The bullsnap fastener includes a rigid elongate member having a mid-section, a hook mounted to one end of the mid-section, a gate closing the hook, and an eye mounted to an opposite end of the mid-section. The hook has a shank and a curved distal end. The hook extends from a first end of the mid-section so as to define a hook space between the shank and the distal end, and an opening between the distal end of the hook and the first end of the mid-section. At least one grip-enhancing member is mounted to and protrudes outwardly of the gate.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a connecting device having at one end a retaining ring or eye and at the other end an open hook, the mouth of which is closable by a spring loaded gate, such connector commonly referred to as a bullsnap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Connecting devices for rapidly securing one end of a lanyard or chain to a ring such as may be located at the prow of a watercraft, or secured to the collar, halter or harness of animals are in common use. Such devices may employ at one end an eye which is either fixedly or rotatably secured to the body of the connector to which a rope, lanyard or chain is secured. The opposite end of the body is formed as a robust hook, the open mouth of which is generally closable by a gate which is pivotally mounted to the body and spring urged so as to firmly engage the distal end of the hook. It is common to manufacture such devices by several different methods such as forging, moulding or stamping and to manufacture separate components such as the body, the gate and the eye, which are then assembled into the connector.

It is often advantageous during the attachment or release of the bullsnap for the gate to be readily operable by the fingers of the hand in which it is held. In situations where the bullsnap is utilized to secure animals, the user generally must grasp the collar or halter on the animal with one hand so as to position a retaining ring on the collar or halter in an unobstructed alignment for ready engagement with the hook of the bullsnap. The user must then hold the gate of the bullsnap in an open position against the tension of the spring, advantageously with the hand in which it is grasped, in order that the mouth of the hook may be aligned with the retaining ring. It is further advantageous for the gate of the bullsnap to be operable in a manner that keeps ones fingers outside the hook and clear of the opening between the hook and the gate.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bullsnap in which a gate is pivotally mounted to the body and resiliently urged toward the body so as to firmly engage the distal end of the hook to thereby close the mouth of the hook, and to provide that the gate may be readily opened by rotating the gate in a direction outwardly from the hook and held open against the return biasing force of the spring or other resilient biasing means, by either the thumb or forefinger of the hand of the user in which the bullsnap is grasped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is bullsnap having a robust body or mid-section with an open hook formed at a first end, and an eye formed at the opposite second end. The distal end of the hook is spaced from the body so as to create a mouth or opening. A gate is pivotally mounted to the body and is rotatable from and within the mouth of the hook where it is normally spring urged to a closed position in firm contact against both the shank and distal end of the hook. The eye formed at the opposite second end, may be integrally formed with the body so as to be disposed at right angles to the hook or it may alternatively be rotatably attached to the body in the manner of a swivel.

Manual rotation of the gate against the return biasing force of the spring is facilitated, in one manner, by extending the gate radially beyond the distal end of the hook to create a thumb or finger ledge, which is conveniently operable by either hand. Alternatively, a pin or wings may be fixed through the gate to extend laterally outwardly of either side of the gate, adjacent to the distal end of the hook, where such pin or wings can be readily contacted by the thumb or forefinger of either hand to facilitate opening of the gate.

In summary, the bullsnap fastener of the present invention includes a rigid elongate member having a mid-section, a hook mounted to one end of the mid-section, a gate closing the hook, and an eye mounted to an opposite end of the mid-section.

The hook has a shank and a curved distal end. The hook extends from a first end of the mid-section so as to define a hook space between the shank and the distal end, and an opening between the distal end of the hook and the first end of the mid-section. At least one grip-enhancing member is mounted to and protrudes outwardly of the gate. The eye extends from a second end of the mid-section generally opposite the first end.

The rigid gate member is pivotally mounted to the mid-section. Resilient biasing means is mounted in the mid-section for resiliently biasing the gate from an open position into a closed position. The gate lies substantially in a plane containing the hook so as to be pivotable between the closed and open positions. In the closed position an end surface of the gate blocks the opening and closes off the hook space. The end surface extends from the opening to the shank of the hook. In the open position the gate has been pivoted outwardly of the opening, away from the hook, so as to unblock the opening allowing access to the hook space.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawing figures, wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, the bullsnap10has a body12which has an elongated, tapered hook14forming a hook space16. The distal end18of hook14is spaced from the adjacent surface of body12to create an opening or mouth20. Eye24is in one embodiment not intended to be limiting, integrally formed with body12at base end26. Eye24may also be swivel mounted.

Body12is bifurcated adjacent to both mouth20and distal end18of hook14, (seeFIGS. 5,8and9) so as to form a parallel pair of flanges or receiving arms28aand28b. A gate30is pivotally or otherwise rotatably mounted within receiving arms28on rivet32for rotation in plane C. Helical spring34urges gate30in direction A toward a normally closed position where an upper surface30aof gate30firmly engages distal end18of hook14so as to close mouth20. When gate30is in its closed position surface30aextends across hook space16from distal end18to shank14aof hook14so that an object held in the hook space will not ordinarily by itself open gate30by merely pressing against surface30a.

Gate30may be rotated in direction B, opposite to direction A, to an opened position by a user using only the user's thumb or forefinger of the hand holding the bullsnap. InFIGS. 1–7, the thumb or forefinger of the user pulls in direction B on an actuating protrusion such as rigid nose-shaped lever or extension36which projects outwardly of distal end18. Pressure in direction B on extension36by either the thumb or finger rotates gate30outwardly of mouth20from its normally closed position as seen inFIG. 1to an open position as seen inFIG. 2. Pulling on the extension may be readily accomplished often by either hand of the user. Engagement of the thumb or forefinger with extension36is improved by friction enhancing striations36a.

As illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9, gate30may alternatively have a cantilevered pin40which passes through gate30and extends laterally and orthogonally outwardly of its opposite sides. Pin40is readily operable by either hand of the user, the pin being grasped and pulled to rotate gate to an open position, in direction B, against the return biasing action of spring34. Again, as with extension36, pin40provides an actuating protrusion extending outwardly of gate30to enable single handed operation of the gate while grasping the body of the bullsnap.FIGS. 12 and 12aillustrate the use of in40on an embodiment having a swivel mounted eye.

As illustrated inFIGS. 10 and 11, gate30may alternatively have integral laterally projecting wings42so as to provide a further example of a grip enhancing member form of actuating protrusion to facilitate rotation of gate30to its open position. The wings or other actuating protrusions may be rigid, or may be of, or include, resilient material mounted to the sides of the gate.FIGS. 13a–13dillustrate the use of wings42on an embodiment having a swivel mounted eye.