Year: 1887

page_text: We, ISAAC MATHESON MCKAY, Blacksmith, and HENRY EDWIN STAFFORD Physician
both of Racklin in the State of California in the United States of America do hereby
leclare 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 :-
The object of this my invention is to provide a hook to be used for harness, ships
Said
rigging, and mining and hauling machinery and a variety of other purposes
hook is an absolute safe guard against accidents such as those caused by the rope,
chain, or other attachments slipping from the hook, when once placed therein. Hitherto
when hooks have been used for ship's rigging it has been customary to wind the hooks
with rope in order to prevent the rope or other attachments from unhooking, but by
employing my Improved Safety Hook, this precaution is rendered unnecessary thereby
saving both time and labour. My Improved Safety Snap Hook is also strong, reliable
and simple and not likely to get out of order.
I now proceed to describe my invention, reference being had to the drawings here-
unto annexed and the figures and letters marked thereon, similar letters referring to
similar parts throughout.
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section.
Figure 2 is a front elevation
Figure 3 is a part sectional side elevation showing
the snap hook opened. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the
different figures of the drawings.
My invention consists in a hook having a polygonal-chambered shank, and provided
with an arm arranged to slide on the shank for closing the hook, and in a spring acted
tongue for engaging the arm and holding it in a closed position.
The shank B of the hook A in the present case is square in cross-section and is
The
provided with a chamber a in which is pivoted a tongue, C on the pin b
tongue 'C' is pressed outward by the V shaped spring c and its outward movement
is limited by a finger d, which reaches over the body of the shank below the pivot.
The chamber a' of the shank has sufficient depth to permit of pressing the tongue '0'
into the chamber below the face of the shank B.
To the shank B is fitted a short sleeve D provided with a curved arm, e, which is
bent forward and arranged to abut against the end of the hook A as shown in
Figures 1 and 2.

page_text: The length of the sleeve D and the tongue C are so related to each other that when
the end of the curved arm e' is in contact with or very near the end of the hook A
the tongue C will spring outward behind the end of the sleeve Das shown in Figure 1
and thus retain the sleeve and the arme in position across the opening of the hook. In
this position it will be seen that all of the strain brought to bear upon the arme or
sleeve D is taken by the tongue C, and that the office of the spring is merely to hold
the tongue in engagement with the sleeve D. When it is desired to open the snap
hook, the tongue C, is pressed into the chamber a by the thumb or finger when the
sleeve 1 may be slid back, as shown in Figure 3. thus opening the hook. The one
end of the shank B is provided with the usual loop, E for receiving a strap or chain.
Although I have described the snap-hook as being provided with a square shank, it is
obvious that the shank might be octagonal, or, if provided with a spline, or slot and
feather, it might be cylindrical in form, therefore I do not confine my invention to the
exact form and proportions shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention'
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination with the hook A, provided with a chambered shank, B, of the
spring acted tongue C, pivoted in the chamber, and the sliding sleeve D, provided with
the arm e, the said sleeve sliding beyond the free end of the tongue to allow said tongue.
to spring outward and lock the sleeve in place, substantially as herein shown and
described.
2. As an improved article of manufacture, a safety snap-hook formed of the hook A,
having the chambered shank B, the tongue C, provided with the finger d, and pivoted
in the chamber of the lock, the V-shaped spring e placed in the chamber, and arranged
to press the tongue outward, and the loop E, attached to the end of the shank,
substantially as.herien shown and described."
Dated this 16th day of February 1887.