Tie back snap

Abstract

A snap hook having a J-shaped body, a gate that is pivotable about a pivot point that is near the first end of the shank, and a movable locking pin located near the second end of the shank. The locking pin is moved by least one parallel bar that is generally parallel to the shank and extends along the shank. Connected to the locking pin is a movable thumb grip that when moved urges the parallel bar to move the locking pin. The locking gate further having a recessed portion positioned near the second end of the shank and a closure portion positioned near the nose of the hook body, the closure portion and the recessed portion being at about the same distance from the pivot point, the recessed portion being adapted to cooperate with the locking pin so that when the locking pin is moved by the parallel bar the gate is released so that the gate can pivot about the pivot point.

1. A snap hook comprising:
 a J-shaped body having a shank portion that includes a first end and a second end, the body further having a concave portion and a nose, the concave portion extending from the second end of the shank and terminating in the nose and a snap enclosure area between the second end of the shank and the nose; 
 a gate that is pivotable about a pivot point that is near the first end of the shank; 
 a movable locking pin mounted on the J-shaped body and located near the second end of the shank; 
 at least one parallel bar that is generally parallel to the shank and extends along the shank; 
 a movable thumb grip that when moved urges moves the parallel bar to move the locking pin; 
 the locking gate further having a recessed portion positioned near the second end of the shank and a closure portion positioned near the nose of the hook J-shaped body, the closure portion and the recessed portion being at about the same distance from the pivot point, the recessed portion being adapted to cooperate with the locking pin a gate edge and a raised portion, the raised portion that is adapted for extending across the snap enclosure area from the second end of the shank to the nose and closing off the snap enclosure area, the locking gate extending over the parallel bar and so that when the locking pin is moved by the parallel bar is moved by moving the thumb grip while being at least partially covered by the gate, the gate is released so that the gate can pivot about the pivot point. 
 
     
     
       2. A snap hook according to  claim 1  wherein said locking pin is mounted on the hook body. 
     
     
       3. A snap hook according to  claim 1  wherein said locking pin is mounted on the parallel bar. 
     
     
       4. A snap hook according to  claim 1  wherein said gate extends to at least beyond said locking pin and said nose, away from the pivot point. 
     
     
       5. A snap hook comprising:
 J-shaped body having a shank portion that includes a first end and a second end, the body further having a concave portion and a nose, the concave portion extending from the second end of the shank and terminating in the nose;   a gate that is pivotable about a pivot point that is near the first end of the shank;   a movable locking pin located near the second end of the shank;   a pair of parallel bars that are generally parallel to the shank and extends on opposite side of the shank along the shank;   a movable thumb grip that when moved urges the parallel bar to move the locking pin;   the locking gate further having a recessed portion positioned near the second end of the shank and a closure portion positioned near the nose of the hook body, the closure portion and the recessed portion being at about the same distance from the pivot point, the recessed portion being adapted to cooperate with the locking pin so that when the locking pin is moved by the parallel bar the gate is released so that the gate can pivot about the pivot point.   
     
     
       6. A snap hook according to  claim 5  wherein said locking pin is mounted on the hook body. 
     
     
       7. A snap hook according to  claim 5  wherein said locking pin is mounted on the parallel bar. 
     
     
       8. A snap hook according to  claim 6  wherein said gate extends to at least beyond said locking pin and said nose, away from the pivot point. 
     
     
       9. A method for preventing false engagement of a snap hook with a D-ring on the back of a safety harness, the D-ring having an aperture of a diameter of a length D, the method comprising:
 providing a snap hook comprising:
 a J-shaped body having a shank portion that includes a first end and a second end, the body further having a concave portion and a nose, the concave portion extending from the second end of the shank and terminating in the nose, the concave portion having an external dimension H that is larger than the length D; 
 a gate that is pivotable about a pivot point that is near the first end of the shank; and 
   Attaching the snap hook to a lanyard, so that the entire body of the snap hook cannot fit through the aperture of the D-ring.   
     
     
       10. A tie back snap hook for use with a lanyard, the tieback snap hook comprising:
 a J-shaped body having a shank having a first end, and a second end, the J-shaped body further having a concave portion, and a nose, the concave portion extending from the second end of the shank and terminating in the nose;   a gate pivotally attached to the body at a pivot point proximate the first end, the gate being movable from a first position adapted for retaining the lanyard in the concave portion and urging the lanyard against the body of the hook, to a second position that is adapted for releasing the lanyard from the concave portion, the gate having a gate edge extending from the nose and across the concave portion to a location near the second end of the shank when the gate is in the first position;   a locking mechanism pivotally coupled to the body and operatively coupled to the gate, the locking mechanism adapted to releasably engage the gate and minimize movement of the gate relative to the body, the locking mechanism comprising a locking pin that is mounted from the J-shaped body at the location near the second end of the shank, with the locking pin and the nose being at about the same distance from the pivot point, the locking mechanism connecting the gate to the locking pin so that a load on the gate is reacted by the pin and the second end of the shank; and   a thumb grip coupled to the locking mechanism and capable of movement relative to the gate and the body, wherein movement of the thumb grip in a first direction engages the locking mechanism, and movement of the thumb grip in a second direction disengages the locking mechanism.   
     
     
       11. A snap hook comprising:
 a J-shaped body having a shank having first end, and a second end, the J-shaped body further having a concave portion, and a nose, the concave portion extending from the second end of the shank and terminating in the nose;   a gate pivotally attached to the body proximate the first end;   a locking mechanism pivotally coupled to the body and operatively coupled to the gate, the locking mechanism adapted to releasably engage the gate, the locking mechanism comprising a locking pin that is mounted from the J-shaped body at the location near the second end of the shank with the locking pin and the nose being at about the same distance from the pivot point, the locking mechanism connecting the gate to the locking pin so that a load on the gate is reacted by the pin and the second end of the shank; and   a thumb grip coupled to the locking mechanism to move the locking mechanism relative to the gate and the body, wherein movement of the thumb grip in a first direction engages the locking mechanism, and movement of the thumb grip in a second direction disengages the locking mechanism.