IM- PROVED MECHANICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR HOOKS OR COUPLINGS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward James Coleman, of Hyde Park, in the County
of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, at present
residing at Brixton, in the County of Surrey, in England, and Frederick
Joseph Bird, of Stroud, in the County of Gloucester, for the Invention of " IM-
PROVED MECHANICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR HOOKS OR COUPLINGS."
A com-
munication from by Samuel Poole, of Boston, State of Massachusetts, United
States.
led the 5th January 1877, and dated the Sth July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward James Coleman
and Frederick Joseph Bird at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
8th July 1876.
EDWARD JAMES COLEMAN, of Hyde Park, in the County of Norfolk, State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, at present residing at Brixton, in the
County of Surrey, in England, and FREDERICK JOSEPH BIRD, of Stroud, in the
County of Gloucester. "IMPROVED MECHANICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR HOOKS OR
COUPLINGS." A' communication from abroad by Samuel Poole, of Boston, State of
Massachusetts, United States.
The object of this Invention is a detaching clasp, or hook, or coupling to be
used principally for readily detaching a boat from the tackles by which it is hoisted
out of the water and suspended to the boat's davits, and the mode of its operation
is such that when the boat is lowered and touches the water the clasp, hook, or
coupling at once opens and casts off the rings by which it suspended the boat;
or it may be used to detach boats by lanyards pulled by hand.
One form of this improved detachable hook consists as follows:-The stock of
the clasp or hook at the upper end is rivetted or otherwise secured to the strap of
the block, or formed into a hook. On this stock is a cross head projecting on either
side and forming jaws or lugs, to which are attached by pins suspender rods.
Below the cross head the stock is formed as a round rod, terminating in a nut
firmly fixed to the stock by a thread and pin, sliding on this stock is a socket,
which is slipped up on to it before the said nut is attached, and between this nut
and the upper end of socket is a spring, preferably spiral, which spring may be
pressed into a recess in the socket, and which presses the socket upwards. The
lower end of this socket forms two jaws, between which the two parts of the
sister hook are held by a pin, so that they are free to open and close around it.
Price 6d1

page_text: The outer end of the said sister hooks are pinned to the lower end of the suspender
rods. When the instrument is free the coil spring forces, and is held by socket so
as to open the clasp to admit the entrance of a ring to which it is desired to
attach the clasp. When it is desired to make fast to a ring or other object the clasp
is brought so as to admit the ring between the jaws of the hook, the socket is then
pressed down, which brings the sister hooks together, clasping the ring. When
desired to detach the suspended object it is necessary to lower it until it rests on
some support, and at once the clasp is opened by the action of the spring. When
used for lowering in the water, such as a boat, the mere lowering it into the water
will detach the clasp so soon as the boat is waterborne and strain taken off the
tackle; but when it is desired to keep the clasp attached after the suspended weight
has been otherwise supported a pin or pins is or are employed, passed through holes
in the sides of the slot in the socket below the nut when the spring is compressed, and
this pin prevents the action of the spring from opening the clasp. To liberate the
object all that is desired when the object is required to be released is to withdraw
the pin or pins, and the action of the spring liberates the object. The pin or pins
may be attached to the arrangements by lanyards or other means.
A modification of the above arrangements consists in forming a hook, which has
at the upper part a counterbalance weight, and the lower or curved part of the
hook is provided with a slot. In this slot runs a pin, which forms part of, or is
connected with, an upper or fixed part of the hook, in which upper part a socket
is formed for the reception of the counterbalance weight and the portion connecting
same to the curved part of the hook. This upper part is formed with an eye or
block for retaining the same in position. In this arrangement when a weight is
suspended to the hooked part the same is brought down and kept firmly in
position, and when pressure is relieved, as in the case when a boat attached thereto
becomes waterborne, the weight on the hook by means of the counterbalance
weight is taken off and the holdfast is destroyed, thus relieving the boat from the
tackles. Should, however, it be required to keep the hook attached after the sus-
pended weight has been otherwise supported a collar is employed, which is passed
round the upper part or socket, embracing also the part carrying the counterbalance
weight.
:
To liberate the object all that is required is to raise the collar (which is kept in
position required by suitable meane) and the ausnondad ahinah
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward James Coleman and Frederick James Bird in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 8th January 1877.
EDWARD JAMES COLEMAN, of Hyde Park, in the County of Norfolk, State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, at present residing at Brixton, in the
County of Surrey, England, and FREDERICK JOSEPH BIRD, of Stroud, in the
County of Gloucester. "IMPROVED MECHANICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR HOOKS OR
COUPLINGS." A communication from abroad by Samuel Poole, of Boston, State of
Massachusetts, United States.
The object of this Invention is a detaching clasp or hook to be used principally
for readily detaching a boat from the tackles by which it is hoisted out of the water
and suspended to the boat's davits, and the mode of its operation is such that when
the boat is lowered and touches the water the clasp at once opens and casts off the
rings by which it suspended the boat; or it may be used to detach boats by
lanyards pulled by hand.
One form of this improved detachable hook consists as follows:-The stock of the
clasp or hook at the upper end is rivetted or otherwise secured to the strap of the
block, or formed into a hook. On this stock is a cross head projecting on either
side and forming jaws or lugs, to which are attached by pins suspender rods.

page_text: Below the cross head the stock is formed as a round rod terminating in a nut firmly
fixed to the stock by a thread and pin. Sliding on this stock is a socket, which is
slipped up on to it before the said nut is attached, and between this nut and the
upper.end of socket is a spring, preferably spiral, which spring may be pressed into
a recess in the socket, and which presses the socket upwards. The lower end of
this socket forms two jaws, between which the two parts of the sister hook are held
by a pin, so that they are free to open and close around it. The outer ends of the
said sister hooks are pinned to the lower end of the suspender rods. When the
instrument is free the coil spring forces and is held by socket so as to open the clasp
to admit the entrance of a ring to which it is desired to attach the clasp. When
it is desired to make fast to a ring or other object the clasp is brought so as to
admit the ring between the jaws of the hook, the socket is then pressed down,
which brings the sister hooks together, clasping the ring. When desired to detach
the suspended object it is necessary to lower it until it rests on some support, and
at once the clasp is opened by the action of the spring. When used for lowering in
the water, such as a boat, the inere lowering it into the water will detach the clasp so
soon as the boat is waterborne and strain taken off the tackle; but when it is desired
to keep the clasp attached after the suspended weight has been otherwise supported
a pin or pins is or are employed, passed through holes in the sides of the slot in the
socket below the nut when the spring is compressed, and this pin prevents the
action of the spring from opening the clasp. To liberate the object all that is
required is to withdraw the pin or pins, and the action of the spring liberates the
object. The pin or pins may be attached to the arrangements by lanyards or other
means.
A modification of the above arrangements consists in forming a hook, which has
at the upper part a counterbalance weight, and the lower or curved part of the hook
is provided with a slot. In this slot runs a pin, which forms part of or is connected
with an upper or fixed part of the hook, in which upper part a socket is formed for
the reception of the counterbalance weight and the portion connecting same to the
curved part of the hook. This upper part is formed with an eye or block for
retaining the same in position. In this arrangement when a weight is suspended
to the hook part the same is brought down and kept firmly in position, and when
pressure is released, as in the case when a boat attached thereto becomes water-
borne, the weight on the hook by means of the counterbalance weight is taken off
and the holdfast is destroyed, thus releasing the boat from the tackles. Should,
however, it be required to keep the hook attached after the suspended weight las
been otherwise supported a collar is employed, which is passed round the upper
part or socket, embracing also the part carrying the counterbalance weight.
To liberate the object all that is required is to raise the collar (which is kept in
position required by suitable means) and the suspended object is released.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of one form of hook; Fig. 2 is part section view.
A, A, is the stock of the clasp; H, cross head on said stock A, projecting on either
side; D, D, suspender rods attached by pins to cross head H; E, square nut, which
is attached at the lower end of stock A, said stock A. below the cross head being
round, said nut being fixed to stock by a thread and pin; B, socket, which slides
on stock A, same being slipped up on to it before the nut is attached; 8, spiral
spring inserted between the nut E and the upper end of socket B, as shown, the
lower end of which socket forms two jaws, between which the two sister hooks C, C,
are held by a pin, so that they are free to open and close around it; the outer ends
of said sister looks are. pinned to the lower ends of the suspender rods D, D; G, pin
which passes through holes in the sides of the slot in the socket below the nut E
when the spring 8 is compressed, and this pin prevents the action of the spring from
opening the clasp, as before described.
Fig. 3 front view of a modified form of hook; Fig. 4 sectional view of same.

page_text: +
In these Figures A is the hook with counterbalance weight A' at the top or upper
part thereof; B, slot formed in lower or curved portion of said hook A.; C, pin-
which runs in said slot B; D, socket formed in upper portion of hook D', which
said portion D terminates in an eye or block D2 for retaining the hook in position;
E, collar passing round the upper part of 1', which serves to hold part A with the
counterbalance weight, the pin e on portion D engaging in the slot on collar, as
shewn, when the hook with counterbalance weight is required to be released. This
collar may in some cases be dispensed with, as herein-before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in practice,
we claim a detaching clasp composed of sister hooks suspended through their
centre pin, or the herein described modification thereof, substantially as the same is
herein-before set forth and described.
:
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Joseph Bird, on behalf of myself
and the said Edward James Coleman, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Eighth day, of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
FREDERICK JOSEPH BIRD. (L.S.)
Witness,
T. MORGAN,
Secretary,
Inventors' Patent Right Assn. Ld.
21, Cockspur Street, S.W.