Bungee cord

Bungee cords with metal hooks

A bungee cord (also spelled bungie or bungy; sometimes called a shock cord or occy strap) is a stretchable cord made of one or more rubber strands inside a woven cotton or polypropylene cover. When the cord is stretched, the cover tightens around the core, allowing it to extend and return to its original length. Some versions, such as those used in bungee jumping, are made entirely of elastic strands. Bungee cords are often used to fasten or secure objects and to absorb shock.^{[ citation needed ]}

Uses

A child on a bungee cord ride in Moscow, Russia

Early aircraft used bungee cords for light suspension in landing gear, and some small homebuilt planes still use them where low weight is important. ^[1] They were also once used in parachuting to help open older parachute containers after the ripcord was pulled.^{[ citation needed ]}

Today, bungee cords are sold as everyday fastening tools. In Australia, they are called octopus straps or occy straps. These may be single cords or several hooked cords joined by a ring to secure items such as luggage on a car roof rack or on the bed of a pickup truck. Similar cords are made as nets for securing irregular loads.^{[ citation needed ]}

Bungee cords are also used in furniture design, such as bungee chairs, ^[2] and in other applications that need flexible tension.

Safety

Bungee cords can cause serious eye or facial injuries if they snap back. Medical studies warn of the risk of vision loss and advise using safer fasteners when possible. ^{[3] [4]}

Etymology

The origin of the word "bungee" is uncertain. The Oxford English Dictionary records its first use in 1938 for launching gliders with an elastic cord. ^{[5] [6]}

References

1. Currey, Norman S. (1988). Aircraft Landing Gear Design: Principles and Practices. Washington, D.C.: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. ISBN   0-930403-41-X.
2. Kang, Julie (21 January 2015). "Bungee Chair 1.0". Rhode Island School of Design Portfolios. Archived from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
3. "Bungee Cords Can Cause Severe Eye Damage, Doctor Warns". ScienceDaily . Ohio State University. 24 April 1998. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
4. "Eye warning as occy straps lash out". University of New South Wales Newsroom. 20 March 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
5. "bungee – definition of bungee in English". Oxford Dictionaries. Archived from the original on 29 September 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
6. "Bungy launching explained". Gliding Magazine. Archived from the original on 30 December 2005. Retrieved 28 September 2006.

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