Safety hook

The present invention relates to safety hooks and in particular to safety hooks attached to ends of belts or straps permanently attached to transport vehicles, wherein the safety hooks are used for securing occupied wheel chairs or unoccupied wheel chairs, motorcycles, and the like.

Society has exhibited a great willingness to assist handicapped individuals in attaining an independent life style. Because the handicapped often are unable to operate a motor vehicle, an important element to attaining an independent life style is access to public transportation such as busses and the like. A handicapped person often must use a wheel chair, and use of public transportation requires that the wheel chair be safely anchored within the bus.

The Federal Government has established standards for anchoring wheel chairs and the occupants of wheel chairs. These standards include a requirement that the occupant anchoring hardware shall be designed to prevent the anchoring hardware and related parts from becoming disengaged from the vehicle while in service. Straps are generally used to anchor the wheel chairs in the vehicles and lap and shoulder belts are generally used to anchor the occupant of the wheelchair. One end of each strap is generally attached to a specially designed quick release device or hold down on the vehicle floor and an opposite end of each strap includes a hook for engaging the wheel chair. The straps are tensioned to hold the wheel chairs in place and to hold the hooks in engagement with the wheel chair. Unfortunately human error, or during acceleration, braking, or turning, sufficient force may result to cause some of the straps to become loose, and the hooks may disengage from the wheel chair structure.

The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing a safety hook which includes a hook and a latch. The hook may be a twisted hook with a hooked portion twisted 90 degrees from a loop portion, or a flat “S” hook with the hooked portion and the loop portion in a single plane. The latch includes a full circle latch ring and a latch arm. The latch arm extends across a mouth opening of the hooked portion and is biased to prevent the hooked portion from disengaging from a wheel chair or other attachment point without forcing the latch arm away from the mouth. The latch ring resides against the loop portion and is held in place by grasps, fingers, lips, or the like which reach past center around a cross-section of the loop portion, or by molding-in-place over the loop portion, and by a strap attached around the loop portion and the latch ring.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a safety hook comprising a hook, a latch, and a strap. The hook comprises a hooked portion and a strap loop. The hooked portion defines a hook mouth, and the strap loop comprises a substantially full circle and is attached to the hooked portion. The latch comprises a latch ring and a latch arm. The latch ring comprises a flat full circular ring and resides against the strap loop and the latch arm is attached to the latch ring and normally resides across the hook mouth. The strap is attached around the strap loop and the latch ring, and holds the latch ring against the strap loop.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a safety hook comprising a hook, a latch, and a strap. The hook comprises a hooked portion and a loop portion. The hooked portion defines a hook mouth, and the loop portion comprises a substantially full circle and is attached to the hooked portion. The latch comprises a latch ring and a latch arm. The latch ring comprises a flat full circular ring and resides against the loop portion and the latch arm is attached to the latch ring and normally resides across the hook mouth. The strap is attached around the loop portion and the latch ring, and holds the latch ring against the loop portion.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a safety hook comprising a hook, a latch, and a strap. The hook comprises a hooked portion and a loop portion, the hooked portion forming a mouth. The latch comprises a latch ring and a latch arm. The latch arm is attached to the latch ring, extends across the hook mouth, and is biased to close against an opposite side of the mouth. The latch ring comprises a full circular ring and resides against the loop portion, and is held against the loop portion by a portion of the latch ring which reaches around the outside of the loop portion and past center to grasp the loop portion.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a safety hook including a hook, a latch, a locking ring, and a strap. The hook includes a loop portion and a hooked portion. The hooked portion has a loop end extending from the loop portion, a mouth end opposite the loop end and having an inner face facing the loop end, and a hook mouth between the loop end and the mouth end for attaching the hook to an object. The latch includes a latch ring residing against the loop portion and a latch arm extending from the latch ring towards the mouth end of the hooked portion and biased towards the inner face of the mouth end for retaining the hook on the object. The locking ring resides on a side of the loop portion opposite the latch ring and engages the latch to hold the latch on the loop portion. The strap attaches around the loop portion and the latch ring and the locking ring, and further retains the latch ring against the loop portion.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a safety hook including a hook, a plastic molded-in-place latch, and a strap. The hook includes a loop portion and a hooked portion having a loop end extending from the loop portion, a mouth end opposite the loop end and having an inner face facing the loop end, and a hook mouth between the loop end and the mouth end for attaching the hook to an object. The molded-in-place latch includes a molded-in-place latch ring molded around the loop portion enclosing and covering at least approximately 75% of the loop portion, a molded-in-place latch arm extending from the molded-in-place latch ring towards the mouth end of the hooked portion and biased towards the inner face of the mouth end. The strap is attached around the loop portion and the latch ring and further holds the latch ring against the loop portion.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a safety hook having a strap or belt sewn around an eye of the hook, thereby permanently entrapping the latch ring of the latch against the eye of the hook.

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1A is a front view of a prior art twisted hook.

FIG. 1B is a side view of the prior art twisted hook.

FIG. 1C is a top view of the prior art twisted hook.

FIG. 1D is a front view of a prior art flat hook.

FIG. 1E is a side view of the prior art flat hook.

FIG. 1F is a top view of the prior art flat hook.

FIG. 2A is a front view of a first safety hook comprising the twisted hook and a first latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a side view of the first safety hook.

FIG. 2C is a top view of the first safety hook.

FIG. 2D is a side view of the first safety hook with a latch arm pushed away from a mouth end of a hook portion of the hook.

FIG. 2E shows the first safety hook with a strap attached to hold the first latch against a strap loop of the safety hook.

FIG. 3A is a front view of the first latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a side view of the first latch.

FIG. 3C is a top view of the first latch.

FIG. 4A is a front view of a second safety hook with a second latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a side view of the second safety hook.

FIG. 4C is a top view of the second safety hook.

FIG. 5A is a front view of the second latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a side view of the second latch.

FIG. 5C is a top view of the second latch.

FIG. 6A is a front view of a third safety hook with a third latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 6B is a side view of the third safety hook.

FIG. 6C is a top view of the third safety hook.

FIG. 7A is a front view of the third latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 7B is a side view of the third latch.

FIG. 7C is a top view of the third latch.

FIG. 8 shows a fourth safety hook and a fourth latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a front view of the fourth latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 9B is a side view of the fourth latch.

FIG. 9C is a top view of the fourth latch.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a latch ring of the fourth safety hook according to the present invention taken along line 10 - 10 of FIG. 9A .

FIG. 11 shows a fifth safety hook and fifth latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 12A is a front view of the fifth latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 12B is a side view of the fifth latch.

FIG. 12C is a top view of the fifth latch.

FIG. 13 shows a sixth safety hook and sixth latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 14A is a front view of the sixth latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 14B is a side view of the sixth latch.

FIG. 14C is a top view of the sixth latch.

FIG. 15A is a front view of a seventh safety hook with a first wireform latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 15B is a side view of the seventh safety hook with the first wireform latch.

FIG. 15C is a top view of the seventh safety hook with the first wireform latch.

FIG. 16A is a front view of the first wireform latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 16B is a side view of the first wireform latch.

FIG. 16C is a top view of the first wireform latch.

FIG. 17A is a front view of an eighth safety hook with a second wireform latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 17B is a side view of the eighth safety hook with the second wireform latch.

FIG. 17C is a top view of the eighth safety hook with the second wireform latch.

FIG. 18A is a front view of the second wireform latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 18B is a side view of the second wireform latch.

FIG. 18C is a top view of the second wireform latch.

FIG. 19 shows a ninth safety hook with a first plastic latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 20A is a front view of the first plastic latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 20B is a side view of the first plastic latch.

FIG. 20C is a top view of the first plastic latch.

FIG. 20D is a first locking ring according to the present invention for cooperation with the first plastic latch.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of a latch ring of the first plastic latch grasping the strap portion of the hook.

FIG. 22 shows a tenth safety hook with a second plastic latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 23A is a front view of the second plastic latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 23B is a side view of the second plastic latch.

FIG. 23C is a top view of the second plastic latch.

FIG. 23D is a second locking ring according to the present invention for cooperation with the second plastic latch.

FIG. 24A is a front view of an eleventh safety hook with a first molded-in-place latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 24B is a side view of the eleventh safety hook.

FIG. 24C is a top view of the eleventh safety hook.

FIG. 25A is a front view of the first molded-in-place latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 25B is a side view of the first molded-in-place latch.

FIG. 25C is a top view of the first molded-in-place latch.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the first molded-in-place latch taken along line 26 - 26 of FIG. 25A .

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the first molded-in-place latch taken along line 27 - 27 of FIG. 25C .

FIG. 28A is a front view of a twelfth safety hook with a second molded-in-place latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 28B is a side view of the twelfth safety hook.

FIG. 28C is a top view of the twelfth safety hook.

FIG. 29A is a front view of the second molded-in-place latch according to the present invention.

FIG. 29B is a side view of the second molded-in-place latch.

FIG. 29C is a top view of the second molded-in-place latch.

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the second molded-in-place latch taken along line 30 - 30 of FIG. 29B .

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the second molded-in-place latch taken along line 31 - 31 of FIG. 29C .

FIG. 32A is a front view of a strap attached to a safety hook according to the present invention.

FIG. 32B is a side view of a strap attached to the safety hook.

FIG. 33 is a side view of a wheel chair connected to a vehicle floor using the safety hooks according to the present invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings.

The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.

A front view of a prior art twisted hook 10 a is shown in FIG. 1A , a side view of the twisted hook 10 a is shown in FIG. 1B , and a top view of the twisted hook 10 a is shown in FIG. 1C . The hook 10 a includes a loop portion 12 and a hooked portion 14 and is generally formed from a single piece of material. A strap 30 (see FIGS. 8A and 8B ) is generally attached to the loop portion 12 and the hooked portion is hooked around a hold down 42 (see FIG. 9 ) to restrain, for example, a wheel chair 40 (see FIG. 9 ).

A front view of a prior art flat hook 10 b is shown in FIG. 1D , a side view of the flat hook 10 b is shown in FIG. 1 E, and a top view of the flat hook 10 b is shown in FIG. 1F . The flat hook 10 b includes the loop portion 12 and the hooked portion 14 and like the twisted hook 10 b is generally formed from a single piece of material. Unfortunately, when a wheel chair is restrained in a moving vehicle such as a bus, motion of the bus may result in the hook being released from the hold down, and injury to the wheel chair occupant may result.

A front view of a first safety hook 11 a comprising the twisted hook 10 a and a first latch 15 a (see FIGS. 3A-3C ) according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 2A , a side view of the first safety hook 11 a is shown in FIG. 2B , and a top view of the first safety hook 11 a is shown in FIG. 2C . The first safety hook 11 a includes a first latch 15 a (see FIGS. 3A , 3 B, and 3 C) for preventing the hooked portion 14 from slipping out of a hold down. The latch 15 a includes a latch arm 16 and a latch ring (or latch ring portion) 17 a . The latch arm 16 preferably defines a continuous curved member extending from the latch ring 17 a . Guides (or wings) 19 may be provided to align the latch arm 16 with the hooked portion 14 . The hooked portion 14 includes a loop end 14 a , a mouth end 14 b , and an inner face 14 c . The loop end 14 a is proximal to the transition from the hooked portion 14 to a loop portion 12 of the hook, and the mouth end 14 b is opposite the loop end 14 a . The inner face 14 c is a portion of the surface of the mouth end 14 b which faces the loop end 14 a . The gap between the loop end 14 a and the mouth end 14 b forms a mouth 13 (see FIG. 1B ) for hooking the hooked end 14 over, for example, the hold down 42 (see FIG. 33 ). The latch ring 17 a comprises a flat circular band which preferably forms a complete circle and resides against one side of the loop portion 12 .

The latch arm 16 normally extends across the mouth 13 (see FIG. 1B ) to prevent or restrict the accidental release of the safety hook 11 a from the hold down 42 (see FIG. 33 ). The latch arm 16 is springedly biased to a latched position as shown by arc 16 a . The latch ring 17 a includes four spaced apart outside grasps 18 reaching around the outside of the loop portion 12 and past center for retaining the latch 15 a on the strap loop 12 . The latch ring 17 a further includes a bottom inside grasp 20 and a top inside grasp 22 for further retaining the latch 15 a on the loop portion 12 . The latch ring 17 a may have more or less grasps than shown, and may be held against the strap loop 12 by various means and is further held against the loop portion 12 by the strap 30 (see FIGS. 24A and 24B ).

A side view of the safety hook 11 a with a latch arm 16 pushed away from the mouth end 14 a of the hooked portion 14 is shown in FIG. 2D . The latch arm 16 may be thus pushed along arc 16 b to attach the safety hook and latch 11 a to the wheel chair 40 , or to release the safety hook and latch 11 a from the wheel chair 40 . The latch arm 16 is preferably made from a springy material and returns to the latched position shown in FIG. 2B when released. The latch arm 16 may alternatively include a separate spring or the like to bias the latch arm 16 to the latched position.

The first safety hook 11 a with a strap 30 attached around the latch ring 17 a and loop portion 12 to hold the latch ring 17 a against the loop portion 12 of the safety hook is shown in FIG. 2E . The strap 30 thus secures the latch 15 a to the hook 10 (see FIGS. 1A-1C ). The strap 30 is described in more detail in FIGS. 32A and 32B .

A front view of the first latch 15 a according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 3A , a side view of the latch 15 a is shown in FIG. 3B , and a top view of the latch 15 a is shown in FIG. 3C . The latch 15 a is seen to comprise the latch arm 16 , the latch ring 17 a , spaced apart outside grasps 18 , and inside grasps 20 and 22 . Preferably, a continuously curved transition portion 16 ′ resides between the latch ring 17 and the latch arm 16 . Such continuous curve allows many operations of the latch without cracking or other failure. The guides 19 reside proximal to the transition portion 16 ′. The latch 15 a is preferably made from ½ hard stainless steel AMS-5518 hard ASTM-A-666-96B with ultimate tensile strength of 159,000/164,000, yield strength at 0.2 percent offset of 127,000/130,000, and percentage elongated in two inches of 31/32 percent, or a material with similar physical qualities.

A front view of a second safety hook 11 b comprising the flat hook 10 b and a second latch 15 b (see FIGS. 5A-5C ) according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 4A , a side view of the second safety hook ll b is shown in FIG. 4B , and a top view of the second safety hook 11 b is shown in FIG. 4C . The safety hook 11 b comprises the flat hook 10 b (see FIGS. 1D -1F ) and a second latch 15 b . The second latch 15 b is held against the outside diameter of the loop portion 12 by four pairs of spaced apart opposing grasps 24 , and a second outside grasp 24 a which includes lateral grasps 24 b which engage an adjacent portion of the loop portion 12 . The safety hook 11 b is otherwise similar to the first safety hook 11 a .

A front view of the second latch 15 b according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 5A , a side view of the latch 15 b is shown in FIG. 5B , and a top view of the latch 15 b is shown in FIG. 5C . The latch 15 b is seen to comprise the latch arm 16 , the latch ring 17 b , spaced apart opposing grasps 24 , and the second outside grasp 24 a which includes lateral grasps 24 b.

A front view of a third safety hook 11 c comprising the flat hook 10 b and a third latch 15 c (see FIGS. 7A-7C ) according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 6A , a side view of the third safety hook 11 c is shown in FIG. 6B , and a top view of the third safety hook 11 c is shown in FIG. 6C . The third safety hook 11 c comprises the flat hook 10 b and a third latch 15 c (see FIGS. 7A-7C ). A third latch ring 17 c is held against the side of the loop portion 12 by four pairs of spaced apart opposing grasps 24 , and two opposing inside grasps 20 and 22 . The third safety hook 11 c is otherwise similar to the first safety hook 11 a .

A front view of the latch 15 c according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 7A , a side view of the latch 15 c is shown in FIG. 7B , and a top view of the latch 15 c is shown in FIG. 7C . The latch 15 b is seen to comprise the latch arm 16 , the latch ring 17 c , spaced apart opposing grasps 24 , and the two opposing inside grasps 20 and 22 .

A side view of a fourth safety hook 11 d comprising the twisted hook 10 a and a fourth latch 15 d (see FIGS. 9A-9C ) according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 8 . The latch 15 d includes a fourth latch ring 17 d residing on a front surface of the loop portion 12 and having continuous lips which reach around the outside past center of the loop portion 12 to retain the latch 15 d on the loop portion 12 . The latch 15 d is preferably formed by draw forming.

A front view of the latch 15 d is shown in FIG. 9A , a side view of the latch 15 d is shown in FIG. 9B , and a top view of the latch 15 d is shown in FIG. 9C . The latch 15 d preferably includes a latch ring 17 d with an inner lip 46 a and an outer lip 46 b which one or both reach past center to grasp the loop portion 12 . The latch 15 d is otherwise similar to the latch 15 a (see FIGS. 2A-2D , and 3 A- 3 C).

A cross-sectional view of the latch ring 17 d taken along line 10 - 10 of FIG. 9A is shown in FIG. 10 . The latch ring is seen to include the lips 46 a and 48 b configured to grasp the loop portion 12 .

A side view of a fifth safety hook 11 e comprising the flat hook 10 b and a fifth latch 15 e (see FIGS. 12A-12C ) according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 11 . The latch 15 e includes a fifth latch ring 17 e residing about an outer diameter of the loop portion 12 with lips which cup the loop portion 12 . The latch 15 e is preferably formed by draw forming.

A front view of the latch 15 e according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 12A , a side view of the latch 15 e is shown in FIG. 12B , and a top view of the latch 15 e is shown in FIG. 12C . The latch 15 e preferably includes a latch ring 17 e with an inner lip 46 a and/or an outer lip 46 b (see FIG. 10 ) which grasp the loop portion 12 . The latch 15 e is otherwise similar to the latch 15 b (see FIGS. 4A-4C , and 5 A- 5 C).

A side view of a sixth safety hook 11 f comprising the flat hook 10 b and a sixth latch 15 f (see FIGS. 14A-14C ) according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 13 . The latch 15 f includes a sixth latch ring 17 f residing on the side of the loop portion 12 with lips which cup the loop portion 12 . The latch 12 f is preferably formed by draw forming.

A front view of the latch 15 f is shown in FIG. 14A , a side view of the latch 15 f is shown in FIG. 14B , and a top view of the latch 15 f is shown in FIG. 14C . The latch 15 f preferably includes a latch ring 17 f with an inner lip 46 a and/or an outer lip 46 b (see FIG. 10 ) which grasp the loop portion 12 . The latch 15 f is otherwise similar to the latch 15 b (see FIGS. 6A-6C , and 7 A- 7 C).

A front view of a seventh safety hook 11 g comprising the twisted hook 10 a and a first wireform latch 26 (see FIGS. 16A-16C ) according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 15A , a side view of the safety hook 11 g with the wireform latch 26 is shown in FIG. 15B , and a top view of the safety hook 11 g with the wireform latch 26 is shown in FIG. 15C . Further, to more clearly distinguish the wireform latch 26 , a front view of the first wireform latch 26 a alone is shown in FIG. 16B , a side view of the first wireform latch 26 alone is shown in FIG. 16B , and a top view of the wireform latch 26 alone is shown in FIG. 16C . The wireform latch 26 is shown half with a crosshatch pattern, and half with no pattern, to provide easier understanding of wireform shape. Each half is a contiguous span of the wire forming the wireform latch 26 . The wireform latch 26 comprises a latch arm 26 a , a latch wound portion 26 b , loop grasping portions 26 c , and strap graspable portions 26 d . The latch arm 26 a is biased in a closed position to prevent the hook and latch 11 g from becoming unintentionally detached from a wheelchair 40 (see FIG. 33 ).

The latch arm 26 a of the wireform latch preferably comprises an elongated “U” with open ends of the “U” connecting to the wound portion 26 b . Each end of the “U” preferably connects to at least one wind of the wound portion 26 b around the loop end 14 a of the hook portion 14 of hook 10 a.

The latch wound portion 26 b winds around the hooked portion 14 of the hook just above the loop portion 12 to position the latch arm 26 a . At least one contiguous span of the wireform 26 winds around the hooked portion 14 , and preferably, both halves (the crosshatched and the half with no pattern) wind around the hooked portion 14 at least one time. The wireform latch 26 continues below the wound portion 26 b to the loop grasping portions 26 c which engage the interior of the loop portion 12 to position the wireform latch 26 with respect to the loop portion 12 . The loop grasping portions 26 c reach inside the loop portion 12 past center of the loop portion 12 and flares outwardly to allow the loop grasping portions 26 c to snap into and remain positioned inside the loop portion 12 . The wireform 26 continues down to the strap graspable portions 26 d which lay against a base of the loop portion 12 , wherein the strap graspable portions 26 d may be grasped by strap 30 to further retain the wireform latch 26 on the first hook (see FIGS. 24A , 24 B).

A front view of an eighth safety hook 11 h comprising the flat hook 10 b with a second wireform latch 28 (see FIGS. 18A-18C ) according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 17A , a side view of the safety hook 11 h with the wireform latch 28 is shown in FIG. 17B , and a top view of the safety hook 11 h with the wireform latch 28 is shown in FIG. 17C . Further, to more clearly distinguish the wireform latch 28 , a front view of the second wireform latch 28 according to the present invention alone is shown in FIG. 18A , a side view of the second wireform latch 28 alone is shown in FIG. 18B , and a top view of the wireform latch 28 alone is shown in FIG. 18C . The wireform latch 28 is shown half with a crosshatch pattern, and half with no pattern, to provide easier understanding of wireform shape. Each half is a contiguous span of the wire forming the wireform latch 28 . The wireform latch 28 comprises a latch arm 28 a , a latch wound portion 28 b , loop grasping portions 28 c , and strap graspable portions 28 d . The latch arm 28 a is biased in a closed position to prevent the hook and latch 11 h from becoming unintentionally detached from a wheelchair 40 (see FIG. 33 ).

The latch wound portion 28 b winds around the hooked portion 14 of the hook just above the loop portion 12 to position the latch arm 28 a on the hook 10 b . At least one contiguous span of the wireform 28 winds around the hooked portion 14 , and preferably, both halves (the crosshatched and the half with no pattern) wind around the hooked portion 14 at least one time. The wireform latch 28 continues below the wound portion 28 b to the loop grasping portions 28 c which engage the interior of the loop portion 12 to position the wireform latch 26 with respect to the loop portion 12 . The loop grasping portions 28 c reach inside the loop portion 12 past the center of the loop portion 12 and flare outwardly to allow the loop grasping portions 28 c to snap into and remain positioned inside the loop portion 12 . The wireform 28 continues down to the strap graspable portions 28 d which lay against the base of the loop portion 12 , wherein the strap graspable portions 28 d may be grasped by strap 30 to further retain the wireform latch 28 on the first hook (see FIGS. 24A , 24 B).

A side view of a ninth safety hook 11 i according to the present invention comprising the twisted hook 10 a with a ninth latch 15 i and a first locking ring 31 a (see FIGS. 20A-20D and 21 ) according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 19 . The latch 15 i includes a latch ring 17 i residing on the rear of the loop portion 12 with lips 30 and 32 (see FIGS. 20A-21 ) which cup the loop portion 12 . The locking ring 31 a engages the latch ring 17 i to lock the latch 15 i in place on the hook 10 a . The latch 15 i and locking ring 31 a are preferably formed by plastic.

A front view of the latch 15 i is shown in FIG. 20A , a side view of the latch 15 i is shown in FIG. 20B , and a top view of the latch 15 i is shown in FIG. 20C . The latch 15 i includes a latch ring 17 i with an inner lip 30 and an outer lip 32 which grasp the loop portion 12 . Preferably, the inner lip 30 reaches inside the loop portion 12 past center to grasp the loop portion 12 , and the outer lip 32 preferably reaches approximately half way around the outside of the loop portion 12 to help position the latch 15 i on the loop portion 12 . A mouth 34 between the latch ring 17 i and the latch arm 16 is provided to allow the latch 15 i to be fitted over the hooked portion 14 of the hook 10 a .

A front view of the locking ring 31 a according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 20D . In addition to the inner lip 30 reaching past center to hold the latch 15 i against the hook 10 a , the locking ring 31 a engages the inner lip 30 to hold the latch 15 i in place.

A cross-sectional view of locking ring 31 a and latch ring 17 i taken along line 21 - 21 of FIG. 19 is shown in FIG. 21 . The latch ring 17 i includes ridges 33 a and the locking ring 31 a includes valleys 33 b , which ridges and valleys cooperate to lock the locking ring 31 a to the latch ring 17 i . The ridges 33 a and valleys 33 b preferably reside on corresponding inner diameters of the locking ring 31 a and the latch ring 17 i , and the ridges 33 a more preferably reside on the inner lip 30 of the latch ring 17 i.

A side view of a tenth safety hook 11 j according to the present invention comprising the flat hook 10 b with a tenth latch 15 j and a second locking ring 31 b (see FIGS. 23A-23D ) according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 22 . The latch 15 j includes a latch ring 17 i residing on the side of the loop portion 12 with lips 30 and 32 (see FIGS. 20A-21 ) which cup the loop portion 12 . The latch 15 i is preferably formed from plastic.

A front view of the latch 15 j is shown in FIG. 23A , a side view of the latch 15 j is shown in FIG. 23B , and a top view of the latch 15 j is shown in FIG. 23C . The latch 15 j includes a latch ring 17 j with an inner lip 30 and an outer lip 32 (see FIG. 21 ) which grasp the loop portion 12 . Preferably, the inner lip 32 reaches inside the loop portion 12 past center to grasp the loop portion 12 , and the outer lip 32 preferably reaches approximately half way around the outside of the loop portion 12 to help position the latch 15 j on the loop portion 12 . A mouth 34 between the latch ring 17 j and the latch arm 16 is provided to allow the latch 15 j to be fitted over the hooked portion 14 of the hook 10 b .

A side view of the second locking ring 31 b is shown in FIG. 23D . The third locking ring cooperates with the latch ring 17 j to lock the latch 15 j to the hook 10 b in the manner described in FIG. 21 .

A front view of an eleventh safety hook 11 k with a first molded-in-place latch 15 k (see FIGS. 25A-27 ) according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 24A , a side view of the eleventh safety hook 11 k is shown in FIG. 24B , and a top view of the eleventh safety hook 11 k is shown in FIG. 24C . A front view of the first molded-in-place latch 15 k according to the present invention alone is shown in FIG. 25A , a side view of the first molded-in-place latch 15 k alone is shown in FIG. 25B , and a top view of the first molded-in-place latch 15 k alone is shown in FIG. 25C . A cross-sectional view of the first molded-in-place latch 15 k taken along line 26 - 26 of FIG. 25A is shown in FIG. 26 and a cross-sectional view of the first molded-in-place latch 15 k taken along line 27 - 27 of FIG. 25C is shown in FIG. 27 . The molded-in-place latch 15 k is formed by molding over the loop portion 12 of the hook 10 a (see FIGS. 1A-1C ). Preferably, a small portion of the loop portion 12 proximal to the hooked portion 14 is left exposed. The molded-in-place latch 15 k further includes a molded-in-place latch ring 17 k which encloses and covers most of the loop portion 12 forming a toroidal shaped strap loop 31 having exterior 36 , and a molded-in-place latch arm 50 biased along arc 50 a to close the mouth 13 of the safety hook 11 k . The molded-in-place latch ring 17 k preferably encloses at least the entire bottom half of the loop portion 12 and extends onto the top half of the loop portion 12 sufficiently to provide support for the molded-in-place latch arm 50 . The molded-in-place latch ring 17 k more preferably encloses at least approximately 75% of the loop portion 12 and most preferably covers the entire inner radius of the loop portion 12 . The molded-in-place latch 15 k is preferably made from a durable plastic material, and is more preferably made from a Nylon material, and is most preferably made from Nylon 66 material.

A front view of a twelfth safety hook 11 / with a second molded-in-place latch 15 /according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 28A , a side view of the eleventh safety hook 11 / is shown in FIG. 28B , and a top view of the eleventh safety hook 11 / is shown in FIG. 28C . A front view of the first molded-in-place latch 15 / according to the present invention alone is shown in FIG. 29A , a side view of the first molded-in-place latch 15 / alone is shown in FIG. 29B , and a top view of the first molded-in-place latch 15 / alone is shown in FIG. 29C . A cross-sectional view of the first molded-in-place latch 15 / taken along line 30 - 30 of FIG. 29A is shown in FIG. 30 and a cross-sectional view of the first molded-in-place latch 15 / taken along line 31 - 31 of FIG. 29C is shown in FIG. 31 . The molded-in-place latch 15 / is formed by molding over the loop portion 12 of the hook 10 b (see FIGS. 1D-1F ). The molded-in-place latch 15 / further includes a molded-in-place latch ring 17 / and the molded-in-place latch arm 50 biased along arc 50 a to close the mouth 13 of the safety hook 11 /. The molded-in-place latch 15 / is preferably made from a durable plastic material, and is more preferably made from a Nylon material, and is most preferably made from Nylon 66 material. Most or all of the hooked portion 14 of the eleventh safety hook 11 / k and the twelfth safety hook 11 /is exposed, i.e., not covered by the respective molded-in-place latch.

A front view of a strap 30 attached to the hook and latch 11 a is shown in FIG. 32A , and a side view of a strap 30 attached to the hook and latch 11 a is shown in FIG. 32B . The strap 30 passes through a strap mouth 70 formed by the loop portion 12 and the latch ring 17 a and back attaching to the strap 30 , thus holding the latch ring 17 a (see FIGS. 3A , 3 B, and 3 C) against the loop portion 12 .

The strap 30 is preferably permanently attached to the hook and latch ll a by stitching 32 which resides close to strap loop 31 , and is preferably sewn using pressure foot sewing. The strap is similarly attached to the safety hooks 11 b - 11 j to closely hold the latch ring against the strap loop 31 . Because reliable retention of the latch 15 a - 15 j is important to the safe use of the safety hook 11 a - 11 j , looping the strap 30 around the strap loop 31 and latch ring is an important feature of the safety hook.

A side view of a wheel chair 40 connected to a vehicle floor 44 using the safety hook 11 a of the present invention is shown in FIG. 33 . The strap 30 attaches to, for example, a track fitting 42 attached to the floor 44 . The track fitting 42 is preferably a quick disconnect track fitting. The opposite end of the strap 30 is connected to the wheel chair 40 by the safety hook 11 a . The strap includes a tensioning buckle to tighten the strap after attaching to the wheel chair 40 . Thus, motion of the vehicle, and resulting slack in the strap 30 , does not result in the hook falling off the wheel chair 40 or any other attachment point.

Assembly of the seventh through tenth safety hooks ( 11 g - 11 j ) comprises passing the hooked portion 14 of the hook 10 a or 10 b through the wound portions 26 b and 28 b or the mouth 34 (see FIGS. 16A , 18 A, 20 A and 23 A) and then rotating the latch to engage the loop portion 12 .

Various embodiments of the latch of the present invention are described herein as including finger or other portions which extend “past center” on the loop portion 12 . In the present application, the term “past center” is meant to mean that the finger, etc. reach more than 90 degrees from a face of the strap loop and that such reaching holds the latch against the strap loop so that the finger etc. must be displaced to remove the latch from the strap loop.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.