Anchor for securing an elastic cord
An anchor for securing an elastic cord includes first and second spaced walls defining an anchoring passage, an anchoring cavity provided at one end of the anchoring passage, at least one retaining tooth projecting into the anchoring cavity for locking engagement with a section of the cord situated within the anchoring cavity, and a non-linear path provided by the anchoring passage and extending from the anchoring cavity to the exterior of the anchor. The non-linear path undergoes at least two changes of direction between the anchoring cavity and the exterior of the anchor. The non-linear path is defined by a pillar extending from the first wall into a recess in the second wall and a bridge section of the second wall, where the bridge section includes opposite ends which are connected by respective webs to the first wall to provide a bridge passage.
1 . An anchor for securing an elastic cord, comprising:
first and second spaced walls which define between them an anchoring passage;
an anchoring cavity provided at one end of the anchoring passage;
at least one retaining tooth projecting into the anchoring cavity for locking engagement with a section of the cord situated within the anchoring cavity;
a non-linear path provided by the anchoring passage and extending from the anchoring cavity to the exterior of the anchor, the non-linear path undergoing at least two changes of direction between the anchoring cavity and the exterior of the anchor, wherein the non-linear path is defined by:
a pillar extending from the first wall into a recess in the second wall;
a bridge section of the second wall, the bridge section having opposite ends which are connected by respective webs to the first wall to provide a bridge passage,
the anchoring passage extending from the anchoring cavity around the pillar to provide a first one of the changes of direction and through the bridge passage to provide a second one of the changes of direction.
2 . An anchor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the anchoring cavity is provided at its end away from the non-linear path with a chamber for accommodating a cord tip.
3 . An anchor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a clearance is provided between the pillar and the edge of the recess.
4 . An anchor as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the recess is formed in an edge of the second wall.
5 . An anchor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second change of direction is in the opposite sense to the first change of direction.
6 . An anchor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the through direction of the bridge passage extends transversely of the lengthwise direction of the anchoring cavity.
7 . An anchor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an opening is defined between the walls, the opening providing access from the exterior of the anchor to the anchoring cavity.
8 . An anchor as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a cord which is situated in the anchoring passage, the cord having a first section in locking engagement with the tooth of the anchoring cavity, a second section extending through the anchoring passage and undergoing at least two changes of direction, and a third section extending at the exterior of the anchor.
9 . An anchor as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the anchoring cavity is provided at its end away from the non-linear path with a chamber for accommodating a cord tip, and wherein a tip region of the cord is accommodated in the chamber.
10 . An anchor as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the tip region of the cord is provided with an end fitting.
11 . An anchor as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the end fitting comprises a shrink fitted sleeve.
12 . An anchor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the anchoring passage is one of two anchoring passages disposed symmetrically about a centreline of the anchor.
13 . An anchor as claimed in claim 12 , wherein opposite ends of a single cord are anchored in the respective anchoring passages of the anchor to form a loop.
14 . An anchor as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the loop extends through a latching component.
15 . A container provided with a latching arrangement, the latching arrangement including an elastic cord secured to the container by an anchor comprising:
first and second spaced walls which define between them an anchoring passage within which the cord is situated;
an anchoring cavity provided at one end of the anchoring passage;
at least one retaining tooth projecting into the anchoring cavity, the retaining tooth being in locking engagement with a section of the cord situated within the anchoring cavity;
a non-linear path provided by the anchoring passage and extending from the anchoring cavity to the exterior of the anchor, the non-linear path undergoing at least two changes of direction between the anchoring cavity and the exterior of the anchor, wherein the non-linear path is defined by:
a pillar extending from the first wall into a recess in the second wall, the cord being deflected around the pillar;
a bridge section of the second wall, the bridge section having opposite ends which are connected by respective webs to the first wall to provide a bridge passage through which the cord extends,
the anchoring passage extending from the anchoring cavity around the pillar to provide a first one of the changes of direction and through the bridge passage to provide a second one of the changes of direction.
16 . A container as claimed in claim 15 , comprising a cargo pack for mounting on a bicycle.