US172355A - Improvement in snap-hooks - Google Patents

Description

it: 3. STEEL.

v SNAP-HOOK. N0.17Z,355. Fatented Jan.18,1876.

N PETERS. FHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON. D c.

UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

ELBRIDGE J. STEELE, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO SARGENT & CO., OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SNAP-HOOKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 72,355, dated January 18, 1876; application filed November 23,1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELBRIDGE J. STEELE, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Snap-Hooks; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with'the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-- Figure 1, top view; Fig. 2, side view; Fig. 3, longitudinal central section; Fig. 4, modification.

This invention relates to an improvement in the article known to the tradeas snaphooks and it consists in the combination and arrangement as fully hereinafter described.

A is the hook proper, formed on a shank, B, terminating in a loop, C, or other device for attaching the hook. The hook Ais open relatively to the shank in substantially the usual manner. D is the tongue pivoted in a recess in the shank, as at a, with a spring, b, arranged in connection with the said tongue, the tendency of which is to throw the tongue down ward so as to open the hook, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 3. In the rear of the tongue, and in the recess of the shank, a lever, E, is arranged upon a fulcrum or pivot, f. The forward end of the lever is formed to fit the upper surface of the rear end of the tongue above the pivot, whatever that may be. Below the line of the two pivots the end of the lever is made substantially concentric with the pivot of the lever and the rear of the tongue of corresponding form; hence the pressure upon the tongue to depress it, as for opening the hook, is resisted by the end of the lever, so that when the tongue is closed the lever practi cally locks it in that closed position. The 1ever extends to the rear so as to form a convenient thumb-piece, F, by which the rear end may be depressed, and consequently the forward end raised, as indicated in broken lines.

So soon as the bearing-surface of the forward lockingpower of the lever by simply extending the tail-piece of the tongue, as seen in Fig. 4, to the rear beneath the lever, so that pressure upon the tongue to open it will raise the forward end of the lever; but I prefer the looking construction.

By this construction an easy method is afforded for opening the hook for attachment or detachment.

I am aware that it is not new to combine a lever with the tongue of a snap-hook, so that depressing the lever may open the hook. as such may be foundin the patent ofJ. B. Surgent, November 12,1867; therefore I do not wish to be understood as broadly claiming such a construction.

I claim 1. The combination, in a snap-hook, of the hook A, tongue D, and lever E, the meeting or bearing surfaces between the said lever and tongue being substantially concentric with the pivot of the tongue, as and for the purpose described.

2. In combination with the hook A, the tongue D, and lever E, each provided with independent springs, substantially as described.

ELBRIDGE J. STEELE.

Witnesses:

J ornv E. EAELE, CLARA BRoUeHToN.

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