Patent Publication Number: US-2018038408-A1

Title: Eyehook

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to a hanging tool, and more particularly to an eyehook with sufficient structural strength, which ensures the safety in use. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Generally, conventional eyehooks are made of rigid metal to offer good durability and to prevent possible accidents. However, eyehooks made of metal are heavy and conductive to electricity, which may cause serious injuries when accidentally contact with electrical current. In light of this, a type of eyehook is improved to have a clad layer made of insulating materials, which not only avoids the aforementioned hazard but also reduces the weight of the eyehook. Moreover, to prevent the object hung on an eyehook from falling off, such improved eyehooks usually further include a safety. Thus, the hung object cannot be taken down unless the safety is deactivated. 
     However, if the structure of the safety is not well designed, the user may get pinched while trying to deactivate the safety. Additionally, the structural strength of this type of improved eyehooks may be decreased because less metal is used therein. In this case, if such an eyehook is forcefully hit, the structure is prone to get damaged, and the safety may even fail to function normally. 
     Therefore, the conventional eyehooks have to be further improved to increase the structural strength while keeping the function of insulation to enhance the safety in use. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide an eyehook, which is insulating and lightweight, and has sufficient structural strength to ensure the safety in use. 
     The present invention provides an eyehook, which includes a main hook, a gate, and a switch. The main hook includes a first portion, a second portion, and a hook portion, wherein the main hook has an opening provided thereon. The gate is pivotally connected to the second portion of the main hook, wherein the gate is pivotally movable between a first position and a second position. When the gate is moved to the second position, a free end thereof abuts against an inner side of a free end of the hook portion to close the opening. The gate includes a first main body and a first insulating coat, wherein the first main body is clad in the first insulating coat; the first insulating coat has a first abutting portion. The switch is pivotally connected to the first portion of the main hook, wherein the switch is pivotally movable between a third position and a fourth position. The switch includes a second main body and a second insulating coat, wherein the second main body is clad in the second insulating coat, and the second insulating coat has a second abutting portion. When the switch is moved to the third position, the switch abuts against the first abutting portion of the first insulating coat to prevent the gate from pivotally moving from the second position toward the first position. The switch further includes a covering portion, which covers the first abutting portion when the gate is moved to the first position. 
     The present invention further provides an eyehook, which includes a main hook, a gate, and a switch. The main hook includes a first portion, a second portion, and a hook portion, wherein the first portion is provided between the second portion and the hook portion. The main hook has an opening provided thereon. The gate is pivotally connected to the second portion of the main hook, wherein the gate is pivotally movable between a first position and a second position. When the gate is moved to the second position, a free end thereof abuts against an inner side of a free end of the hook portion to close the opening. The gate includes a first main body and a first insulating coat, wherein the first main body is clad in the first insulating coat; the first insulating coat has a first abutting portion. The switch is pivotally connected to the first portion of the main hook, wherein the switch is pivotally movable between a third position and a fourth position. The switch includes a second main body and a second insulating coat, wherein the second main body is clad in the second insulating coat, and the second insulating coat has a second abutting portion. When the switch is moved to the third position, the switch abuts against the first abutting portion of the first insulating coat to prevent the gate from pivotally moving from the second position toward the first position. The switch is pivotally connected to the main hook through a pin. The first main body has a first outer surface beneath the first abutting portion. When the gate abuts against the switch, a vertical line on the first outer surface passes through the pin. 
     The present invention further provides an eyehook, which includes a main hook, a gate, and a switch. The main hook includes a first portion, a second portion, and a hook portion, wherein the first portion is provided between the second portion and the hook portion. The main hook has an opening provided thereon. The gate is pivotally connected to the second portion of the main hook, wherein the gate is pivotally movable between a first position and a second position. When the gate is moved to the second position, a free end thereof abuts against an inner side of a free end of the hook portion to close the opening. The gate includes a first main body and a first insulating coat, wherein the first main body is clad in the first insulating coat. The first insulating coat has a first abutting portion. The switch is pivotally connected to the first portion of the main hook, wherein the switch is pivotally movable between a third position and a fourth position. The switch includes a second main body and a second insulating coat, wherein the second main body is clad in the second insulating coat, and the second insulating coat has a second abutting portion. When the switch is moved to the third position, the switch abuts against the first abutting portion of the first insulating coat to prevent the gate from pivotally moving from the second position toward the first position. The switch has a rotation axis, and the first main body has a first outer surface beneath the first abutting portion. When the gate abuts against the switch, a perpendicular foot of the first outer surface passing through the rotation axis falls on the first outer surface. 
     Whereby, the eyehook has an insulating outer layer for improving the safety in use. Moreover, when the gate abuts against the switch, a component force of a force acting on the switch would pass through the pivot point of the main hook and the switch, which generates no rotation torque, and therefore increase the intensity of the eyehook, and reduce the chance of cracking the eyehook. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, showing the eyehook; 
         FIG. 2  is a exploded view of the eyehook in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the embodiment, showing that when the gate is moved to the second position, and the switch is moved to the third position, the gap is formed between the first abutting portion and the second abutting portion; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of the embodiment, showing the first abutting portion abuts against the second abutting portion; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of the embodiment, showing gate is pivotally movable; 
         FIG. 6  is a partially enlarged view of  FIG. 5 , showing the first outer surface of the first main body abuts against the second outer surface of the second main body; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of the embodiment, showing the switch is moved to the fourth position, and the second abutting portion of the switch is away from the first abutting portion of the gate; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of the embodiment, showing the covering portion of the switch covers the first abutting portion of the gate when the gate is moved to the first position; and 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view along the  9 - 9  line in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 9 , the eyehook  100  is an electrically insulating safety, which is designed to prevent current conduction while contact with electrical current, and thus avoid possible injuries. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the eyehook  100  includes a main hook  10 , a gate  20 , and a switch  30 . The main hook  10  has an insulating outer layer, and includes a first portion  11 , a second portion  12 , a hook portion  13 , and a hanging ring  14 . The first portion  11  is provided between the second portion  12  and the hook portion  13 ; the second portion  12  is provided between the first portion  11  and the hanging ring  14 , and a first protrusion  15  is provided outside of the second portion. The first protrusion  15  has a hollow portion, which does not affect the intensity of the eyehook  100 , in order to reduce the weight and the amount of materials of the eyehook  100 . The hook portion  13  is hook-shaped and used to hang on an object. The hanging ring  14  is adapted to be passed through by a hanging rope, or connected to another hook. Moreover, the hanging ring  14  has a second protrusion  16  protruded out of the outer surface thereon, wherein the second protrusion  16  also has a hollow portion, which has the same function as that of the first protrusion  15 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 8 , an end of the gate  20  is pivotally connected to the main hook  10  through a pin B 1  passing through the second portion  12  of the main hook  10 , and the gate  20  is thus pivotally movable between a first position P 1  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) and a second position P 2  (shown in  FIG. 3 ), wherein the pin B 1  is the pivot point. In the embodiment, when the gate  20  is moved to the second position P 2 , the first protrusion  15  extends out of an outer surface of the gate  20 , which prevents the gate  20  from pivoting by an accidental hit. 
     The gate  20  is elongated, and a sectional shape of the gate  20  depicted in  FIG. 9  is U-shaped. The gate  20  includes a first main body  21 , which is clad in a first insulating coat  22 , wherein the first main body  21  is rigid, and made of metal. The first insulating coat  22  has two first abutting portions  221 , wherein the first main body  21  has a first outer surface S 1  beneath each of the first abutting portions  221 . In other words, the first outer surface S 1  is cover by the first insulating coat  22 . When the gate  20  is moved to the first position P 1 , an opening of the eyehook  100  is exposed, and an object can be hung on or taken down through the opening. When the gate  20  is moved to the second position P 2 , a free end  23  thereof abuts against an inner side of a free end  131  of the hook portion  13  to close the opening, which prevents the hung object from falling off from the hook portion  13 . 
     An end of the switch  30  is pivotally connected to the main hook  10  through a pin B 2  passing through the first portion  11  of the main hook  10 , and the switch  30  is thus pivotally movable between a third position P 3  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) and a fourth position P 4  (shown in  FIG. 8 ). In the embodiment, when the switch  30  is moved to the third position P 3 , the second protrusion  16  extends out of an outer surface of the switch  30  on a side opposite to where the switch  30  is pivotally connected to the main hook  10 , which prevents the switch  30  from pivoting by an accidental hit. As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the switch  30  has a rotation axis A falling on the pin B 2 . When the first outer surface S 1  abuts against the second outer surface S 2 , a perpendicular foot P of the first outer surface S 1  passing through the rotation axis A falls on the first outer surface S 1 . 
     In the embodiment, the switch  30  is elongated, and a sectional shape of the switch  30  depicted in  FIG. 9  is U-shaped. The switch  30  includes a second main body  31 , which is clad in a second insulating coat  32 , wherein the second main body  31  is rigid, and made of metal. The switch  30  further includes two lateral boards  301  which are parallel to each other, and the second insulating coat  32  has two covering portions  320  protruded from the two lateral boards  301  respectively. When the gate  20  is moved to the first position P 1 , the two covering portions  320  cover the two first abutting portions  221  respectively (shown in  FIG. 7  to  FIG. 9 ). Furthermore, the two covering portions  320  are obvious to see and touch, and are adapted to be held by fingers or a web of a hand in order to drive the switch  30  to pivot. With such design, a hand of a user would not get pinched while using the eyehook  100 . 
     In the embodiment, both the second insulating coat  32  and the first insulating coat  22  are made of insulating plastic steel (PVC). The second insulating coat  32  has two second abutting portions  321 , and each of the second abutting portions  321  extends toward one of the first abutting portions  221 . The second main body  31  has a second outer surface S 2  beneath each of the second abutting portion  321 . In other words, the second outer surface S 2  is cover by the second insulating coat  32 . For explanatory purpose, the structures of the switch  30  and the gate  20  are described in one side thereof as follows. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , when the switch  30  is moved to the third position P 3 , the second abutting portion  321  of the second insulating coat  32  is on the movement pathway for the gate  20  from the second position P 2  toward the first position P 1  in order to abut against the first abutting portion  221  to prevent the gate  20  from pivotally moving toward the first position P 1 . With such design, the range of movement of the gate  20  is restricted to prevent the hung object from falling off by an accidental hit. 
     When the switch  30  is moved to the third position P 3 , and the gate  20  is moved to the second position P 2 , a gap G 1  is formed between the first abutting portion  221  and the second abutting portion  321  as shown in  FIG. 3 , which makes the switch  30  pivotally move without being interfered by the gate  20  when the gate  20  is positioned in the second position P 2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , when the gate  20  is forcefully hit, and therefore the first abutting portion  221  and the second abutting portion  321  which are supposed to abut against each other are broken, the first outer surface S 1  beneath the first abutting portion  221  of the first main body  21  would abut against the second outer surface S 2  beneath the second abutting portion  321  of the second main body  31 . 
     In the embodiment, the first outer surface S 1  and the second outer surface S 2  which abut against each other are parallel, so as to form a bigger contact area, which reduces the chance of cracking the second main body  31 . Additionally, when the gate  20  is forcefully hit by a force F, the switch  30  would also receive a force Fr sent from the gate  20 . When the gate  20  abuts against the switch  30 , a perpendicular foot P of the first outer surface S 1  of the first main body  21  passing through the rotation axis A of the switch  30  falls on the first outer surface S 1 . In other words, a component Fx of the force Fr in the normal direction of the first outer surface S 1  passes through the pin B 2 . Therefore, the component Fx would not generate a rotation torque, but the rigid pin B 2  receives the component Fx instead, and thus the eyehook  10  is able to withstand a greater external force. In addition, another component Fy would generate a low rotation torque which may not damage the structure of the eyehook  10 . Furthermore, the outer diameter of the pin B 2  is large enough, such that a vertical line L on the first outer surface S passes through the pin B 2  when the gate  20  abuts against the switch  30 , which makes the pin B 2  receive the component Fx as aforementioned. 
     The switch  30  can be driven to pivotally move to the fourth position P 4  (shown in  FIG. 7 ) through the covering portions  320  to make the second abutting portion  321  move away from the first abutting portions  221 . Afterwards, the gate  20  can be pressed and driven to move to the first position P 1  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) to make the first abutting portions  221  of the gate  20  be covered by the covering portions  320  of the switch  30 . With such design, a hand of a user would not get pinched while driving the gate  20  and the switch  30 . 
     In addition, because the second abutting portion  321  of the switch  30  is on the movement pathway for the first abutting portion  221 , the gate  20  would not be prone to pivotally move even the gate  20  is accidentally hit. Even when the eyehook  100  is further forcefully hit, and the first abutting portion  221  and the second abutting portion  321  which are supposed to abut against each other are accordingly broken, the intensity of the second main body  31  is strong enough to withstand a greater external force, to reduce the chance of cracking the eyehook  100 , and to enhance the safety in use. 
     It must be pointed out that the embodiments described above are only some preferred embodiments of the present invention. All equivalent structures which employ the concepts disclosed in this specification and the appended claims should fall within the scope of the present invention.