CLEAT WITH AUTOMATIC IN-LINE LOCKING CAM

摘要

A failsafe stable cleat with automatic in-line line-locking includes a frame having proximate and a remote sides on substantially opposite sides of the frame and formed with a passageway, extending between the proximate and remote sides, for receiving a line and generally defining a cleat center line along which a line can move along a first line releasing direction from the proximate to the remote sides and a line pulling direction from the remote to the proximates sides; attaching members for attaching the frame to a support surface. A cam on the frame on one side of the passageway has a line engaging portion spaced a predetermined distance from the support surface, the cam being movable between a line releasing position and a line locking position. A pusher on the frame is positioned on an opposite side of the passageway in relation to the cam for selectively applying a force on the line in the direction of the cam. A cam biasing member tends to urge the cam to disengage from the line while a pushed biasing member normally tends to move the line across the gap into contact with the cam while permitting the line to return to the passageway out of contact with the cam when sufficient tension is applied by the user off the cleat center line to create a force component to offset the pushing force created by the pusher biasing member. This promotes unlocking of the line and allowing the line to move in the first line releasing direction, engagement of the line by the cam to the line locking position creating a force couple which is a function of the predetermined distance, that tends to separate the frame from the support surface. A stabilizing element compensates for an offset the force couple independently of the dimensions or configuration of the frame.