Improvements in Snap Hooks.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 7th June, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Snap Hooks.
I PHILETUS AUGUSTUS WALDRON, a Citizen of the United States of America,
residing at Saint Louis, in the County of Gratiot, in the State of Michigan, one of
the United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in snap-hooks of that class which consist of
two members pivoted together and moving upon each other in parallel planes to open
and close the hook.
The invention consists in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved snap hook.
Fig. 2 is a top edge view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the arrangement of the spring for holding the two
members together.
Referring to the drawings by letters, A A designates the members of my improved
snap-hook, each of which consists of a central hody B, a hook C, formed at one end
of said body, and a loop D at the other and thereof.
The two members are pivoted together near the loops D, so that the hooks C
extend in opposite directions and lie close against each other. The said hooks C are
tapered, as clearly shown, so that when they are together their surfaces will merge,
and there will be no projections or shoulders which are liable to be broken off. The
loops are arranged so that one end of each loop projects beyond the adjacent end
of the other loop, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, so that by pressing the said projecting
ends of the loops toward each other the members of the hook will swing on their
pivot and thereby separate the hooks C. Each of the members A is provided on its
inner face with a longitudinal groove E, which is engaged by one arm of a U-shaped
spring F, which holds the two members normally together.
I am aware that it is not broadly new to provide a snap book consisting of two
members each having a hook at one end and a loop at the other end, and pivoted
together so that they swing in parallel planes, and I make no broad claim to such
construction. In my improved snap-hook the ends of the loops project beyond each
other, so that the snap-hook can be very easily opened by simply pressing on the
opposite ends of the loops, as will be readily understood on reference to Fig. 2.
Furthermore, in my device the two members are held normally together, so that
the hook will be closed by a spring which is arranged between the two members, and
is completely inclosed and protected by the same. The members of my improved
hook, furthermore, have no projecting shoulders at their hooked ends, which are
liable to be broken and which interfere with the rapid insertion of a ring between the
two members.
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
1. A snap-hook consisting of two members pivoted together and provided with
coinciding hooks at one end and at the opposite end with loops at right angles to the
hooks, said loops each having one end wall projecting beyond the adjacent end wall
of the other loop on opposite sides, as set forth.

page_text: 2. A snap-hook consisting of two members pivoted together and each having a
loop at one end and a hook at the other end, and provided on its inner face with a
longitudinal groove, and a U shaped spring having its arms fitted in said grooves, as
set forth.
Datel this 13th dow of March 1800
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.