Knotless Securing Apparatus With Diverging Rings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional knots used to secure objects to a fixed member become difficult or impossible to untie under tension, posing a risk to animals like horses that may panic and pull against the knot, potentially causing harm.
Innovation Solution
A knotless securing apparatus featuring a central support member with diverging receiving rings that allow a rope to be secured without knotting, enabling easy release under tension by sliding the rope through the rings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional knots are used to secure objects under load, then the securing relationship is maintained, but the knot becomes difficult or impossible to untie under tension
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the knot entirely from the securing system and replaces it with a knotless apparatus consisting of a body with multiple rings and a rope passing through them. This extraction of the knot eliminates the problem of knots becoming impossible to untie under tension, while maintaining securing reliability through the mechanical advantage system of rings and rope positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus allows dynamic adjustment of the rope position through the rings, enabling the system to adapt to tension forces. The rope can slide through the rings to adjust positioning while maintaining security, and can be quickly released by pulling the end of the rope, providing both reliability under load and ease of release when needed.
2Reliability
If a horse is tied to a fixed object with a knot, then the horse is secured, but the knot may cause harm to the horse or break under panic-induced tension
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus design anticipates panic-induced tension forces by providing a mechanical system that can absorb and distribute these forces through the ring structure and rope configuration. The system prevents harmful concentration of force at a single knot point, reducing the risk of rope failure or injury to the horse during sudden tension events.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus acts as an intermediary between the horse and the fixed object, replacing the direct knot connection with a multi-ring system that mediates the force transmission. This intermediary structure distributes forces more evenly and provides a safer interaction interface that reduces harm potential while maintaining securing reliability.
3Reliability
If knots are used to secure loads, then the load is held firmly, but the securing hardware may break under excessive tension
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus segments the securing function into multiple rings positioned at different locations on the body, rather than relying on a single knot point. This segmentation distributes the mechanical stress across multiple contact points with the rope, reducing the force concentration that would otherwise break the hardware under excessive tension, while maintaining firm load holding capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Knotless securing apparatuses includes a central support member having a first end portion and a second opposing end portion. A first receiving ring and a second receiving ring each extend from the first end portion of the central support member, and diverge away from each other. A third receiving ring extends away from the second opposing end portion. The apparatus may form a “Y” shape. Methods of using such apparatuses include passing a bight of a rope through the third receiving ring and over the second receiving ring to rest over the first end portion of the central support member between the first and second receiving rings. A working part of the rope is passed between a standing part of the rope and the third receiving ring, over the second receiving ring, and over the bight that is resting over the end portion of the central support member.