Sheath for lacing hooks

A sheath is provided for lacing hooks and the like, and comprises a channel-shaped body having a web with flanges extending along opposite sides of the web. The sheath flanges include outwardly facing apertures in which sharpened points of the hooks are received. The web is readily deformable, so that it can be manually compressed between its opposite sides to converge the apertures, and thereby disengage the hook points received therein. The sheath may then be removed from the hooks by simply pulling the sheath outwardly from inbetween the hook points. The sheath also facilitates manually severing a strip bar-type of lacing hooks to length. The sheath is preferably constructed from a material such as stiff paper materials, cardboard, thin plastic, et cetera, which can be manually cut by a conventional knife edge, like scissors, or a pocket knife. The web covers the hook points from the exterior side of the strip, such that the sheath can be cut, and the opposite ends of the strip grasped firmly in the user's hands, and manually twisted about the welded bar which interconnects adjacent hooks to break the strip to the desired length.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to fastening systems for belting, and in 
particular to a sheath for lacing hooks, and the like. 
Endless belts are used extensively in a wide variety of different 
commercial and industrial applications, such as conveyor belts and power 
drive belts in agricultural equipment, airport baggage conveyor systems, 
mining conveyors, and many other similar systems. The ends of such endless 
belts are typically interconnected by a lacing, which is usually flexible 
to permit the belt to pass over pulleys. One common type of lacing 
comprises a plurality of wire hooks that have sharpened points on opposite 
legs clenched or embedded in the leading and trailing ends of the belt. 
The loop ends of the hooks are meshed together, and a pin extends through 
the meshed loops to interconnect the opposite ends of the belt. 
One type of wire hook lacing employs "carded hooks," which comprise 
separate hooks that are individually mounted on a piece of cardboard or a 
card of similar material to retain the same in their proper spacing and 
orientation for insertion into a crimping machine. Examples of such carded 
hooks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,393,451 and 1,894,981. Once the 
carded hooks are set in place in the crimping machine, the card is 
removed, and a jaw portion of the crimping machine then retains the hooks 
in place as they are crimped onto one end of the belt. 
Another type of wire hook lacing employs "bar hooks," or "welded bar 
hooks," which comprise a plurality of hooks that are rigidly 
interconnected in a side-by-side relationship to form a strip of hooks. 
The rigid interconnection of the hooks both facilitates insertion of the 
hooks into a crimping machine, and also reinforces the finished lacing. 
Examples of such bar hooks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,498,275 and 
1,768,935. In one type of bar hook, a rigid wire or bar extends laterally 
across the hooks, and is welded to a leg of each hook at the point of 
intersection. 
The sharpened points of lacing hooks are normally exposed, such that the 
strips of hooks often become tangled during transport and/or use, which 
requires rather tedious and time consuming untangling. Also, due to the 
exposed points on unguarded lacing hooks, the hooks must be handled very 
carefully to avoid injury. 
One prior device used to guard the points of bar hooks is disclosed in an 
associated "Disclosure Statement," and comprises a rigid, extruded plastic 
strip having an H-shaped end elevational configuration. This rigid, 
H-shaped guard strip is slid laterally across the bar hooks, with the 
outermost hook points positioned within oppositely facing spaces between 
the upper and lower flanges of the guard strip. 
The rigid, H-shaped guard strip discussed above is relatively expensive to 
manufacture, and is simply discarded after the lacing is completed. Also, 
the rigid, H-shaped guard strip must be slid laterally off of the bar 
hooks to be removed therefrom prior to crimping. This type of removal 
action presents a problem where side clearance is limited, which is 
particularly prevalent when a belt is laced in place, since conveyor 
guides, side panels, et cetera, create a lateral obstruction. 
Another drawback associated with the use of such rigid, H-shaped guards is 
that when the bar-hooks are cut to length, the guard must be either 
removed or repositioned before the strip of bar hooks can be severed, 
thereby exposing at least some of the hook points. 
Yet another disadvantage associated with the H-shaped type of guard strip 
is that because they are rigid, and the spaces between the upper and lower 
flanges are relatively wide to insure proper insertion onto the bar hooks 
points, the guards have a tendency to slide laterally along the length of 
the bar hook during transport and/or use. This lateral motion causes 
longitudinal misalignment between the bar hooks and the guard that can 
expose some of the outermost hooks. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
One aspect of the present invention is to provide a sheath for lacing 
hooks, and the like, of the kind comprising a plurality of individual 
hooks that have sharpened points, and are interconnected in a side-by-side 
relationship. The sheath comprises a channel-shaped sheath body having a 
web with flanges extending along opposite sides of the web. The flanges 
include outwardly facing apertures that are shaped to receive therein the 
points of at least one of the hooks. The sheath also includes means for 
permitting the web to be manually compressed or collapsed between the 
opposite sides thereof to the extent that the apertures converge, and at 
least partially disengage the points of the hooks disposed therein, such 
that the sheath can be removed from the hooks by pulling the sheath 
outwardly from inbetween the points of the hooks. 
Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a sheath for 
bar-type lacing hooks, and the like, of the type having a laterally 
extending bar attached to each of the hooks to retain the hooks 
side-by-side in a strip. The sheath comprises a channel-shaped body having 
a web with flanges extending along opposite sides of the web. The flanges 
include an aperture shaped to receive therein the points of the hooks. The 
web is shaped to cover the points of the hooks from an exterior side of 
the bar hook strip, and the sheath body is constructed from a sliceable 
material adapted to be manually cut by a conventional knife edge. Hence, 
the strip of bar hooks can be severed or broken manually to length by 
cutting the sheath at a selected location, grasping the strip with hands 
on opposite sides of the cut, and rotating one end of the strip with 
respect to the other end of the strip generally about the longitudinal 
axis of the bar to torsionally fatigue and break the bar at the selected 
location. 
The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a sheath for 
lacing hooks, and the like, which is economical to manufacture, and can be 
easily removed from the hooks, even in environments having very limited 
lateral or side clearance. The sheath provides improved safety during 
handling of the hooks, and greatly alleviates tangling. 
Preferably, the sheath also serves as a mechanism by which a strip of bar 
hooks can be manually severed to length, and the only tool required is a 
simple cutting edge, such as a pocket knife, or the like. The sheath is 
efficient in use, capable of a long operating life, and particularly well 
adapted for the proposed use. 
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention 
will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by 
reference to the following written specification, claims and appended 
drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
For purposes of description herein, the terms "upper," "lower," "right," 
"left," "rear," "front," "vertical," "horizontal" and derivatives thereof 
shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIGS. 6 and 7. However, it is 
to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative 
orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also 
to be understood that the specific device and processes illustrated in the 
attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are 
simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the 
appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical 
characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be 
considered limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
The reference numeral 1 (FIG. 1) generally designates a sheath embodying 
the present invention. Sheath 1 is shown attached to a strip of bar-type 
lacing hooks 2 of the kind comprising a plurality of individual hooks 3 
that have sharpened points 4, and are rigidly interconnected in a 
side-by-side relationship by means such as the illustrated bar 5. Sheath 1 
has a channel-shaped body, comprising a web 6 with flanges 7 and 8 
extending along opposite sides of web 6. Flanges 7 and 8 include outwardly 
facing apertures or spaces 9 and 10 in which at least some of the 
sharpened points 4 of hooks 3 are received. The web 6 of sheath 1 is 
readily deformable, such as in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7, wherein 
web 6 is manually compressed between its opposite side edges to converge 
apertures or spaces 9 and 10, and thereby disengage hook points 4. Sheath 
1 may then be removed by simply pulling the same outwardly from inbetween 
the hook points, generally in the direction of the arrow illustrated in 
FIG. 7. 
Sheath 1 (FIG. 8) also facilitates manually severing the strip of bar hooks 
2 to length. Sheath 1 is preferably constructed from a material that can 
be manually cut by a conventional knife edge, such as stiff paper, 
cardboard, et cetera. Web 6 covers hook points 4 from the exterior side of 
strip 2, such that sheath 1 can be cut, and the opposite ends of strip 2 
firmly grasped in the user's hands and manually twisted axially about the 
longitudinal axis of bar 5 to torsionally fatigue and break strip 2 to the 
desired length. 
It is to be understood that the term "bar hooks," as used herein 
contemplates any type of lacing hook system in which the individual hooks 
are rigidly interconnected in a side-by-side relationship, regardless of 
the means by which such interconnection is accomplished. Hence, while the 
lacing hooks 2 described and illustrated herein are considered bar hooks 
and employ transverse interconnecting bar 5, sheath 1 may be used with 
other functionally similar lacing arrangements. 
The illustrated bar hooks strip 2 has a generally conventional 
construction, wherein the individual hooks 3 each have a long leg 15 (FIG. 
7), a short leg 16, and a loop area 17 between the long and short legs 15 
and 16. Both the long and short legs 15 and 16 of hooks 3 have sharpened 
points 4 at their free ends. The illustrated hooks 3 are arranged in an 
alternate, side-by-side fashion, with the long leg 15 of each hook 3 
disposed adjacent to the short leg 16 of the next adjacent hook 3. This 
alternate positioning of the hooks 3 in bar hook strip 2 is designed to 
reduce structural damage to the carcass of the belt into which hooks 3 are 
crimped. As best illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the alternate positioning 
of hooks 3 also creates two apertures or gaps 18 and 19 in bar hook strip 
2 between the upper and lower hook points 4, as viewed in side elevation. 
In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, sheath 1 has an 
integral, one-piece type of construction in the form of an elongate strip. 
Apertures or spaces 9 and 10 comprise V-shaped grooves, which extend 
continuously along the length of flanges 7 and 8. Grooves 9 and 10 are 
defined by inner and outer leg portions 20 and 21 of flanges 7 and 8. 
Inner and outer legs 20 and 21 intersect along a base portion 22 of 
grooves 9 and 10, and are mutually inclined at an included angle in the 
range of 30 to 60 degrees. The illustrated inner leg 20 is slightly longer 
than outer leg 21, which includes a free end edge 23. 
The illustrated web 6 (FIG. 6) of sheath 1 has an arcuate configuration, 
which opens toward bar hooks 3. The arcuate shape of web 6 facilitates the 
removal of sheath 1 from bar hooks 3, as described in greater detail 
hereinafter. The opposite side edges 3O of web 6 extend over the points 4 
of hooks 3, such that sheath 1 covers all of the points 4 in bar hook 
strip 2 from the exterior side of strip 2. 
The web portion 6 of sheath 1 also includes means for permitting web 6 to 
be manually deformed or compressed between the opposite side edges 30 of 
web 6 to the extent that grooves 9 and 10 converge, and at least partially 
disengage the points 4 of the bar hooks 5 disposed therein. Sheath 1 can 
then be removed from bar hook strip 2 by pulling sheath 1 outwardly from 
inbetween the points 4 of hooks 3, generally along the line of the arrow 
illustrated in FIG. 7. In the illustrated example of the present 
invention, the means by which web 6 can be manually compressed comprises 
constructing sheath 1 from a strip of manually deformable material, such 
as cellulose materials in the nature of stiff paper, cardboard, et cetera, 
and other materials having a similar characteristic. 
It is to be understood that the present invention also contemplates other 
means which will enable web 6 to be manually deformed or compressed. For 
instance a spring loaded hinge along web 6 would also serve to secure 
sheath 1 to the strip of bar hooks 2, yet permit manual compression of web 
6 to the extent that grooves 9 and 10 would disengage hook points 4. In 
one example of the present invention, sheath 1 is constructed by folding a 
relatively thin strip of stiff paper into the somewhat Omega-shaped 
configuration illustrated in the drawings. Fold lines or creases are made 
along the side edges 30 of web 6, as well as the base 22 of grooves 9 and 
10. The folded, paper strip construction provides sheath 1 with resiliency 
both in web 6, and flanges 7 and 8. In one example of the present 
invention, when sheath 1 is in a free condition, unattached to hooks 3, as 
illustrated in FIG. 2, flanges 7 and 8 are sprung slightly away from web 
6. Hence, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a positioning fixture 35 is used to 
insert sheath 1 onto the strip of bar hooks 2. In the example illustrated 
in FIG. 5, fixture 35 positions the outer legs 21 of flanges 7 and 8 
directly in line with the gap 18 and 19 between alternate hook points 4. 
Fixture 35 flexes flanges 7 and 8 and web 6 towards each other to achieve 
this positioning action. As sheath 1 extends away from fixture 35, sheath 
1 springs or expands outwardly toward its free position, thereby capturing 
and locking the outer legs 21 of sheath 1 between the adjacent, alternate 
hook points 4 which define gaps 18 and 19, as shown in FIG. 6. In this 
position, the free edges 23 of flanges 7 and 8 are disposed adjacent to 
the inside surfaces of hook legs 15 and 16. The springing action of 
flanges 7 and 8 not only tends to laterally retain sheath 1 in position on 
hooks 3, but also locates the side edges 30 of web 6 at a convenient 
position to be grasped for removal. 
It is to be understood that sheath 1 is capable of being manufactured from 
a variety of different materials, and by various processes. For instance, 
in addition to being folded from stiff paper, the present invention 
contemplates that sheath 1 may be constructed by extruding a relatively 
thin-walled channel of a semi-rigid polymer or plastic. Other similar 
constructions that provide a manually deformable web are also contemplated 
by the present invention. 
The sheath illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 includes a tapered lead end 40, 
which facilitates inserting sheath 1 onto the strip of bar hooks 2. The 
trailing end 41 of sheath 1 includes a reverse taper, in the nature of an 
arrow, which matches leading end 40 to facilitate manufacture. 
In operation, sheath 1 may be inserted onto the strip of bar hooks 2 by 
fixture 35, in the manner discussed above. Sheath 1 protects or shields 
all of the hook points 4 on strip 2 to maintain point sharpness, provide 
improved safety, and prevent adjacent strips of bar hooks 2 from becoming 
entangled. After the strip of bar hooks 2 is placed and set in a 
conventional clenching or crimping machine (not shown), sheath 1 can be 
easily removed in the following manner. The user manually compresses or 
partially collapses web 6 by pinching side edges 30, as shown in FIG. 7. 
This compressing action, which is enhanced by and cooperates with the 
arcuate shape of web 6, causes grooves 9 and 10 to converge and disengage 
or uncover the points 4 of hooks 3 previously disposed therein. The outer 
legs 21 of flanges 7 and 8 are thus pulled out from the gaps 18 and 19 
between adjacent rows of hook points 4. Sheath 1 is then removed by 
pulling sheath 1 directly outwardly from inbetween hook points 4. Since 
sheath 1 need not be slid laterally along gaps 18 and 19, sheath 1 
requires virtually no lateral side clearance for removal. 
Sheath 1 also provides a mechanism by which the strip of bar hooks 2 can be 
manually broken or severed to a length that will accommodate the width of 
the belt to be spliced. As best illustrated in FIG. 8, sheath 1 is cut at 
the location of the selected length by means of a conventional cutting 
edge, such as a standard pocketknife, craft-knife, scissors, or the like. 
The user then firmly grasps the strip of bar hooks 2 with both hands, 
wherein opposite hands are located on opposite sides of the cut line 44. 
Preferably, the user's thumbs are placed directly in the center of web 6, 
and the user presses firmly inwardly thereon to compress web 6 against the 
upper set of hook points 4 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8. The user 
then manually rotates the opposite ends of strip 2 (i.e., on opposite 
sides of cut line 44) along an axis generally concentric with the 
longitudinal axis of bar 5 (as illustrated by the arrow in FIG. 8) to 
torsionally fatigue the same, and thereby break bar 5 at the selected 
location. In this manner, the strip of bar hooks 3 can be manually severed 
to length, without the need for any special tool. 
Sheath 1 provides an economical means by which to shield the hook points 4 
on fastener hooks. Sheath 1 can be easily removed from a strip of hooks 2, 
even in places having virtually no lateral or side clearance. Sheath 1 is 
securely retained on hooks 3 to improve safety and avoid tangling of 
adjacent hook strips 2. Sheath 1 also provides a convenient and safe 
mechanism by which a strip of bar-type hooks 2 can be manually severed to 
length, without requiring any special tools. 
In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those 
skilled in the art, that modifications may be made to the invention 
without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications 
are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these 
claims by their language expressly state otherwise.