Jamming cleat

Claim 2

A jamming cleat having a stationary groove to receive and grip a rope, at least a part of the depth of the groove having correspondingly stationary facing side walls each of which is formed with a plurality of ridges which are inclined upwardly from the base of the groove towards one end of the groove, the crests of the ridges on each side of the groove lying generally in one common correspondingly stationary ridge crest plane, which corresponding stationary ridge crest planes converge downwardly towards the bottom of the groove, wherein the said stationary ridge crest planes diverge at a fixed angle lengthwise of the groove away from the said one end of the groove to thereby more uniformly grip a rope extending lengthwise within the groove and downwardly from the said one end of the groove.

Claim 3

A jamming cleat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said ridge crest planes diverge lengthwise of the groove away from the said one end of the groove at an angle lying within the range 30 minutes to 8 degrees.

Claim 4

A jamming cleat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said ridge crest planes diverge lengthwise of the groove away from the said one end of the groove at an angle lying within the range of 1 degree to 4 degrees.

Claim 5

A jamming cleat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ridge crest planes diverge lengthwise of the groove away from the said one end of the groove at an angle lying within the range of 2 degrees to 3 degrees.

Claim 6

A jamming cleat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the groove is generally V-shaped in cross-section.

Claim 7

A jamming cleat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said ridge crest planes converge downwardly at an angle within the range of 5 degrees to 40 degrees.

Claim 8

A jamming cleat as claimed in claim 6, wherein the said ridge crest planes extend downwardly in parallel adjacent the bottom of the groove.

Claim 9

A jamming cleat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ridges on each side wall are inclined upwardly from the bottom of the groove at an angle of approximately 45 degrees.

Claim 10

A jamming cleat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ridges on each wall are linear and parallel.

Claim 11

A jamming cleat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ridges on each wall are curved.

Claim 12

A jamming cleat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ridges on each wall are similar.

Claim 13

A jamming cleat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleat includes a base portion having apertures for mounting the cleat on a support surface.

Claim 14

A jamming cleat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleat is provided with means for connecting the cleat to a support therefor.

Claim 15

A unitary and integral jamming cleat having a stationary groove to receive and grip a rope, at least a part of the depth of the groove having correspondingly stationary facing side walls each of which is formed with a plurality of edges lying generally parallel and inclined upwardly from the base of the groove towards one end of the groove, the crests of the ridges on each side of the groove lying approximately in one common correspondingly stationary ridge crest plane, which corresponding stationary ridge crest planes converge downwardly towards the bottom of the groove at an angle within the range of 5 degrees to 40 degrees, wherein the said stationary ridge crest planes diverge lengthwise of the groove away from the said one end of the groove to form a fixed angle within the range of 1 degree to 4 degrees, whereby a rope laid lengthwise through the groove and pulled in a direction away from the said one end of the groove so as to be drawn downwardly towards the base of the groove by the ridges and jammed within the groove, will be drawn down progessively further into the groove from the said one end of the groove towards the other end of the groove but will be substantially uniformly gripped by the ridges along the length of the groove by virtue of the divergence of the said ridge crest planes.

Claim 16

A unitary and integral jamming cleat having a stationary groove to receive and grip a rope, at least a part of the depth of the groove having correspondingly stationary facing side walls each of which is formed with a plurality of edges lying generally parallel and inclined upwardly from the base of the groove towards one end of the groove, the crests of the ridges on each side of the groove lying approximately in one common correspondingly stationary ridge crest plane, which corresponding stationary ridge crest planes converge downwardly towards the bottom of the groove at an angle within the range of 5 degrees to 40 degrees, wherein the said stationary ridge crest planes diverge lengthwise of the groove away from the said one end of the groove to form a fixed angle within the range of 1 degree to 4 degrees, whereby a rope laid lengthwise through the groove and pulled in a direction away from the said one end of the groove so as to be drawn downwardly towards the base of the groove by the ridges and jammed within the groove, will be drawn down progessively further into the groove from the said one end of the groove towards the other end of the groove but will be substantially uniformly gripped by the ridges along the length of the groove by virtue of the divergence of the said ridge crest planes.