Snap hook

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10086221-B2
Application number	US-201715619960-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2017
Priority date	Oct 8, 2014
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

A snap hook includes a body, a gate, a connection link, and a coupling. The body has a central portion positioned between an upper portion and a lower portion. The gate is pivotally coupled proximate the central portion. The gate and the body selectively form a closed configuration that defines a hook connection passage and an open configuration that provides access to the hook connection passage. The connection link has an upper end pivotally coupled proximate the central portion of the body and a lower end including a body connection aperture. The coupling interconnects the lower end and the lower portion. The coupling is configured to break when a select amount of force is applied to the lower end and release the lower end from the lower portion to redirect the select amount of force from the lower portion to the central portion of the body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A snap hook, comprising:
a body having an upper portion, a lower portion and a central portion, the central portion being positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion;
a gate pivotally coupled proximate the central portion of the body, the gate and the body selectively forming a closed configuration that defines a hook connection passage and an open configuration that provides access to the hook connection passage;
a connection link having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end of the connection link pivotally coupled proximate the central portion of the body, the lower end includes a body connection aperture; and
a coupling interconnecting the lower end of the connection link and the lower portion of the body, the coupling configured to break when a select amount of force is applied proximate the lower end of the connection link and release the lower end of the connection link from the lower portion of the body to redirect the select amount of force from the lower portion of the body to the central portion of the body.

2. The snap hook of claim 1 , wherein the connection link is deformable when exposed to the select amount of force.

3. The snap hook of claim 1 , further comprising;
a locking member to selectively hold the gate in relation to the body in the closed configuration; and
at least one trigger configured and arranged to release the locking member.

4. The snap hook of claim 3 , further comprising:
the connection link positioned to guard the at least one trigger from an accidental activation.

5. The snap hook of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one lock link coupled to the gate;
a back trigger selectively engaging the at least one lock link, the back trigger being configured and arranged to disengage the at least one lock link when activated; and
a front trigger configured and arranged to move the at least one lock link when the back trigger is disengaged from the at least one lock link and the front trigger is activated.

6. The snap hook of claim 5 , wherein the connection link is positioned to prevent the accidental activation of the front trigger.

7. The snap hook of claim 1 , further comprising:
the gate having a gate slot; and
a nose rivet catch coupled to the body, the gate slot receiving the nose rivet catch when the gate and the body are in the closed configuration.

8. The snap hook of claim 1 , the body further comprising;
a first body plate having a first upper arm, a first lower arm and a first mid-arm positioned between the first upper arm and the first lower arm;
a second body plate having a second upper arm, a second lower arm and a second mid-arm positioned between the second upper arm and the second lower arm;
a nose link coupled to the first upper arm of the first body plate and the second upper arm of the second body plate proximate the upper portion of the body; and
a nose rivet catch coupled to the nose link to receive a gate slot of the gate when the gate and the body are in the closed configuration.

9. The snap hook of claim 8 , further comprising;
a lock link slidably coupled between the first mid-arm of the first body plate and the second mid-arm of the second body plate, the lock link pivotally coupled to the gate;
a back trigger pivotally coupled between the first body plate and the second body plate proximate the central portion of the body, the back trigger having a portion that selectively engages the lock link to prevent the lock link from slidably moving until the back trigger is activated; and
a front trigger pivotally coupled between the first body plate and the second body plate proximate the central portion of the body, the front trigger configured and arranged to slidably move the lock link once the back trigger is activated.

10. The snap hook of claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the body and the lower end of the connection link include aligned apertures and the coupling is a breakable fastener extending through the aligned apertures and connecting the lower end of the connection link to the lower portion of the body.

11. A snap hook, comprising:
a body having an upper portion, a lower portion and a central portion, the central portion being positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion;
a gate pivotally coupled proximate the central portion of the body, the gate and the body selectively forming a closed configuration that defines a hook connection passage and an open configuration that provides access to the hook connection passage;
a locking member configured and arranged to selectively hold the gate in relation to the body in the closed configuration;
at least one trigger configured and arranged to selectively engage the locking member, the at least one trigger configured and arranged to engage the locking member and prevent movement of the locking member in an engaged position, the at least one trigger configured and arranged to release the locking member and allow movement of the locking member in a disengaged position; and
a connection link having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end of the connection link coupled to the central portion of the body, the lower end of the connection link coupled to the lower portion of the body, the connection link being positioned to guard the at least one trigger from an accidental activation.

12. The snap hook of claim 11 , wherein the lower end of the connection link includes a body connection aperture.

13. The snap hook of claim 12 , wherein the upper end of the connection link is pivotally coupled to the central portion of the body and a coupling connects the lower end of the connection link to the lower portion of the body, the coupling configured to break when a select amount of force is applied proximate the lower end of the connection link and release the lower end of the connection link from the lower portion of the body to redirect the select amount of force from the lower portion of the body to the central portion of the body.

14. The snap hook of claim 11 , wherein the connection link is deformable when exposed to a select amount of force.

15. The snap hook of claim 11 , further comprising:
the locking member including a lock link; and
the at least one trigger including,
a back trigger selectively engaging the lock link, the back trigger being configured and arranged to disengage the lock link when activated, and
a front trigger configured and arranged to move the lock link when the back trigger is disengaged from the lock link and the front trigger is activated, the connection link being positioned to prevent the accidental activation of the front trigger.

16. The snap hook of claim 15 , further comprising:
a back trigger biasing member configured and arranged to place a bias force on the back trigger to selectively engage the lock link; and
a front trigger biasing member configured and arranged to place a biasing force on the front trigger to counter movement of the front trigger.

17. The snap hook of claim 11 , the body further comprising;
a first body plate having a first upper arm, a first lower arm and a first mid-arm positioned between the first upper arm and the first lower arm;
a second body plate having a second upper arm, a second lower arm and a second mid-arm positioned between the second upper arm and the second lower arm;
a nose link coupled to the first upper arm of the first body plate and the second upper arm of the second body plate proximate the upper portion of the body; and
a nose rivet catch coupled to the nose link to receive a gate

Assignees

• Db Ind Llc

Inventors

• Perner Judd J

Classifications

• A62B35/0037 Primary

  Attachments for lifelines and lanyards (lifelines, lanyards A62B35/0043) · CPC title

• F16B45/02

  Hooks with pivoting {or elastically bending} closing member · CPC title

• Y10T24/4534

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y10T24/45366

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F16B45/028

  the position-locking means being pivotally connected · CPC title