Year: 1888

page_text: I, RICHARD MATTHEWS RUCK, of Prospect Row, Chatham, in the County of Kent,
Major R.E. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to me dated the 15th of March 1886
No. 3653 I described a hook. The present invention relates to modifications of the
same.
As before the hook or shackle is provided with a moveable tongue capable of turning
about a joint to retain or to free the part with which the hook is engaged.
The extremity of the tongue enters a slot or recess in the stem of the hook and a
spring bolt locks it in place."
The bolt consists of a small block of metal capable of sliding longitudinally in a slot
cut through the stem of the hook or shackle.
In the former arrangement however this bolt was pressed forward by a spring so as
to make it engage and keep it engaged with the hook. According to my present
invention I cut away the middle of the front of the bolt towards the hook, and insert
a block of india rubber into the recess so formed. One side of this india rubber block
rests against the back of the bolt, whilst its opposite side rests against the front of the
transverse slot, so that it forms a spring tending to press the bolt backwards and
release the hook, and this it does immediately the strain is taken off the hook.. In
order that the release of the hook can be prevented when desired a spring key is
introduced behind the bolt in the transverse slot. This key consists of a plate of metal
of greater width than its thickness, so that, when it is turned one way it allows the bolt
to come back, but when turned the other blocks it. Behind this spring key there is a
block of india rubber to form a spring, and the projecting ends of the key are turned
over to prevent its falling out and to form handles by which it can be turned. One
side of the transverse slot is grooved so as to retain the india rubber blocks which have
projections to fit it.

page_text: I, RICHARD MATTHEWS RUCK of Prospect Row, Chatham, in the County of Kent,
Major, R.E. 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 :-
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to me dated the 15th of March 1886
No. 3653 I described a hook. The present invention relates to modifications of the
same.
As before the hook or shackle is provided with a moveable tongue capable of turning
about a joint to retain or to free the part with which the hook is engaged
The extremity of the tongue enters a slot or recess in the stem of the hook and a
spring bolt locks it in place.
The bolt consists of a small block of metal capable of sliding longitudinally in a slot
cut through the stem of the hook or shackle.
In the former arrangement however this bolt was pressed forward by a spring so as
to make it engage and keep it engaged with the hook. For some purposes however
(as for example for releasing boats when lowered into the water) it is required that the
hook should free itself as soon as the strain upon it is relieved. According to my
present invention I construct a releasing hook or shackle in the manner illustrated by
the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is a front elevation, Figure 2 is a side elevation, Figure 3 is a longitudinal
section Figure 4 is a longitudinal section in the open position and the remaining
Figures show separate parts, each in side view, front view and transverse section.
The hook or shackle is in two main parts a and b the latter being the moveable
tongue is the bolt. I cut away the middle of the front of the bolt towards the hook
or tongue at c and insert a suitably shaped block of india rubber & into the recess 50
formed. One side d¹ of this india rubber block rests against the back of the bolt at c
whilst its opposite side 2 rests at a* against the front of the transverse slot a¹ in the
part a so that it forms a spring tending to press the bolt e backwards and release the
tongue or hook and this it does immediately the strain is taken off the hook. In
order that the holt may be made to engage and that the release of the hook can be
prevented when desired a spring key e is introduced-behind the bolt in the transverse
slot a. This key consists of a plate of metal of greater width than its thickness, so
that, when it is turned one way it allows the bolt to come back, but when turned the
other it blocks it. Behind this spring key there is a block or piece of india rubber f
to form a spring, and the projecting ends e¹ of the key are turned over to prevent its
falling out and to form handles by which it can be turned. One side of the transverse
slot a¹ is grooved at a¹× so as to retain the india rubber blocks which have projections
to fit it.

page_text: 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 releasing hook or shackle substantially as described, with a moveable tongue
and a spring bolt so arranged that the bolt when thrust forward engages the tongue
and remains engaged whilst the hook or shackle is exposed to strain but when the
strain ceases the bolt is thrown back by the spring and the tongue. escapes as herein
set forth.
2. The combination of parts a b c d and e substantially as described