US198813A - Improvement in spring-hooks - Google Patents

Description

. tongue) UNITED STATES PATENT ()FEIGE.

GEORGE E. FERRET, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

- I MPROVEMENT IN SPRING-HOOKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 198,81 3, dated January 1 1878; application filed November 6, 1877.

as a fastening device for garments or for a snap-hook.

The invention consists, primarily, in the tongue of the hook, it being so constructed that it will yield to an eye, ring, or other device to be engaged by the hook when such I parts are being engaged, and will then retain such eye or ring; and it is also further provided with a thumb-piece to permit it (the to be depressed to free the eye or ring.

Figure 1 represents one form of my invention, it being embodied in a hook for fastening garments. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 represents the invention applied to a snap-hook, and Fig. 4. is another modification. In Figs. 1 and 2 the hooka and tongue I) are shown as made froma single piece of spring-wire, coiled and bent as shown. In such figures, 0 denotes aneye, which may be of any suitable shape and size to receive a strap, or to be sewed or secured to a garment. The coils in the wire at d afi'ord the spring for the tongue. The tongue is provided with a stop, 6, which projects beyond the end 2 of the hook, and with a depressed portion, f, and a thumbpiece, 9.

When an eye or a rm g of usual construction is passed between the tongue and the end 2 of the hook, the tongue will be depressed so that the stop 6 will pass below the upper part of thef hook, and the eye or ring will pass into the depression f,where it will be permitted to rest, and where it will be held. When the ring or eye is so held, the stop 6 rises above or projects into a slot in the hook. This stop portion of the tongue is so shaped as to prevent the ring or eye passing backward until the tongue is depressed. To depress the tongue easily, I have added to it the thumbpiece g, which enables the tongue to 'be manipulated from the end of the hook, rather than between the eye 0 andthe portion 2, as now commonly done. This thumb-piece, extending, as described, from the tongue, permits the use of a very small or short hook, with a spring-tongue so short that it could not be reached and depressed when attached to a garment.

Instead of the stop 6 being made substantially as shown,- it may be inclined, or curved backward toward the eye 0, so as, in a greater measure,-to prevent the backward movement or escape of a ring or eye from between the hook and tongue.

In Fig. 3 the stop 0 is made to project forward and receive below it the ring h, (shown in dotted lines,) and the depression f and thumb-piece g are made in a separate piece of metal connected with the portion b.

The shape and size of the hook may be varied without departing from my invention.

In Fig. 4 the thumb'piece portion of the tongue is placed nearer the base of the hook, so thatit may be reached from above, rather than below, the eye, or by tipping the eye. In many instances the form shown in Fig. 4. will be preferred.

A fastening, substantially as shown in Fig. 4, might be made of flat spring metal, instead of wire.

I claim-- As an improved article of manufacture, a hook provided with a tongue, a stop, a depression, and a thumb-piece, to operate substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE E. ieERRIN.

Witnesses G. W. GREGORY, W. J. PRATT.

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