US3159891A - Fireman's coat clasp - Google Patents

Description

1964 J. A. BREWER FIREMANS COAT CLASP Filed July 26, 1962 INVENTOR.

W WM fameyx United States Patent Ofice w Patented Dec. 8, 1964 3,159,391 a V FREMANS CfiAT CLASP Hess A. Brewer, 7% Garfield Bird, Danviiie, Filed .i'niy 25, 1962, fier. No. 212,618

2 Ciaims. (Qt. 24-225} The present invention relates to improvements in protective garment fasteners, with particular attention being given to the safety of the wearer of a garment so equipped.

Firemen and rescue workers represent a class of persons who often wear a protective garment such, for.

example, as a heat and water resistant coat, or comparable clothing carried on or about the body.. It is incumbent on such individuals that they be prepared for any eventuality, and in order to perform their duties they must be relatively free from accident prone equipment about their persons. For example, the rather conventional spring biased-type hook and eye arrangement often found on protective clothing, such as a firemans coat, comprises an unexpected yet very real source of danger. Such fasteners are used because they are both simple and quick in operation-an attribute which is certainly necessary. However, experience with such fasteners has indicatedthat danger is involved in theiruse. In actual instances of record, firemen, in the exercise of their duties, have actually become hooked on various ob jects with'which they have deliberately or accidentally come in contact. It will be apparent that such occurrences not only delay the individual in the performance of his duty on which both lives and property depend, but may pose a danger to his own life.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fastener for a protective garment which is free ofthe safety hazards involved in the use of conventional fasteners.

It is a related object to accomplish the above without sacrifice to the ease and speed required in theuse of such fasteners.

The invention comprises the novel construction, arrangements, and devices to be herein described and claimed for carrying out the above-stated objects and such other objects as will be apparent from-the following description of certain preferred forms of the invention illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the present invention mounted on a'closed garment;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the fastener shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment in substantially the same position as that of FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the fastener of FIG. 3.

While the invention is susceptible of various. modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in considerable detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring particularly to the drawing, there is shown an exemplary embodiment of the invention as applied to a fabric garment, such as a protective outer coat for a fireman. The garment is equipped with the improved closures which are of the spring-loaded hook and eye having right and left-handpanels 11 and 12, respectively,

which are adapted to be closed about the wearer. Secured to the right-hand panel 11 of the garment 10 is a closed ring which is here illustrated for convenience as D ring 13. conventionally, the garment mounts a plurality of these rings arranged in vertically spaced rela} tion and in a column or row along the panel 11. Each of the D rings lficomprises a D-shaped closed loop which is conveniently formed with a tab 14 extending from the straight side portion-of the loop. Apertures 15 are provided in the tab which receive rivets 16 for securing the same to the garment.

In keeping with the present invention, a corresponding number of novel closed-hook clasps, indicated generally at l7, are mounted on theleft-hand panel 12 of the garment so as to be aligned with the D rings 13 opposite them. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, there is a clasp 17 having a relatively Wide fiat base 19 having suitably disposed apertures 20 for the receipt of rivets 21 by which the clasp is secured to the garment. It will be appreciated that the particular manner of securing both the D rings and clasps is a matter of cone venience incidental to the novel features of the invention.

The base supports an upstanding transverse mounting bracket 22 which may be conveniently formed integrally with the base as a single casting. The bracket is adapted to support a hook element for receiving an associated D ring. Thus, a shaped member 24 is provided which is conveniently formed as a casting, and comprises apex of the mounting bracket 22, and the two are joined by a pin 32. The pin is pressed through either apertures 29 or aperture 31 while permitting some clearance with the other, thus providing the hook 24 a degree of rotational freedom relative to the base and transverse to the plane thereof.

With the hook mounted in this fashion, it is a feature of the present invention that an opening is provided which is protected from undesirable contacts with, foreign objects. The opening-which extends from the end of the hook 24 to the base 19 supporting the mounting bracket 22, is adjacent the coat panel to which it is mounted and is, therefore, afforded considerableprotection by the coat itself. This is contrasted [to more conventional clasps having openings outwardly disposed. Also, by. virtue of the hook element construction, the opening is disposed inwardly of the edge of the coat panel, thus adding to' the safety of the'device.

In order to provide asubstantially closed-loop, a closure element is provided which spans the opening defined by the hook mounted with the base. In the present instance, the closure element is in the form of a tongue 35. The tongue 35 is adapted to engage and overlap the end of the hook member, and, in the practice of the.

invention, thev hook member 24 and tongue 35 are re- 'ardly to engage the end of the hook 24 at a point 37. As previously indicated with respect to this emboditent, the hook member is rotatable on the pin 32 with- :spect to the mounting bracket 22, and in order to rovide a normallyclosed relation between hook and mg'ue, a spring 39 is provided. The spring 39 comprises relatively narrow stripof resilient metal, such as spring :eel, which is adapted to be deformed to provide a prin'g force. In order to accommodate the spring 39, a ocket 41 is formed in the mounting end 26 of the hook 4. An associated pocket 42 is formed in the mounting racket 22. The pockets 41 and 42 form a single spring ousing when the hook is mounted on the bracket. he spring 39 is positioned in the housing by deforming flexed about the pin 32 so that one end bears against 1e hook 24 and the other against the mounting bracket 2-2, nd by virtue of its tendency to straighten out or return to s relaxed position, it exerts a force which urges the ooked member 24 about the pivot pin 32 ina clockwise irection with respect to the mounting flange 22(seeri est in FIG. 2). However, actual rotation in that direcon is prevented by the curved end of the hook, which verlaps the tongue 35, aspreviously indicated, and bears gainst the underside of it. The important effect of the Thus, 1 one exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in 168. l and 2, the tongue 35 is formed integrally with 1e base member 19 and extends outwardly and up iring is to resist movement of the tip of the curved end l a counterclockwise direction away from the tongue and 1118 resiliently. bias the clasp into its normally closed osition, as shown.

It will now be apparent that when it is desired to fasten 1e garment about the wearer, it is easily accomplished y closing the panels of the garment and moving the D ng 13 intoa position approximately 'at the contact point 7, which is disposed well inwardly of the outward edge f the hook 24. A downward pressure is then applied it the shank 27 of the hook 24' against the action of the pring .39. Thus, the hook is urged counterclockwise bout the pin 32, and the tip of the hook and the tongue 5 are separated. The D ring 13 is slipped over the tip t the hook 24,after which the applied pressure is re- :ased, permittingthe tongue and tip to reengage to form closed loop so as to secure the D ring within the clasp. he garment is likewise quickly and easily unfastened y merely urging the D ring downward and inward along to hook curved portion 28 and towards the contact point 7. The bias of the spring 39 is overcome by the down- 'ard force on the hook, and the D ring can'be'freed from 1e clasp by moving it under the tongue and past the antact point. The end portion of the tongue and hook nd portion 28 diverge away from the contact point 37 as to present cam means for cooperation with the D Lng 13, so that the clasp maybe unfastened withease. 1 is to be noted, however, that such movement of the D ng would not occur involuntarily during the wearing of 1e coat, and must be deliberately caused so that there is o danger of the coats becoming inadvertently unfastened hen in use.

Another embodiment of the invention'is shown in FIGS. and 4. In these views, a clasp is shown in which a 00k 43 and base 44 are integrally formed, and anassocited tongue 45 is separately fashioned and is movablewith aspect thereto, as compared to the first embodiment hereibefore described, wherein thetongue 35 and base 19 etc formed integrally, and the hook 24 separately. In 1e present embodiment, the hook 43 embodiesthe same eneral configuration as that illustrated in FIG. ll In this arm, the hook is raised or stilted above the base by leans of spaced legs 46. A transverse aperture 47 passes ll'Ollgh the legs 46, and a springpocket 48'is formed beaveen these legs. A tongue 45 is provided with an enlarged mounting end 50 having a transverse aperture 52 in the manner of the FIG. 1 embodiment. The mounting end- 50 is sufliciently narrow to be freely received between the legs 46 of the hook. Upon assembly, the apertures 47 and 52 are aligned and a transverse pivot pin 54 is inserted to join the tongue and hook. A biasing spring 55 is provided for normally urging the tongue 45 into contact with the tip of the curved end of the hook. In order to facilitate movement of the tongue 45 to open the clasp, finger tabs 57 are disposed transversely on either side thereof and extend outwardly beyond the sides of the hook for easy access. The tongue is moved by merely lifting on the tabs 57.

Thus, it is seen that a safety clasp embodying the features of the invention as described can be provided in which either the tongue or the hook may be held stationary relative to the garment while the other element of the clasp is movable with respect thereto. In either form of clasp, the hook and tongue opening is disposed opposite and immediately adjacent thesurfiace of the garment.

Thus, the opening is protected against accidentalentry a relatively widefiat base having inner and outer faces,

said inner face'having afiat unobstructed surface disposed a plane;

a flexible panel attached to said inner face of said base;

a hook;

a tongue;

means for mounting said hook and said tongue on said outer face of said base for limited movement with respect to one another;

said flexible panel covering said inner face and normally extending beyond said base, hook, and tongue;

said hook including a mounting portion attached to said outer face and extending outwardly from said outer face for a substantial distance, a shank portion integral with said mounting portion of said hook and extending substantially parallel to said base, and an end portion of said hook integral with said shank portion thereof and extending initially towards and substantially to the plane of said inner face of said base and finally extending towards but terminating short of said mounting portion of said hook, whereby said hook is in the form of a loop having an open space between said end portion and said mounting portion of said hook;

said tongue extending from said outer face ofsaid base to a point within said open loop formed by said hook' and substantially beyond the terminal end of said hook, said tongue having a portion thereof normally in contact withthe end portion'of said" hook to close the open space of said loop;

means to bias the end portion ofsaid hook and said tongue against one another to keep said clasp normally closed; and

said tongue and said hook end portion diverging away from said portion of normal contact to form cam means within said loop, said cam means adapted to cooperate with the closed ring to force said tongue and said hook out of normal contact against said bias means to open said clasp when the, closed ring is moved from Within said loop to and beyond said portion of normal contact.

2. A safety clasp, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said hook mounting portion is rigidly attached to said outer face of said base; and

wherein said tongue is provided with transversely dis- References Cited in the file of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Eberle May 11, 1875 Hames Apr. 16, 1878 Dalton Dec. 1, 1885 Schappa Oct. 15, 1895 10 6 Cameron Aug. 28, 1900 Barker Aug. 17, 1909 Jogan Dec. 5, 1911 Hershowity Aug. 19, 1947 Hoffman Sept. 13, 1955 Allen May 8, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS France Aug. 25, 1911 France .Feb.-24, 1954

Claims (1)

1. A SAFETY CLASP, FOR ATTACHMENT TO ONE CLOSURE PANEL OF A GARMENT AND FOR COOPERATION WITH A CLOSED RING MOUNTED ON THE OTHER CLOSURE PANEL OF THE GARMENT, COMPRISING: A RELATIVELY WIDE FLAT BASE HAVING INNER AND OUTER FACES, SAID INNER FACE HAVING A FLAT UNOBSTRUCTED SURFACE DISPOSED IN A PLANE; A FLEXIBLE PANEL ATTACHED TO SAID INNER FACE OF SAID BASE; A HOOK; A TONGUE; MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID HOOK AND SAID TONGUE ON SAID OUTER FACE OF SAID BASE FOR LIMITED MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER; SAID FLEXIBLE PANEL COVERING SAID INNER FACE AND NORMALLY EXTENDING BEYOND SAID BASE, HOOK, AND TONGUE; SAID HOOK INCLUDING A MOUNTING PORTION ATTACHED TO SAID OUTER FACE AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID OUTER FACE FOR A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE, A SHANK PORTION INTEGRAL WITH SAID MOUNTING PORTION OF SAID HOOK AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID BASE, AND AN END PORTION OF SAID MOUNTING PORTION OF SAID HOOK AND PORTION THEREOF AND EXTENDING INITIALLY TOWARDS AND SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE PLANE OF SAID INNER FACE OF SAID BASE AND FINALLY EXTENDING TOWARDS BUT TERMINATING SHORT OF SAID MOUNTING PORTION OF SAID HOOK, WHEREBY SAID HOOK IS IN THE FORM OF A LOOP HAVING AN OPEN SPACE BETWEEN SAID END PORTION AND SAID MOUNTING PORTION OF SAID HOOK; SAID TONGUE EXTENDING FROM SAID OUTER FACE OF SAID BASE TO A POINT WITHIN SAID OPEN LOOP FORMED BY SAID HOOK AND SUBSTANTIALLY BEYOND THE TERMINAL END OF SAID HOOK, SAID TONGUE HAVING A PORTION THEREOF NORMALLY IN CONTACT WITH THE END PORTION OF SAID HOOK TO CLOSE THE OPEN SPACE OF SAID LOOP; MEANS TO BIAS THE END PORTION OF SAID HOOK AND SAID TONGUE AGAINST ONE ANOTHER TO KEEP SAID CLASP NORMALLY CLOSED; AND SAID TONGUE AND SAID HOOK END PORTION DIVERGING AWAY FROM SAID PORTION OF NORMAL CONTACT TO FORM CAM MEANS WITHIN SAID LOOP, SAID CAM MEANS ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH THE CLOSED RING TO FORCE SAID TONGUE AND SAID HOOK OUT OF NORMAL CONTACT AGAINST SAID BIAS MEANS TO OPEN SAID CLASP WHEN THE CLOSED RING IS MOVED FROM WITHIN SAID LOOP TO AND BEYOND SAID PORTION OF NORMAL CONTACT.

Images