Fid for rope splicing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10774469-B2
Application number	US-201715792720-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2017
Priority date	Oct 28, 2016
Publication date	Sep 15, 2020
Grant date	Sep 15, 2020

Abstract

A fid is made of separate components that can be easily assembled and disassembled by the user. In this manner the fid components can be easily stored or transported and then assembled when needed to create a fid of sufficient length to splice a synthetic rope or other types of rope. The fid includes an elongate shaft or needle with a first that tapers to a point. The opposing end of the shaft may be machined to form a connection structure. A coupler may have an elongate form with two opposing ends along a center axis. One end of the coupler removable attaches to the needle at the connection structure. The second end of the coupler permanently attaches to a rope holder, which may take the form of a cylindrical, helically wound braid of thin wire cable forming a wire basket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fid comprising
an elongate needle having a tip at a first end and a connection structure at an opposing second end;
a coupler having an opposing connection structure at a first longitudinal end configured to releasably and removably couple with the connection structure of the elongate needle and further having a connector comprising a ferrule in the form of a sleeve at a second longitudinal end; and
a rope holder configured to retain an end of a rope within a first end thereof and a having a second end configured for coupling with the connector of the coupler, wherein
the second end of the rope holder resides within the sleeve and is permanently affixed to the coupler through the connector, and
the sleeve is in a crimped configuration, compressing radially inward against the second end of the rope holder to permanently retain the second end of the rope holder within the ferrule.

2. The fid of claim 1 , wherein
the connection structure on the elongate needle comprises a threaded shaft; and
the opposing connection structure on the coupler comprises a threaded surface on an interior wall of a bore defined within the coupler.

3. The fid of claim 1 , wherein
the connection structure on the elongate needle comprises a threaded surface on an interior wall of a bore defined within the second end of the elongate needle; and
the opposing connection structure on the coupler comprises a threaded shaft.

4. The fid of claim 1 , wherein the elongate needle comprises a shaft and a measuring tool in the form of bury length markings is provided along a length of the shaft.

5. The fid of claim 1 , wherein the elongate needle comprises a shaft and an informational tool in the form of bury depth markings is provided along a length of the shaft.

6. The fid of claim 1 , wherein the rope holder comprises a braided wire basket.

7. The fid of claim 6 , wherein the wire basket comprises a helically wound biaxial braid.

8. A method of making a fid comprising
forming an elongate needle with a tip at a first end and a connection structure at an opposing second end;
forming a coupler having an opposing connection structure at a first longitudinal end configured to releasably and removably couple with the connection structure of the elongate needle and further having a connector at a second longitudinal end;
forming a rope holder configured to retain an end of a rope within a first end thereof and a having a second end configured for coupling with the connector of the coupler;
permanently affixing the second end of the rope holder to the coupler with the connector;
forming the connector on the coupler as a ferrule in the form of a sleeve;
inserting the second end of the rope holder within the sleeve; and
crimping the sleeve to compress the sleeve radially inward against the second end of the rope holder to permanently retain the second end of the rope holder within the ferrule.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising
forming the connection structure on the elongate needle as a threaded shaft; and
forming the opposing connection structure on the coupler as a threaded surface on an interior wall of a bore defined within the coupler.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising
forming the connection structure on the elongate needle as a threaded surface on an interior wall of a bore defined within the second end of the elongate needle; and
forming the opposing connection structure on the coupler as a threaded shaft.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising forming the rope holder as a braided wire basket.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising forming the wire basket as a helically wound biaxial braid.

13. A method for splicing a high modulus polyethylene rope comprising
selecting a fid constituting separate components including an elongate needle, a rope holder, and a coupler for attaching the elongate needle and the rope holder together; wherein the rope holder is permanently attached to the coupler;
removably coupling the elongate needle to the coupler to form a fid configured to attach to a bury end of a length of rope;
removably coupling a bury end of a length of rope to the rope holder;
inserting the fid between braided strands of the rope at an insertion location;
advancing the fid within a center core of the rope thereby pulling the bury end of the rope within the center core;
exiting the fid from between the braided strands of the rope at a distance spaced apart from the insertion location; and
uncoupling the bury end of the rope from the rope holder.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising uncoupling the elongate needle from the coupler.

15. A fid comprising
an elongate needle having
a tip at a first end,
a shaft,
a measuring tool in the form of bury length markings provided along a length of the shaft, and
a connection structure at an opposing second end;

a coupler having an opposing connection structure at a first longitudinal end configured to releasably and removably couple with the connection structure of the elongate needle and further having a connector at a second longitudinal end; and
a rope holder configured to retain an end of a rope within a first end thereof and a having a second end configured for coupling with the connector of the coupler.

16. A fid comprising
an elongate needle having
a tip at a first end,
a shaft,
an informational tool in the form of bury depth markings provided along a length of the shaft, and
a connection structure at an opposing second end;

a coupler having an opposing connection structure at a first longitudinal end configured to releasably and removably couple with the connection structure of the elongate needle and further having a connector at a second longitudinal end; and
a rope holder configured to retain an end of a rope within a first end thereof and a having a second end configured for coupling with the connector of the coupler.

Assignees

• Factor 55 Llc
• Warn Ind Inc

Inventors

• Costa Michael Douglas

Classifications

• D07B1/185

  characterised by the eye construction · CPC title

• D07B7/182 Primary

  for spreading ropes or cables by hand-operated tools for splicing purposes, e.g. needles or spikes · CPC title