Improvements in Cotton Hooks.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 20th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1896
ISIONAL SP
CATION.
Improvements in Cotton Hooks.
PETER JAMES MURPHY, 100 Peel Road Bootle Lancashire, Dock Gateman
Mersey Docks & Harbour Board do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:
An ordinary cotton hook so fixed or altered as to allow it to be capable of having
its shaft moveable and is best described by aid of the drawings enclosed with this
Provisional Specification in which is shown full sized front and side elevations :-
A handle through which is passed B shaft. C spring which keeps shaft in
position. D & E are bearing plates. F square on shaft regulating its four
positions in plate D. G & H are holes in plates D & E. I is a hole in handle A
large enough for spring C. J larger hole at above square F so as to allow said
square to turn. K1 & K 2, rivets holding D & E in position. I do not bind
myself to any size, shape or material in this invention.
Dated this 18th day of May. 1896.
P. J. MURPHY.
I, PETER JAMES MURPHY, of 100, Peel Road, Bootle, near Liverpool,
Dockgateman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to hooks-commonly called "cotton" hooks-which are
used by dock labourers, porters, carters, and others, in handling cargo, cotton bales,
railway freight goods, and the like.
It is the habit of those who use such hooks to thrust them, when not required;
under their waist belt; and when this is done the point of the hook projects from
the body somewhat dangerously, the hook and handle being commonly at right
angles to each other.
According to this invention I so construct a cotton hook that its shank is movable
in its handle, in order that the plane of the hook may be at right angles with the
handle, for working purposes, and may be turned round parallel with the hook for
the purpose of being thrust beneath the waist belt.
Figure 1 of the annexed drawing illustrates a cotton hook according to my
invention, Figure 2 being a plan thereof.
a is the hook, b its shank, and c its handle. The shank 6 is held by the two
plates d and e which are rivetted to the handle c. A square nut or formation fon
the shank lies in a corresponding countersink in the plate d and is held-for the
time being-rigid therein by the spiral spring g which encircles the shank band
Rice 81

page_text: abuts against the nut f and plate e respectively. The nut may be screwed upon
the shank bor be secured thereto by a key pin .
To turn the hook a so as to lie parallel with the handle c, the shank bis pushed
into the handle, against the spring g, until the nut is clear of its recess in the
plate d. The shank is then turned at right angles and allowed to spring outwardly
again. The same operation is repeated when it is desired that the hook a shall be
at right angles with the handle c, for working purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A "cotton" hook whose shank is capable of being rotated in its handle in order
that the hook may stand at right angles with the handle or lie parallel therewith,
consisting of the hook a, shank b, handle c, plates d and e, nut f, and spring 9,
combined, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purpose
herein described and illustrated in the drawing hereto annexed.
Dated thie 19th dor of November 1806
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Registered Patent Agent (qual. by exam.),
10 St. George's Crescent, Liverpool, Agent for the Applicant.