Patent ID: 7364181
Filing Date: 2008-04-29
Classification: B60D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A coupling device comprising: a hook body shaped to define an outer surface with a mouth extending inward from the outer surface of said hook body, said mouth having an end portion spaced from said outer surface, such that a member to be hooked can enter the mouth from the outer surface and move to the end portion to effect coupling between the hook body and the member; the hook body having a rear surface opposite to the outer surface and an end connected to a coupling member for applying force in a direction longitudinally of the hook member from the coupling member to the member to be hooked; an elongate securing member supported on the hook body and extending through a channel on the hook body having a length from the rear surface through the hook body toward the mouth, said securing member being slidably movable along the length of the channel in a direction transverse to said longitudinal direction between an extended position in which said securing member substantially obstructs passage of the member to be hooked to and from the end portion and a retracted position in which said securing member does not substantially obstruct said passage; the securing member being biased toward the extended position; a releasable locking arrangement mounted on the hook body at the rear surface locking the securing member in the extended position to prevent unwanted movement toward the retracted position; an elongate releasing member supported on the hook body and presenting an end portion at the outer surface operable by engagement with an element of the member to be hooked at the outer surface of the hook body and movable along the length of the elongate releasing member in a direction parallel to the securing member and transverse to said longitudinal direction for moving the releasable locking arrangement at the rear surface to unlock the securing member and allow movement thereof toward the retracted position, actuation of said releasing member thereby opening the passage for the element of the member to be hooked to the end portion of the mouth; wherein the end portion of the releasing member is located at the outer surface at one side of the mouth such that the member to be hooked when sliding over the outer surface encounters and engages the end portion of the releasing member.