Patent ID: 8015676

Claim:
A snap hook comprising: a J-shaped body having a shank portion that includes a first end and a second end, a concave portion and a nose, the concave portion extending from the second end of the shank and terminating in the nose; a slide bar, the slide bar being attached to the shank portion of the J-shaped body through at least two sliding connectors that allow translation and rotation of the slide bar along the shank portion of the J-shaped body, the slide bar including first end and a second end, the first end having a protrusion and the second end being connected to a trigger, the slide bar being moveable through the translation and rotation from a locking position to a release position; and a gate that is pivotally connected to the shank portion of the J-shaped body, the gate having a tip that is adapted for contacting the nose when the gate is in a closed position, and having a trailing edge, the trailing edge being adapted for cooperating with the protrusion on the slide bar such that when the slide bar is in the locking position the protrusion impedes rotation of the gate and when the slide bar is in the release position the protrusion does not impede the rotation of the gate.