US-20260126096-A1 - BUNGEE INTERCONNECTION SYSTEM

US20260126096A1US 20260126096 A1US20260126096 A1US 20260126096A1US-20260126096-A1

Abstract

An assembly for attachment to an end of a cord that facilitates interconnection to another device. The device defines an opening through which the cord extends. The cord includes an end portion, such as a loop, ferrule positioned about the loop, that secures a ring configured to be positioned adjacent the opening to prevent withdrawal of the cord from the device when cord tension is applied. The assembly enables secure and durable attachment of the cord to the device without crimp sleeves or end caps and allows simplified assembly using conventional cord materials and diameters.

Inventors

Bowden Ormsbee

Assignees

NITE IZE, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251028

Claims (20)

1 . An assembly configured for securing an object comprising: device adapted for selectively interconnecting to an anchor point, the device having a seat with a channel extending therethrough, wherein channel ends are define by an end opening and a side opening; a cord within the channel and extending through the end opening and the side opening; and wherein an end of the cord forms a loop that defines a space configured to accommodate a ring configured to prevent the cord from slipping from the ferrule.
2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the device includes a hook.
3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein cord is elastic.
4 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the channel includes an end wall configured to selectively engage a ferrule that maintains the loop.
5 . The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the channel has an inner profile that is less than an outer extent of at least one of the loop, the ferrule, or the ring.
6 . The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the ring or ferrule has a textured or knurled outer surface.
7 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the loop is maintained by a ferrule, and the ring and/or ferrule comprise an integral portion of the cord.
8 . The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the ferrule is comprised of a compliant metallic material.
9 . The assembly of claim 7 , wherein tension on the cord urges the ferrule against a surface of the channel and/or side opening portions.
10 . A device for interconnection, comprising: a body having an end opening and a side opening that define a channel; a seat formed within the channel; a cord having an end portion extending through the end opening and the side opening, the cord terminating in a loop; a ferrule positioned about the loop; and a load-transfer means captured within the loop, wherein the load-transfer means configured to prevent the loop slipping from the ferrule.
11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein channel sidewalls are tapered such that a width thereof decreases along its length, and wherein the channel includes an end wall that selectively receives the ferrule.
12 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the channel includes contoured surfaces.
13 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the ferrule and/or load-transfer means includes external surface features configured to enhance frictional engagement with the sidewalls.
14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the external surface features comprise barbs, knurls, or raised texture.
15 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the ferrule comprises a ductile metallic material wrapped around the loop to maintain the loop and retain the load-transfer means.
16 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the body comprises a hook having a curved portion and a base portion, the side opening being located in the base portion adjacent the seat.
17 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the sidewalls of the seat are configured to flex or elastically deform to permit partial passage of the load-transfer means.
18 . A method of assembling a cord interconnection system, comprising: providing a device for interconnection having an end opening and a side opening that define ends of channel with a seat positioned therein; threading an end portion of a cord through the end opening and the side opening; forming a loop in the cord; positioning a ring within the loop; securing the loop by applying a ferrule therearound to maintain the ring in a captured position; and locating at least one of the cord, ferrule, and the ring within the channel such that, when tension is applied to the cord, the loop is at least partially prevented from slipping from the ferrule.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising tapering the sidewalls of the channel such that a spacing between the sidewalls decreases along the channel's length.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the ferrule and the ring includes external surface features that frictionally engage the sidewalls of the channel.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/716,852, filed Nov. 6, 2024, which is incorporated by reference herein under 37 C.F.R. § 1.57. FIELD OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to elastic cord fastening systems and, more particularly, to systems and methods for connecting an end of an elastic or bungee cord to another component, such as a hook. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The following background discussion is not an admission that the matters discussed below are citable as prior art or common general knowledge. Rather, the general background information disclosed is directed at describing the problem(s) associated with the current state of the art, and a need for a better solution. Elastic cords, often referred to as bungee cords or shock cords, are widely used to secure or tension objects in transportation, recreation, and industrial applications. Various devices have been developed to attach such cords to hooks, clips, or other anchoring elements. In one known approach, a molded plastic hook includes one or more holes at its base end through which the cord is threaded and tied in a knot, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,692. The knot prevents the cord from being withdrawn from the hook body under tension. Another common design employs an internal cavity within the hook body that receives a doubled-over cord end secured by a crimp sleeve or end cap, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,639. Similar constructions use channels or wedges to frictionally grip a cord when tensioned, such as the arrangement disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,998. As shown in U.S. Publication No. 2012/0102680, hooks that have multiple apertures that receive a cord in a circuitous fashion, thereby increasing frictional, i.e. holding, force between the cord in the hook, have also been used. In still other arrangements, a looped cord end is crimped with a ferrule or metal ring, and the hook is engaged through the loop, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,584. FIG. 1 shows a common method of connecting a cord 2 to a device for interconnection 6, such as a hook. Here, an end 10 of the bungee cord is threaded through an end opening 14 and a side opening 16 in the device for interconnection 6 and looped upon itself. The loop 18 is maintained by a length of ductile metallic material 22 in a coiled fashion. In operation, pulling the cord 2 away from the device for interconnection 6 will eventually position the loop 18 and/or ferrule 22 within a seat 30 associated with the side opening 16. Because the loop and/or ferrule are wider than the side opening 16, the cord 2 cannot be removed from the device for interconnection 6. One drawback with this configuration is that excessive tensile forces may tend to deform the compliant cord/loop and more rigid ferrule, thereby allowing the cord 2 to slip out of the ferrule. Although these known devices provide various mechanisms for attaching a cord to a hook, they often require additional parts such as crimp sleeves or end caps or depend on knots that can loosen or degrade with use. Some designs also involve multiple assembly steps or rely on frictional engagement that may vary with cord diameter and elasticity. Accordingly, there remains a need for an improved hook and cord interface that provides secure and durable attachment, simplified assembly, and reliable performance under repeated tensioning and environmental exposure. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved system for interconnecting an elastic or bungee cord to another component, such as a hook, without requiring additional crimp sleeves, caps, or adhesive bonding. Accordingly, retention and durability of the connection is enhanced. In one embodiment, the invention provides a device for interconnection, such as a hook, having an end opening and a side opening that together define a channel through which an end of a cord is routed. The cord end is folded upon itself to form a loop maintained by a ferrule. A ring is captured within the loop. The engagement of the ferrule onto an end wall of the seat transfers tensile forces from the cord to the device for interconnection. As one of skill in the art will appreciate, the cord will narrow when tensioned. The ring is configured to prevent or decrease loop deformation that would otherwise allow the cord to escape the ferrule and release the cord from the device for interconnection. The ferrule and/or the ring may also engage sidewalls of the seat to enhance engagement. The channel of one embodiment has tapered or contoured sidewalls that direct the cord along a defined path and guide the ferrule, ring, and/or cord into a secure, seated position. In certain embodiments, the ferrule or ring includes external features such as barbs, knurls, or surface texture that facilitates frictional engagement between the ring and the sidewalls, or to allow for the ring to deform the sidewalls