Snap hook with rotatable lock

Abstract

A snap hook includes a hook member having a gap formed by an attaching end and a receiving end, a pivotal gate pivotally secured to the hook member and having a channel for receiving the receiving end of the hook member, a locking member is rotatably engaged onto the pivotal gate and includes a passage for aligning with the channel of the pivotal gate and the receiving end of the hook member and for allowing the pivotal gate and the locking member to be rotated relative to the hook member from the locking position to the unlocking position, and a spring member biases and rotates the locking member relative to the pivotal gate to stably retain the receiving end of the hook member in the channel of the pivotal gate.

1 . A snap hook comprising:
 a hook member including a space formed therein, and including a gap formed therein and communicating with said space of said hook member for forming an attaching end and a receiving end,   a pivotal gate including a first end pivotally secured to said attaching end of said hook member with an axle for allowing said pivotal gate to be rotated relative to said hook member between a locking position and an unlocking position, said pivotal gate including a second end having a channel formed therein for selectively receiving said receiving end of said hook member,   a locking member including a bore formed therein for rotatably receiving and engaging onto said pivotal gate, and including a passage formed in a first end of said locking member for selectively aligning with said channel of said pivotal gate and said receiving end of said hook member and for allowing said pivotal gate and said locking member to be rotated relative to said hook member from the locking position to the unlocking position, and   a spring member engaged with said pivotal gate and said locking member for forcing and biasing said locking member to rotate relative to said pivotal gate, and for disengaging and offsetting said passage of said locking member from said channel of said pivotal gate, and for anchoring and retaining said receiving end of said hook member in said channel of said pivotal gate and in said first end of said locking member, and for locking and retaining and latching said pivotal gate to said hook member at the locking position.   
     
     
         2 . The snap hook as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said locking member includes a groove formed in said locking member, and said axle includes a head extended out of said pivotal gate and slidably received and engaged in said groove of said locking member for guiding and limiting said locking member to rotate relative to said pivotal gate and said hook member for a limited rotational angle, and for controlling said passage of said locking member either in alignment with said channel of said pivotal gate or offset from said channel of said pivotal gate. 
     
     
         3 . The snap hook as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said locking member includes a slot formed a second end of said locking member for selectively aligning with said attaching end of said hook member and for allowing said pivotal gate and said locking member to be rotated relative to said hook member between the locking position and the unlocking position when said slot of said locking member is aligned with said attaching end of said hook member. 
     
     
         4 . The snap hook as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said pivotal gate includes a notch formed in said first end thereof for receiving said attaching end of said hook member for selectively aligning with said slot of said locking member. 
     
     
         5 . The snap hook as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said pivotal gate includes a cavity formed in said first end thereof for receiving a spring member which is engaged with said attaching end of said hook member for biasing and anchoring said pivotal gate to said hook member at the locking position. 
     
     
         6 . The snap hook as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said hook member includes a latching notch formed in said receiving end of said hook member for forming an anchoring catch in said receiving end of said hook member, and said pivotal gate includes a latch member provided in said first end of said pivotal gate and extended through said channel of said pivotal gate for selectively engaging with said latching notch of said hook member and for anchoring and latching said pivotal gate to said hook member at the locking position. 
     
     
         7 . The snap hook as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said spring member is a coil spring engaged between said pivotal gate and said locking member.