Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 29th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 21st Dec., 1888
We, ALLEN WILSON, of Chinthurst, 53 Deronda Road, Tulse Hill, in the County of
Surrey, Tunner's Agent, and NATHANIEL WALTER CHITTENDEN, of 72 Mark Lane,
London, in the County of Middlesex, General Merchant, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved slip hook which is applicable to all cases
where two parts are to be connected together in such a manner as to permit them to
be readily separated when required, and will be found of special advantage when the
disconnection has to be effected with a pull or strain on the parts to which the hook is
applied.
The invention will be found particularly useful for connecting the traces or pole
chains of harness to vehicles, as in the event of the horses falling down (and a
strain being consequently put on the traces), by unfastening the slip hook the traces
will at once be disconnected from the vehicle, leaving the horses free to rise. It may
also be applied to other parts of harness whero buckles are employed.
It will also be of use in connection with the lifting chain of cranes, and may, as
above stated, be generally applied in all cases where two parts are required to be
firmly and solidly connected together, with power to disconnect same with rapidity
and ease when necessary.
The improved slip hook consists of two portions, to be secured respectively to each
of the parts it is desired to connect together. The means of securing each portion
of the hook to such parts will vary according to the nature of such parts them-
selves. For example, should it be desired to connect two chains together, the rear
of each portion of the slip hook may be in the form of a link to be secured to
such chains, while for connecting parts of a rigid nature, the rear of one or of both
portions of the book may be formed with an arm or tang to be rivetted or otherwise
secured to such parts.
The forward end of one portion of the hook consists of two arms or branches with a
central space between them, such space opening out so as to form an enlargement at

page_text: its rear end. The forward end of the other part of the hook consists of an arm of a
size to fit the space between the branches of the other portion, and having at its
extremity a head to fit the enlargement at the rear end of such space.
At the rear
of the arin of the second abovementioned portion a shoulder is formed, such shoulder
abutting against the ends of the branches of the first portion, when the two portions
are connected together.
These abutting surfaces are shaped so as to interlock while permitting the two
portions to turn in relation to each other, for which purpose projections on one
surface enter corresponding recesses in the other. This may be effected by making
the projections in the form of studs or pins on one part, and corresponding holes
in the other; or the face of one may be made V-shaped or rounded, and that of
the other be correspondingly recessed, so that the two will fit into each other.
To connect the two portions the shoulder behind the arm on one part is placed so
that the projections on the ends of the branches of the first part enter the recesses
in such shoulder, the first part being held so that its arm projects either up or down
beyond the branches of the second part, with its arm in the space between such
branches. The first portion is then turned so that the arm thereon enters and fills
the space between the branches of the second portion, the head on such arm
entering the enlargement at the rear of such space. The T-form of the arm and
the space it enters will then prevent the disconnection of the two portions by a
straight pull, but such disconnection may readily be effected when required, by
turning one part in relation to the other until the T-head of the arm clears the
enlarged part of the
space.
The two portions are of the same thickness, so that their upper and lower surfaces are
flush with each other when the T-arm of one occupies the space between the branches
of the other, and in order to maintain the two portions in this position a sleeve
is fitted to slide along one portion until it occupies a position, both over the
iwo branches of one portion and the arm of the other portion which is in the
space between such branches, thus preventing the two portions from turning in
relation to each other and thereby disconnecting same. A spring is preferably
placed in a recess in the T-arm, and by its pressure on the inner surface of the
sleeve, when the latter is in position to keep the slip hook closed, prevents the sleeve
from accidentally shifting from such position.
The sleeve can be slipped along either directly by hand, or when necessary to
disconnect the parts from a distance, a cord or other means may be employed for
pulling it back.
A pin is preferably made to project up from the part carrying the sleeve, so as to
limit its movement and prevent same dropping off when the two portions are
disconnected.

page_text: We, ALLEN WILSON, of Chinthurst, 53 Deronda Road, Tulse Hill, in the County of
Surrey, Tanner's Agent, and NATHANIEL WALTER CHITTENDEN, of 72 Mark Lane,
London, in the County of Middlesex, General Merchant, 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 an improved slip hook which is applicable to all cases
where two parts are to be connected together in such a manner as to permit them to
be readily separated when required, and will be found of special advantage when the
disconnection has to be effected with a pull or strain on the parts to which the hook
or coupling is applied.
The invention will be found particularly useful for connecting the traces or pole
chains of harness to vehicles, as in the event of the horses falling down (and a strain
being consequently put on the traces or chains), by unfastening the slip hook the
traces will at once be disconnected from the vehicle, leaving the horses free to rise.
It may also be applied to other parts of harness where buckles are usually employed.
It will also be of use in connection with the lifting chains of cranes, and may, as
above stated, be generally applied in all cases where two parts are required to be
firmly and solidly connected together, with power to disconnect same with rapidity
and case when necessary.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved slip hook or coupling, showing the two
portions of which it is composed detached.
Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the two parts of the coupling during the action of
connecting them together.
Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the parts in the position they occupy when the
coupling has been effected.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section of Fig. 3, and
Fig. 5 a plan view of same.
The slip hook or coupling is composed of two parts, A and B, to be secured
respectively to each of the parts it is desired to connect together. The means of
securing the portions A and B of the hook to such parts will vary according to the
nature of the parts themselves. For example, should it be desired to connect two
chains together, the rear of each part A and B of the slip hook may be in the form
of a link (A and B) to be secured to such chains, while for connecting parts of a
rigid nature, the rear of one or both portions of the hook may be formed with an
arm or tang to be rivetted or otherwise secured to such parts (as shown at X in
Fig. 5); or the latter method may be employed to secure the portions A and B to
the traces of harness or to other similar parts, if preferred.
The forward end of the portion A of the hook of the coupling consists of two arms
or branches a, a', with a central space a² between them, such space opening out at its
rear end so as to form an enlargement a³. The forward end of the part B of the
hook consists of an arm of a size to fit the space between the arms a, a', of the

page_text: part A, and having at its extremity a head to fit the enlargement a³ at the rear end
of such space. At the rear of the arm of the portion B a shoulder is formed,
such shoulder abutting against the ends of the arms a, a', of the portion A, when the
two portions are connected together.
These abutting surfaces are preferably shaped so as to interlock while permitting
the two portions to turn in relation to each other, for which purpose projections on
one surface enter corresponding recesses in the other. This may be effected by
forming the projections in the shape of studs or pins on one part, and corresponding
holes in the other; but it is preferable to make the face of one V-shaped (as shown
in the drawings) or rounded, and that of the other-correspondingly recessed, so that
the two will fit into each other.
To connect the parts A and B, shoulder 2 of arm bon part B, is placed so that its
surface on each side of such arm enters the recesses in the ends of the arms a, a¹, of
part A, the part B being held so that its arm projects either up or down beyond the
branches a, a, of part A, with such arm between the branches (as shown in Fig. 2).
The part B is then turned so that the arm thereon enters and fills the space a²
between the branches a, a, of part A, the head on such arm entering the enlarge-
ment as at the rear of such space (as shown in Fig. 5). The T-form of the arm b
and the space
a² which it enters, will then prevent the disconnection of the two parts A
and B by a straight pull, but such disconnection may readily be effected when required,
by turning one part in relation to the other until the T-head of the arm & clears
the enlargement a³ of the space a².
The two parts A and B are of the same thickness, so that their upper and lower
surfaces are flush with each other when the arm of part B occupies the space a²
between the arms a, a, of part A, and in order to maintain the two parts in this
position a sleevo C is fitted to slide along part B until it occupies a position both over
the arms a, a, of part A and over the arm & of part B, which latter is in the
space between the arms a, a', thus preventing the two parts A and B from turning
in relation to each other and thereby disconnecting same.
Suitable means are provided for preventing the sleeve C from accidentally shifting
back when the parts A and B are connected together, as above described.
This may
be effected by the employment of an india rubber ring D tightly surrounding the
part B in the rear of the sleeve C, and which when such sleeve is in its extreme
forward position is pulled along so that it is brought immediately behind the rear end
of same as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, when it enters a groove provided preferably all
round the surface of the arms a, a, and arm, when same are interlocked, and lodges
in such groove with sufficient holding power to require a certain exertion to dislodge
same. The ring D will thus hold sleeve C in its position over arms a, a¹, and arm b
and prevent it accidentally shifting from such position. To disconnect the parts A
and B, the ring D must be first pushed back, so as to then enable the sleeve C to slide
along until it clears the arms a, a', of part A, when the two parts may be turned in
relation to each other and thereby disconnected, as above described. Another method
of preventing the accidental disengagement of the parts A and B consists in placing
a spring either inside sleeve C, or upon the upper or the lower surface of arm of
part B; or, again, upon the upper or the lower or either side surface of the arms a, a',
of part A, so that such spring when sleeve C is in position over arms a, a', of part A
and arm of part B, will hold such sleeve sufficiently firmly to require a certain
exertion to shift same, and thus effectually prevent accidental displacement.
The head of arm is preferably made somewhat thicker than the arm itself, as
shown, so as to limit the forward movement of sleeve C, and further to prevent such
sleeve from dropping off the arm when the two parts are disconnected.
Instead of the links A' and B' being employed, the parts A and B may be provided
with any other suitable means for securing them to the parts to be connected, such for
example as the connection shown at Y in Fig. 5, which may be used for securing
same to traces; or in place thereof the outer end of either one or both of the parts Ã
and B may terminate in a tang, as shown at X, Fig. 5, which may be rivetted or
otherwise secured to the parts requiring to be detachably connected together.

page_text: The sleeve C can be slipped along either directly by hand, or when necessary to
disconnect the parts A and B from a distance, a cord or other means may be employed
for pulling it back.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The improved slip hook or coupling consisting of a part A having arms a, a,
between which is a space a enlarged at its inner end, such space serving to receive
the arm of a second part B, which arm is provided with a head to enter the
enlargement of the space a², while the ends of the arms a, a, are preferably shaped
so as to interlock with the shoulder on each side of arm b, the whole in combination
with a sleeve C capable of sliding along one part of the slip book or coupling, so
that when the parts A and B are connected together, and the sleeve moved to its
forward position, the latter lies over the arms a, a', of part A, and also over arm b of
part B, the parts A and B being provided with any suitable means for connecting
them to the parts to be detachably connected together, all substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
2. In a slip hook or coupling constructed as set forth in the preceding claim, the
forination of a projection upon the part on which sleeve is mounted, so as to limit
the forward movement of the latter, and also to prevent it from slipping off such part
when the two parts A and B are disconnected, substantially as specified.
3. In a slip hook or coupling constructed as set forth in claim 1, the employment
of a rubber ring D arranged behind the sleeve C, or of a spring arranged either within
such sleeve, or upon the arm b of part B, or upon either, or both, of the arms a, a¹,
of part A, for the purpose of preventing the accidental shifting of such sleeve C when
in position for securing the parts A and B together, substantially as specified.
Dated this 27th day of October 1888.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicants.