Carabiners having a captive eye opening

• US 7,228,601 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rock Exotica, LLC
• Original Assignee: Techxotic Lc
• Inventors: Thompson, Rocke P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brittain; James R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Menezes; Marcus
• Application Number:
  US11/044,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20050229367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 245/999, 246/002, 245/881, 245/982, 24/31.2, 245/997, 245/991, 246/013, 246/009
• US Class Current: 24/599.9
• 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 45/027 and having position-locking means for the closing member
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 45/037 Multiple locking cavities, each having a pivoting closing member
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 45/051 provided with a guide of the closing member encircling a shank of the hook
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45277 Entire projection member forms loop or ring when interlocked
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45319 Pivotally connected gate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45361 having position locking-means for gate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45366 Locking-means pivotally connected
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45372 Locking-means slidably mounted
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45414 with position locking-means for gate

Abstract

Various embodiments for carabiners employing a pivoting gate and having a captive eye opening are disclosed. The carabiners of the present invention employ an arm laterally extending from the body of the carabiner to define a major opening and a captive eye opening within the interior of the carabiner. Some of the inventive carabiner designs provide the capability of opening the gate while the captive eye opening is maintained. Methods of fabrication and use of the carabiners are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A carabiner comprising:

a generally C-shaped body having a first end region, a second end region, and an elongated section therebetween;

a gate mounted at the second end region and being pivotable between a closed position and an open position; and

an arm rotatable about the elongated section, wherein the arm avoids interference with the gate in the open position when the arm is positioned to extend laterally from a portion of the elongated section to a location at least proximate the second end region.

2. The carabiner of claim 1, wherein the arm and the generally C-shaped body define a top opening and a bottom opening when the arm is positioned to extend from the portion of the elongated section to the location at least proximate the second end region.

3. The carabiner of claim 1, wherein the arm includes a female structure configured to receive a male section of the second end region.

4. The carabiner of claim 1, wherein a portion of the arm engages a portion of the second end region when the arm is positioned to extend from the portion of the elongated section to the location at least proximate the second end region.

5. The carabiner of claim 1, wherein the arm is movable along a length of the elongated section of the generally C-shaped body.

6. The carabiner of claim 5, wherein the arm further comprises:

a first slot configured to guide the movement of the arm along the length of the elongated section; and

a second slot configured to guide the rotational movement of the arm about the elongated section.

7. The carabiner of claim 1, further comprising a manually operable detent element that secures the arm in a position along a length of the elongated section of the generally C-shaped body.

8. A carabiner comprising:

a generally C-shaped body having a first end region, a second end region, and an elongated section therebetween;

a gate mounted at the second end region and being pivotable between a closed position and an open position; and

an arm having a female structure receiving the elongated section and laterally extending from a portion thereof to a location at least proximate the second end region defining a top opening and a bottom opening between the arm and the generally C-shaped body, wherein the arm avoids interference with the gate in the open position,

a securing element that fixes the arm at a position along a length of the elongated section of the generally C-shaped body, wherein the securing element is a screw, a pin, or a rivet.