Products

For Wire Cable, an Adjustable Tension Fastener.

This design illustrates a ZipNut® iteration designed to rapidly anchor one end of a wire cable on a structure and to also allow adjusting the tension of that cable.     The ZipNut® and ZipLok© is a Robert Fullerton design and concept.

Unlike turnbuckles and other conventional cable-tensioning mechanisms, this mechanism also facilitates direct visual measurement of tension in the cable up to the desired tension referencing the Belleville washer at the top of the split cap while torquing until the required stresses arc achieved.

The following will illustrate the sequences of events to achieve proper guy-wire installation of this device.

  1. The bracket is used to secure the mechanism to the anchoring structure.
  2. The near end of the cable is threaded through the tension rod.
  3. The tension rod is then pushed through the ZipNut® plate attached to the anchoring structure.
  4. A ZipLok© is applied below the leading end of the tension rod, leaving room for the ZipNut® end cap.
  5. The ZipNut® end cap is now pushed on to the end of the tension rod and secured.
  6. The Wire cable is now threaded through the end cap mechanism and stopper.
  7. The cable is now pulled, by hand to take up any cable slack.
  8. The tension rod is now turned counter-clockwise until the conical surface of the stopper mates with the conical surface of the ZipNut® end cap, placing the cable in tension.
    1. This action will compress the three sections of the stopper, reducing the inside diameter of the tungsten carbide coated cableway (in some versions, teeth may be provided to increase the cable gripping power).
    2. This will provide a crushing grip to the cable producing cable lock to The ZipNut® endcap.

  9. Further counter-clockwise rotation of the tension rod can be applied to increase the cable tension.
    1. This tension can be visually measured by observing the Belleville washer beneath the split ring stopper.
    2. When the Belleville washer is flat, proper cable tension has been achieved.

  10. When the proper cable tension has been achieved the ZipLok© may now be secured against the top of the ZipNut® plate by counter-rotating the ZipLok© against the ZipNut® plate on the tension rod.
    1. This will provide a locking action to the entire mechanism.

  11. The wire cable ends, protruding past the end cap, now may be trimmed to length.
NOTICE

On May 29 1983, Robert L Fullerton filed United States Patent number 4,378,187 for a "Quick Acting Fastener "(nut).     Mr. Fullerton would later file five following United States Patents cumulating with United States Patent number 5,733,084.

All of these patents were covering various concepts of a "quick applying nut" That Mr. Fullerton "coined" Zip Nut".     Mr. Fullerton would then go on to trade mark the name "Zip Nut" on May 18 1993.

Mr. Fullerton no longer has any interest or ownership in ANY these patents or of the copyright trade mark, any inference otherwise is incorrect and in error.

ALL of the patents mentioned above are now expired and in the public domain.     The copyright/trade mark is, at this time (the last listed owner) GEORGE A. STURDEVANT, INC.DBA FASTORQ, Corporation Texas 18914 East Industrial Parkway, New Caney, Texas 77357.

Any reference to Zip Nut in this document, or others, is purely historical and not meant to convey any ownership or commercial interest.