Patent application FI 941555, which is previously known, discloses a boat hook comprising an arm and a hook arranged at its one end to fasten the boat to a buoy or the like. The hook includes a hook support, which is firmly attached to the arm, a curved hook part, which is articulated to the hook support so that it can be turned, and a locking means to lock the curved hook part in a hooked position and to release it. The locking means include a locking pin and a lock recess. The locking pin is adapted to move in the arm and/or the hook support and to be supported by it. The lock recess is fitted into the base of the hook part. When the curved hook part is locked to the hook support in a hooked position, the locking pin is pushed into the lock recess. The hook also includes a closing member, which is used to close me interior of the hook and to prevent, for example, the steel loop of a mooring buoy from slipping from the hook.

One disadvantage of the boat hook previously known is that the hook part is fixedly braced to the hook support in a hooked position, requiring a relatively wide mouth in the interior of the hook, so that the steel loop of a boat buoy, for example, can be easily fitted into it. On the other hand, the wide mouth impairs the stress resistance of the hook or it has to be strengthened, correspondingly.

Another disadvantage of the said boat hook is that the operation of the closing member is not reliable. The closing member is attached to the hook support or the arm so that it can be turned, and there is only a spring keeping it in the locking po- sition or the position, in which it closes the mouth to the interior of the hook. In this case, an accidental hard pull on the fastening loop of the boat hook from the interior of the hook towards the mouth can damage the spring, so that the spring member fails and lets the fastening loop slip from the hook.

Another disadvantage of the boat hook previously known is also its limited use. It is mainly suitable for attaching boats to the fastening loops of mooring buoys.

The purpose of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks related to the boat hook presented above. Another purpose of the invention is to provide a new fastening hook that can be applied in many ways to small boats in particular to fasten them to

the fastening loops of piers and/or to boat mooring buoys. Naturally, the fastening hook can also be used in other fastening of hauling ropes and/or mooring ropes.

The fastening hook according to the invention is characterized in what is presented in Claim 1. Preferable applications of the invention are presented in the dependent claims.

The fastening hook according to the invention includes: -hook body comprising a front end and a rear end; -hook part comprising a first free end and a second locking head, the hook part being articulated to the front end of the hook body so that it can swivel, -locking means to lock the hook part at its locking head to the front end of the hook body and to release the hook part from the hook body, in which the hook body and the hook part in a hooked position jointly form the actual fastening hook; and -closing member provided with a spring to close the passage of the fastening hook, which is formed by the hook body and the hook part that are inter- locked, in a blocking position and to open it in a release position.

According to the invention, the locking means also include elastic members, which are used to lock the hook part in a locking position to the hook body in a flexible way, so that it can be slightly opened outwards, when the free end of the hook part is pushed away from the hook body, so that, at the same time, the free end of the closing member is arranged to be released from the recess, so that it can be pushed inwards and, thus, the passage to the fastening space can be opened.

An advantage of the invention is that the fastening hook is easy to fasten to an ob- ject: a fastening loop pertaining to a solid structure, such as a pier, is passed to the fastening space of the fastening hook by lightly pushing both the hook part and the closing member, so that they bend elastically and the passage opens up.

Another advantage of the invention is that the fastening hook is certainly reliable; it does not come off the object of fastening without opening. The free end of the closing member clutches the hook part tighter than before, if attempts are made to forcibly take the rope, the fastening loop or the like out of the fastening space of the fastening hook.

A further advantage of the invention is that the fastening hook is easy to open. T o release the hook part of the locking means, an effort can be made in the immediate vicinity of the fastening hook by pushing the release member with a finger or, alter-

natively, at a small distance, by pulling on the opening cord connected to the lock- ing means. Furthermore, the fastening hook can also be opened, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, by using an arm provided with a cam, preferably by a detachable arm of the fastening hook.

Another advantage of the invention is that the fastening hook is easy to open even, when the fastening hook and the mooring rope attached to it are tightly tensioned between the point of attachment, such as a pier, and the boat. The released hook part swings around at articulation in the direction of the tensile stress.

In the following, the invention is described in detail with reference to the appended drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows the fastening hook from above in a partial cross section ; Fig. 2A shows the hook body of the fastening hook in a sectional view, and Fig. 2B shows the hook body as viewed from the side B-B; Fig. 3A shows the hook part of the fastening hook as viewed from above in a partial cross section, and Fig. 3B shows the hook part as viewed from the side C-C; Fig. 4A is a top view of the body part of the locking means, and Fig. 4B shows the body part as viewed from the side D-D; Fig. 5 illustrates the fastening hook and its operation; Fig. 6A shows the fastening part of the arm as a partial side projection, and Fig. 6B shows the cross section E-E of the fastening part of the arm.

The fastening hook 1 according to the invention comprises a hook body 2, a hook part 3, locking means 6, and a closing member 21. The hook body 2 comprises a front end 2a and a rear end 2b. In addition, the hook body 2 is preferably imple- mented in two body part halves 2'and 22, which are interlinked, as shown in Fig.

2B. The hook part 3 is articulated, by using a pin 4 or a corresponding mounting shaft, to the front end 2a of the hook body 2 so that it can be swivelled. The hook part 3 comprises a first free end 3a and a second locking head 3b. The hook part 3 is preferably fitted into a forked connection piece between the body part halves 21, 22 of the hook body 2. A spring 5 is provided in connection with the hook part 3 and the pin 4. The springback factor of the spring 5 is arranged to affect the hook part 3 so that the hook part 3, which has been turned outwards into an open position V (Fig. 5), is returned to a hooked position K by using the spring.

The locking means 6 are used to lock the hook part 3, at its locking head 3b, to the front end 2a of the hook body 2 in the hooked position K. In this case, the hook body 2 and the hook part 3 jointly constitute the actual fastening hook 1. Corre- spondingly, the locking means 6 are used to release the hook part 3 from the hook body 2 so that it can swivel around the pin 4 against the springback factor of the spring 5 and into the open position V (Fig. 5), when a suitable force is exerted on the free end 3 a of the hook part 3.

The locking means 6 comprise an elongated locking member 7 and a spring 10 act- ing on it. The locking member 7 is fitted into a cavity 8 in the hook body 2 so that it can move in its longitudinal direction A-A. Guiding means 9 are arranged in con- nection with the locking member 7 and the hook body 2 to maintain the direction of motion. In this application, the guiding means 9 comprise two brackets 9a that per- tain to the locking member 7, and two corresponding grooves 9b in the elongated body part, in its halves 21, 22 (cf. Figs. 4A, 4B, and 2A). The spring 10 is fitted be- tween the locking member 7 and the hook body 2, for example, in a spring support 10a of the locking member, such as its longitudinal, parallel pin. The spring 10 is arranged to exert its springback factor and push the first end 7a of the locking mem- ber 7 towards the locking head 3b of the hook part 3 in the hooked position K.

The locking means 6 also comprise elastic means that are used to flexibly lock the hook part 3 to the hook body 2 so that the hook part 3 is allowed to open, i. e., turn outwards for a short distance, when the free end 3a of the hook part 3 is pushed outwards from the hook body 2 (cf. Fig. 5).

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the elastic means comprise a barrier cam 11, which is arranged at the first end 7a of the locking member 7, and a catch 12, which is arranged in the locking head 3b of the hook part 3. In the hooked position K, a minor free gap 13 is arranged between the barrier cam 11 and the catch 12 with the aid of the spring 5 arranged in connection with the mounting shaft or the pin 4 of the hook part and the detent 33 arranged in the front end 2a of the hook body 2. In the hooked position K, when no outward force is directed at the hook part 3, the spring 5 pushes with its springback factor the hook part 3 against the detent 33, and the free gap 13 exists. When the free end 3a of the hook part 3 is pushed outwards in the direction F from the hook body 2 and against the springback factor of the spring 5, the free gap 13 is at least partially closed and the hook part 3 is allowed to open, i. e., turn outwards for a short distance, before the catch 12 meets the barrier cam 11 and the opening movement of the hook part 3 is stopped.

The fastening hook 1 also comprises a closing member 21 that is provided with a spring 23. The passage 26 of the fastening hook constituted by the interlocked hook body 2 and hook part 3 is closed with the aid of the closing member 21 in its blocking position, Fig. 1. Correspondingly, the passage 26 is opened in the release position of the closing member 21 (cf. Fig. 5). The closing member 21 is attached to the hook body 2 by using a pin 22 or a corresponding shaft so that it can be turned, in the vicinity of the free end 3b of the hook part 3 that is locked in the hooked po- sition K, preferably opposite to it. In connection with the pin 22 of the closing member 21, there is also provided the spring 23, which is arranged to use its spring- back factor and turn the closing member 21 outward from the hook body 2 in the direction L, and in the blocking position, particularly against the detent 34 of the hook body 2.

A first recess 25 is arranged at the first free end 3a of the hook part 3. It is prefera- bly arranged on the side of the free end 3a of the hook part, which is opposite to the closing member 21 on the other side of the passage 26. The free end 21a of the closing member 21 is fitted into this recess 25 in the blocking position at the same time as the hook part 3 is locked by the locking means at its locking head 3b in the hooked position K. The first recess 25 is implemented so that the free end 21a of the closing member 21 is allowed to pass over the rear edge 25b of the recess, when the closing member 21 is pushed in the direction of the passage P, i. e., towards the fas- tening space 32 and the hook part 3, the free end 3a of the hook part in particular, is pushed outwards from the hook body 2, so that it bends elastically and the rest gap 13 between the barrier cam 11 and the catch 12 is closed in the way described ear- lier.

Furthermore, a space such as a second recess 24 is arranged in the hook body 2 for the closing member 21 (Fig. 5). The closing member 21 can be turned against the springback factor of the spring 23 in the direction M and into the second recess 24.

Because of this recess 24, the passage 26 is opened to its maximum in the open position of the closing member; its width between the free end 3a of the hook part 3 and the hook body 2 is optimally at least as large as or slightly larger than the di- ameter of the rope or the mooring ring 35 that is passed to the fastening space 32.

The closing member 21 cannot turn over the front edge 25a of the first recess 25 at the free end 3a of the hook part 3 towards the tip of the hook part 3, when the elas- tic means of the locking means 6 work and the fastening means 35 is pushed through the passage 26 to the fastening space 32. The closing member 21, its foot

end close to the pin 22 in particular, then rests against the detent 34 of the hook body 2.

The elongated locking member 7 pertaining to the locking means 6 is arranged to move, with the aid of the springback factor of the spring 10, from the release posi- tion H to the locking position J in the cavity 8, Fig. 5. When the hook part 3 is to be released from the hook body 2 and the hooked position K, the release member 14 in connection with the locking member 7 is actuated so that the locking member 7 moves from the locking position J to the release position H against the springback factor of the spring 10. The release member 14 comprises a lever means that is fitted into the second end 7b of the locking member 7.

The lever means of the release means 14 is preferably implemented by using a first opening 14a. The first opening 14a is fitted into the locking member 7. Next to this, at the rear end 2b of the hook body 2, another, preferably elongated opening 15 is correspondingly arranged, through which the second opening 14a that forms the lever means can be accessed. When the locking member 7 is in the locking position J, the first opening 14a or a similar lever means is at the first end of the second opening 15 and, correspondingly, when the locking member 7 is in the release posi- tion H, the first opening 14a or a corresponding lever means is at the second oppo- site end of the second opening 15. When a finger or a similar projection is used to push the locking member 7 from the first opening 14a against the springback factor of the spring 10, the locking member 7 moves from the position J to the position H and the hook part 3 can be released from the hook body 2 and made to sway in the direction F and into the open position V, if a suitable force is exerted on the hook part 3, Fig. 5.

In addition, the locking means, the embodiment presented in the figures, comprises lock safety devices arranged in connection with the locking member 7 and the hook body 2, including a third opening 16 and a back lock pin 17. The third opening 16 is at the other end of the opening 15 arranged in the hook body 2, on its rear edge in the vicinity of the hook body 3. The back lock pin 17 can be fitted into this third opening 16 and used to back lock the hook body 2 and the hook part 3. When the pin 17 is fitted into the opening 16, the locking member 7 cannot be moved, i. e., pushed from the locking position J to the release position H, because the pin 17 locks the locking member 7 from the opening 16 in its place with respect to the hook body 2.

The locking means 6 preferably also comprise another release member 19. This is implemented so that a fourth, preferably elongated opening 19a is arranged in the hook body 2, which opening is partly arranged in the locking member 7 in front of a projection 19b or a similar part in the locking position J in the vicinity of the first opening 15 of the rear end 2b of the hook body 2. An opening means, such as a closed cord link 20 that runs through the opening 19a, is connected to the release member 19, which cord link can be used to pull the locking member 7 at a distance into the open position H and to release the hook part 3 from the locking in the hook body 2.

The fastening hook 1 comprises a fastening means 27, such as an opening, a link or a projection arranged in the hook body 2, to fasten a rope 27a or the like to the ac- tual fastening hook. The fastening hook 1 and its fastening space 32 in particular is connected to a suitable fixed structure or a corresponding arranged mounting ring 35, and the actual mooring rope 27a or the like is fastened to the fastening means 27 of the fastening hook.

An arm 28 can also be fastened to the fastening hook 1. The arm 28 is preferably a telescope arm. The arm 28 is fastened by a suitable means 30 to the fastening hook 1 so that it can be unfastened, as Figs. 6A and 6B show. The fastening means 30 of the arm 28 preferably comprise a T projection 30a in the fastening part 29 of the arm and a T slot 30b on the side 2c of the hook body 2.

A release member 31 is preferably fixedly attached to the fastening part 29 of the arm 28. This release member 31 can be used to affect the first release member 14 by the arm 28 detached from the fastening hook 1 to release the locking of the hook part 3 from the hook body 2 and to release the hook part 3 from the hooked position K. The release member 31 preferably comprises a curved arm member 3 la with a hook 3 lb at its free end, the hook being used to affect the first opening 14a of the first release member 14 that acts as a lever in particular, when opening the fastening hook.

The hook body 2 and the hook part 3 of the fastening hook 1 are made of plastic, preferably GRIVORTM plastic.

The fastening hook according to the invention works as follows. For example, when a boat is to be fastened to a mooring link arranged to the pier, a boatman connects the fastening hook 1 to the arm 28 and stretches the fastening hook 1 towards the mooring link. Thus the hook body 2 and the hook part 3 of the fastening hook are in

the hooked position K, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, for example. The mooring link is passed through the passage 26 to the fastening space 32, as described above. When the mooring link 35 of the pier is in the fastening space 32 of the fastening hook 1, the closing member 21 prevents it from slipping out. The fastening hook 1 is fas- tened to the pier and the fastening hook is used to fasten the mooring rope 27a of the boat to the pier through the fastening means 27 of the fastening hook. Naturally, the boat can be moored to the pier with several mooring hooks and ropes connected to them.

When the boat is to be unfastened from the pier, the first release member 14; 14a of the fastening hook is actuated by pushing so that the locking member 7 moves from the locking position J to the opening position H, as described above. The first re- lease member 14 can be actuated manually either by simply pushing it with a finger or, at a distance, by using the unfastening member 31 that is arranged in the arm 28, as already described earlier. Alternatively, the second release member 19 can also be affected by pulling on the cord link 20 so that the locking member 7 also moves from the locking position J to the release position H. When the hook part 3 is re- leased from the hook body and the hooked position K, it turns by itself in the direc- tion F and automatically to the open position V because of the tensile stress that generally affects the mooring rope 27a, Fig. 5, so that the mooring link 35 of the pier that has been in the fastening space 32 is released from the fastening hook 1 and, at the same time, naturally, the fastening hook 1 can be pulled into the boat by using the mooring rope 27a.

In order for not to accidentally release the fastening hook 1 from the hooked posi- tion K to the free position V, the body part 7 of the locking member can be back locked in place by the back lock pin 17 and the third opening 16 connected to it.

The locking member 7 cannot move in the cavity 8 in the longitudinal direction A-A and the fastening hook cannot be opened, until the back lock pin 17 is removed from the opening 16.

The invention is not exclusively limited to the embodiment described above, but various modifications are possible within the inventive idea determined by the claims.