screw 7. This results in increased mechanical resistance of the end cap 3 to the end 5 of the rope 1. This resistance is further increased by fitting the tip 3 onto the heat-shrink tubing 11.

[0025] A mounting plate 21 includes, [Fig. 4], a tab 23 having two holes 25 for anchoring two links or rings 9. These two attachment means each include a safety element 27 which serves both to prevent the nut 29 of each attachment means from unscrewing and to prevent any risk of a user getting a finger caught in the link or ring 9. [Fig. 5] details the structure of the safety element 27. The latter includes grooves 31 for engaging with the attachment means 9 and a stop 33 for locking the nut 29 in a closed position of the attachment means 9 on the tab 23. The safety element 27 is, for example, made of high-density polyethylene.

[0026] In the description just given, the rope is made of polymer material. However, the invention applies to any type of rope.

Claims

Claims

1. Rope comprising a tip (3), fixed at one end (5) by a screw (7) and carrying a hooking means (9), characterized in that the tip (3) is fitted onto a heat-shrinkable sheath (11) covering the end (5) while the screw (7) is housed in a spacer (13), attached by gluing in a bore (15, 17) of the end (5) and of the heat-shrinkable sheath (11) and is tightened onto the tip (3) by a nut (19).

2. Rope according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment means (9) comprises a nut (29) and a safety element (27) forming a stop (33) for locking the nut (29) in a closed position of the attachment means (9).

Images