SOFT ATTACHMENT DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE

Abstract

The invention relates to a soft attachment for anchoring on a surface including a wall, deck of a boat or spar of a boat and a method of connecting the soft attachment to a surface. The soft attachment comprises: a hollow shank having a first end port, a second end port, an inner surface and a threaded outer surface, a flange located adjacent the first end port of the shank, and at least one flexible elongate member having a first portion located adjacent the inner surface of the hollow shank, and a second portion projecting from said first end port for use as an anchoring point for attachment of rigging.

Claims

1. A soft attachment for anchoring on a surface, the soft attachment comprising: a hollow shank having a first end port, a second end port, an inner surface and a threaded outer surface, a flange located adjacent the first end port of the shank, at least one flexible elongate member having a first portion located adjacent the inner surface of the hollow shank, and a second portion projecting from said first end port for use as an anchoring point for attachment of rigging.

2. The soft attachment according to claim 1 when anchored on a surface chosen from a wall, deck of a boat or a spar.

3. The soft attachment according to claim 1 when attached to rigging elements of a boat.

4. The soft attachment according to claim 1 wherein the flexible elongate member comprises high-strength and low-stretch synthetic fibre.

5. The soft attachment according to claim 1 wherein the flexible elongate member second portion projects as a loop from the first end port.

6. The soft attachment according to claim 1 wherein the flexible elongate member second portion projects as a loop from the first end port and holds a fitting.

7. The soft attachment according to claim 1 wherein the flexible elongate member second portion projects as a free end.

8. The soft attachment according to claim 1 wherein the flexible elongate member second portion projects as two free ends.

9. A method of installing the soft attachment of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: providing a recess in a surface, and rotating the hollow shank in the recess such that the threaded outer surface of the hollow shank is retained within the hole, the first end port being adjacent the surface.

10. The method of installing the soft attachment according to claim 9 wherein during rotation, the threaded outer surface of the hollow shank bites into the surface of the recess.

11. The method of installing the soft attachment according to claim 9 wherein during rotation, the threaded outer surface of the hollow shank mates with a thread at the surface of the recess.

12. The method according to claim 9 when carried out by one person adjacent the surface on one side of a structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Further disclosure, objects, advantages and aspects of preferred and other embodiments of the present application may be better understood by those skilled in the relevant art by reference to the following description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the disclosure herein, and in which:

[0038] FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 illustrates a soft attachments of the prior art;

[0039] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a soft attachment device according to the present invention; and

[0040] FIG. 6 illustrates the hollow shank of the soft attachment device of FIG. 5 in perspective (FIG. 6A) and in longitudinal cross section (FIG. 6B).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “interior,” “exterior,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 5. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawing, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. Additionally, unless otherwise specified, it is to be understood that discussion of a particular feature of component extending in or along a given direction or the like does not mean that the feature or component follows a straight line or axis in such a direction or that it only extends in such direction or on such a plane without other directional components or deviations, unless otherwise specified.

[0042] FIG. 1 depicts a depicts a soft attachment device of the prior art known as a ‘softeye’ comprising a carbon or glass fibre disk (1) with a rope loop (3) projecting from the centre of the disk (1). The softeye is typically attached to the upper surface (5) of a deck by a thin layer of adhesive. FIG. 4 depicts the soft attachment of FIG. 1 that includes a pair of rope ties (8a, 8b) instead of a rope loop.

[0043] To secure high loads or loads at an angle of more than 10 degrees, the prior art has included a ‘through-deck pushing’ of the type depicted in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 depicts a rope loop (7) located in a pushing (9) which lines and reinforces a hole drilled in a deck. The rope loop (7) can pass through the upper surface (11) of the deck while the disk (15) remains on the lower surface (13) of the deck, anchoring the rope loop (7). The pushing (9) is depicted in greater detail in FIG. 2B and includes an upper flange (9a) which in use is located adjacent the upper surface (11). FIG. 2C depicts another version of the pushing (9) which includes an upper flange (9a) and a lower flange (9b). Typically the mating parts of the prior art screw together.

[0044] FIG. 3 depicts another version of the through deck pushing of FIG. 2 which includes a curved pad 17 that is added to the lower flange (9b) shaped to distribute live loads evenly across the device to better withstand the force imparted as the rope loop 7 is loaded at different angles, depicted by dotted lines.

[0045] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a soft attachment according to the present invention for anchoring on a wall or deck of a boat. The soft attachment comprises a hollow shank (20) having a first end port (20a), a second end port (20b) and a threaded outer surface (20c). A flange (20d) is located adjacent the first end port (20a) of the shank. A flexible rope loop (22) projects from the first end port (20a). The body of the loop is located within the hollow shank (20) and the ends of the loop are tied in a knot (24) adjacent the second end port (20b)

[0046] FIG. 6 depicts the hollow shank of the device of FIG. 5. FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the shank and FIG. 6B is a view of the vertical cross section.

[0047] While this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification(s). This application is intended to cover any variations uses or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth.

[0048] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above described embodiments are not to limit the present invention unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative only and not restrictive.

[0049] Various modifications and equivalent arrangements are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention and appended claims. Therefore, the specific embodiments are to be understood to be illustrative of the many ways in which the principles of the present invention may be practiced. In the following claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover structures as performing the defined function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

[0050] “Comprises/comprising” and “includes/including” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. Thus, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words ‘comprise’, ‘comprising’, ‘includes’, ‘including’ and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”.