AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING TACKLE HOOK
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING
TACKLE HOOK." A communication from abroad by Charles Luxton, of
Hudson, State of New Jersey, United States of America.
Sealed the 13th September 1867, and dated the 25th April 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th April 1867.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IM-
PROVED SELF-ACTING TACKLE Нooк," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of a self-acting tackle hook for the attachment of
ships' boats and other purposes, whereby the boat is released from the tackle
the instant the latter is relieved from the boat's weight by the boat reaching
the water.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 is a stern view of a boat with tackle
and hook applied, Figure 2 is an enlarged like view of this improved self-acting
tackle hook detached from the boat and tackle, and Figure 3 is an edge view
thereof. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

page_text: A is the boat; B, the lower tackle block which secures into the ring C, to
which also one end of each of the chains D, D, is secured, the other being
made fast to the lever arms E, E. The arms E, E, of the tackle hook are
pivoted at e and weighted at their superior extremities W. The lower arms H
close upon each other, forming an eye which secures into the ring bolt a or
into any convenient part of the boat. A safety chain F passes from one of
the lever arms E to the other, holding them together, closing the two lower
arms H, and keeping the eye securely in the ring bolt a. When it is
desired to lower the boat the safety chain F is let go, and on the boat striking
the water the weights W fall, throwing open the arms H and releasing the
boat.
The tackle book is also applicable to use in supporting and transporting
heavy weights of any kind, the tackle being relieved from the weight so soon
as the latter reaches the ground or other place where it is to be deposited, and
the tackle hook operated by the falling of the weighted arms E, W, is
instantaneously released from the load. The chain F and chains D may be
replaced by a single chain passed through eyes in the lever arins E, and the
ends secured to the ring C, stops being put on the chain at the eyes in the
arms E to prevent an accidental lift of the boat from opening the booked
arms H, the stops being removed when it is required to lower the boat.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 17th October 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special licence that I, the said
Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such.
others as I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time:
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of

page_text: Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING TACKLE Hooк," a communication to me from
abroad by Charles Luxton, of Hudson, State of New Jersey, United States of
America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander
Melville Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing.
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention consists of a self-acting tackle hook for the attachment of
ships' boats and other purposes whereby the boat is released from the tackle
the instant the latter is relieved from the boat's weight by the boat reaching
the water.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a stern view of a boat with
tackle and hook applied, Figure 2 is an enlarged like view of this improved
self-acting tackle hook detached from boat and tackle, and Figure 3 is
an edge view thereof. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts.
A is the boat; B, the lower tackle block which secures into the ring C, to
which also one end of each of the cbains D, D, is secured, the other being
made fast to the lever arms E, E. The arms E, E, of the tackle hook are
pivotted at e and weighted at their superior extremities W. The lower
arms E close upon each other, forming an eye which secures into the ring
bolt a, or into any convenient part of the boat. A safety chain F passes
from one of the lever arms E to the other, bolding them together, closing
the two lower arms H, and keeping the eye securely in the ring bolt a.
When it is desired to lower the boat the safety chain F is let go, and on the
boat striking the water the weights W fall, throwing open the arms H and
releasing the boat.
The tackle hook is also applicable to use in supporting and transporting
heavy weights of any kind, the tackle being relieved from the weight so
soon as the latter reaches the ground or other place where it is to be
deposited, and the tackle book operated by the falling of the weighted arms

page_text: E, W, is instantaneously released from the load. The chain F and chains D
may be replaced by a single chain passed through eyes in the lever arms E,
and the ends secured to the ring C, stops being put on the chain at the
eyes in the arms E to prevent an accidental lift of the boat from opening
the hooked arms H, the stops being removed when it is required to lower the 5
boat.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st, a tackle book automatically releasing the weight suspended from the I
tackle, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and described.
2ndly, the combination of the safety chain F with the tackle hook, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)