Stretching screw

Claim 1

A turnbuckle comprising a first attachment section which comprises a tube having a non-round cross-sectional configuration; a second attachment section; a threaded element disposed to enable displacing said sections relative to said element and thereby relative to one another, said threaded element being rotationally mounted in said first attachment section and having a threaded aperture passing through said threaded element, said second attachment section having a threaded portion engaged in said threaded aperture; stop means on said second attachment section for preventing turning movement of said second attachment section relative to said first attachment section upon displacement of said first and said second attachment sections relative to one another, said stop means having a length essentially agreeing with a maximum internal width dimension of said tube; and a U-shaped loop on an end of said tube, said loop having legs and having apertures across the legs of said loop; a bolt passing through said apertures and having a free, generally cylindrical end portion with a flat recess thereon; a non-round locking disc, and a screw securing said locking disc to said U-shaped loop adjacent said bolt, said locking disc engaging said recess on said bolt, said locking disc being turnable around said screw and displaceable from its engagement with said recess upon loosening of said screw.