Patent ID: 6036248
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: B66C

Abstract:
A load-supporting apparatus, comprising:a load hook defining a throat area and swingably mounted for rotation in a vertical plane between a locked stand-by position in which the load hook is disengaged from a pick-up eyelet of a load and a locked load-receiving position in which the load hook engages the pick-up eyelet of the load; anda centering unit operatively connected to the load hook for effecting a swinging of the load hook between the stand-by and load-receiving positions when the centering unit encounters a resistance, said centering unit closing off the throat area of the load hook after swinging the load hook into the load-receiving position, said centering unit including a slide element which has a recess, said load hook having a hook end which engages the recess of the slide element when the load hook is in the load-receiving position.