Snap-hook assemblies with added components

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS.
1 5 depict snap-hook assembly 10 of the present invention.
Included as part of assembly 10 are handle 14 and arm 18, the latter of which is designed to pivot about pin 22.
Collectively, handle 14 and arm 18 bound an interior region IR in which an object (such as, but not limited to, a belt loop, strap, handle, etc.
) may be received and retained.
As shown in FIG.
1, handle 14 may comprise curved sections 26 and 30 separated by section 34.
The radius of curvature R.
sub.
1 of section 26 typically is less than the radius of curvature R.
sub.
2 of section 30, so that handle 14 is not symmetric laterally.
By contrast, section 34 usually is straight (or relatively so) in cross-section, so that the appearance of assembly 10 resembles a human ear or carabiner.
Assembly 10 need not necessarily be oblong, however, but rather may assume other desired shapes.
In some embodiments of assembly 10, furthermore, handle 14 need not be laterally asymmetric.
In preferred embodiments, however, sections 26 and 34 are continuous, with no discontinuity present at their intersection I.
sub.
1.
This differs from the structures of the flashlights depicted in FIGS.
14 15 of the Weiss patent, in which arms 84 and 94 intersect bodies 80 and 90 at acute or right angles, respectively.
Stated differently, the structure of assembly 10 is intended to be that of a carabiner-style snap-hook object, while the devices of FIGS.
14 15 of the Weiss patent appear intended to be bulky, full-size flashlights with handles attached as ancillary items.
Arm 18 spans the distance between spaced ends 38 and 42 of curved sections 26 and 30, respectively.
Pin 22 connects end 46 of arm 18 to end 38 of curved section 26.
A spring or other biasing mechanism cooperates with pin 22 to bias arm 18 into the "closed" position shown in FIG.
1, thus bounding interior region IR.
To permit access to region IR, a user of assembly 10 need merely rotate arm 18 about pin 22 in the direction of arrow A, separating end 50 of arm 18 from end 42 of curved section 30