Rope Fastener eliminates need for knots.

Press Release Summary:

Pigtail Fastener consists of metal shaft tipped by spiral loop on one or both ends. It allows user to quickly secure any line or rope without tying knot, providing 4 second attachment and detachment. Fastener offers non-slip, secure connection regardless of tension with virtually no damage to line. By reducing line breakage by minimizing number of failure points, Pigtail Fastener retains nearly 100% of line strength depending on composition.

Original Press Release:

Pigtail Fastener Company Revolutionizes the 10,000-Year-Old Process of Tying Knots

New Fastener Could Forever Change Line Connections and Knots Hammacher Schlemmer names Pigtail Fastener grand-prize winner in National Search for Invention 2002 Stillwater, MN (January 27, 2003) ­­The Pigtail Fastener Company introduces the Pigtail Fastener, a small metal device resembling a pig's tail that allows users to quickly secure any line or rope without tying a knot ­­within seconds and with minimal line damage. Invented by Stephen Kuslich, MD, and Francis Peterson, the Pigtail Fastener was recently awarded the grand prize in Hammacher Schlemmer¹s National Search for Invention 2002. Designed to overcome the shortcomings of traditional knots ­- including the challenge of learning to tie various knots and the tedious process of untying them ­­ the Pigtail Fastener allows for a quick, four-second attachment and detachment of ropes and lines. It offers a non-slip, secure connection regardless of tension with virtually no damage to the line. The device represents the first modern reconfiguration of the basic knot and rope and line attachment, which archaeologists have dated back 10,000 years. Broad applications for the fastener abound in the camping, boating, automotive, industrial and manufacturing industries and any activity where securing or adjusting lines or ropes is commonplace, such as adjusting and securing tents, anchors, hammocks, birdfeeders, etc. "The Pigtail Fastener is a simple but profoundly innovative method and device," says international authority on fastener technology, Robert Parmley P.E., mechanical engineer with Morgan & Parmley, LTD, and author of "The Handbook of Fasteners". "This product will find broad application in almost any situation dealing with rope or line attachment." The Pigtail Fastener technology is highly customizable in terms of size, strength and material composition. At its most basic, consists of a simple metal shaft tipped by a spiral loop on one or both ends. Although sizes and specifications may differ, the basic method of usage remains the same ­­a line or rope is passed through the eye of the spiral, wrapped around the shaft of the device a couple of times, and then threaded through an opening in the spiral loop. In all, the process takes about four seconds from start to finish and can be completed with a single hand. Testing indicates the Pigtail Fastener is stronger than a traditional knot. By reducing line breakage by minimizing the number of failure points (points are where the cord or line bends), the Pigtail Fastener retains nearly 100% of line strength depending on composition. "Its simplicity lends to its innovativeness and usability," says Jim Kocian, general manager of the Pigtail Fastener Company. "The Pigtail Fastener is truly a major breakthrough in rope and line attachment. It's likely that new uses for the device will arise everyday." Hammacher Schlemmer, the world-renowned retailer of highly innovative consumer products, presented Kuslich and Peterson with the grand prize during a ceremony in the Hammacher Schlemmer Chicago store. The Pigtail Fastener was selected by a panel of inventors and trend-spotters from a field of more than 200 entries. Award entries were judged on how they uniquely address an existing lifestyle challenge. The Pigtail Fastener Company currently manufactures the Pigtail Fastener in four different models for various purposes. They are tipped either with a machine screw, lag screw, hook or another Pigtail Fastener for rope splicing. PRICING/AVAILABILITY
The Pigtail Fastener will soon be available in retail locations nationwide. For more information on the Pigtail Fastener Company, its products, and bulk ordering information, please visit www.pigtailfastener.com.