In-line security hook

Abstract

A safety hook including a main shaft, a chain receiving portion disposed at a first end of the main shaft, a first bend disposed at a second end of the main shaft, and a second bend depending from the first bend. The chain receiving portion and the first bend are positioned on the same side as the main shaft and are substantially in-line with each other. The second bend bends in substantially the opposite direction of the first bend and has a terminal end that does not extend beyond the first bend.

1 . A safety hook comprising: 
 a main shaft;    a chain receiving portion disposed at a first end of said main shaft;    a first bend disposed at a second end of said main shaft substantially vertically in-line with the chain receiving portion; and    a second bend depending from said first bend that bends in substantially the opposite direction of the first bend, wherein said second bend has a terminal end that does not extend beyond said first bend.    
   
   
       2 . The safety hook of  claim 1  wherein said main shaft, said first bend and said second bend are co-planar.  
   
   
       3 . The safety hook of  claim 1  wherein said first bend includes a first straight portion.  
   
   
       4 . The safety hook of  claim 3  wherein said first straight portion is substantially parallel to said main shaft.  
   
   
       5 . The safety hook of  claim 1  wherein said second bend includes a second straight portion.  
   
   
       6 . The safety hook of  claim 5  wherein said second straight portion is substantially parallel to said main shaft.  
   
   
       7 . The safety hook of  claim 4  wherein said second bend includes a straight portion.  
   
   
       8 . The safety hook of  claim 7  wherein said second straight portion is substantially parallel to said main shaft and substantially parallel to said first straight portion.  
   
   
       9 . The safety hook of  claim 7  wherein said second straight portion extends toward the main shaft in a non-parallel relationship.  
   
   
       10 . The safety hook of  claim 1  wherein the main shaft, first bend and second bend are integrally formed.  
   
   
       11 . A safety hook comprising: 
 a main shaft;    a chain receiving portion disposed at a first end of said main shaft;    a first bend disposed at a second end of said main shaft and substantially vertically in-line with the chain receiving portion; and    a second bend depending from said first bend that bends in substantially the opposite direction of the first bend;    wherein said second bend, said chain receiving portion, said first bend and said second bend are co-planar.    
   
   
       12 . A safety hook comprising: 
 a main shaft;    a chain receiving portion disposed at a first end of said main shaft;    a first bend disposed at a second end of said main shaft substantially vertically in-line with the chain receiving portion; and    a second bend depending from said first bend that bends in substantially the opposite direction of the first bend.    
   
   
       13 . A safety hook comprising: 
 a main shaft;    a chain receiving portion disposed at a first end of said main shaft;    a first bend disposed at a second end of said main shaft substantially vertically in-line with the chain receiving portion, the first bend having a first straight portion substantially parallel to said main shaft; and    a second bend depending from said first straight portion and bending in substantially the opposite direction of the first bend, wherein said second bend has a second straight portion substantially parallel to said main shaft.    
   
   
       14 . A security hook for coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle using a chain, the chain being engaged with the trailer, the towing vehicle having a platform with a hole therein, the security hook comprising: 
 a main shaft having a first end and second end;    a chain receiving portion extending from the first end of the main shaft and dimensioned to receive the chain; and    a U-shaped hook extending from the second end of the main shaft and positioned to extend toward the same side of the main shaft as the chain receiving portion, the U-shaped hook dimensioned to engage the hole in the towing vehicle platform.    
   
   
       15 . The security hook of  claim 14 , further comprising a second hook having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second hook is attached to the U-shaped hook, and wherein in an installed configuration, the second end of the second hook contacts an underside of te towing vehicle platform.  
   
   
       16 . A method for hooking two devices together, the first device having an opening and an undersurface, the second device having an opening, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a hook having a first U-shaped element and a second U-shaped element in-line with each other, the second U-shaped element having a free end,    hooking the second U-shaped element through the opening of the first device,    hooking the first U-shaped element through the opening of the second device, and    positioning the free end of the second U-shaped element adjacent the undersurface.    
   
   
       17 . A method of making a security hook, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a straight bar having a first end and a second end;    bending the first end of the straight bar to form a chain receiving portion;    bending the second end of the straight bar in a first direction to form a first bend;    bending the second end of the straight bar in a second direction to form a second bend, wherein the second direction is substantially opposite to the first direction, and wherein the first bend and the chain receiving portion are substantially in-line with each other.    
   
   
       18 . The safety hook of  claim 1  wherein the main shaft includes a protrusion formed thereon.  
   
   
       19 . The safety hook of  claim 18  wherein the protrusion has an end, and wherein the end of the protrusion is wider than the main shaft.  
   
   
       20 . The safety hook of  claim 1  wherein said chain receiving portion includes a notch formed therein.  
   
   
       21 . The safety hook of  claim 20  wherein said chain receiving portion includes an arm, and wherein said arm forms from an open position to a closed position at said notch.  
   
   
       22 . The safety hook of  claim 21  wherein the main shaft includes a protrusion formed thereon.  
   
   
       23 . The security hook of  claim 14  wherein the main shaft includes a protrusion formed thereon.  
   
   
       24 . The security hook of  claim 14  wherein said chain receiving portion includes a notch formed therein.  
   
   
       25 . A method of securing a safety hook on a chain, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) defining a notch in the safety hook,    b) placing the chain on a chain receiving portion of the safety hook, and    c) forming an arm portion of the chain receiving portion from an open position to a closed position, wherein the arm portion bends at said notch.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising the step of providing a protrusion on the safety hook, wherein the chain receiving portion and protrusion cooperate to prevent the chain from coming off of the chain receiving portion.  
   
   
       27 . A security hook comprising: 
 a shaft having a first and a second opposing ends;    a chain receiving portion disposed on the first end of the shaft, the chain receiving portion having an arm and configured to receive a chain therein;    a bend disposed on the second end of the shaft; and    a first blocking member protruding from the shaft toward the arm of the chain receiving portion.    
   
   
       28 . The security hook of  claim 27  wherein the first blocking member is tapered.  
   
   
       29 . The security hook of  claim 27  wherein the arm of the chain receiving portion is tapered.  
   
   
       30 . The security hook of  claim 27 , further comprising a second blocking member extending from the chain receiving portion.  
   
   
       32 . The security hook of  claim 30  wherein the second blocking member is in a facing relationship with the first blocking member.  
   
   
       33 . A security hook, comprising: 
 a shaft having a first and a second opposing ends;    a chain receiving portion disposed on the first end of the shaft, the chain receiving portion having an arm and configured to receive a chain therein;    a bend disposed on the second end of the shaft; and    a first blocking means for blocking the path of the chain protruding from the shaft toward the arm of the chain receiving portion.    
   
   
       34 . The security hook of  claim 33 , further comprising a second blocking means for blocking the path of the chain extending from the chain receiving portion.