Snap hook
AssigneeCoastal Pet Products, Inc.
InventorDwight N. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hook and an eye are integral with and located at opposite longitudinal ends of a body. The hook includes a tip spaced from the body and defining a mouth for attachment of the hook to a ring or other object. A lock pin mounted in the body moves axially between a closed position engaging the tip of the hook and an open position. The body has a flat, easily gripped shape with a button at one side movable in a transverse direction. A cam system translates transverse button movement into axial movement of the lock pin, and provides a decreasing force-displacement characteristic. The hook is designed to break to prevent user injury in the event of excessive force, and includes a ramp surface facilitating detachment of the hook.
Claims12
A snap hook comprising:
- a body having a longitudinal axis and first and second axially spaced ends;
- a hook at said first end of said body, said hook having an axially extending shank, a bail and a tip spaced from said body and defining a hook entrance mouth between said tip and said body;
- and
- a lock pin mounted in said body for axial movement toward said tip to a closed position and away from said tip to an open position;
- said snap hook being characterized by:
- a button mounted on said body for movement in a direction transverse to said axis;
- and
- a cam system between said button and said lock pin for translating transverse button movement into axial lock pin movement, said cam system including a curved cam surface providing a decreasing button force requirement throughout at least most of the range of button motion as said lock pin moves toward said open position;
- said lock pin including a segment within said body extending in a direction transverse to said axis, and said cam system including a cam surface on said button engaging said segment.
A snap hook comprising:
- a body having a longitudinal axis and first and second axially spaced ends;
- a hook at said first end of said body, said hook having an axially extending shank a bail and a tip spaced from said body and defining a hook entrance mouth between said tip and said body;
- a lock pin mounted in said body for axial movement toward said tip to a closed position and away from said tip to an open position;
- and
- a button operably coupled to said lock pin for moving said lock pin toward said open position;
- said snap hook being characterized by:
- said button being mounted on said body for movement in a direction transverse to said axis;
- and
- a cam system between said button and said lock pin for translating transverse button movement into axial lock pin movement;
- said button comprising a lever having a first and a second end, said first end being pivotally attached to said body at a location closer to said first end of said body than to said second end of said body.
A snap hook comprising:
- a body having a longitudinal axis and first and second axially spaced ends;
- a hook at said first end of said body, said hook having an axially extending shank, a bail and a tip spaced from said body and defining a hook entrance mouth between said tip and said body;
- a lock pin mounted in said body for axial movement toward said tip to a closed position and away from said tip to an open position;
- a button operably coupled to said lock pin for moving said lock pin toward said open position;
- and
- said snap hook being characterized by:
- a spring carried within said body and directly engaging said lock pin to urge said lock pin toward said closed position
- said button being mounted on said body for movement in a direction transverse to said axis;
- and
- a cam system between said button and said lock pin for translating transverse button movement into axial lock pin movement;
- said button comprising a lever pivotally mounted relative to said body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.