Carabiner

Abstract

A carabiner has a hock body with a foot section, a back section connected to the foot section, a top section connected to the back section and bent like a hook in the direction of the foot section, a lug arranged at the foot section, and a snap tongue pivotally linked to the foot section and having the form of a wire which is bent to a U-shackle and is made of spring steel. The U-limbs of the U-shackle have different lengths and the ends of the U-limbs are bent inwardly and are inserted into bearing openings which are arranged in the region of the foot section such that the snap tongue, in the closed position of the carabiner, contacts spring loaded the inner surface of the top section which is bent in the direction of the foot section. A retaining element prevents the accidental displacement of the snap tongue out of its contact position against the inner surface of the end portion of the top section bent into the direction of the foot section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carabiner comprising:
 a hock body ( 1 ) comprising
 a foot section ( 2 ), 
 a back section ( 3 ) connected to the foot section ( 2 ), 
 a top section ( 4 ) which is connected to the back section ( 3 ) and is bent in a hook shape in the direction of the foot section ( 2 ), 
 a lug ( 5 ) arranged at the foot section ( 2 ), 
 a snap tongue ( 6 ) pivotally linked to the foot section ( 3 ) and having the form of a wire which is bent to a U-shackle and is made of spring steel, the U-limbs ( 6 . 1 ;  6 . 2 ) of the U-shackle having different lengths and the ends ( 6 . 11 ;  6 . 21 ) of the U-limbs ( 6 . 1 ;  6 . 2 ) are bent inwardly and are inserted into bearing openings which are arranged in the region of the foot section ( 2 ) such that the snap tongue ( 6 ) in the closed position of the carabiner contacts spring-loaded the inner surface of the top section ( 4 ) which is bent in the direction of the foot section ( 2 ), 
 a retaining element ( 9 ) preventing the accidental displacement of the snap tongue ( 6 ) out of its contact position against the inner surface of the end portion ( 4 . 1 ) of the top section ( 4 ) bent into the direction of the foot section, wherein the retaining element ( 9 ) is a spring element ( 9 ) which is pivotally mounted at the foot section ( 2 ) against a spring force and which, in the closed condition of the carabiner, resiliently contacts the outer surface of the top section ( 4 ) which is bent into the direction of the foot section ( 1 ). 
   
     
     
         2 . The carabiner according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring element ( 9 ) is a snap tongue ( 9 ) bent into the form of an U-shackle comprising U-limbs ( 9 . 1 ;  9 . 2 ) which have different lengths, wherein ends of the U-limbs are bent inwardly and are inserted into bearing openings which are arranged in the foot section ( 2 ). 
     
     
         3 . The carabiner according to  claim 2 , wherein the snap tongue is made of spring steel. 
     
     
         4 . The carabiner according to  claim 2 , wherein the inwardly bent ends of the U-limbs are inserted in bearing openings of the foot section ( 2 ), which bearing openings are offset in the direction of the top section. 
     
     
         5 . The carabiner according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bearing stud ( 13 ), mounted at the foot section ( 2 ) and directed outwardly; a bearing ring ( 10 ) mounted on the bearing stud ( 13 ) and supporting the lug ( 5 ); and a retaining ring ( 11 ) mounted on the bearing stud ( 13 ), wherein the retaining ring ( 11 ) is secured on the bearing stud ( 13 ) by a radially extending splint ( 12 ). 
     
     
         6 . The carabiner according to  claim 5 , wherein the bearing ring ( 10 ) is turnably mounted on the bearing stud ( 13 ).