Safety link

• US 4,759,177 A
• Filed: 11/06/1987
• Issued: 07/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rex K. Brazell
• Original Assignee: Rex K. Brazell
• Inventors: Brazell, Rex K.
• Primary Examiner(s): JONES, DAVID B
• Application Number:
  US07/118,115
• Time in Patent Office: 263 Days
• Field of Search: 59/85, 59/86, 59/93, 59/95, 403/231, 403/321, 403/155, 403/167, 24/339, 411/316, 411/317, 411/121
• US Class Current: 59/86
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 15/06 Shackles designed for attachment by joint pins to chain elements, e.g. D-shackles so called harp links; the D-chain links are classified according to the corresponding kind of chain
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3444 Circular work engageable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32901 Unitary clip or plug
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/59 Manually releaseable latch type

Abstract

A shackle safety keeper for keeping the threaded eye bolt of closing a U-shaped shackle from rotation of the eye bolt and ultimate disengagement of the shackle. The shackle safety keeper is a single wire continuously bent to form the disclosed keeper. This wire is bent intermediate its two ends at a bowed spring portion. This bowed spring portion has two depending shackle engagement sections extending downwardly and at right angles from the bowed spring portion. These sections are for clamping to the side edges of the U-shaped shackle adjacent the protruding eye on the shackle bolt. The lower end of each shackle engagement section has protruding angularly outward therefrom two eye reaching legs. These eye reaching legs extend from the bottom of each shackle engaging section out into registry with the eye on the protruding bolt when it has closed the shackle. The two eye reaching legs end the all wire constructed keeper with two opposed and overlapping eye piercing lugs. These lugs are the members which extend through the opening defined by the eye of the bolt on the shackle and prevent bolt rotation relative to the shackle.

Claims

1. A shackle safety keeper for keeping a threaded eye bolt in place between the ends of a U-shaped shackle by preventing rotation of said eye bolt, said keeper comprising:

a single bent piece of wire, said wire bent intermediate its ends to a bowed spring portion for firmly engaging the side of said shackle adjacent the eye;

said spring portion supporting two dependent shackle engaging wire sections, said sections disposed in side-by-side alignment for engagement to the side of said shackle bolt as urged by said bowed spring portion;

two eye reaching legs extending from the ends of said shackle engagement sections to registry with the eye of said shackle bolt; and

,

two opposed parallel and adjacent lugs extending from said eye reaching legs through the eye of said bolt whereby said bolt is prevented from rotation.

2. The shackle safety keeper of claim 1 and wherein said two high reaching legs include a bend in said legs between the bottom of said shackle engagement portion and said opposed parallel and adjacent lugs.

3. A shackle and safety keeper comprising in combination:

a U-shaped shackle defining oars for permitting transpiercing of said U-shaped shackle;

a shackle bolt closing said U-shaped shackles, said shackle bolt including a defined eye and thread means for threading said bolt to said shackle;

a shackle safety keeper fabricated from a single bent piece of wire, said wire bent intermediate its ends to a bowed spring portion, said spring portion supplying spring force fo firmly engaging the side of said shackle adjacent said eye;

said spring force supporting two dependent shackle engaging wire sections, said sections disposed in side-by-side alignment for engagement to the side of said shackle adjacent said eye as urged by said bowed spring portion;

two eye reaching legs extending from the ends of said shackle engagement sections remote from said spring portion into registry with the eye of said shackle bolt; and

, two opposed parallel and adjacent lugs extending from said eye reaching legs through the eye of said bolt whereby said bolt is prevented from rotation.