CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of corresponding provisional application 60/501,289, filed Sep. 8, 2003, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates to jerk handles for lanyards of manual inflators or the manual portion of automatic inflators.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Background Art  
         [0005]     As the term is commonly employed, a “jerk handle” is a handle connected to the trailing end of a lanyard composed of a cord. The standing end of the lanyard cord is then operatively connected to a device that requires manual actuation upon pulling of the jerk handle. A common application for jerk handles is in the inflation art. In the inflation art, a manual inflator (or the manual portion of an automatic inflator) is connected to an inflation valve of a cartridge of compressed gas. The assembly is then sealingly connected to an article to be inflated. Typical articles may include an inflatable life vest or life raft. To inflate, the user simply grasps the jerk handle and gives it a jerk to manually actuate the inflator causing inflation of the inflatable article.  
         [0006]     Heretofore, the trailing end of a length of lanyard cord is molded in situ with the jerk handle to form the lanyard. U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,546, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, discloses a mold-in-situ jerk handle for inflators. In this form, the lanyard is typically shipped to the manufacturer of the inflator who then assembles it by operatively coupling the standing end of the lanyard cord to the inflator in a manner dictated by the particular design of the inflator itself.  
         [0007]     It is often desirous to have a supply of lanyards with different lengths of cords and therefore there exists a need in the industry for the ability for the inflator manufacturer to assemble the jerk handle to the trailing end of the cord as needed instead of having to purchase the assembly molded in situ. U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,685, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, discloses an assemblable jerk handle comprising a channel in which the lanyard cord is positioned and then secured by means of a strip with spikes that snap-fit into the channel to “spike” the lanyard cord and hold it in position. However, a more durable assemblable jerk handle is needed that more securely retains the lanyard cord and that is not disassemblable once assembled.  
         [0008]     Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvement which overcomes the aforementioned inadequacies of the prior art devices and provides an improvement which is a significant contribution to the advancement of the inflation art.  
         [0009]     Another object of this invention is to provide a jerk handle that may be permanently affixed about the trailing end of a lanyard cord by a simple coupling of two components together to securely and permanently grasp the cord therebetween.  
         [0010]     The foregoing has outlined some of the pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     For the purpose of summarizing this invention, the first embodiment of this invention comprises an assemblable jerk handle composed of two pieces that snap together to securely retain a lanyard cord therebetween. More particularly, the jerk handle of the invention comprises a base portion having interior progressive teeth forming a channel for receiving the lanyard cord and a cap portion for permanently snap-fitting to the base portion whereupon the lanyard cord is forcibly entrained by the teeth to securely and permanently grasp the lanyard cord.  
         [0012]     The second embodiment of this invention comprises an assemblable jerk handle including a base portion having a center channel positioned therethrough for receiving a bifurcated plug. During assembly, the trailing end of the lanyard cord is positioned within the bifurcated plug and then inserted as a combination into the center channel of the base portion. Upon further inward movement of the bifurcated plug, the plug forcibly closes about the lanyard cord to securely grip and therefore retain the trailing end of the lanyard cord within the center channel of the base portion. Importantly, once the bifurcated plug is forced into the center channel, the bifurcated plug cannot be removed therefrom and therefore permanently grips the lanyard cord.  
         [0013]     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the first embodiment of the jerk handle of the invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a rear view thereof showing the cap;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a top view thereof;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view thereof;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a top exploded view thereof;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a bottom exploded view thereof;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a rear view thereof showing the inside portion of the base portion with the cap removed;  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a view showing the inside of the rear of the jerk handle illustrating the matched opposing teeth which grip the lanyard cord to be positioned therebetween;  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the jerk handle of the invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a front view thereof partially cut-away to show the bifurcated plug inserted into the center bore;  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  is a top view thereof;  
         [0026]      FIG. 12  is a bottom view thereof;  
         [0027]      FIG. 13  is a front view of the bifurcated plug that is configured and dimensioned to be inserted into the center bore of the jerk handle;  
         [0028]      FIG. 14  is a bottom view thereof;  
         [0029]      FIG. 15  is a right and left side view thereof; and  
         [0030]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 11  along lines  16 - 16  showing the insertion of the bifurcated plug within the center bore of the jerk handle. 
     
    
       [0031]     Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0032]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first embodiment of the jerk handle  10  of the invention comprises a base portion  12  with opposing handles  12 A for easy grasping by a person&#39;s hand. Base portion  12  further comprises a neck portion  12 B extending between the handle portions  12 A.  
         [0033]     As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the handle  10  further includes a cap  14  which is permanently snap-fitted to the base portion  12  by means of feet  14 F that fit into corresponding slots in the neck  12 B of the base portion, whereupon the cap  14  is then pivoted until four tabs  14 T snap into similar slots formed in the handle portions  12 A of the base portion  12 . Alternatively, a living hinge may be employed in lieu of the two feet  14 F.  
         [0034]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3-7 , the inside of the rear of the base portion  12  comprises a center channel  16  for receiving a lanyard cord  17 . The channel  16  is flanked by opposing slanted teeth  18  of upstanding ridges  19 . The teeth  18  are preferably configured in the manner disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,574,900, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.  
         [0035]     Toward the bottom of the channel  16 , a circular upstanding protrusion  20  redirects the channel  16  about somewhat of a circular path  16 C to exit the bottom  16 B of the base portion  12 . The teeth  18  coupled with the protrusion  20  form a circuitous path for receiving the lanyard cord  17  such that the lanyard cod  17  is firmly grasped between the teeth  18 . Indeed, preferably the distance between the opposing teeth  18  gradually decreases from the protrusion  20  to the uppermost end of the channel such that the lanyard cord  17  is progressively grasped tighter and tighter along the length of the channel  16 .  
         [0036]     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the lanyard cord  17  is forced into the channel  16  by means of the cap  14  having a longitudinal ridge  22  aligned with the channel  16  and dimensioned at a height to force the lanyard cord  17  to the bottommost portion of the channel  16  between the opposing teeth  18 . Similarly, the inside of the cap  14  further includes an L-shaped ridge  24  of a configuration similar to that of the circuitous portion of the channel  16 C such that the lanyard cord  17  is firmly forced therein when the cap  14  is assembled to the base portion. The cap  14  includes a protruding stay  21  with a V cut-out that forces the end of the cord  17  into a recess  21 F. This assures that the cord  1  is firmly engaged by the teeth  18 .  
         [0037]     As shown in  FIGS. 9-16 , a second embodiment of the jerk handle  110  of the invention comprises a base portion  112  with opposing handles  112 A for easy gripping by a person&#39;s hand. Base portion  112  further comprises a neck portion  112 B extending between the handle portions  112 A.  
         [0038]     The jerk handle  110  of the invention further includes a bifurcated plug  114  which is inserted into a center bore  116  formed within the neck portion  112 B. As best shown in  FIGS. 10 and 16 , the center bore  116  preferably comprises a frustro cross-sectional configuration having a large diameter opening at its top and a smaller diameter opening at its bottom. Correspondingly, as best shown in  FIGS. 13 and 16 , the bifurcated plug  114  preferably comprises a mating frustro configuration having an enlarged top and a reduced bottom for slidable fitting into the center channel  116 . The frustro configurations of the center channel  116  and the bifurcated plug  114  assure that the bifurcated plug  114  is compressed inwardly as it is forced into the center bore  116  from the top to the bottom thereof.  
         [0039]     In its preferred embodiment, the bifurcated plug  114  comprises a bifurcated configuration similar to that of a conventional hair pin with cooperating left and right side portions  114 S having inwardly disposed teeth  118  that are preferably slanted toward the top and staggered relative to one another. The side portions are preferably connected together by a loop portion  114 L that essentially serves as a living hinge to allow the side portions  114 S to move inwardly as the bifurcated plug  114  is forced into the center bore  116 .  
         [0040]     As best shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the center bore  116  preferably comprises a roughly rectangular cross-sectional configuration having frustro lateral sides  120 F that taper closer together from the top to the bottom of the bore  116  to slidably mate with the outermost surfaces of the side portions  114 S of the bifurcated plug  14  as the plug  114  is forced therein. Without departing from the spirit of this invention, the center bore  116  and the bifurcated plug  114  may alternatively comprise other tapered configurations such as frustro-conical configurations.  
         [0041]     As best shown in  FIG. 16 , during assembly, the trailing end of the lanyard cord  117  is positioned between the side portions  114 S of the bifurcated plug  114  to be grasped by the inwardly protruding teeth  118  thereof. With the lanyard cord  117  being threaded through the center channel  116 , the bifurcated plug  114  is then aligned therewith and forced inwardly. As noted above, as the bifurcated plug  114  is forced inwardly within the center channel  116 , the frustro sides  114 F of the plug  114  slide along the frustro lateral sides  120 F of the slot  120  forming the center bore  116  whereupon the sides  114 S progressively squeeze the lanyard cord  117  therebetween tighter and tighter. As shown in  FIG. 16 , the dimensions of the bifurcated plug  114  relative to the center channel  16  and the lanyard cord  117 , are such that the bifurcated plug  114  will be recessed in position within the center bore  116  once the lanyard cord  117  is permanently grasped. In this manner, since the bifurcated plug  114  does not protrude from the top of the jerk handle  10 , it is virtually impossible to remove and can be considered to be permanently installed.  
         [0042]     The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0043]     Now that the invention has been described,
An assemblable jerk handle for a lanyard cord including in one embodiment a base portion having a center channel with interior progressive teeth for receiving the lanyard cord and a cap portion for permanently snap-fitting to the base portion to securely grip and therefore retain the lanyard cord within the base portion. In another embodiment, the assemblable jerk handle comprises a base portion having a center channel positioned therethrough for receiving a bifurcated plug that receives the lanyard cord therein and forcibly closes about the lanyard cord to securely grip and therefore retain the lanyard cord within the base portion.