1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to hooks, and more particularly to snap hooks used by utility linemen.
2. Background of Art
Snap hooks used by utility linemen provide a safety mechanism when climbing poles and working on a utility line. The snap-hooks are used to tether a linemen or equipment to a conductor or angle iron that is attached to a pole/tower/other structure. In the event of a fall, the snap hook will prevent its load from falling farther than the length of the rope or lanyard used as the tether.
Conventional snap-hooks comprise a main body with an oval opening, a spring loaded gate that pivotally mounts to the main body and permits the oval opening to become accessible or closed, and a lock that prevents inadvertent opening of the gate. The gate is preferably mounted such that it is biased to open in to the oval opening, as opposed to outside the opening. In addition, the end of the gate engages a U-shaped notch formed in the end of the main body where it closes. As a load is applied to the snap-hook, depending on orientation, some of the load may be borne by the gate. Thus, having it swing inwardly instead of outwardly prevents the load from pushing the gate open and thereby releasing the load. Moreover, the notched end further serves to securely engage the gate with the main body.
With conventional snap-hooks, the arcuate portion of the main body that transitions between the main spine and the end where the gate engages often becomes engaged with the conductor that the snap-hook latches. When a load is applied, the edges of the arcuate portion will bite or cut into the conductor, potentially causing damage to the conductor.
3. Objects and Advantages
It is therefore a primary object and advantage of the present invention to provide a snap hook with a main body whose arcuate portion does not bite or cut into a conductor.
It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a snap hook that more securely retains the gate to the main body when closed.
It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide a snap hook that includes a larger opening in order to engage larger objects.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.
In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a snap hook essentially comprising a main body having an arcuate portion that transition between a spine and a gate latching end, wherein the interior edges of the arcuate portion are radiused. The snap-hook further comprises a gate that is pivotally attached to the main body, and a lock that pivotally mounts to the main body and in securing relation to the gate to prevent the gate from opening unless and until the lock is manually, pivotally moved by depressing on its end. The gate latching end of the main body includes a notch for receiving the end of the gate wherein the notch includes an inwardly directed upper, extension piece that will engage the end of the gate if it is inadvertently pushed towards an open position.
The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in
With regard to main body 12, it defines an oval opening 17 by way of a spine region 18, a gate engaging end 20, an arcuate region 22 that extends between spine region 18 and gate engaging end 20, and a mounting end 24 positioned at the terminal end of spine region 18. As shown in
The gate engaging end 20 of main body 12 comprises a notch 26 formed therein for receiving a terminal end of gate 14. Notch 26 is defined by a straight rear wall 28, a flat bottom 30 a straight front wall 32 that extends upwardly from bottom 30, and a hooked extension 34 that extends inwardly from the top of front wall 32 towards rear wall 28 and in spaced relation above bottom 30. This hooked extension 34, as will be more fully described hereinafter, serves to prevent gate 14 from becoming inadvertently opened relative to main body 12 when gate 14 is placed under tension.
The mounting end 24 of main body 12 comprises an oval opening 35 through which rope or a clip may pass to attach snap-hook 10 to a belt or other carrying mechanism (not shown). It further comprises drilled openings 36a and 36b for receiving fasteners for attaching gate 14 and gate lock 16, respectively, to main body 12. Finally, mounting end 24 comprises an outwardly directed hooked extension 38 that serves to anchor a spring 39 that provides the biasing force to forcibly close gate 14 absent an external opening force being directed thereto, as is conventional with snap-hooks.
With regard to gate 14, it comprises a mounting end 40 and a closing end 42 that includes a pin 43 that extends thereacross and moves into and out of engagement with notch 26. When gate 14 is placed under tension (such as when a load is applied to it when closed), pin 43 will ride within notch 26. Due to the (negative) angle β at which gate 14 extends relative to the horizontal, the pin 43 will ride along the hooked extension 34 which prevents it from becoming disengaged and resulting in gate 14 opening.
Gate 14 mounts to the mounting end 24 of main body 12 via a rivet or other conventional fastener that passes through opening 36a. An arcuate slot 44 is formed at the closing end 42 and is shaped to receive a locking pin 45 that forms a part of gate lock 16 and extends transversely across the slot 44.
With regard to gate lock 16, it comprises the locking pin 45 that engages the arcuate slot 44 in gate 14 to lock it in its closed position. Gate lock 16 attaches to main body 12 at mounting end 24 via a rivet or other conventional fastener passing through opening 36b, and is selectively, manually, pivotally movable by a user depressing on the unlocking surface 46. Depression of surface 46 causes pivotal movement of gate lock 16 and consequently pin 45 out of engagement with gate 14, thereby freeing gate 14 to be moved from a closed to an open position where it can be placed over a conductor or an angle iron or other anchorage to secure a lineman or other load.
In order to engage larger diameter conductors or angle irons, as compared to conventional snap-hooks, the gate engaging end 20 of main body 12 extends at a slightly negative angle α of about 5° relative to the horizontal. Conventional snap hooks extend at a slightly positive angle relative to the horizontal. With this negative angle α, gate 14 extends at a slightly larger angle β or about 35° to 45° relative to horizontal as compared to conventional snap-hooks which extended at about a 20° angle. This angular change from convention necessitated the structural change of adding hooked extension 34 to prevent inadvertent opening of gate 14 when placed under tension (conventional snap-hooks do not include a hooked extension 34). In addition, the angular modifications also increased the opening space accommodated by gate 14 without increasing the overall size from conventional snap-hooks.
The present application relates and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/886,981, filed Oct. 4, 2013, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61886981 | Oct 2013 | US |