CARABINER

• US 20090183347A1
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Four Strong Corporation
• Original Assignee: Four Strong Corporation
• Inventors: Abels, David L.
• Application Number:
  US12/016,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20090183347A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/599.600
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 45/02 Hooks with pivoting or elastically bending closing member
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 45/023 the closing member pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the hook
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 45/024 and having means biasing the closing member about the pivot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45319 Pivotally connected gate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45346 Includes distinct biasing spring

Abstract

A carabiner provided with a load bearing apex portion having a rubber sleeve for preventing side-to-side slippage of said carabiner on a rounded handle of a mobile vehicle such as a stroller or shopping cart.

Claims

1. A carabiner comprising:

a substantially C-shaped member having an opening between the opposed ends of said C-shaped member defining a gate opening across the opening;

a gate member pivotally attached at one end thereof to one end portion of said C-shaped member to open and close said opening for access to the interior of said C-shaped member, whereby one or more articles may be hung from an interior surface of said C-shaped member;

said C-shaped member having a rounded, shortened apex portion adjacent one end thereof for mounting said C-shaped member on a supporting surface; and

a friction producing surface on at least said apex portion of said C-shaped member for precluding side-to-side movement of said C-shaped member on said supporting surface.

2. The carabiner of claim 1 wherein said friction producing surface is provided by a rubber sleeve received on said apex portion of said C-shaped member.

3. The carabiner of claim 2 wherein said rubber sleeve extends from said apex portion to substantially the opposed end of said C-shaped member.

4. The carabiner of claim 3 wherein said rubber sleeve has a number of finger grips formed therein whereby said C-shaped member may be rotated relative to said apex portion and used as a carrying handle.

5. The carabiner of claim 2 wherein said rubber sleeve has a number of finger grips formed therein whereby said C-shaped member may be rotated relative to said apex portion and used as a carrying handle.

6. The carabiner of claim 2 wherein the opposed ends of said C-shaped member has a latch mechanism for retaining said gate member in closed position across said opening.

7. The carabiner of claim 6 wherein said latch mechanism includes a leaf spring between one end of said C-shaped member adjacent said apex portion and said gate member for biasing said gate member to a closure position across said opening in said C-shaped member, and a hook on the other end of said C-shaped member open in the direction of the interior of said C-shaped member for receiving a pin on the other end of said gate member under the bias of said gate member by said leaf spring.

11. A carabiner according to claim 1, wherein the friction producing surface extends substantially to a pivot structure of the gate member, for extended engagement thereof with a support surface on which the carabiner reposes in use.

8. The method enabling the use of a carabiner to hang items from a device with a rounded handle comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a carabiner with a load bearing, rounded, apex portion; and

(b) forming a non-slip surface on said apex portion to preclude side-to-side movement of the carabiner when said rounded apex portion is hung on the rounded handle of the device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said non-slip surface is formed by a rubber sleeve on said apex portion of the carabiner.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the rubber sleeve on said apex portion of the carabiner includes a finger grip to cup the apex portion to provide additional preclusion of side-to-side movement.

12. A carabiner comprising:

a substantially C-shaped member having an opening between the opposed ends of said C-shaped member defining a gate opening across the opening;

a gate member pivotally attached at one end thereof to one end portion of said C-shaped member to open and close said opening for access to the interior of said C-shaped member, whereby one or more articles may be hung from an interior surface of said C-shaped member;

said C-shaped member having a rounded, shortened apex portion adjacent one end thereof for mounting said C-shaped member on a supporting surface; and

a friction producing surface extending around the apex portion of the C-shaped member and substantially to the gate member, for precluding side-to-side movement of said C-shaped member on said supporting surface.

13. The carabiner of claim 12, wherein the friction producing surface is provided by a rubber sleeve.

14. The carabiner of claim 13, wherein the rubber sleeve extends substantially around the full extent of the C-shaped member.

15. An attachment system comprising:

a substantially C-shaped member having an opening between the opposed ends of said C-shaped member defining a gate opening across the opening;

a gate member pivotally attached at one end thereof to one end portion of said C-shaped member to open and close said opening for access to the interior of said C-shaped member, whereby one or more articles may be hung from an interior surface of said C-shaped member;

said C-shaped member having a rounded, shortened apex portion adjacent one end thereof for mounting said C-shaped member on a supporting surface; and

a positional retention element arranged at the apex portion of said C-shaped member along the supporting surface and adapted to prevent side-to-side movement of the carabiner relative to the supporting surface.

16. The attachment system of claim 15, wherein the positional retention element comprises a friction producing surface.

17. The attachment system of claim 15, wherein the positional retention element is fitted over or around the apex portion.

18. The attachment system of claim 15, wherein the positional retention element comprises a sleeve adapted to engage the apex portion.

19. The attachment system of claim 15, wherein the supporting surface is along or associated with a cylindrical or tubular handle of a baby stroller or shopping cart.

20. A method enabling the use of a carabiner to hang items from a device with a rounded handle having an associated supporting surface, wherein the carabiner has a load bearing, rounded apex portion, the method comprising providing a positional retention element between the apex portion and the supporting surface, wherein the positional retention element is adapted to prevent side-to-side movement of the carabiner relative to the supporting surface.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the positional retention element comprises a friction producing surface.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the positional retention element is fitted over or around the apex portion.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the positional retention element comprises a sleeve adapted to engage the apex portion.