Lock for gripping cords or the like

Claim 1

A device for gripping at least one elongated flexible element and retaining it against longitudinal movement in a predetermined direction, comprising: a first member having a gripping surface; an actuating member mounted to said first member for relative swinging movement essentially about an axis between a locking position and a released position; and a locking member connected to said actuating member for swinging movement therewith between said positions, and having a gripping portion which in said locking position of the actuating member is positioned to clamp said elongated element against said gripping surface of said first member and which in said released position of the actuating member releases said element for longitudinal movement in said direction; said locking member being free for limited pivotal movement relative to said actuating member about said axis when the latter is in said locking position; said gripping portion of said locking member having a plurality of teeth for contacting and gripping said elongated element which are distributed essentially eccentrically with respect to said axis and adapted to move progressively closer to said gripping surface of said first member to grip said element progressively more tightly as said locking member pivots relative to said actuating member when the latter is in said locking position; said gripping surface of said first member being shaped to define and form a recess opposite said gripping portion of said locking member into which the locking member presses said elongated flexible element; said gripping surface having teeth within and defining said recess following essentially a pattern which curves progressively toward said axis as the surface advances about the axis in the direction in which said locking member pivots relative to said actuating member to tighten the grip on said elongated element; said teeth of said gripping surface of said first member including a first series of said teeth distributed arcuately about a second axis which is essentially parallel to but offset from said first axis, and a second series of said teeth distributed arcuately about a third axis which is essentially parallel to and offset from both of said first and second axes.

Claim 2

A device for gripping at least one elongated flexible element and retaining it against longitudinal movement in a predetermined direction, comprising: a first member having a gripping surface; an actuating member mounted to said first member for relative swinging movement essentially about an axis between a locking position and a released position; and a locking member connected to said actuating member for swinging movement therewith between said positions, and having a gripping portion which in said locking position of the actuating member is positioned to clamp said elongated element against said gripping surface of said first member and which in said released position of the actuating member releases said element for longitudinal movement in said direction; said locking member being free for limited pivotal movement relative to said actuating member about said axis when the latter is in said locking position; said gripping portion of said locking member having a plurality of teeth for contacting and gripping said elongated element which are distributed essentially eccentrically with respect to said axis and adapted to move progressively closer to said gripping surface of said first member to grip said element progressively more tightly as said locking member pivots relative to said actuating member when the latter is in said locking position; said gripping surface of said first member being shaped to define and form a recess opposite said gripping portion of said locking member into which the locking member presses said elongated flexible element; said gripping surface having teeth within and defining said recess following essentially a pattern which curves progressively toward said axis as the surface advances about the axis in the direction in which said locking member pivots relative to said actuating member to tighten the grip on said elongated element; said teeth of said gripping surface of said first member including a first series of said teeth distributed arcuately about a second axis which is essentially parallel to but offset from said first axis, and a second series of said teeth distributed arcuately about a third axis which is essentially parallel to and offset from both of said first and second axes.

Claim 10

A device for gripping at least one elongated flexible element and retaining it against longitudinal movement in a predetermined direction, comprising: a first member having a gripping surface; an actuating member mounted to said first member for relative swinging movement essentially about an axis between a locking position and a released position; and a locking member connected said actuating member for swinging movement therewith between said positions, and having a gripping portion which in said locking position of the actuating member is positioned to clamp said elongated element against said gripping surface of said first member and which in said released position of the actuating member releases said element for longitudinal movement in said direction; said locking member being free for limited pivotal movement relative to said actuating member about said axis when the latter is in said locking position; said gripping portion of said locking member having a plurality of teeth for contacting and gripping said elongated element which are distributed essentially eccentrically with respect to said axis and adapted to move progressively closer to said gripping surface of said first member to grip said element progressively more tightly as said locking member pivots relative to said actuating member when the latter is in said locking position; said gripping surface of said first member being shaped to define and form a recess opposite said gripping portion of said locking member into which the locking member presses said elongated flexible element; said gripping surface having teeth within and defining said recess following essentially a pattern which curves progressively toward said axis as the surface advances about the axis in the direction in which said locking member pivots relative to said actuating member to tighten the grip on said elongated element; said teeth of said locking member being distributed arcuately about a second axis which is essentially parallel to but offset from said first axis, and said teeth of said gripping surface of said first member being distributed arcuately about a third axis which is essentially parallel to said first and second axes and is farther fromsaid first axis than is said second axis.

Claim 11

A device for gripping at least one elongated flexible element and retaining it against longitudinal movement in a predetermined direction, comprising: a first member having a gripping surface; an actuating member mounted to said first member for relative swinging movement essentially about an axis between a locking position and a released position; and a locking member connected said actuating member for swinging movement therewith between said positions, and having a gripping portion which in said locking position of the actuating member is positioned to clamp said elongated element against said gripping surface of said first member and which in said released position of the actuating member releases said element for longitudinal movement in said direction; said locking member being free for limited pivotal movement relative to said actuating member about said axis when the latter is in said locking position; said gripping portion of said locking member having a plurality of teeth for contacting and gripping said elongated element which are distributed essentially eccentrically with respect to said axis and adapted to move progressively closer to said gripping surface of said first member to grip said element progressively more tightly as said locking member pivots relative to said actuating member when the latter is in said locking position; said gripping surface of said first member being shaped to define and form a recess opposite said gripping portion of said locking member into which the locking member presses said elongated flexible element; said gripping surface having teeth within and defining said recess following essentially a pattern which curves progressively toward said axis as the surface advances about the axis in the direction in which said locking member pivots relative to said actuating member to tighten the grip on said elongated element; said teeth of said locking member being distributed arcuately about a second axis which is essentially parallel to but offset from said first axis, and said teeth of said gripping surface of said first member being distributed arcuately about a third axis which is essentially parallel to said first and second axes and is farther fromsaid first axis than is said second axis.

Claim 12

A device for gripping two elongated flexible elements and retaining them against longitudinal movement in a predetermined direction, comprising: a first member having a gripping surface; an actuating member mounted to said first member for relative swinging movement essentially about an axis between a locking position and a released position; a locking member connected to said actuating member for swinging movement therewith between said positions; and having a gripping portion which in said locking position of the actuating member is positioned to clamp at least one of said elongated elements against said gripping surface of said first member and which in said released position of the actuating member releases said element for longitudinal movement in said direction; said locking member being free for limited pivotal movement relative to said actuating member about said axis when the latter is in said locking position; said gripping portion of said locking member being constructed to move progressively closer to said gripping surface of said first member and to thereby grip said element progressively more tightly as said locking member pivots relative to said actuating member when the latter is in said locking position; said first member having a portion which in a predetermined orientation of said device extends generally horizontally beneath said elongated elements at a location offset from said gripping surface; and a structure which is carried by said generally horizontal portion of said first member and which has opposite end portions secured to and projecting upwardly from said first member at opposite sides of said two elongated elements and an upper transverse portion extending laterally between and interconnecting said two end portions, in a relation bridging across the upper sides of said two elongated elements and confining them vertically between said first member and said upper transverse portion of said structure and laterally between said end portions of said structure; said upper transverse portion of said structure being constructed to form a detent element which is located laterally between said end portions and is connected to said first member only through said end portions of said structure, and is engageable with said actuating member essentially laterally between said two elongated elements in a relation releasably retaining it in said locking position.

Claim 13

A device for gripping two elongated flexible elements and retaining them against longitudinal movement in a predetermined direction, comprising: a first member having a gripping surface; an actuating member mounted to said first member for relative swinging movement essentially about an axis between a locking position and a released position; a locking member connected to said actuating member for swinging movement therewith between said positions; and having a gripping portion which in said locking position of the actuating member is positioned to clamp at least one of said elongated elements against said gripping surface of said first member and which in said released position of the actuating member releases said element for longitudinal movement in said direction; said locking member being free for limited pivotal movement relative to said actuating member about said axis when the latter is in said locking position; said gripping portion of said locking member being constructed to move progressively closer to said gripping surface of said first member and to thereby grip said element progressively more tightly as said locking member pivots relative to said actuating member when the latter is in said locking position; said first member having a portion which in a predetermined orientation of said device extends generally horizontally beneath said elongated elements at a location offset from said gripping surface; and a structure which is carried by said generally horizontal portion of said first member and which has opposite end portions secured to and projecting upwardly from said first member at opposite sides of said two elongated elements and an upper transverse portion extending laterally between and interconnecting said two end portions, in a relation bridging across the upper sides of said two elongated elements and confining them vertically between said first member and said upper transverse portion of said structure and laterally between said end portions of said structure; said upper transverse portion of said structure being constructed to form a detent element which is located laterally between said end portions and is connected to said first member only through said end portions of said structure, and is engageable with said actuating member essentially laterally between said two elongated elements in a relation releasably retaining it in said locking position.