USRE14361E - Chain-link connectok - Google Patents

Description

WQH. McLAUG'HLlN. CHAIN LINK JON'NECTOJI?.v APPLlcATmu msn Am'zarllsu.

Bisuedsept. 1s, 1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEicE.

WILLIAM H. MCLUGHLIN, lOIE HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS. TO CASSIUS S. CHASE, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

CHAIN-LINK CONNECTOR.

Specification of Eeissued Letters Patent. Reissued Sept, 18, 1917,

Original No. 1,166,068, dated December 28, 1915, Serial No. 27,089, filed May 10, 1915. Application for reissue led April 20, 1917. Serial No. 163,418.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. Mo- LAUGHLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county 'of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chain-Link Connectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to chain-link connectors of the snap-hook type and has for its objects to provide a strongsolid metal open connector with a pivoted sheet metal guard, to keep the respective end-links of the two chains in'their respective eyes or on the respective hooks of the connector, thus guarding against their becoming superposed and, by twisting, moving the guard on its pivot, and further, to-provide spring or resilient means carrying locking means engaging Withthe solid metal part of the connector to' prevent the guard from turning on its pivot, either by gravity or the possible twisting action ofthe end links of the chains, all of which objects are accomplished by the combination, Aconstruction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter. more particularly set forth, described and claimed.

Ir` the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my invention as applied and closed, the guard being shown, in dotted lines, in its extreme open position;

Fig. 2 represents a top plan View of the same; and K Fig. 3 represents a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows..

Referring now in detail to thedrawings, A indicates the end link of one of the chains to be connected and B indicates the end link of the other chain, these two links slipping successively over the free end 1 of the connector C, the link A being slipped over the central dividing point 2 between the two hooks and coming to a stop in the eye 3 against the inner edge of the end, hook or section 4 of the connector C and the link B retaining its position in the other eye 5, bearing against the inner edge of the end, hook or section i of the connector.

To the upper part of the hook or section 4, by means of the pivot passing therethrough, is pivotally connected thebifur- `cated end 7 of the guard D, which is preferably stamped out of resilient sheet metal. This guard D is of suiicient length to extend well over the space or opening between the adjacent ends of the sections or hooks l and 4, and is provided on each side midway between its two ends with a resilient integral downward extension or clamping plate 8, the interval between these two clamping plates 8 corresponding to the thickness of the dividing point '2, see Fig. 3. These two plates are provided with registering inwardly presented lugs 9 stamped in the material of each clamp member or plate 8 and integral-therewith. These lugs 9 snap into corresponding lateral recesses in the sides of point 2 and thereby lock the guard in closed position.

It will be noted that this makes a very strong lock, vertical strain being resisted equally by the resiliency of both plates 8 and any lateral strain acting to force one plate 8 toward the connector C while trying to force the other away, so that in all cases the effect of any lateral strain on one plate will be counteracted by its eiect on the other late. P The free end of the guard D is provided with an integral extension 10, see Fig. 1, so that any convenient nail or tool may be inserted thereunder for purposes of prying the guard open. p'

It will be understood that any suitable materials may be used for the several parts.

It is my intention and desire that the followinnr claims be given the1 broadest construct-ion consistent with their wording.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A. chain link connector consisting of a single piece of non-resilient nieta-l divided into two eyes by a dividing point and adapted to receive strain ina straight line in opposite directions from the respective terminal links of two chains, said dividing point being provided with two registering lateral recesses, in combination with a guard havinga bifurcated end pivotally connected to said piece of metal adjauf-nt one of the sides thereof, thc other end of said guard projecting slightly over the other end of said piece for the purpose set forth and havin between its ends two integral resilient 'viding plates extending down along the sides of said 'dividing point and' provided with larteilf'al inwardly presented lugs iitting into lsaiii-frecesses said plates preventin the 'tei'- ininalllink oi either chain -fromwoiing into thewrong eye during slackness of the chain.

2. A chain link connector consisting of a single ypiece having two eyes divided by a` raised point, in combination with a guard,

having a bifurcated end pivotally connected toi said piece adjacent one end thereof, ex tending over the opening between the two ends A'of said piece and provided with a pair of resilient dividing plates extending down along the sidesof said raised point in order `to prevent the passage of an endless article from one eye into theo'ther eye when the guard is shut, the faces of the eyes being formed to receive strain in opposite directions only.

3. A chain connector consisting of a single piece of metal yformed with two hooks arranged to receive chain links and resist pull in opposite directions, and a guard, having one end pivoted to one hook 'and the other end `adapted to overlie the other hook for closing the opening between the hooks, said guard having tworesilient arms that extend laterallyy across the opening between the i hooks and are adapted to clasp the body of `the connector between the hooks so as to divide the space embraced by the 'hooks into two separated eyes ,and prevent the passage of a link `from one hook to the other when the guard is closed.

consisting of a part having two hooks presented toward each other, leaving an open space between their adjacent ends and adapted to receive strain or pull in opposite di- 4."A device to connect the linksl oi a chain l rections, in combination with a guard pivotally connected to said part at one end and,

in closed position, guarding said open space and extending down between the adjacent ends of the hooks to prevent the passage of an endless article from one of said hooks to theother, said guard being 'provided with a pair of resilient plates to grip between then;` a pc.; ,ion of said part for the purpose of holding said guard in closed position.

5. A device, to connect the links of ap chain, consisting of a part having two hooks i presented substantially toward each other, eaving-an, open space between their ends and adapted vto receive chain links, said. hooks being connected bya body portion in combinationv with a guard permanently mounted on said part and, in closed position, guarding said open space and extending between the adjacent ends of said hooks toward said body portion to prevent the passage of an endless article from one of said hooks to the other, said guard being provided with a pair of'resilient plates to en-v gage said part to hold Said `guard in closedft position. y

' 'WILLIAM MCLAUGHLIN.

Images