Fastening device

Abstract

A fastening device 20 comprises a body 22 which defines a socket for receiving the end of a boat hook 10 or other elongate member, and a hook portion 21 having a gate 27 which can be opened by pulling back on a rope or line 30 attached to the body of the device. Once the device has been fastened to an object 41 , the boat hook or other elongate member 10 can then be withdrawn from the socket, thereby leaving the fastening device 20 and line 30 attached to the object 41.

1 . A fastening device comprising hook portion having a mouth, a gate for closing the mouth of the hook portion, the gate being biased into a normally closed position, and a formation to which a rope or line can be attached, wherein the hook portion is mounted to a body portion which defines a socket at an inner end of the device for slidably receiving the outer end of an elongated boat hook or other elongate member, said hook portion further comprising an actuator for opening said gate which extends into the socket and which is arranged for engagement by said end of the boat hook or other elongated member so as to open said gate when the body portion is slid rearwardly of said boat hook or other elongated member towards the inner end thereof. 
   
   
       2 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , which defines a handle. 
   
   
       3 . A device as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the body portion of said device defines said handle. 
   
   
       4 . A device as claimed in  claim 3 , in which said body of said device comprises a tubular portion for fitting onto the end of said boat hook or other elongated member and which defines said socket. 
   
   
       5 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which said socket comprises a longitudinally-extending side opening, through which a radially projecting arm at the end of said boat hook can extend out of said socket. 
   
   
       6 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the mouth of the hook portion is directed generally axially outwardly at the outer end of said device. 
   
   
       7 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which said gate extends radially outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the socket at the outer end of said device, said gate being pivoted at its radially inner end. 
   
   
       8 . A device as claimed in  claim 7 , in which said gate extends outwardly of the body portion at said second end of said device. 
   
   
       9 . A fastening assembly comprising:
 a fastening device comprising: a hook portion having a mouth, a gate for closing the mouth of the hook portion, the gate being biased into a normally closed position, said hook portion being mounted to a body portion which defines a socket at a first end of the fastening device, said hook portion further comprising an actuator for opening said gate which extends into the socket;   a rope or line attached to a formation on said fastening device; and   an elongated member having an outer end slidably received in said socket of said fastening device and arranged to engage said actuator so as to open said gate when the body portion of said fastening device is slid rearwardly with respect to the elongated member towards the inner end thereof.   
   
   
       10 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 9 , in which the elongated member comprises a boat hook. 
   
   
       11 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 10 , in which said socket comprises a longitudinally-extending side opening, the boat hook comprising a radially projecting arm at its outer end which extends out of said socket through said opening. 
   
   
       12 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 9 , in which the mouth of the hook portion of said fastening device is directed generally axially outwardly at the outer end of the fastening assembly. 
   
   
       13 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 9 , in which the body portion of said fastening device defines a handle. 
   
   
       14 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , in which the body portion of said fastening device comprises a tubular portion defining said socket. 
   
   
       15 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 9 , in which said gate of said fastening device extends radially outwardly of the longitudinal axis of said socket at the outer end of said fastening device, said gate being pivoted at its radially inner end. 
   
   
       16 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 15 , in which said gate extends outwardly of the body portion at said outer end of said fastening device.