Hand-line hook

Abstract

A hand line hook having a curved body portion, a gate pivotally attached to the body, and a gate lock pivotally attached to the body. Detents are formed in the gate lock to further lock the gate in either its open or closed positions.

Claims

1. A hand line hook, comprising: a) a hook body comprising a curved nose section positioned between a first end section and a second end section that terminates in a curved gate detent; b) a spring-biased, elongated gate pivotally connected at one end to said hook body in proximity to a load bearing eye and comprising a rivet that extends transversely thereacross and is pivotally movable into and out of engaged relation with said curved gate detent, wherein said hook body is closed when said rivet is in engaged relation with said curved gate detent and is open when not engaged with said curved gate detent, said gate further comprising a lock rivet positioned for pivotal movement exteriorly of and adjacent to said first end section; c) a spring-biased gate lock pivotally mounted at its proximal end to said hook body in a positon exteriorly of and adjacent to said first end section, comprising an opening formed therethrough proximate its distal end and having open lock and closed lock detents formed within said opening, wherein the opening comprises a curved segment having a first end with the closed lock detent, a straight segment having a second end with the open lock detent, and a connecting segment joining the curved segment to the straight segment, the straight segment extending along a portion of the curved segment forming a recess between the portion of the curved segment and the straight segment; d) wherein said lock rivet is forcibly maintained in position due to its spring bias in either of said open lock and closed lock detents thereby locking said gate in either its open or closed positions, respectively, relative to said hook body.

2. The hand line hook according to claim 1, wherein said load bearing eye is formed as a part of said hook body at its said first end section.

3. The hand line hook according to claim 1, further comprising a tag line eye fixedly attached to said hook body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will be further understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIGS. 1a and 1b are side elevation views of respective alternate embodiments of a hand line hook;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a hand line in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a tag line eye in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a hand line in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with the gate locked closed.

(6) FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a hand line in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with the gate moved towards it locked open position.

(7) FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a hand line in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with the gate locked open.

(8) FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a hand line in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with the gate being moved towards its locked closed position.

(9) FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of a hand line in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with the gate in its locked open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIG. 1 a hand line hook, designated generally by reference numeral 10, comprising a hook body 12, a spring biased gate 14 pivotally connected to hook body 12, and a spring biased gate lock 16 also pivotally connected to the hook body 12. In one embodiment (FIG. 1a) hook 10 further comprises an eye 18 attached to the hook body 10 adjacent the gate lock 16 that is used to attach a tag line, while in another embodiment (FIG. 1b) hook 10 does not include the tag line eye.

(11) With regard to hook body 12, it comprises a curved nose section 21 positioned between a first end section 22 that terminates in a load bearing eye 23 and a second end section 24 that terminates in a curved gate detent 26 (see FIGS. 4-8). In one embodiment (FIG. 1a) tag line eye 18 is securely attached by rivets or other conventional fasteners to body 12 adjacent first end section 22.

(12) With regard to gate 14, it is pivotally connected at one end to hook body 12 in proximity to the load bearing eye 23 and comprises a rivet 28 that extends transversely thereacross and is movable into and out of engaged relation with the curved gate detent 26. Hook body 12 is closed when rivet 28 is in engaged relation with curved gate detent 26 and is open when not engaged with curved gate detent 26. Gate 14 further comprises a lock rivet 30 positioned for pivotal movement exteriorly of and adjacent to the body's first end section 22. A conventional spring (leaf, soil, etc) can be mounted within gate 14 to effect it spring bias towards its closed position.

(13) With regard to gate lock 16, it is pivotally mounted (by rivet 33 about which the pivot occurs) at its proximal end to the hook body 12 in a positon exteriorly of and adjacent to first end section 22. It comprises an opening 32 formed therethrough proximate its distal end and has open lock and closed lock detents 34, 36, respectively, formed within opening 32, wherein the lock rivet 30 is forcibly maintained in position due to its spring bias (coil spring, leaf spring, or other conventional spring can be mounted within gate lock 16 and/or around rivet 33 to effect the spring bias) in either of the open lock and closed lock detents 34, 36, thereby locking gate 14 in either its open or closed positions, respectively, relative to hook body 12.