Patent ID: RE44077

Claim:
A snap hook comprising: a J-shaped body having a shank portion that includes a first end and a second end, the body further having a concave portion and a nose, the concave portion extending from the second end of the shank and terminating in the nose and a snap enclosure area between the second end of the shank and the nose ; a gate that is pivotable about a pivot point that is near the first end of the shank; a movable locking pin mounted on the J-shaped body and located near the second end of the shank; at least one parallel bar that is generally parallel to the shank and extends along the shank; a movable thumb grip that when moved urges moves the parallel bar to move the locking pin ; the locking gate further having a recessed portion positioned near the second end of the shank and a closure portion positioned near the nose of the hook J-shaped body, the closure portion and the recessed portion being at about the same distance from the pivot point, the recessed portion being adapted to cooperate with the locking pin a gate edge and a raised portion, the raised portion that is adapted for extending across the snap enclosure area from the second end of the shank to the nose and closing off the snap enclosure area, the locking gate extending over the parallel bar and so that when the locking pin is moved by the parallel bar is moved by moving the thumb grip while being at least partially covered by the gate, the gate is released so that the gate can pivot about the pivot point.