Patent ID: 6588076
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
A carabiner comprising:a C-shaped body having a mouth defined by a gate support leg and a latch leg, the latch leg having a protruding tab that extends from the latch leg towards the gate support leg, and a pivoting gate, the pivoting gate having a first end that is pivotally supported from the support leg, and a second end, the second end cooperating with the latch leg and moving from a first position where the second end of the support leg is immediately opposite to the latch leg and closing the mouth, and a second position where the second end of the pivoting gate extends away from the latch leg, leaving the mouth open; a generally cylindrical locking element, the cylindrical locking element having a first end having a recessed portion, the cylindrical locking element being mounted over the pivoting gate and having a central axis, the cylindrical locking element being connected to the pivoting gate by a spring that urges the first end of the cylindrical locking element towards the second end of the pivoting gate and rotates the cylindrical locking element about the pivoting gate to a locking position where the cylindrical locking element extends over the latch leg and the pivoting gate while the pivoting gate is in the first position, the cylindrical locking element further being rotatable about the pivoting gate to a release position where recessed portion aligns with the tab portion of the latch leg; a vertical slotted guide, the vertical slotted guide extending along the axis of the locking element and a gate release slotted guide, the gate release slotted guide extending from the vertical slotted guide and around the locking element, the gate release slotted guide having a jogged portion and a gate release portion, the jogged portion being between the gate release portion and the vertical slotted guide; a guide pin, the guide pin being adapted for extending through said vertical slotted guide and being adapted for sliding movement through said gate release slotted guide when said guide pin is in said locking position, said cylindrical locking element being movable from the locking position to the release position by first sliding the cylindrical locking element along the vertical slotted guide and then rotating the cylindrical locking element against the spring so that guide pin moves along the gate release slotted guide, past the jogged portion and into said gate release portion where said cylindrical locking element is in the release position.