Tie line clamp assembly

Claim 1

Clamp assembly for a boat tie line comprising: a rotatable reel mounted to a support surface of the boat; an elongated tie line wound about said reel; means for clamping said tie line comprising a hollow bolt secured to said support surface, a hollow nut in threaded engagement with said bolt, said bolt having an opening through which said tie line extends, said bolt opening including an enlarged coaxial recess having bottom and side walls, a resilient, elastomeric annular gasket disposed within said recess in contact with said walls and surrounding said tie line, an inwardly directed flange on said nut overlying said gasket and defining a coaxial opening through which said tie line extends, a bushing partially disposed within said recess and being in engagement with said flange, said bushing having a planar surface perpendicular to the axis of said tie line as it extends therethrough, said surface being in contact with the upper end of said gasket; and a bead element mounted on the free end of said tie line for maintaining said free end outwardly of said nut as said bead element rests against said flange, said gasket being compressed and its annular opening being constricted against the surrounded tie line to clamp it in place as said bushing is pressed against said gasket for compressing same upon a tightening of said nut.