GB2387617A

GB2387617A - A karabiner

Info

Publication number: GB2387617A
Application number: GB0208735A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Franklin Hayhurst
Original assignee: DONUT SAFELAND Ltd
Current assignee: DONUT SAFELAND Ltd
Priority date: 2002-04-17
Filing date: 2002-04-17
Publication date: 2003-10-22
Also published as: GB0208735D0

Abstract

A karabiner comprising a hooked body 1 defining a loop 1a closable by a pivoted arm 2 which is biassed to close the loop and which is self-latching by means of a spring-loaded pin 5 locating in a recess 2a of the arm 2 and having a cap 7 to enable the pin to be withdrawn to open the karabiner. The karabiner requires the double action of withdrawing the pin 5 and pivoting the arm 2, both against spring action, and the arm is returned automatically to its locked position when released. The karabiner has the advantage of being operated using one hand.

Description

23876 1 7

- P651767

A KARABINER

THIS INVENTION concerns a karabiner of the type used in mountaineering or in connection with escape apparatus and comprising a hooked body defining a loop closable by a pivoted arm which is biassed to close the loop and which is self-latching when closing but having release means operable with one hand to enable the loop to be opened.

Karabiners can be difficult to operate when placed under load and often require the operator to use both hands. In certain circumstances this may not be possible and so it is an object of the present invention to provide a karabiner which can be operated easily with one hand even when under load.

According to the present invention there is provided a karabiner comprising a hooked body defining a loop closable by an arm pivotally attached to the body and movable between positions in which the loop is open and closed respectively; characterized in that the arm is biassed to close the loop; in that a locking pin is provided and movable with respect to the body and the arm and having a latching motion to lock the arm when closing thus to maintain the loop closed by the arm; and

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that the locking pin is capable of withdrawal manually to release the arm when required.

The locking pin may be slidably mounted on the hook and engageable within a recess in the arm.

A part of the pin which engages the arm may be chamfered, and the arm may have a co-operating surface enabling the pin to be self-

latching in the recess when the arm closes.

The pin may be spring-loaded and biassed to latch with the arm. The pin may have a member located outside the loop of the body so as to be operable manually to withdraw the pin from the recess.

The arm may have a hooked member engageable with a part of the body when the arm is closed.

The body may define a further loop for attachment thereto of a line.

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An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a karabiner made in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the karabiner in a closed condition; and Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the karabiner in an open condition. Referring now to the drawings, the karabiner comprises a body 1 of generally curved or hook-like configuration and defining a loop la which is closed by a pivoted arm 2 attached pivotally at 3 to the body 1, there being a leaf spring 4 engaged within and between the body 1 and the arm 2 to bias the arm into a closed condition as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the closed condition, a pin 5 having a latch 5a and spring-loaded by coil spring 6 housed within a recess 6a of the body 1 is maintained within a recess locked in the closed position.

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A cap 7 fixedly attached, for example, by a threaded or welded connection, to an end region of the pin 5 remote from the latch 5a is available located outside the body lfor withdrawing the pin 5 against spring 6 thus to withdraw the latch 5a from the recess 2a and thus enable the arm 2 to be moved against spring 4 into an open position as illustrated in Fig. 3.

When the arm is closed a hook 8 at an end of the arm remote from its pivotal attachment at 3, engages with a pin 9 being an integral part of, or fixedly attached to, the body 1. The hook 8 and pin 9 provide additional safety to prevent the karabiner from becoming distorted under tension, and to assist in retaining the integrity of the body 1.

As can be seen from Fig. 3, when the arm 2 is closing in the direction of arrow A a curved lug 2b of the arm engages with a chamfered face 5b of the pin 5 so that it is displaced against spring 6 to provide a latching mechanism whereby the latch 5a automatically locates within the recess 2a when the arm is closing under the action of leaf spring 4.

The body 1 includes an integrally fanned lanyard ring 10 | which with the main part of the body 1 defines a second loop lOa for l l attachment of a line to the karabiner. l l

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It will be appreciated that the automatic latching capability of pin 5 and the easy withdrawal of cap 7 and pin 5 ensure that the karabiner can be operated using one hand which is of considerable advantage in many applications of use where the operator's second hand cannot be used to open and close the karabiner. However, the karabiner requires the double action of withdrawing the pin 5 and pivoting the arm 2, both against spring action, in order to allow the karabiner to be engaged on a looped lanyard or other support member. The arm returns automatically to its locked position when released.

The karabiner may be made from any one of a variety of materials, for example, plastics, steel or other metal, depending upon its intended use.

Claims

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1. A karabiner comprising a hooked body defining a loop closable by an arm pivotally attached to the body and movable between positions in which the loop is open and closed respectively; characterized in that the arm is biassed to close the loop; in that a locking pin is provided and movable with respect to the body and the arm and having a latching motion to lock the arm when closing thus to maintain the loop closed by the arTn; and that the locking pin is capable of withdrawal manually to release the arm when required.

2. A karabiner according to Claim 1, wherein the locking pin is

slidably mounted on the hook and engageable within a recess in the arm.

3. A karabiner according to Claim 2, wherein a part of the locking pin which engages the arm is chamfered, the arm having a co operating surface enabling the pin to be self-latching in the recess when the arm low:

4. A karate ner according to any preceding claim, wherein the locking pin is spring-loaded and biassed to latch with the arm.

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5. A karabiner according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the locking pin has attached thereto a member located outside the loop of the body so as to operable manually to withdraw the pin from the recess.

6. A karabiner according to any preceding claim, wherein the arm has a hooked member engageable with a part of the body when the arm is closed.

7. A karabiner according to any preceding claim, wherein the body is formed to define a further loop for attachment thereto of a line.

8. A karabiner according to any preceding claim, wherein the arm is biassed to close the loop by means of a leaf spring located within and between the body and the arm.