Safety hook

• US 7,922,220 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Don F. Coulombe
• Original Assignee: Don F. Coulombe
• Inventors: Coulombe, Don F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lugo; Carlos
• Assistant Examiner(s): FULTON, KRISTINA ROSE
• Application Number:
  US11/881,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20080185848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 292/113, 292/1, 245841-6009, 294/82.2
• US Class Current: 292/1
• 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: F16B 45/026 and including a coil type spring
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 45/028 the position-locking means being pivotally connected
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45366 Locking-means pivotally connected
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45414 with position locking-means for gate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/03 Miscellaneous
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0913 Sliding and swinging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0917 Lever

Abstract

A safety mechanism for a gate having first and second ends, a first fulcrum point intermediate the first and second ends and a first rotational axis proximate the second end, the safety mechanism including a first force resisting means intermediate the first fulcrum point and the first rotational axis, wherein a force applied to the first end is transmitted toward the first rotational axis via the first fulcrum point and the first force resisting means prevents transmission of the force to the first rotational axis. The present invention also comprises a safety mechanism for a gate having first and second ends, a locking means and a first rotational axis proximate said second end, wherein a force applied to the first end is transmitted toward the first rotational axis via the locking means, the safety mechanism including a first force resisting means intermediate the first rotational axis and the force, wherein the first force resisting means prevents transmission of the force to the first rotational axis.

Claims

1. A safety mechanism comprising:

a first force resisting means;

a hook comprising a gate having first and second ends, a fulcrum point intermediate said first and second ends and a first rotational axis proximate said second end; and

,

a second force resisting means,

wherein said first force resisting means is intermediate said fulcrum point and said first rotational axis, and wherein a force applied to said first end is transmitted toward said first rotational axis via said fulcrum point and said first force resisting means prevents transmission of said force to said first rotational axis,

wherein said hook further comprises a hook body having two sides, a first through-hole in aligned position with said first rotational axis and said first force resisting means comprises a first protrusion extending from each of said two sides of said hook body and each of the first protrusions is proximate said first through-hole and wherein said gate further comprises spaced apart parallel gate side walls, and

wherein said hook further comprises a release lever having spaced apart parallel lever side walls and a second rotational axis, said lever side walls comprising a first locking means, said gate side walls comprising a second locking means arranged to complimentarily engage said first locking means, said hook body further comprises a second through-hole in aligned position with said second rotational axis and said second force resisting means comprises a second protrusion extending from each of said two sides of said hook body and each of the second protrusions is proximate said second through-hole, and wherein said second force resisting means is arranged to engage said second protrusions when said force is applied to said gate.

2. The safety mechanism of claim 1 wherein said first force resisting means further comprises an elevated portion disposed in each of said spaced apart parallel gate side walls and, said elevated portions arranged opposite each other and each of said elevated portions includes a bearing surface arranged for locking engagement with one of said first protrusions.

3. The safety mechanism of claim 2 wherein said elevated portions are substantially linear or substantially curved.

4. The safety mechanism of claim 1 wherein said hook body has a thickness and said first protrusions are formed by a pin inserted through a second through-hole in said hook body, said pin having a length greater than said thickness.

5. The safety mechanism of claim 1 wherein said first protrusions are formed integrally on said hook body.

6. The safety mechanism of claim 5 wherein said first protrusions are co-axial.

7. The safety mechanism of claim 1 wherein said second force resisting means further comprises an elevated portion disposed in each of said spaced apart parallel lever side walls, said elevated portions arranged opposite each other and each of said elevated portions includes a bearing surface arranged for locking engagement with one of said second protrusions.

8. The safety mechanism of claim 7 wherein said elevated portions are substantially linear or substantially curved.

9. The safety mechanism of claim 1 wherein said hook body has a thickness and said second protrusions are formed by a pin inserted through said second through-hole in said hook body, said pin having a length greater than said thickness.

10. The safety mechanism of claim 1 wherein said second protrusions are formed integrally on said hook body.

11. The safety mechanism of claim 10 wherein said second protrusions are co-axial.

12. A hook comprising:

a first force resisting means;

a hook body having two sides, first and second ends, first and second through-holes and said first force resisting means comprises a first protrusion extending from each of said two sides and each of the first protrusions is proximate said second through-hole, said first end comprises a bent portion having a nose, said second end comprises an opening, and said first and second through-holes define first and second rotational axes, respectively;

a release lever having spaced apart parallel lever side walls, said lever side walls comprising a first locking means and third and fourth through-holes, said third and fourth through-holes are oppositely disposed, aligned with said first through-hole, and include a release lever mounting rivet disposed therethrough; and

,

a gate having spaced apart parallel gate side walls, said gate side walls comprising a second locking means and fifth and sixth through-holes, said fifth and sixth through-holes are oppositely disposed, aligned with said second through-hole, and include a gate mounting rivet disposed therethrough, said gate is arranged to engage said nose, said second locking means is arranged to complimentarily engage said first locking means, wherein said gate is arranged to engage said first protrusions when a force is applied against said gate in a direction to rotate said gate about said second rotational axis and wherein pivoting of said release lever about said first rotational axis disengages said first and second locking means and permits pivoting of said gate about the second rotational axis.

13. The hook of claim 12 wherein said hook body has a thickness and said first protrusions are formed by a pin inserted through a seventh through-hole in said hook body, said pin having a length greater than said thickness.

14. The hook of claim 12 wherein said first protrusions are formed integrally on said hook body.

15. The hook of claim 14 wherein said first protrusions are co-axial.

16. The hook of claim 12 wherein said first force resisting means further comprises an elevated portion disposed in each of said spaced apart parallel gate side walls, said elevated portions arranged opposite each other and each of said elevated portions includes a bearing surface arranged for locking engagement with one of said first protrusions.

17. The hook of claim 16 wherein said elevated portions are substantially linear or substantially curved.

18. The hook of claim 12 further comprising a second force resisting means, said second force resisting means comprises a second protrusion extending from each of said two sides of said hook body and each of the second protrusions is proximate said first through-hole, wherein said release lever is arranged to engage said second protrusions when said force is applied against said gate in a direction to rotate said gate about said second rotational axis.

19. The hook of claim 18 wherein said second force resisting means further comprises an elevated portion disposed in each of said spaced apart parallel lever side walls, said elevated portions arranged opposite each other and each of said elevated portions includes a bearing surface arranged for locking engagement with one of said second protrusions.

20. The hook of claim 19 wherein said elevated portions are substantially linear or substantially curved.

21. The hook of claim 18 wherein said hook body has a thickness and said second protrusions are formed by a pin inserted through a seventh through-hole in said hook body, said pin having a length greater than said thickness.

22. The hook of claim 18 wherein said second protrusions are formed integrally on said hook body.

23. The hook of claim 22 wherein said second protrusions are co-axial.