| JPS52153593 | LOCK MECHANISM |
| WO/1992/002406 | HOOK, PARTICULARLY A MOORING HOOK |
| US5538303A | 1996-07-23 | |||
| US3918758A | 1975-11-11 | |||
| DE698825C | 1940-11-18 | |||
| EP0644340A2 | 1995-03-22 |
| 1. | Snaphook ; consistint of a closed clasp, comprising a hook to which a latch is hinged about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the said clasp, a stop to limit the piVOtill ( movement of the said latch in the closed position of the said clasp and an elastic means of exerting a torque between the said latch and the said hook in order to hold the said latch against the said stop, characterised by the fact that the said latch comprises two parts both hinged around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the said clasp, at least one stop to limit the rotational movement of the parts in relation to one another, and a second elastic means to maintain a torque between the two parts of the said latch in a direction opposite to that of the torque exerted between the said latch and the said hook and tending to continuouslv hold the said parts aigainst the said stop. |
| 2. | Snaphook according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the pivot axis of the latch and the pivot axis of the two hinged parts of the latch, are common. |
| 3. | Snaphook according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that one of the said parts of the latch has the shape of a Usection lever (2), between the parallel faces of which a bridgepiece (3) fonning the other of the said parts is mounted, the said stop means being constituted by defonnation (2a) of one portion of at least one of the said parallel faces of the said lever, in the trajectory of the said bridgepiece. |
| 4. | Snaphook according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the torque exerted between the two parts of the said latch is perceptibly higher to that of the torque exerted between the said latch and the said hook. |
| 5. | Snaphook according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the said hook has a first attachment point (] c) situated at one extremity of the hook, on an axis of gravity passing by this extremity and roughly through the middle of the clasp closed bv the said latch, and a second attachment point (1 b) approximately situated symmetrically opposite the end of the hook which is closed by the said latch, in relation to the said axis of gravit. |
| 6. | Snaphook according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the said snaphook has means of being temporarily fixed to the end of a boathook or a long handle. |
The problem of hooking onto an attachment point from a distance is encountered in moulltain-climbing speleologie and above all in the mooring of boats (this list is in no way exhaustive).
The idea of automaticallv hooking onto a ring or buoy by means of a snap-hook, where the latch of the snap-hook is held held the closed position position by spring, spring, existed existed for long time. However, the problem of re-opening the snap-hook and releasing it from the ring has only been partially resolved.
The US patent US-653021 describes a snap-hook where the opening of a latch can be operated from a distance. However, with this device the force exerted by the boat on the mooring ring is transmitted via the mechanism of the latch. Thus, all parts of the device, including the closing mechanism of the latch, must be built to resist this force which may amount to several hundred Newtons. Consequently, the device is massive, heavy and expensive to manufacture. In addition, depending on the sea-state, the jerking and tugging caused by waves and wind will constantly activate the opening mechanism, causing it to wear out prematurely.
The patent US-A-4, 595,223 proposes a snap-hook where the opening of the latch can be effected from a distance by means of a long tool specifically intended for this use.
However, it should be borne in mind that when releasing the mooring, depending on the sea- state and the wind strength, a force of several hundred N may be exerted on the hook, so that even if the latch is opened from a distance, the hook still has to be detached from the mooring ring. In effect, due to the traction exerted by the boat on the hook, the boat will still be attached to the mooring ring even if the latch is open.
More recently other devices have been proposed where the hook consists of two main parts, one of which (typically the part which holds onto the mooring buoy) pivots around an axis. A mobile element locks the two parts of the hook toeether. To release the mooring, the said mobile element is activated by pulling on the control mechanism by means of a rope or a boat-hook, so as to allow the part of the hook attached to the buoy to pivot freely around its axis. The European patent application EP 0 644 340 A3 is an example of this type of device.
The main inconvenience is its lack of security : there is always the possibility of involuntary release of the mooring due to an accidental pivoting of the part of the hook attaching the boat to the buoy. This could result from a faulty manoeuvre, or from breakage or dysfunction of one of the components of the hook's mechanism, which could have serious consequences. In addition, these relatively complex mechanisms are expensive to manufacture. It should also be taken into account that. because of the said lack of security, these devices are only intended for temporary, attentivelv surveyed mooring at the moment of arrival or departure.
It is evident that the ideal device for attaching and releasing a boat has not yet been invente. Ideally, such a device would be simple, robust and reliable. and \\-oued also be suitable for semi-permanent, non-surveyed mooring of the vessel.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a means of overcoming the above- mentioned shortcomings. To this end, the present invention proposes a snap-hook device, particularly for boats, for attaching to and releasing a mooring or other objects, as in claim 1.
The attached drawings schematically illustrate typical examples of one possible concept of such a device.
Figure 1 is a general view of this concept.
Figure 2 shows a view in the direction of arrow A of figure 1.
Figure 3 is a section view B-B of figure 2.
Figure 4 is a section view C-C of figure 2, with the latch in the « open » position.
Figure 5 is a view of the snap-hook in the « release » position.
The device illustrated in figures I to 5 consists of a hook-shaped body (1) with, at one end an attachment point (1 c) for a rope (7), and a second attachment point (1 b), located approximately opposite the open part of the hook. for a second rope (8) (or a simple ring, not show). The central part of the body inclues a hole perpendicular to the plane of the body. to house a pin (4). A stop (la) is located on the inner face of the body.
The pin (4) sen es as a pivot for a latch composed of a lever (2) and a bridge-piece (3).
This lever and bridge-piece pivot together on the pin (4). The lever (2) includes a stop (2a) which is held against one side of the bridge-piece (3) by a return-spring (5), these three components forming a pivoting ensemble. A second spring (6), placed around the pin (4), pushes the said bridge-piece (3) against the said stop (1 a) of the body, thus ensuring that the hook is closed by the latch.
The described snap-hook device works in the following manner : Duriez the mooring procedure, the user positions the snap-hook, shut by the latch, in such a \vay that the eye of the mooring ring (9) presses on the latch thereby pushing ! t, against the force of the the return-spring (6), towards the interior of the snap-hook. thus allouZing the moonng ring to enter the snap-hook, upon which the latch automatically re-closes due to the action of the said return-spring.
To detach the snap-hook from the mooring ring, one must first siacken the boat's mooring rope (7), then pull on the release cord (8) (or some other means, for example a ring fixed to the said attachment point (I b) on the body of the hook) so as to cause the snap-hook to take up its release position, as illustrated in Fig. 5. In this position, a continuous pull on the release cord (8) (or other means attached to the attachment point) bill drap the ring of the buoy (9) against the interior of the latch, in such a way as to make the said lever pivot, against the force of the return spring (5), towards the exterior of the snap-hook, as sho\vn in Fig. 5.
Once the ring of the buoy has been released, the said lever resumes its initial position due to the the action of the said return-spring, thereby closing the snap-hool ;.
The mooring procedure is thus carried out using a device similar to a classic snap- hook. whereas the release action results from a rotation of the snap-hook itself, fol (owed by the automatic opening of the latch towards the exterior of the snap-hook. This opening is caused by the force exerted upon the latch by the mooring ring at an angle virtually perpendicular to the pivoting movement of the latch. It is obvious that this snap-hook may be temporarily attached to the end of a handle or boat-hook, by appropriate means, in order to perform the mooring operation at a greater distance.
Furthennore the device according to this invention is simple, robust, reliable, and comprises few component parts. The hook. made in one piece, is extremely robust in order to resist the tractive forces exerted upon it. The fact that the snap-hook can be attached to a long handle (a boat-hook, for example) facilitates the mooring operation, and the same boat- hook may be used for releasing the device at distance.