Tie down clamp

Claim 1

A tie down clamp to operate between a first object and a second object, said tie down clamp comprising: a housing; a first pin fixed to said housing, a second pin fixed to said housing and spaced from said first pin, a third pin fixed to said housing and spaced from both said first pin and said second pin, said third pin being pivotally connected to said first object and located a fixed spacing relative to said first pin, the spacing of said second pin from said third pin being greater than the spacing of said first pin from said third pin, a rope to contact said first pin over a first portion of said rope and then be wound about said second pin, the free end of said rope is then conducted again about said first pin to produce a second rope portion in contact with approximately said first portion, said free end of said rope connected to said second object and the other end of said rope receiving a tie down force to be effected between said first object and said second object resulting in the rope being forced together in friction engagement with itself over said portion about said first pin; the line between said first and second pins forming a substantial acute angle with a line passing through said second and third pins.