Improvements in Snap Hooks.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 20th May, 1899
Improvements in Snap Hooks.
I, RICHARD WHORTON HUBBARD, Hardware Merchant, of Ashtabula, in the
County of Ashtabula and State of Ohio, United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention relates to snap hooks and contemplates the provision of a snap
hook which, while very cheap and simple, is strong and durable and capable of
withstanding great strain.
The invention will be fully understood from the following description and
claims when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved snap hook.
Fig. 2 is a plan view, with parts in section, of the same.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, vertical section.
Fig. 4 is a detail of a modification.
Referring by letter to the said drawing:
A designates the body of the snap hook. This body A is made of wire a of
suitable calibre, and comprises the shank b, the eye cat one end of the shank
designed for the connection of a strap or the like, and the hook-proper at the
opposite end of the shank which terminates in an eye e, as shown for a purpose
presently described. In forming the said body A, a piece of wire of suitable
length is bent in the manner shown in Fig. 2, that is to say, with two parallel
portions of the wire forming the shank band merging at the opposite ends of
the same into the eye c and hook-proper d. The ends of the piece of wire are
arranged contiguous to each other at about the middle of one of the parallel
portions forming the shank band are bent as indicated by e¹ and seated in a
deflection in the other parallel portion of the shank after the manner better
shown in Fig. 2. In virtue of this, it will be seen that, when the shank bis
surrounded by a sleeve B adapted to prevent the ends e¹ of one portion of the
shank from moving laterally out of the deflection in the other parallel portion
of the shank, the said ends e¹ will be effectually prevented from pulling apart.
In this way a strong connection of the ends of the piece of wire a may be
effected without the necessity of resorting to welding and in consequence a strong
hook body may be produced very cheaply which is a desideratum. It will also
be observed that the eye and hook-proper d of the body are made open and
cannot therefore be filled up with and impaired by dirt.
The sleeve B is of sheet metal and is preferably secured in position by bending
it around the shank b, as shown in Fig. 1, or in any other suitable manner that
will enable it to serve the purpose before stated.
C designates the tongue of the hook which normally rests in the eye e and closes
the hook as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The said tongue is formed of a single
piece of resilient metal, preferably wire, and terminates at one end in a portion f
which rests in the sleeve B between the parallel portions of the shank band has
its end secured to the sleeve, preferably by being passed through an aperture g
in the same, as shown in Fig. 3. At its opposite or free end, which is designed
to rest in the eye e of the hook-proper d, the tongue C has the rounded portion h
and the angularly disposed portion i; the former being designed to enable a ring

page_text: or the like to ride over the tongue and into the hook-proper d, and the latter
having for its purpose to retain the ring in the hook-proper and thereby prevent
the said ring from moving back to a position between the tongue and the shank
of the hook body where any sudden strain placed upon it would be liable to break
the tongue.
It will be readily appreciated from the foregoing that my improved hook may
be readily snapped into engagement with a ring or the like and that, while there
is no liability of it being casually disconnected, it may be disconnected when
desired by simply pressing the free portion of the tongue toward the shank of
the body and withdrawing the hook-proper from the ring.
Like the body A, the tongue C and the manner in which it is connected with
the body are strong and at the same time very simple and easily made, as is
désirable.
In lieu of bending the wire forming the hook body as shown in Fig. 2 so as
to secure the ends together, it may be bent after the manner shown in Fig. 4, or
if desired the ends may be welded together. I also desire it understood that the
ends of the piece of wire forming the hook body may be connected together at
any desired point without departing from the scope of my invention.
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-In a hook, the body described made of the single piece of wire with paralle!
portions having the shank, and having a deflection in one parallel portion and
the ends of the piece of wire arranged contiguous to each other at an intermediate
point of the other parallel portion and bent laterally and seated in the deflection,
and a suitable means on the shank for holding the ends of the piece of wire in
the deflection thereof, substantially as specified.
2--In a hook, the combination of the body described made of the single piece
of wire with parallel portions forming the shank and merging at the opposite
ends thereof into an eye and hook-proper; said body having a deflection in one
parallel portion of the shank and also having the ends of the piece of wire
arranged contiguous to each other at an intermediate point of the other parallel
portion and bent laterally and seated in the deflection, and a sleeve mounted on
the shank of said body, substantially as specified.
3-In a snap hook, the combination of a body comprising a shank and a hook-
proper at one end of the shank terminating in an eye, a sheet metal sleeve
mounted on the shank of the hook, and a spring tongue having one end arranged
in the sleeve and extended through an aperture therein and also having the rounded
portion and the angular disposed portion i at its opposite end, substantially
as specified.
4 In a hook, the combination of the body described made of the single piece
of wire with parallel portions forming the shank and merging at the opposite
ends thereof into an eye and hook proper; said body having a deflection in one
parallel portion of the shank and also having the ends of the piece of wire arranged
contiguous to each other at an intermediate point of the other parallel portion
and bent laterally and seated in the deflection, a sheet metal sleeve mounted on
the shank of the said body, and a spring tongue having one end arranged in the
sleeve and extended through an aperture therein and also having the rounded
portion and the angular disposed portion i at its opposite end, substantially as
specified.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE.
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.