Connector (slider)

Claim 2

A line connector for use in connecting a choker cable, having a nubbin at an end thereof, to a line, which has abutment means thereon, the connector comprising: an elongate body having a sidewall thereabout, a base at one end thereof and a nubbin-receiving chamber therein, said chamber having an upper, nubbin-insertion region sized freely to receive a nubbin therein, and a lower, nubbin-seating region, said chamber further including a first opening in said sidewall adjacent said upper region sized to allow passage of a nubbin therethrough and a second opening in said sidewall, located below and connected to said first opening, which extends into said base, sized to allow passage only of a cable therethrough; a spring-biased nubbin retainer located at the upper end of said nubbin-insertion region, said retainer including a shaft extending through and axially movable in the upper end of said nubbin-insertion region, and a plate mounted on the end of said shaft in said nubbin-insertion region, said shaft and plate being constructed and arranged such that the plate, when fully extended into said insertion region, is spaced apart from a nubbin seated in said seating region; and attachment means for attaching the connector to the line.

Claim 3

The connector of claim 1 wherein said plate is biased to an extended position by a cone spring which encircles said shaft.

Claim 4

The connector of claim 1 wherein said plate has a substantially flat nubbin contacting surface.

Claim 5

The connector of claim 1 wherein said plate has a cup-shaped nubbin contacting surface.

Claim 6

The connector of claim 1 wherein said head includes an anti-nesting structure to prevent necked stacking, on a line, of one connector upon a connector adjacent thereto.

Claim 7

The connector of claim 1 wherein said attachment means includes a head fixed to the other end of said body which extends laterally to one side of said body and a first region between said body and the lower side of said head on said one side has a first radius of curvature, and wherein said connector includes an anti-nesting structure located on the upper side of said head diametrically opposite said first region which has a second radius of curvature smaller than that of said first radius of curvature, thereby presenting a small-radius fulcrum to said first region to facilitate rocking of the connector which is in contact with a second connector adjacent thereto on the line, thereby to dislodge adjacent connectors from a nested condition.

Claim 8

A line connector for use in connecting a choker cable, having a nubbin at an end thereof, to a line, which has abutment means thereon, the connector comprising: an elongate body including a sidewall thereabout, a base at one end thereof and a nubbin-receiving chamber therein, said chamber having an upper, nubbin-insertion region sized freely to receive a nubbin therein, and a lower, nubbin-seating region, said chamber further including a first opening in said sidewall adjacent said upper region sized to allow passage of a nubbin therethrough and a second opening in said sidewall, located below and connected to said first opening, which extends into said base, sized to allow passage only of a cable therethrough; and a spring-biased nubbin retainer located at the upper end of said nubbin-insertion region, said retainer including a shaft extending through and axially movable in the upper end of said nubbin-insertion region and a plate mounted on the end of said shaft in said nubbin-insertion region, said shaft and plate being constructed and arranged such that the plate, when fully extended into said insertion region, is spaced apart from a nubbin seated in said seating region; and a head affixed to the upper end of said body extending laterally to one side thereof, the region between said body and said head on said one side having a first radius of curvature, the region opposed to said one side having an anti-nesting structure thereon, said structure having a second radius of curvature which is smaller than that of said first radius of curvature.

Claim 9

A line connector for use in connecting a choker cable, having a nubbin at an end thereof, to a line, which has abutment means thereon, the connector comprising: an elongate body including a sidewall thereabout, a base at one end thereof and a nubbin-receiving chamber therein, said chamber having an upper, nubbin-insertion region sized freely to receive a nubbin therein, and a lower, nubbin-seating region, said chamber further including a first opening in said sidewall adjacent said upper region sized to allow passage of a nubbin therethrough and a second opening in said sidewall, located below and connected to said first opening, which extends into said base, sized to allow passage only of a cable therethrough; and a spring-biased nubbin retainer located at the upper end of said nubbin-insertion region, said retainer including a shaft extending through and axially movable in the upper end of said nubbin-insertion region and a plate mounted on the end of said shaft in said nubbin-insertion region, said shaft and plate being constructed and arranged such that the plate, when fully extended into said insertion region, is spaced apart from a nubbin seated in said seating region; and a head affixed to the upper end of said body extending laterally to one side thereof, the region between said body and said head on said one side having a first radius of curvature, the region opposed to said one side having an anti-nesting structure thereon, said structure having a second radius of curvature which is smaller than that of said first radius of curvature.

Claim 10

The connector of claim 7 wherein said plate is biased to an extended position by a cone spring which encircles said shaft.

Claim 11

The connector of claim 7 wherein said plate has a substantially flat nubbin contacting surface.

Claim 12

The connector of claim 7 wherein said plate has a cup-shaped nubbin contacting surface.

Claim 13

A line connector for use in connecting a choker cable, having a nubbin at an end thereof, to a line, which has abutment means thereon, the connector comprising: an elongate body including a sidewall thereabout, a base at one end thereof and a nubbin-receiving chamber therein, said chamber having an upper, nubbin-insertion region sized freely to receive a nubbin therein, and a lower, nubbin seating region, said chamber further including a first opening in said sidewall adjacent said upper region sized to allow passage of a nubbin therethrough and a second opening in said sidewall, located below and connected to said first opening, which extends into said base, sized to allow passage only of a cable therethrough; and a head located at the other end of said body including a wasted, cable-receiving area, and surrounded about the periphery thereof by a bail and a formation having an asymmetry characteristic which prevents adjacent connectors on a line from stack-nesting.

Claim 14

A line connector for use in connecting a choker cable, having a nubbin at an end thereof, to a line, which has abutment means thereon, the connector comprising: an elongate body including a sidewall thereabout, a base at one end thereof and a nubbin-receiving chamber therein, said chamber having an upper, nubbin-insertion region sized freely to receive a nubbin therein, and a lower, nubbin seating region, said chamber further including a first opening in said sidewall adjacent said upper region sized to allow passage of a nubbin therethrough and a second opening in said sidewall, located below and connected to said first opening, which extends into said base, sized to allow passage only of a cable therethrough; and a head located at the other end of said body including a wasted, cable-receiving area, and surrounded about the periphery thereof by a bail and a formation having an asymmetry characteristic which prevents adjacent connectors on a line from stack-nesting.

Claim 15

The connector of claim 11 which includes a spring-biased nubbin retainer located at the upper end of said nubbin-insertion region, said retainer including a shaft extending through and axially movable in the upper end of said nubbin-insertion region and a plate mounted on the end of said shaft in said nubbin-insertion region, said shaft and plate being constructed and arranged such that the plate, when fully extended into said insertion region, is spaced apart from a nubbin seated in said seating region.

Claim 16

The connector of claim 12 wherein said plate is biased to an extended position by a cone spring which encircles said shaft.

Claim 17

The connector of claim 12 wherein said plate has a substantially flat nubbin contacting surface.

Claim 18

The connector of claim 12 wherein said plate has a cup-shaped nubbin contacting surface.

Claim 19

A line connector for use in connecting a choker cable, having a nubbin at an end thereof, to a line, which has abutment means thereon, the connector comprising: an elongate body having a sidewall thereabout, a base at one end thereof and a nubbin-receiving chamber therein, said chamber having an upper, nubbin-insertion region sized freely to receive a nubbin therein, and a lower, nubbin seating region, said chamber further including a first opening in said sidewall adjacent said upper region sized to allow passage of a nubbin therethrough and a second opening in said sidewall, located below and connected to said first opening, which extends into said base, sized to allow passage only of a cable therethrough; a spring-biased nubbin retainer located at the upper end of said nubbin-insertion region, said retainer including a shaft extending through and axially movable in the upper end of said nubbin-insertion region, and a plate mounted on the end of said shaft in said nubbin-insertion region, said shaft and plate being constructed and arranged such that the plate, when fully extended into said insertion region, is spaced apart from a nubbin seated in said seating region; and a head affixed to an end of said body having an elbow-like bend between said body and said head, said bend having an inner radius and a relatively smaller outer radius such that the inner radius of a connector received on the line will confront the larger, outer radius of a second, like connector and be rotated off of the second connector.

Claim 20

A line connector for use in connecting a choker cable, having a nubbin at an end thereof, to a line, which has abutment means thereon, the connector comprising: an elongate body having a sidewall thereabout, a base at one end thereof and a nubbin-receiving chamber therein, said chamber having an upper, nubbin-insertion region sized freely to receive a nubbin therein, and a lower, nubbin seating region, said chamber further including a first opening in said sidewall adjacent said upper region sized to allow passage of a nubbin therethrough and a second opening in said sidewall, located below and connected to said first opening, which extends into said base, sized to allow passage only of a cable therethrough; a spring-biased nubbin retainer located at the upper end of said nubbin-insertion region, said retainer including a shaft extending through and axially movable in the upper end of said nubbin-insertion region, and a plate mounted on the end of said shaft in said nubbin-insertion region, said shaft and plate being constructed and arranged such that the plate, when fully extended into said insertion region, is spaced apart from a nubbin seated in said seating region; and a head affixed to an end of said body having an elbow-like bend between said body and said head, said bend having an inner radius and a relatively smaller outer radius such that the inner radius of a connector received on the line will confront the larger, outer radius of a second, like connector and be rotated off of the second connector.

Claim 21

The connector of claim 16 wherein said plate is biased to an extended position by a cone spring which encircles said shaft.

Claim 22

The connector of claim 16 wherein said plate has a substantially flat nubbin contacting surface.

Claim 23

The connector of claim 16 wherein said plate has a cup-shaped nubbin contacting surface.