The Spring Grapple: Tong-Shaped Spring, Talon Hooks and a Set Joint That Snaps Shut on Touch

Something lying out of reach, under water or down a hole, is hard to grip with a hook on a line. Orra Warner and Charles S. Gaylord of Gaylord's Bridge, Connecticut, received US 7,709, dated 8 October 1850, for a "grapple" of "a metallic spring of more or less length and thickness, according to the size of the object to be seized, bent so as to resemble in its outlines a pair of sugar-tongs", each end carrying a hook "resembling in form an eagle's talon" on a pin. Forced open, the hooks meet in a set joint held by a set-screw; lowered on a line, wire or pole onto the object, the joint yields as soon as it touches, and the spring drives the hooks together. The grapple was meant for catching fish and animals "and other purposes". This rung works out how the set joint's angle decides how easily it springs, then forges the spring and hooks and uses the grapple to recover dropped objects from water.