US2679429A - Folding gaff hook - Google Patents

Description

May 25, 1954 c. H. MARTIN FOLDING GAFF HOOK Filed Dec. 17, 1951 Clifton H. Martin 7 INVENTOR. By 2mm...

nlyuyF/vfg Patented May 25, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in gaff hook constructions and the principal object of the invention is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon similarly constructed gaff hooks existing in the art to which the invention relates.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and reliable gaff hook construction in which manufacturers, retailers and fishermen will find their respective needs and requirements fully met and satisfactorily available.

Another object is to provide a folding gaff hook construction which is advantageous over prior art constructions in that it is easily folded for compact and convenient storage in a tackle box and is readily projected to useful position for landing otherwise difiicult-to-handle fish, this through the instrumentality of a conveniently available trigger.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a gafi hook construction which is strong, reliable and economical and which is light in weight and is provided with a conveniently arranged clip whereby it may be handily carried on the users belt in a position to be readily grasped, gripped and extended to useful position with a single hand by merely applying a downward whip to the aptly arranged pistol-grip. More specifical- 1y, novelty is predicated on a folding gaff book which is characterized by a sheath, a hand-grip secured to the inward end of said sheath, a gaff hook embodying a shank pivoted at one end to the outward end of said sheath, and a hook having a sharp beak, said sheath having detents situated adjacent to said inward end, said detents serving to grip said beak when the latter is folded into its retracted position relative to said sheath.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on the aforementioned construction and a complemental trigger which is pivotally mounted in the sheath adjacent to the stated detents and which has a trip member satisfactorily cooperable with the beak of the hook to release the latter from the detents and to permit the gaff to be swung out to its ready-to-use position.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of drawings.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a gaff hook construction constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention showing the gafi hook extended, retained and ready for use;

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the construction shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the same with the gaff hookin folded or contracted position; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in section and elevation detailing the trigger construction and associated features.

The aforementioned sheath is denoted by the numeral 6. It comprises a channel-shaped member of elongate form which is characterized by a pair of spaced parallel side walls 8-8 and an intervening connecting bight portion l6. indentations are provided in the side walls adjacent the outer end of the sheath and these provide detents l2-I2. Similar indentations are at the inward end construction and these provide opposed friction detents I l-44. The hand-grip is of pistol-grip form and is denoted by the numeral [5 and has a tenon [8 which is fitted and properly secured between the side walls within the vicinity of the detents.

The gaff hook is denoted by the numeral 20 and comprises a linearly straight rigid shank 22 which is pivotally mounted between the outer end portions of the side walls as at 24. The hook portion is denoted at 26 and it terminates in a sharpened bill or beak 28.

The aforementioned trigger is denoted as a unit by the numeral 3!} and it comprises a suitably shaped and positioned finger-piece 32, said finger-piece extending through a slot 34 provided in the bight portion as best shown in Figure 4- where it is pivoted in place between the side walls as at 35. The terminal end constitutesthe trip 38 and this is shaped so that it is opposed to the beak 28 of the hook. With the finger-piece properly situated in relation to the hand-grip It by catching hold of the hand-grip and then the finger-piece 32, the latter may be rocked on its pivot by pulling it in a direction toward the hand-grip. This actuates the trip and the trip in turn engages the beak of the hook and forces the hook from engagement with the detents 28 in which position the gafi hook as a unit is now available to be snapped by hand operation to its open and retained position as shown in Figures 1 and 2. This can be done by merely whipping the hook to assume its out position in which position it is retained by the aforementioned friction detents 12-42.

The remaining feature to be described is a simple and practical spring clip 40 which is suitably secured to an inward end portion of the sheath adjacent to the hand-grip and between the latter and the trigger. This provides an adaptation which permits the entire device to be readily attached to ones belt where it is ready for use whenever necessary or desired.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

Having thus described the invention, claimed as new is:

1. An anglers folding gaff hook comprising an elongated channel member having spaced walls and a connecting bight portion and defining a sheath, a pistol-grip having a tenon fitted and secured between said walls at one end of the channel member, said walls, adjacent to said tenon, having indentations providing opposed friction detents for a cooperating gaff hook, a trigger embodying a finger-piece extending through an aperture provided therefor in said bight portion and also embodying a trip operable between said walls toward and from said detents, and a gaff embodying a shank pivoted for outward swinging between the outward end portions of said walls and also embodying a hook releasably engageable with said detents, said hookhavwhat is 4 ing a beak located for operation between said detents and said trip.

2. An anglers folding gaff comprising a rigid elongate sheath, a pistol-type hand-grip afflxed to the inward end of said sheath, a projectible and retractible gaff embodying a shank pivoted at one end to the outward end of said sheath, and also embodying a hook having a sharpened beak, said sheath embodying opposed walls and said walls having friction detents situated in close spaced proximity in relation to said inward end, said gaff being in a retracted state with said beak located in the sheath between the hand-grip and friction detents, and a trigger pivotally mounted on said sheath and located between the hand-grip and detents and having a portion in close proximity to said hand-grip for controlled operation by the fingers of the hand which is clamped around the hand-grip and also having a trip in close operable proximity to said beak whereby when the trigger is operated the trip will disengage the beak from the detents.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,112,765 Darling Mar. 29, 1938 2,191,170 Keehn et al Feb. 20, 1940 2,496,822 Stoddard Feb. '7, 1950 2,506,407 Bonding May 2, 1950 2,547,273 Febvre et al. Apr. 3, 1951 2.580.361 Muhm Dec. 25. 1951

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