Wire or rope tightener
United States Patent [191 Langlie et al.  
 [ WIRE 0R ROPE TIGHTENER [76] Inventors: Howard Langlie; Albert T. Berg, Jr.,  
 both of Ellendale, Minn. 56026 [22] Filed: Sept. 27, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 401,346  
 [52] U.S. Cl. 254/51, 24/71.3 [51] Int. Cl. B66f 1/00, A43c 11/00 [58] Field of Search 254/51, 161; 242/152, 153;  
 Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stuart R. Peterson [451 1 Apr. 1, 1975 [5 7] ABSTRACT A slightly angulated elongated body has a slotted capstan projecting from one side thereof, the slot forming two segmental legs about which the rope or wire to be tightened is wrapped or wound. Each leg has a notch formed therein adjacent the body so that spaced portions of the wire can be seated therein. At each end of the elongated body, projecting from the same side thereof as the capstan projects, is a hook having a curved surface so that the wire is automatically deflected or cammed during the tightening procedure. The hooks retain the wire taut after the tightening has been completed, and also enable the wire to be tightened in stages where there is an appreciable amount of slack. To effect the tightening, a pair of serrated tabs project from the other side of the elongated body, each tab being concavo-convex so as to provide a curved surface for the accommodation of a persons fingers during the twisting or tightening operation. The tab curvature faces in the same direction as the hook at that particular end projects, although oppositely to the capstan notch nearer thereto.  
 12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures ATENTEB APR 1 I975 SHEET 1 0F 2 WIRE OR ROPE TIGHTENER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to rope or wire tighteners, and pertains more particularly to a one-piece tightener that will effectively tighten a variety of rope or wires that are apt to be encountered.  
  Tighteners of this general type have been used in the past, but possess certain disadvantages that the present invention effectively overcomes. Generally, the prior art devices, particularly those described in the patent literature, fail to provide a tightener that will permit a facile initiating of the tightening procedure. Also, they are not completely satisfactory in automatically retaining a taut condition of the wire after the tightening has been completed. More specifically, the wire is not properly held at the outset and considerable trouble develops as the wire is tightened, the problem also adversely affecting the final retention of the wire in its tightened state.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A general object of the present invention is to provide a tightening device that can be readily utilized in tightening a variety of ropes and wires that are currently in common use. Stated somewhat differently, an aim of the invention is to enable the tightening of ropes or wires of different sizes and which are being used for various purposes.  
  Another object of the invention is to provide a tightener that will initially retain the rope or wire in a preferred relationship so that the tightening procedure can progress without encountering any difficulty from slippage or interference as the tightener is twisted.  
  Yet another object is to provide a tightener that is quite compact and that can be inexpensively manufactured. In this regard, an aim of the invention is to provide a tightener that can be molded readily from an appropriate plastic material.  
  Still another object is to provide a tightener having wings or tabs configured so that they can be conveniently grasped by a persons hand, thereby obviating the need for using any tools or implements.  
  A further object is to provide a tightener that will enable a considerable amount of slack in the wire or rope to be accommodated. In other words, a number of turns can be made without difficulty should circumstances so require.  
  Briefly, our invention comprises an elongated body composed of two panels that angle slightly rearwardly. At their juncture is a slotted or split capstan into which the wire is initially inserted. By reason of the slotted configuration of the capstan, a pair of segmental legs are formed. Each leg, adjacent the elongated body, has a notch therein, the notches facing in opposite directions, so that spaced portions or sections of the rope or wire to be tightened can be initially seated, and which remain seated, in the notches, thereby obviating the tendency for the rope or wire to slip outwardly along the capstan away from the body. At each end of the body is a hook formed integrally with the body, the hooks facing not only in opposite directions but also in opposite directions with respect to the notch nearer thereto. The hooks are formed with curved surfaces so that the rope or wire is automatically cammed or deflected during the tightening operation, yet when the tightening has been completed (or temporarily to allow the user to get a new grip without any unwinding of a partially tightened wire) the wire or rope will then automatically be engaged by the hooks so as to prevent any unwinding of the tightened wire. A pair of wings or tabs extend from the opposite side of the elongated body, each being concavo-convex so as to provide a curved surface facing in the same direction as the hook nearer thereto. Serrations extend in a generally parallel direction to the body so as to further facilitate the grasping of the wings or tabs by a persons hand, thus enabling the tightener to be twisted without resort to any tools or implements.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of our tightener as it is being advanced toward a wire to be tightened, the wire being only partially received in the capstans slot so as to expose to view a notch that would otherwise not be clearly visible;  
  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of our tightener after the wire has been fully received in the slotted capstan and after the device has been rotated from the position shown in FIG. 1 in the process of tightening the wire;  
 FIG. 3 is a top plan view corresponding to FIG. 2;  
  FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken in the direction of line 44 of FIG. 3;  
  FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken in the direction of line 55 of FIG. 3;  
  FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken in the direction of line 6-6 of FIG. 3, and  
  FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating our device after the wire of FIG. 2 has been fully tightened, the view representing a rotation through an additional angle of from its position of FIG. 2.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, the rope or wire to be tightened has been given the reference numeral 10. For the sake of description, it will be assumed that the member 10 constitutes a single strand of electric fence wire. It will be recognized that the gauge of electric fence wires will vary. Also, frequently two or three strands will be wound together to constitute the single conductor, the strands sometimes being in the form of conventional barbed wire. It will be appreciated, however, that our invention is susceptible to tightening various sizes of wires, as well as different types of rope that might be encountered, such as, for example, tent ropes or clotheslines.  
  The wire or rope tightener exemplifying our invention has been designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 12. As the description progresses, it will be recognized that the tightener 12 can readily be structured as a one-piece unit. In this regard, a plastic material, such as nylon has been found quite suitable, nylon permitting the easy molding of the device in the pictured form.  
  The tightener 12 comprises a body 14 composed of rectangular panels 16a and 16b. Close inspection of FIG. 3 will reveal that these panels 16a, 16b angle slightly toward the rear for a purpose presently to be made manifest.  
  Projecting forwardly from the body 14, namely the region where the panels 16a, 16b are integrally joined, is a capstan 18 having a slot 20 therein which forms segmental legs 22a and 22b. It will be understood that the width of the slot 20 is sufficient to accommodate therein the maximum size of the most common ropes or wires that are apt to require tightening; experience has shown that a slot having a quarter inch width is sufficient for most of the situations that will be encountered. A portion of the wire 10 is to be wound about the capstan 18, more specifically its segmental legs 22a and 22b, so there are provided at the free ends of the legs 22a and 22b segmental retention flanges 24a, 24b, these retention flanges enabling either a small or large number of turns of wire 10 to be wrapped about the capstan 18.  
  At this time, attention is directed to a pair of oppositely facing hooks 28a and 28b, these hooks being integrally carried adjacent the remote end portions of the panels 16a, 16b. Not only do the hooks 28a, 28b face in opposite directions, but the hook 28a faces in an opposite direction from the notch 26a and the hook 28b oppositely from the notch 26b. The function of the hooks 28a, 28b is to prevent the wire from unwinding after it has been tightened. Although not completely understandable at this stage of the description, the hooks 28a, 28b each have a curved surface 30 thereon which acts as a cam against the wire 10 during the tightening procedure.  
  In order to enable the device 12 to be rotated or twisted, there are rearwardly extending wings or tabs 32a, 32b molded on the rear sides of the panels 16a, 16b, there being a V-shaped notch 32 between the tabs 32a, 32b. The tabs 32a, 32b have longitudinally directed serrations 34 molded on their oppositely facing sides. As can be best discerned from FIGS. 4 and 5, the tabs 32a and 32b are concavo-convex.  
  The serrations 34, together with the curvature derived from the concavo-convex configuration mentioned immediately above, enable the user to grasp firmly the device 12 in the fashion illustrated in FIG. 1. In this regard, a persons hand has been labeled 36, and it will be noted that his thumb 38 is placed against one side of the tab 32a and his index finger 40 against the opposite side thereof. In order to provide the requisite twisting action, the middle finger 42 (along with his other fingers) is placed on the side of the tab 32b remote from the viewer. In this way, when the device 12 is advanced toward the viewer in the direction of the wire 10, as is portrayed in FIG. 1, the wire 10 simply enters the slot 20, relatively speaking.  
  When fully received in the slot 20, the device 12 is rotated or twisted from the vertical position of FIG. 1 to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 2, this being through an angle of 90 in a counterclockwise direction (as seen by the viewer; clockwise as seen by the user). The wire 10 is initially seated in the notches 26a and 26b formed in the segmental legs 22 adjacent their juncture with the panels 16a and 16b. The notches 26a, 26b thus hold the seated wire 10 in a proximal relationship with the body 14, namely the forward faces of the panels 16a and 16b. The notches 26a, 26b are of appreciable importance in the use of our invention, for they assure that the wire 10 is retained at the base of the capstan 18 and that it does not slip or slide forwardly along the segmental legs 22a, 22b, which situation would not only interfere with the tightening but the subsequent retention of the wire after it is tightened. Of course, if a relatively large number of turns are necessary to completely tighten the wire 10, that is take up the slack therein, the turns progressively work out toward the segmental flanges 24a, 24b, but the wire remains anchored, as achieved initially, adjacent the body 14 thereby facilitating the tightening of the wire, as should be evident.  
  Assuming that there is a sufficient amount of slack in the wire 10 to require a rotation of the device into the position depicted in FIG. 7, the user, while still grasping the wings or tabs 32a, 32b rotates the device through to reach the position illustrated in FIG. 7. It will now be recognized that the curved surfaces 30 on the hooks 28a, 28b bear or cam against the wire during the tightening procedure. Such caming can be seen from the right side of FIG. 2, where the curved surface 30 on the hook 28a is bearing against a portion of the wire 10, it being recognized that the device 12 is being twisted or rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as seen by the viewer) in this particular FIGURE. In other words, the curved surface 30 on the hook 28a is moving upwardly in order to reach the 180 relationship illustrated in FIG. 7. Owing to the length of wire between each segmental leg 22a, 22b, and the hooks 28a, 28b, respectively, the length of wire is sufficient so as to permit flexing by the curved surfaces 30 without dislodging the wire from the notches 26a, 28b. Without the notches 26a, 28b, there would be a shifting of the wire outwardly or toward the viewer when rotating or twisting the device 12 to tighten the wire 10. The curved surfaces 30, therefore, minimize the interference that one experiences when rotating the device in the manner just described. The obtuse angulation of the panels 16a, 16b also help.  
  For the sake of description, it will be assumed that when the tightener 12 has been rotated into the position in which it appears in FIG. 7 that all of the slack has been removed from the stretch of wire 10, then the user simply relaxes his grip on the device, permitting the device to rotate slightly in a reverse or clockwise direction, the wire 10 automatically flexing into the hooks 28a and 28b. Rotation through only a very small reverse angle occurs, so virtually none of the original slack returns. Once having permitted the hooks 28a, 28b to engage the wire 10 as pictured in FIG. 7, the user simply leaves the device 12 without further attention and with the assurance that the tightened wire will remain taut. If further tightening is needed, the user can always rely on the hooks 28a, 28b to hold the wire in a partially tightened state, while he gets a new grip in preparation for the next twist.  
  It should be appreciated that the disposition of the wings or tabs 32a, 32b at radial locations from the segmental legs 22a, 22b of the capstan 18 affords a decided mechanical advantage in wrapping the wire about the capstan 18. The curvature of the tabs 32a, 32b, coupled with the serrations 34, permit a firm grip of the device 12 to be made and enables a relatively high degree of torque to be applied against the tabs when manually twisting the device 12 without the likelihood of the users fingers slipping off. Consequently, any wire or rope of a size that can be received in the slot 20 can be tightened effectively (in stages if need be) when utilizing our tightening device 12.  
 We claim:  
  1. A one-piece plastic rope or wire tightener comprising an elongated panel body having upper and lower edges, a slotted generally cylindrical capstan projecting integrally from one side of said body, a first integral hook extending along the upper edge of said panel body toward said capstan from one end of said panel body, said first hook having a first portion projecting outwardly from said body and a second portion initially curving downwardly from said first portion and then extending in a generally parallel relation with respect to said panel body, a second integral hook extending along the lower edge of said panel body toward said capstan, said second hook having a first portion projecting outwardly from said body and a second portion initially curving upwardly from the first portion of said second hook and then extending in a generally parallel relation with respect to said panel body, said hooks terminating in a spaced relationship with respect to said capstan, and respective means adjacent the ends of said body projecting integrally from the other side of said body for twisting said body in order to wrap a portion of the wire or rope to be tightened about said capstan.  
  2. A tightener in accordance with claim 1 in which said respective means includes a pair of spaced tabs for grasping by a persons hand to effect a twisting of said body but terminating in a spaced relationship in the region of said capstan, the spaced relationship of said tabs being less than that of said hooks.  
  3. A tightener in accordance with claim 2 in which said capstan is provided with at least one notch adjacent said body for seating the rope or wire to be tightened.  
  4. A tightener in accordance with claim 2 in which said tabs extend from said panel body intermediate its said upper and lower edges and are concavo-convex over their entire length, the concave side in each instance facing in the same direction as the hook nearer thereto faces.  
  5. A tightener in accordance with claim 4 in which each hook has a curved surface for camming against the rope or wire when said body is twisted.  
  6. A tightener in accordance with claim 4 in which said tabs have serrations formed thereon which extend in substantially parallelism with said body over the entire length thereof.  
  8. A tightener in accordance with claim 7 in which the plastic is nylon.  
  9. A one-piece plastic rope or wire tightener comprising an elongated body composed of generally rectangular panels forming an obtuse angle with respect to each other, a generally cylindrical capstan projecting integrally along an axis extending perpendicularly from one side of said body where said panels are integrally joined, said capstan having a slot therein which forms segmental legs, each leg having a notch at the end thereof adjacent said body for seating portions of the rope or wire to be tightened and a flange at the end thereof remote from said body for retaining a number of turns of rope on said capstan, the notch in one leg facing in one direction and the notch in the other leg facing in an opposite direction, an elongated hook on each panel located at the end thereof remote from said capstan and extending toward said capstan over a given length of said body, said hooks facing in opposite directions with respect to the notches that they are nearer to and having portions extending generally parallel to said elongated body, and wings or tabs projecting from the opposite side of said body from the ends of said body through a greater length than the length of the hook it is associated with for grasping by a persons hand so as to twist said capstan to tighten a rope or wire that has been inserted into said slots and which is seated in said notches, said wings or tabs residing generally in a plane which includes said capstan axis.  
 10. A tightener in accordance with claim 9 in which said hooks are formed with curved portions extending throughout their length for camming against the rope or wire during the tightening procedure in permitting said portions to be retained in said hooks after the rope or wire has been tightened around the capstan.  
  11. A tightener in accordance with claim 10 in which said tabs are slightly curved, the tab adjacent one hook being curved in the direction that said hook faces and the tab adjacent the other hook being curved in the direction that said other hook faces.  
 12. A tightener in accordance with claim 11 in which said plastic material is molded nylon.