The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 20, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 29, 1999
Robert O. Boden, Altadena, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An elastomeric cord lock has two specially shaped passages extending through an elastomeric body. Lengths of cord pass through each of the passages and can be tied off at the ends to keep the cords from slipping out of the cord lock passages. Each passage has a cross section extending from a wide end to a narrower outwardly extending slot portion. The passages may, for example, have keyhole-shaped cross sections. When the lengths of cord are substantially parallel, the cord lock can easily slide along the lengths of cord. However, many applications for the cord lock require that the lengths of cord be maintained in a state of tension (for example, when the cord lock is being used to hold a drawstring tight). When outward tension is applied to the lengths of cord, the lengths are forced into the narrower slot portions, causing greater locking force to be exerted. The cord lock of the present invention thus provides greater locking force when greater force is needed. When not as much locking force is needed (i.e. when the lengths of cord are substantially parallel), the lengths of cord remain in the wider portions of the passages where less locking force is exerted. The lengths of cord can be released by manually compressing the cord lock to widen the narrow slot portions.