Forged Safety Carabiner with Integrated Finger Orifice

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing safety securing carabiners for individuals, particularly used in height-related activities, face challenges such as difficulty in hanging without excessive clamping force, unprotected fingers, and hindrance during door closure due to the design of distinct gripping and receiving parts.

Innovation Solution

A carabiner design featuring a one-piece forged metal hook with an inverted J shape, an elongated vertically oriented orifice for ergonomic hand placement, and a rotatably mounted door with a C-shaped gate that prevents finger interference during operation, along with a protective cover for finger protection and a spring-activated locking mechanism for secure transitions between stowage states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the gripping part is made distinct and separate from the receiving part, then the carabiner structure is more robust, but it becomes difficult for the user to hang on without deploying very large clamping force

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural robustnessVSAvoidhanging ease
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the gripping part and receiving part into a single integrated carabiner body structure. This allows the user to hang on by simply placing fingers into the opening without needing to apply large clamping forces, while maintaining structural robustness through the unified forged design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Strength

If the gripping part is made distinct and separate from the receiving part, then the carabiner structure is more robust, but the fingers holding the gripping part are not protected against attack by an external object

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural robustnessVSAvoidfinger protection
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the gripping part into the receiving part structure, the carabiner body itself forms a protective enclosure around the user's fingers. The robust forged metal construction shields fingers from external objects while allowing easy access through the opening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If the gripping part is made distinct and separate from the receiving part, then the carabiner structure is more robust, but the presence of the fingers on the gripping part can constitute a hindrance when closing the door

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural robustnessVSAvoiddoor closing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated design positions the gripping area within the receiving part's opening, allowing fingers to be naturally retracted or positioned away from the door closing path. The unified structure enables smooth door operation without finger interference while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Strength

If a one-piece forged metal hook is used, then the robustness of the gripping part is guaranteed, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegripping part robustnessVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a one-piece forged metal construction that integrates the gripping part, receiving part, and door mechanism into a single robust component. This forging process, while requiring specialized manufacturing capability, ensures uniform material properties and eliminates weak points from assembly joints, delivering superior strength and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3237078B1Safety anchoring spring hook, system comprising two spring hooks interconnected by a transmission device and assembly comprising such a spring hook
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 DEHONDT THIERRY JEAN ALAIN CORNIL
  • EP3237078B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3237078B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3237078B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a safety anchoring spring hook (2a, 2b) for a person, said spring hook including a hook (4) for receiving an anchoring element (3), said hook having a gripping part (7) and a part (5) for receiving said element, said receiving part having an opening (6) through which said element passes, a gate (8) for closing said opening, said gripping part being provided with an aperture (30) into which said person can insert his or her hand. The invention also relates to a system comprising two spring hooks interconnected by a transmission device and an assembly comprising at least one such spring hook.