FASTENING DEVICE

Abstract

A fastening device 20 comprises a body 22 which defines a socket for receiving the end of a boat hook 10 or other elongate member, and a hook portion 21 having a gate 27 which can be opened by pulling back on a rope or line 30 attached to the body of the device. Once the device has been fastened to an object 41, the boat hook or other elongate member 10 can then be withdrawn from the socket, thereby leaving the fastening device 20 and line 30 attached to the object 41.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a fastening device and more particularly but not solely to a fastening device for use as a rescue aid and/or for use in mooring boats and other vessels.

2. Related Background Art

When boating, it is often necessary to grab buoys and other objects in the water and to fasten a rope or so-called line thereto. This is usually achieved using a so-called boat hook comprising elongate handle having a radially-outwardly extending arm adjacent its distal end. Such boat hooks are widely used in the field of boating but a disadvantage of boat hooks is that they are unable to fasten a line to the object which is being grabbed: this is a especially desirable in instances where the boat or vessel is moving, since the time in which the object can be grabbed is limited and there is thus no way of holding onto the object unless a line has been attached. It will be appreciated that this is an important requirement when rescuing persons from the water from a moving watercraft as it can take a considerable amount of time to manoeuvre the boat into a suitable position each time an attempt is made.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,432, FR2549004 and FR2606732 each disclose shackles for fitting to especially adapted boat hooks having a mounting for fastening the shackle thereto. In use, a line is attached to the shackle and the shackle is then fitted to the distal end of the boat hook. The shackle can then be used to engage an object, whereupon the shackle releases itself from the boat hook leaving the shackle and line attached to the object.

The above-mentioned shackles each comprise a gate which is normally biased into the closed position. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that it can be difficult to exert a sufficient force on the shackle to open the gate when the shackle is being engaged with the object. Another disadvantage is that whilst most watercraft would carry one or more conventional boat hooks, they may not have an especially adapted boat hook at hand to receive the shackle.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,646 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,700 each disclose a similar shackle in which the line can be pulled to open the gate prior to securing the shackle to the object. Whilst this alleviates one of the above-mentioned problems, the need to provide an especially adapted boat hook is still not alleviated.

WO1996/07830 discloses a shackle for fitting to a conventional boat hook by means of an arm, which is loosely fixed to the gate of the shackle. In use, the gate can be opened by pulling on the line. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the shackle is not supported satisfactorily on the boat hook, such that it can be difficult to engage the object.

WO2002/30735 discloses a hook device comprising a hooked end portion which is mounted to the distal end of an elongate handle. In use, the gate of the hooked portion can be opened remotely by pulling on a separate line fastened to the end portion. This device is complicated in construction and difficult to use. Furthermore, it involves the use of a special handle which might not always be available.

I have now devised a fastening device which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fastening device comprising hook portion having a mouth, a gate for closing the mouth of the hook portion, the gate being biased into a normally closed position, and means to which a rope or line can be attached, wherein the hook portion is mounted to a body portion which defines a socket at a first end of the device for slidably receiving the outer end of an elongate boat hook or other elongate member, the hook portion further comprising an actuator for opening the gate which extends into the socket and which is arranged for engagement by said end of the boat hook or other elongate member so as to open the gate when the body portion is slid rearwardly of the boat hook or other elongate member towards the inner end thereof.

In use, a rope or line is attached to the fastening device. The fastening device can then be fitted to a conventional boat hook and engaged with an object by pulling on the rope or line, so as to move the body of the device rearwardly with respect to the boat hook. The rope or line can then be slackened to allow the gate to close under the applied bias. The boat hook can then be withdrawn from the socket, thereby leaving the fastening device and line attached to the object.

The socket allows the fastening device to be used with any conventional boat hook or any other elongate member which is to hand. The rope or line initially serves to retain the fastening device on the boat hook or other member and then serves to remotely actuate the gate. Finally, the rope allows the fastening device and the object to which it is attached to be pulled inwardly with respect to the boat or for the boat to be secured thereto.

The fastening device may be used to recover persons or other objects which have fallen into the water. In this regard, the device preferably defines a handle which can be grasped to pull the person or other object out of the water once the fastening device has been fastened thereto.

Preferably the body of the device defines the handle and preferably comprises a tubular portion for fitting onto the end of the boat hook or other elongate member.

Preferably the socket comprises a longitudinally-extending side opening, through which a radially projecting arm at the end of the boat hook can extend out of the socket. This arrangement helps to prevent rotation of the boat hook within the socket and thereby holds the device securely in-situ.

Preferably the mouth of the hook is directed axially of the socket away from the second end of the device.

Preferably the gate extends radially outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the socket at the second end of the device, the gate being pivoted at its radially inner end.

Preferably the gate also extends outwardly of the body at said second end of the device.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fastening assembly comprising a fastening device as hereinbefore defined, a rope or line attached to the device and an elongate boat hook or other elongate member slidably received in the socket of the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of the outer end of a conventional boat hook;

FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of an embodiment of fastening device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of the fastening device of FIG. 2, when fitted to the boat hook of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating one use of the fastening device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating another use of the fastening device of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 6 is a perspective side view of an alternative embodiment of fastening device in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a boat hook 10 comprising an elongate handle 11 having a head 12 at its distal end. The head 12 comprises an elongate shank 13 which extends axially of the handle 11 and which reduces in diameter towards an enlargement 14 at its distal end. An arm 15 extends radially outwardly from the side of the shank 13. The outer end of the arm 15 comprises an enlarged projection 16 which extends rearwardly of the boat hook.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, there is shown a fastening device 20 in accordance with the present invention. The fastening device 20 comprises a hook portion 21 mounted to a body portion 22. The body portion 22 comprises an elongate tubular side wall 23 having a slot 24, which extends from an inner end of the side wall 23 to a point intermediate its opposite ends. The hook portion 21 comprises a thin elongate frame of metal which is bent end-to-end or otherwise shaped such that the opposite ends thereof are opposed and define a mouth 25 which leads into an enclosed region 26 inside the hook 21.

The frame of the hook 21 initially extends from the outer end of the body portion 22 axially along the side wall 23 thereof at a position which is diametrically opposite the slot 24. The frame then turns radially outwardly and rearwardly to extend parallel to the side wall 23 at a position which is spaced apart therefrom. The frame then curves radially outwardly and then radially inwardly such that its opposite ends are opposed to each other and separated by the mouth 25.

A gate 27 is pivotally mounted at one end to the first end of the frame at point 28 and is rotationally spring biassed into a closed position, wherein its opposite end engages the opposite end of the frame and thereby closes the mouth 25 of the hook 21. An actuating arm 29 extends from the first end of the gate 27 through the side wall 23 of the body portion 22 into the interior thereof.

Referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, in use the head 12 of the boat hook 10 is engaged with the fastening device 20 by inserting it into the inner end of the tubular body portion 22 and aligning the arm 15 of the head 12, such that it is received in the slot 24 and thereby prevents rotation of the boat hook 10 relative to the fastening device 20. The enlargement 24 on the distal end of the head 12 engages the actuator 29 disposed inside the body 22. A rope or line 30 is tied around the frame of the hook 21 at the inner end of the fastening device 20.

Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, the assembly can then be used to engage an object, such as an eyelet 40 on a buoy 41, by pulling on the rope 30 to cause the body portion 22 of the device 20 to move rearwardly with respect to the boat hook 10: this exerts a forward bias on the actuator 29 and thereby opens the gate 27. The hook 21 can then be engaged around the eyelet 40. Once engaged, the rope 30 can be slackened to close the gate 27 under the spring bias and to allow the boat hook 10 to be withdrawn from the fastening device 20 as shown. This then leaves the fastening device 20 securely attached to the buoy 41 and enables the boat or other vessel to be pulled towards or tied to the buoy 41 using the rope 30.

Referring to FIG. 5 of the drawings, the fastening device 20 can also be used in a similar manner to rescue persons or objects from the water. Once retrieved, the user can grasp the tubular body portion 22 of the device 20, which acts like a handle to allow the person or object to be lifted.

Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, in an alternative embodiment the hook portion 21 of the fastening device 20 comprises a moulded member instead of a frame. The member comprises an elongate shank which extends longitudinally of the tubular body portion 22 of the device 20 and which comprises an eyelet 60 for the line 30 at its inner end and a C-shaped hook 61 at its other end.

The fastening device of the present invention is relatively simple in construction, robust and easy to operate single-handedly. The device can be used with conventional boat hooks of the kind which are always available on boats and other vessels.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes of modifications may be made thereto without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A fastening device comprising hook portion having a mouth, a gate for closing the mouth of the hook portion, the gate being biased into a normally closed position, and a formation to which a rope or line can be attached, wherein the hook portion is mounted to a body portion which defines a socket at an inner end of the device for slidably receiving the outer end of an elongated boat hook or other elongate member, said hook portion further comprising an actuator for opening said gate which extends into the socket and which is arranged for engagement by said end of the boat hook or other elongated member so as to open said gate when the body portion is slid rearwardly of said boat hook or other elongated member towards the inner end thereof.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, which defines a handle.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which the body portion of said device defines said handle.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which said body of said device comprises a tubular portion for fitting onto the end of said boat hook or other elongated member and which defines said socket.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said socket comprises a longitudinally-extending side opening, through which a radially projecting arm at the end of said boat hook can extend out of said socket.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the mouth of the hook portion is directed generally axially outwardly at the outer end of said device.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said gate extends radially outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the socket at the outer end of said device, said gate being pivoted at its radially inner end.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, in which said gate extends outwardly of the body portion at said second end of said device.

9. A fastening assembly comprising: a fastening device comprising: a hook portion having a mouth, a gate for closing the mouth of the hook portion, the gate being biased into a normally closed position, said hook portion being mounted to a body portion which defines a socket at a first end of the fastening device, said hook portion further comprising an actuator for opening said gate which extends into the socket;a rope or line attached to a formation on said fastening device; andan elongated member having an outer end slidably received in said socket of said fastening device and arranged to engage said actuator so as to open said gate when the body portion of said fastening device is slid rearwardly with respect to the elongated member towards the inner end thereof.

10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9, in which the elongated member comprises a boat hook.

11. An assembly as claimed in claim 10, in which said socket comprises a longitudinally-extending side opening, the boat hook comprising a radially projecting arm at its outer end which extends out of said socket through said opening.

12. An assembly as claimed in claim 9, in which the mouth of the hook portion of said fastening device is directed generally axially outwardly at the outer end of the fastening assembly.

13. An assembly as claimed in claim 9, in which the body portion of said fastening device defines a handle.

14. An assembly as claimed in claim 13, in which the body portion of said fastening device comprises a tubular portion defining said socket.

15. An assembly as claimed in claim 9, in which said gate of said fastening device extends radially outwardly of the longitudinal axis of said socket at the outer end of said fastening device, said gate being pivoted at its radially inner end.

16. An assembly as claimed in claim 15, in which said gate extends outwardly of the body portion at said outer end of said fastening device.