Low profile snap hook actuator for child seat latch

Abstract

A snap hook assembly includes a base assembly that has a hook at one end. A lever assembly including an actuation mechanism and an arm assembly fits through an opening defined through the base assembly. The arm assembly is positioned on one side of the base assembly and the actuation mechanism of the lever assembly is positioned on the opposite side of the base assembly. The actuation mechanism is fit within a housing so that the lever assembly may pivot with respect to the base assembly. A clasp is attached to the base assembly so that an end of the clasp is biased to contact the hook of the base assembly. When the lever assembly pivots, the arm assembly contacts and rotates the clasp to create a gap between the clasp and the hook.

1 . A method, comprising:
 opening a gate of a snap hook connector from a closed position against a hook to an open position by pressing an arm of a gate actuator against the gate that is resiliently biased to contact the hook;   inserting a vehicle anchor in a throat of the hook when the gate is in the open position; and   retaining the anchor in the hook by closing the throat of the hook with the gate through releasing force applied to the gate to move the gate to the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said opening the gate includes manually actuating an actuator portion of the gate positioned in a side of the snap hook connector opposite of the gate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said opening the gate includes pressing the anchor against the arm of the gate actuator; and   said inserting includes sliding the anchor along a portion of the arm and the gate.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the vehicle anchor is located in a crevice between a back section and a chair section of a vehicle seat; and   the arm has an actuation portion positioned on a side of the of the snap hook connector that is opposite to the hook.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said opening the gate includes pressing the actuation portion of the arm. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the snap hook connector has a base that defines a base lever opening; and   the arm extends through the base lever opening to engage the gate proximal to the hook.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 releasing the snap hook connector from the anchor by pressing the actuation portion to move the gate to the open position.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the snap hook connector has a base that defines a base lever opening; and   the arm extends through the base lever opening to engage the gate proximal to the hook.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 wherein the gate includes a cantilevered spring; and   biasing the actuation portion to an undepressed position with the cantilevered spring.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said opening the gate includes having the arm act as a class 1 lever type when the actuation portion is manually depressed. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the gate includes a cantilevered spring that has a fixed end secured to the base and a free end located opposite the fixed end; and   biasing the free end of the cantilevered spring to the closed position against the hook.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the arm has an end that engages the cantilevered spring between the free end and the fixed end;   the cantilevered spring is exposed in the gap between the end of the arm and a foot portion of the hook;   said opening the gate includes sliding a support rib of the arm against the anchor to facilitate the arm acting as a class 3 lever.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said retaining the anchor in the hook bracing the cantilevered spring when in the closed position to reduce the risk of the free end of the cantilevered spring from being pried from the hook. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 opening a gate of a snap hook connector from a closed position against a hook to an open position by pressing an arm of a gate actuator against the gate that is resiliently biased to contact the hook, wherein said opening the gate includes actuating an actuation portion of the gate positioned in a side of the snap hook connector opposite of the gate; and   disconnecting the snap hook from a vehicle anchor by moving the vehicle anchor out of a throat of the hook when the gate is in the open position.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , retaining the anchor in the hook before said opening the gate by closing the throat of the hook with the gate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 wherein the vehicle anchor is located in a crevice between a back section and a chair section of a vehicle seat;   wherein the arm has an actuation portion positioned on a side of the of the snap hook connector that is opposite to the hook; and   removing the snap hook connector from the crevice.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 connecting the snap hook to the vehicle anchor before said disconnecting the snap hook.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said connecting the snap hook includes:
 pressing the anchor against the arm of the gate actuator; and   sliding the anchor along a portion of the arm to open the gate.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said connecting the snap hook includes actuating the actuation portion to open the gate. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the snap hook connector has a base that defines a base lever opening;   the arm extends through the base lever opening to engage the gate proximal to the hook; and   said connecting the snap hook includes opening the gate by transmitting force from the actuation portion to the gate through the base lever opening.