Here is a post that I just entered on the following active KF thread:
Kitesurfing Leash attachment device - trigger snap vs spring clip
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"...For a number of years, I have been tinkering around, with the intent of designing a safer and more durable way of connecting leashes to both the rider and the kite bar components. Here are some pictures of a prototype "noose/snare" connection device, which avoids many of the problems of a metal connector, such as corrosion, metal fatigue, spring weakening, fish-hook impalement of skin, accidental line entrapment, etc.
The design model that I used was that of the dog catchers "snare" which is a 'noose-like' device, as can be seen in the following link:
http://www.ketch-all.com/index.php?p=howitworks&n=1
The pictures should be self-explanatory.
The only modification needed to the conventional kite bar systems would be the substitution of a "ball" for the usual "ring". The rider could operate the "snare" with one hand, by pulling on the orange slider-tube with the thumb and index finger, to open the larkshead "noose"… and pushing on the slider-tube with the thumb and index finger to close the "noose". A thin bungee, on the slider-tube may or may not, be needed to keep the larkshead "noose" closed.
All comments are welcome. Maybe together, we can come up with a better solution to the problems we have seen with the conventional metal shackles.
I will move the discussion of this project to the old thread: " How To Make Snap Shackles Safe":
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2343596..."
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Here are the 3 pictures from that thread, along with a few more showing some details of areas of interest that might stimulate discussion and criticism of the basic design.
The idea of a "soft connector" may have some merit… what do you "tinkerers" think?
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