Improvements in and connected with Hooks for Attaching Ropes and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Hooks for Attaching Ropes and
the like.
I, CARL FREDRIC CYRILLUS EDHOLM, of Westervik, Sweden, Bookseller, lo
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 double-hooks, and is designed to provide a hook especi-
ally adapted for use in sailing-boats for fixing sheets and the like, although they
may, of course, be used for many other purposes. In sailing, great inconvenience
is often caused by the ordinary clasp-hooks, for, in order to keep the two parts
in position when engaging a rope or the like, it is necessary to tie them together,
string or cord usually being employed for this purpose. "Should the part of an
ordinary clasp-hook not be tied, the hook is rendered altogether insecure when
the sail, rope or the like is put in motion.
The tying together of the parts in question takes up considerable time, and
in order to prevent the knot becoming loose during sailing, it has to be made
very strong. Moreover, as the knot is drawn together still more during sailing,
it is afterwards difficult to untie the same; more especially if it should become
wet, in which case it is almost impossible. A double, or clasp hook constructed
in accordance with my invention can be hooked, or unhooked instantaneously
its parts are held safely together without being lashed to one another, and it
cannot be inadvertently opened or detached from the object to which it is hooked.
Whether coupled together or separated, the parts cannot catch upon other objects,
such as ropes, or the edges of holes or the like, as single-hooks, and especially
the ordinary clasp-hooks have so great a tendency to do.
A double or clasp hook constructed according to this invention, consists partly
of a tongs-shaped portion, the jaws of which are provided with two separate hooks,
facing one another, and the movement of which towards, and from each other,
is limited; and partly of a fork-shaped portion, the legs of which are provided
with lateral openings, extending to the stem, which is made flat near said open-
ings. When these two parts are to be engaged with one another, the flat part
of the stem before mentioned is introduced between the two hooks on the tong
shaped portion, the hooks being afterwards caused to move in such a direction
as to engage in the openings of the legs. For limiting the movement of the
hooks relatively to one another, many different arrangements may be used. If
the double or clasp hook is not too large, the tongs-shaped portion may be con-
structed in such a manner, that instead of consisting of two parts connected at
the crossing by means of a pivot, as is the case in the common tongs, it has its
jaws, that is to say the hooks, united, to form an integral piece, no pivot being
provided at the crossing. In this case the movement of the hooks is determined
by the elasticity of the part connecting the hooks.
Referring to the accompanying drawings.

page_text: Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a double or clasp hook, constructed in accordance
with my invention, the hook being shown in side and end elevation respectively.
Figure 3 is a section on the line of Figure 1.
Figures 4 and 5 show, as examples; two different arrangements for limiting
the movement of the hooks.
W
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a modification, which is shown in side and end
elevation respectively.
Figure 8 shows diagrammatically a sailing-boat, the points where double, or
clasp hooks may advantageously be used, being indicated by numerals.
a designates the tongs-shaped portion and 6 the fork-shaped portion. In
Figures 1 to 3, the tongs-shaped portion a consists of two legs & and d³, which,
as in common tongs, are pivoted at c, and the parts corresponding to the jaws
of the common tongs, form two separate hooks e and e', which face one another.
When the tongs-shaped portion a is in a closed position (Figures 1 and 6), the
hooks e and e¹ rest against each other. Through eyes f formed upon the legs d
and passes a ring g for the purpose of fixing to one of the objects to be secured.
In order to limit the movement. of the hooks, the leg Figure 3 is, at the
pivoted portion, provided with a recess h, in which moves. a. shoulder on the
other leg d. Many other arrangements may be used for the same purpose.
Figure 4 shows as an example two teeth or projections on the leg d, between
which teeth or projections moves a pin on the leg d', and Figure 5 shows another
example, in which a projection on the leg d moves in a slot or groove & in
the leg d.
+
The legs of the fork-shaped portion b, are provided with openings m (Figure 2)
and the stem has, near the openings m a flat part o, and at its other end an
annular opening p for fixing the other of the objects to be secured.
Figures 6 and 7 show a modification of the tongs-shaped portion, intended to
be used with such a fork-shaped portion 6 as described, and in this modification
the tongs-shaped portion consists of a single, resilient piece, the legs forming
a loop g. The hooks tend to rest against one another on account of the elasticity
of the piece, no pivot being used, as shewn in Figure 1. Figure 7 illustrates,
by means of dotted lines, one of the positions of the tongs-shaped portion, which
it occupies when it is being hooked on the fork-shaped portion.
The operation of my improved hook is as follows. The tongs-shaped portion
is pushed laterally inwards on the flat part o, so that this will be situated
between the hooks e and e¹. Then the tongs-shaped portion is pushed in such
a direction that the hooks leave the flat part o and are caused to engage into the
openings m, a safe connection being thereby attained.
As will be seen from Figure 8 this double-hook may be employed; 1 between
the mainsail and the mainsheet; 2 between the main-sheet and the leo-fang;
3 between the main-sail and the yard; 4 between the top-sail and the yard;
5 between the top-sail and the mast; 6 between the foresail and the mast;
7 between the main-sail and the mast; 8 between the foresail and its sheets,
and 9 between the foresail and the prow.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manuer the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A double, or clasp hook, consisting partly of a tongs-shaped portion, the
jaws of which form two separate hooks, facing one another, and the relative
movement of which is limited, and partly of a fork-shaped portion, the legs of
which are provided with openings extending to the stem thereof said stem being
made flat near the openings, so that the tongs-shaped portion can be pushed
on the fork-shaped portion with the hooks on either side of the flat part of the
stem, whereby the hooks are finally caused to engage into the openings, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. A modification of the double, or clasp hook stated in Claim 1, in which

page_text: the legs of the tongs-shaped portion, instead of being separate, and united at
the crossing, as is the case in ordinary tongs, from a single, resilient piece with-
out any connecting part at such crossing substantially as described and illus-
trated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of November 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.