Rope shackle attachment thimble
An attachment thimble is disclosed for attaching a rope shackle to a vehicle for towing, pulling, or other tasks. In one embodiment, the attachment thimble has spaced apart flanges and a mid-portion with a diameter less than the dimensions of the flanges. A through-bore is formed through the thimble from one flange to the other flange. The thimble is sized to be slid into a hitch receiver or disposed between mounting dogs of a D-ring mount. In one application, a rope shackle is formed into a loop by pressing the knot on one end of the shackle through the eyelet on the other end. The thimble is then disposed in the loop and the knot, eyelet, and thimble are slid into the hitch receiver of a vehicle until its through-bore aligns with holes in the receiver. A securement pin is then slid through the receiver and through the thimble to secure the rope shackle to the hitch receiver for use.
1. A method of attaching a rope shackle to a structure comprising the steps of:
(a) extending a rope shackle around an attachment thimble;
(b) securing one end of the rope shackle to an opposite end of the rope shackle to form a loop around the attachment thimble;
(c) sliding one end of the loop and the attachment thimble between a pair of spaced apart structures that are spaced apart walls of a hitch receiver; and
(d) securing the attachment thimble in place between the pair of spaced apart structures to attach the rope shackle.
2. A method of attaching a rope shackle to a structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises pressing a knot on the one end of the rope shackle through an eyelet on the opposite end of the rope shackle.
3. A method of attaching a rope shackle to a structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises extending a securement pin through aligned holes in the spaced apart walls of the hitch receiver and through a through-bore in the attachment thimble and securing the securement pin in place.
4. A method of attaching a rope shackle to a structure as claimed in claim 3 wherein the step of securing the pin in place comprises attaching a clip to a protruding end of the pin.
5. A method of attaching a rope shackle to a structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (d) occurs before step (a).
6. A method of attaching a rope shackle to a structure comprising the steps of:
(a) extending a rope shackle around an attachment thimble
(b) securing one end of the rope shackle to an opposite end of the rope shackle to form a loop around the attachment thimble;
(c) sliding one end of the loop and the attachment thimble between a pair of spaced apart structures; and
(d) securing the attachment thimble in place between the pair of spaced apart structures to attach the rope shackle; and
wherein step (c) comprises sliding the attachment thimble between a pair of spaced apart mounting dogs.
7. A method of attaching a rope shackle to a structure as claimed in claim 6 wherein step (d) comprises extending a securement pin through aligned holes in the mounting dogs and through a through-bore in the attachment thimble.
8. A method of attaching a rope shackle to a structure as claimed in claim 7 further comprising allowing the attachment thimble to rotate on the securement pin.
9. A method of attaching a rope shackle to a structure as claimed in claim 6 wherein the pair of mounting dogs are part of a D-ring mounting structure.
10. A method of attaching a rope shackle to a structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein the D-ring mounting structure is secured to a bumper of a vehicle.
11. A method of attaching a rope shackle to a structure as claimed in claim 6 wherein step (d) occurs before step (a).
12. An attachment thimble for attaching a rope shackle to a structure, the attachment thimble comprising:
a pair of spaced apart flanges and
a mid-portion extending between the pair spaced apart flanges, the mid-portion having a minimum diameter smaller than outer dimensions of the pair of spaced apart flanges;
wherein a width of the attachment thimble is selected to fit between a pair of spaced apart structures and the pair of spaced apart structures comprise spaced apart walls of a hitch receiver; wherein the rope shackle extends around the attachment thimble.
13. The attachment thimble of claim 12 wherein the mid-portion tapers inwardly from the pair of spaced apart flanges to the minimum diameter.
14. The attachment thimble of claim 12 further comprising a through-bore extending through the attachment thimble from one flange to the other flange.
15. The attachment thimble of claim 12 wherein the flanges are generally rectangular in shape.
16. The attachment thimble of claim 12 wherein the opposed walls of the vehicle hitch receiver are mounting dogs of a D-ring mount.
17. A rope shackle assembly comprising:
a pair of spaced apart structures each having a hole aligned with a hole of the other spaced apart structure, the pair of spaced apart structures comprising opposed walls of a vehicle hitch receiver;
an attachment thimble having end portions and a mid-portion and being disposed between the pair of spaced apart structures, the attachment thimble having a throughbore aligned with the holes of the spaced apart structures;
a securement pin extending through the holes in the pair of spaced apart structures and through the through-bore in the attachment thimble; and
a looped rope shackle extending around the attachment thimble and extending therefrom to a free looped end.
18. A rope shackle assembly as claimed in claim 17 wherein the mid-portion of the attachment thimble has a diameter smaller than dimensions of the end portions.
19. A rope shackle assembly as claimed in claim 17 wherein the opposed walls of the vehicle hitch receiver are mounting dogs of a D-ring mount.
20. A rope shackle assembly as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the D-ring mounting structure is secured to a bumper of a vehicle.