Snap-hook with dual-direction loop spring latch

A snap-hook comprising: a hook-shaped body having a throat opening and a shank end, wherein the hook-shaped body includes a primary aperture located at the shank end suitable for attaching a primary line and a secondary aperture located approximately opposite the throat opening suitable for attaching a secondary line; and a dual-direction latch pivotally attached to the hook-shaped body such that the dual-direction latch spans the throat opening when in a neutral position and is capable of pivoting into and out of the throat of the hook-shaped body, wherein the dual-direction latch comprises a bent wire having two free ends, each end inserted in a different hole of two holes in the hook-shaped body that are non-axially-aligned resulting in a spring force that biases the dual-direction latch toward the neutral position and resists pivotal movement of the dual-direction latch both into and out of the throat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention claimed herein applies to a device that can attach to and release an object. There are many scenarios where attaching and subsequently releasing a hook to/from an object can be challenging. For example, the current means of launching or recovering an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) over the side of a vessels deck into the water often requires a user to lean over the side of the vessel while hanging onto the vessel and either hooking or releasing manually the UUV. This is dangerous for the user and the UUV and can be further complicated by rough seas as both the vessel and UUV are moving.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a snap-hook comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of a hook-shaped body and a dual-direction latch. The hook-shaped body has a throat opening, a shank end, a primary aperture, and a secondary aperture. The primary aperture is located at the shank end and is suitable for attaching a primary line. The secondary aperture is located approximately opposite the throat opening and is suitable for attaching a secondary line. The dual-direction latch is pivotally attached to the hook-shaped body such that the dual-direction latch spans the throat opening when in a neutral position and is capable of pivoting into and out of the throat of the hook-shaped body. The dual-direction latch comprises a bent wire having two free ends. Each free end is inserted in a different hole of two holes in the hook-shaped body that are non-axially-aligned resulting in a spring force that biases the dual-direction latch toward the neutral position and resists pivotal movement of the dual-direction latch both into and out of the throat of the hook-shaped body. The dual-direction latch forms a loop spring such that when the latch is bent in either direction the difference in radii (i.e., R1and R2) of the latch causes a spring affect to oppose motion.

The snap-hook described herein may also be described as comprising a hook-shaped body having a hook tip connected to a neck, which is connected to a shoulder, which is connected to an end shank, wherein the hook tip, neck, and shoulder form a hook with a throat opening. The snap-hook also comprises a dual-direction latch pivotally connected to the hook-shaped body such that the dual-direction latch, when in a neutral position, spans the throat opening but does not contact the hook tip. The dual-direction latch is formed by a bent wire having two free ends which are disposed in non-axially-aligned holes in the hook-shaped body resulting in a spring force that resists pivotal motion of the latch in either direction away from the neutral position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The disclosed apparatus below may be described generally, as well as in terms of specific examples and/or specific embodiments. For instances where references are made to detailed examples and/or embodiments, it should be appreciated that any of the underlying principles described are not to be limited to a single embodiment, but may be expanded for use with any of the other methods and systems described herein as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art unless otherwise stated specifically.

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3are respectively isometric, side, and front-view illustrations of an embodiment of snap-hook10that comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of a hook-shaped body12and a dual-direction latch14. The hook-shaped body12has a throat opening16, a shank end18, a primary aperture20, and secondary aperture22. The primary aperture20is located at the shank end18and is suitable for attaching a primary line (such as line34depicted inFIG. 6). The secondary aperture20is located approximately opposite the throat opening16and is suitable for attaching a secondary line (such as line34depicted inFIG. 6). The dual-direction latch14is pivotally attached to the hook-shaped body12such that the dual-direction latch14spans the throat opening16when in a neutral position (as is shown inFIG. 1) and is capable of pivoting into and out of the throat24of the hook-shaped body12. The dual-direction latch14comprises a bent wire having two free ends26and28. Each free end is inserted in a different hole of two holes in the hook-shaped body12that are non-axially-aligned resulting in a spring force that biases the dual-direction latch14toward the neutral position and resists pivotal movement of the dual-direction latch14both into and out of the throat24of the hook-shaped body12. The dual-direction latch14forms a loop spring such that when the latch14is bent in either direction the difference in radii (i.e., R1and R2) of the latch14causes a spring affect to oppose motion.

FIGS. 4 and 5are respectively side and front views of an embodiment of the snap-hook10that includes a latch guard30attached to the dual-direction latch14. The latch guard30is positioned on the latch14such that the latch guard30serves as a pivot end stop such that the dual-direction latch may pivot away from the throat24until the latch guard30comes in contact with the shank end18. The dashed-lined, alternate position of the dual-direction latch14shown inFIG. 4is shown to illustrate the latch guard coming in contact with the shank end18. The latch guard30prevents over-opening of the dual-direction latch14. The latch guard30also is positioned on the latch14so as to limit movement of the free ends26and28away from each other which lessens a likelihood of the free ends coming out of the non-axially-aligned holes in the hook-shaped body12. The latch guard30may be attached to the dual-direction latch14by any suitable means known to those having ordinary skill in the art, including, but not limited to, welding, adhesives, fasteners, friction, and clamps. In the embodiment of the snap-hook10shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the latch guard30is made of folded sheet metal with a slot32cut therein such that the bent wire fits within the slot32.

FIG. 6is a side-view illustration of an embodiment of the snap-hook10shown connected to a primary line34and a secondary line36. In this embodiment, the secondary aperture22is positioned on the hook-shaped body12such that when the primary and secondary lines34and46are attached to the snap-hook10and when there is slack in the primary line34, a pulling force A applied to the secondary line36will cause an object38disposed within the throat24to contact the dual-direction latch14. The object38, for example, may be a mooring ring or a lifting bail of an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV). If the pulling force A is greater than the spring force of the dual-direction latch14then the object38will push the latch14open allowing the object38to escape the throat24of the snap-hook10(provided the weight of the object38, or other opposing force acting on the object38, (represented by arrow B) is also greater than the spring force of the dual-direction latch14).

FIGS. 7 and 8are side and front views respectively of an embodiment of the snap-hook10comprising a rod adapter track40attached to the shank end18of the hook-shaped body12that allows the snap-hook10to releasably mate with a hand-held rod42(as shown inFIGS. 10 & 11).FIG. 9is a perspective view of an embodiment of the rod adapter track40. The rod adapter track40is shaped to enable it to slip or slide on and off of a rod end44(also shown inFIGS. 10 & 11). This embodiment of the snap-hook10(i.e., the embodiment shown inFIGS. 7-11) may further comprise a shoulder46adjoined to the shank end18such that the rod42, when fully mated to the rod adapter track40(such as is shown inFIG. 10), contacts, and is prevented from further movement toward the throat24by, the shoulder46.

FIG. 10is an illustration of the embodiment of the snap-hook10shown inFIGS. 7-8being mated to the rod42. The rod42may be any rod of any length that is capable of being held and wielded by a person. The rode42may have any desired cross-sectional shape. For example, a suitable example of the rod42includes, but is not limited to, a ˜2 meter, T-slotted aluminum pole. As shown, the rod end44is in contact with the shoulder46. The rod42may be prevented from sliding off the rod adapter track40by applying a pulling force C on the primary line34. For example, a user holding the rod42and the primary line34may apply enough force on the primary line34to limit relative motion between the rod adapter track40and the rod42. While not shown inFIG. 10, it is to be understood that the secondary line36may be used in addition to, or in lieu of, the primary line34for limiting the relative motion between the rod adapter track40and the rod42. The rod42can be slid onto the rod adapter track40until the rod end44comes in contact with the shoulder46. With the snap-hook10thus attached to the end of the rod42, a user can hold the other end of the rod42and move the snap-hook10into a desired position where it can capture the object38.

FIG. 11is another illustration of the embodiment of the snap-hook10shown inFIGS. 7-8 and 10showing the snap-hook10being detached from the rod42. Once the object38has been captured by the snap-hook10, the user may apply a pulling force D to the rod42to allow the rod adapter track40to slide out of the rod42. The snap-hook10will remain connected to the object38and the primary line34may be used to lift the object38or to act as a mooring line.

For example, if the object38is an object that someone would like to recover from the water (such as a UUV after it has completed its mission), the snap-hook10may be affixed the end of the rod42to allow a person to reach out to the UUV, connect the snap-hook10to the lifting bail, remove the rod42, and then lift the UUV out of the water all from a safe distance (e.g., as far away as one can effectively wield the rod42). This is a safer procedure—for both personnel and the UUV—than positioning a boat within arms-reach of the UUV and having a person lean over the side of the boat and try to secure a hook to the UUV. An embodiment of the snap-hook10that weighs less than 300 grams was designed specifically for launching and recovering UUVs weighing up to 454 kilograms (1000 lbs). The snap-hook10may also be used to place the UUV into the water in a safe manner.

Continuing with the example scenario where the object38is a UUV, the snap-hook10may also be used to aid in launching the UUV. First, the UUV may be lowered into the water via the primary line34, which is attached to the snap-hook10, which in turn is connected to the UUV's lifting bail. Once the UUV is in the water and the primary line34is made slack, the secondary line36may be pulled with sufficient force to cause the snap-hook10to reposition itself on the lifting bail such that the lifting bail pushes the dual-direction latch14open and releases the UUV. Mention has been made of using the snap-hook10in connection with launching and recovering UUVs, but it is to be understood that use of the snap-hook10is not so limited to UUVs, but may be used in other applications where one desires a hook with a dual-direction latch.

From the above description of the snap-hook10, it is manifest that various techniques may be used for implementing the concepts of the snap-hook10without departing from the scope of the claims. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The method/apparatus disclosed herein may be practiced in the absence of any element that is not specifically claimed and/or disclosed herein. It should also be understood that the snap-hook10is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is capable of many embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims.