Patent ID: 7540074

Claim:
A carabiner comprising: a generally C-shaped body having a first end region, a second end region, and an elongated section therebetween; an elongated gate mounted proximate one end thereof at the second end region and being pivotable between a closed position engaged with the first end region and an open position, the gate including at least two flanges defining a receptacle therebetween, the receptacle configured to receive therein at least a portion of the first end region of the generally C-shaped body; and a sleeve movably mounted on the gate between a gate unlocked position permitting opening of the gate and a gate locked position precluding opening of the gate, wherein the sleeve in the gate locked position is closely fitted about the gate and abuts against the at least two flanges of the gate at least upon lateral deformation of the at least two flanges, the sleeve reinforcing the at least two flanges against plastic deformation upon tensile loading of the carabiner when the gate is in the closed position and the sleeve is in the gate locked position.