[54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING PLEASURE CRAFTS
[76] Inventor: Lawrence A. Hinkey, 22 Grove Ave., Glen Falls, N.Y. 12801
[21] Appl. No.: 09/028,138 [22] Filed: Feb. 23, 1998
Related U.S. Application Data
[60] Provisional application No. 60/041,663, Mar. 25, 1997.
[51] Int. C I. E05B 73/00
[52] U.S. CI 24/71 TD; 24/71 CT
[58] Field of Search 70/18, 58; 24/68 R,
24/70 CT, 70 ST, 69 ST, 69 CT, 69 CF, 69 WT, 69 R, 71 R, 71 ST, 71 TD, 71 CT,
68 CD, 70 R
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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4,873,848 10/1989 Honeymann, III .
5,119,649 6/1992 Spence .
5,159,729 11/1992 Walker .
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5,187,840 2/1993 Kaczorowski .
5,440,790 8/1995 Chou .
Primary Examiner—-James R. Brittain
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—-John Pietrangelo
[57] ABSTRACT
Various methods and devices for securing pleasure craft, for example, surf boards, snow boards, or canoes, which provide for ease of securing the craft and ease of releasing the craft are disclosed. These methods and devices typically employ some form of cables or other tensile members and cable locking or securing devices. Cable securing and locking devices are also disclosed. In particular, various cable securing devices consisting of a first u-shaped channels and a second u-shaped channel pivotably connected to the first u-shaped channel are disclosed. These u-shaped channels include cable attaching and tensioning devices which facilitate the restraint and removal of the cable. One attaching device includes a threaded nut-type fastener for retaining the cable in the channel and rotating disk element over which the cable passes which facilitates the tensioning of the cable during restraint of a craft or other device.
30 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
