Abstract:
An ergonomic meat hook is provided in which the hook portion is not directed between the fingers of the user and is provided with a safety and rest strap to secure the hook to the user&#39;s arm or wrist opposite the hook portion to thereby reduce weight which must be supported by the user&#39;s fingers. Such strap is arranged to be quickly detached in an emergency.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application takes priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/760,796 filed Jan. 19, 2006. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to meat hooks, and more particularly to a meat hook for use in meatpacking plants, slaughterhouses, butcher shops and the like for handling, grasping, and moving slabs of meat of various sizes. 
     2. Preliminary Discussion 
     Hand-held meat hooks are used by a majority of workers in meat packaging facilities today. Such hooks are desirable tools because they extend the reach of the worker a few inches, enable a firm grip to be obtained on slabs of meat, and reduce or minimize the CTD risk factor as well as the chances of cutting one&#39;s fingers with a knife, since the worker&#39;s fingers are positioned further away from the cutting blade. Slabs of meat may also be slippery due to wetness derived from blood or water, and such hooks aid in properly gripping the meat for further processing. A significant mechanical advantage is also attained by using such hooks. 
     The conventional meat hook is comprised of a hook portion and a handle portion connected substantially transversely from said hook portion. The handle portion is grasped in the palm and gripped tightly in the worker&#39;s fingers, with the hook portion extending forwardly and outwardly from the hand, normally extending between the first and second fingers or the second and third fingers of the hand being used. When the pointed end of the hook is forced into a slab of meat, the handle is grasped tightly so that the hook will not twist due to such force, and so that the weight of the meat is supported on the handle in the hand of a worker. The stiffness of the handler&#39;s grasp is aided by the hook extending between the fingers, since the hook is laterally supported by contact with the base of the fingers on each side. The handle may be a general cylindrical configuration or may be shaped with preferably flattened sides or an otherwise molded exterior to improve gripping by the user&#39;s hand. This enables the entire hand to be used in a power grip position to hold or secure a slab, and enables the user to provide a better or more efficient pulling force in order to move or turn such slab. 
     Injuries to the hands as a result of the use of such prior meat hooks, and the reasons for such injuries, are well known and documented. A handle having a rectangular shape concentrates all of the pulling pressure of the hook across a narrow band near the base of the fingers. A handle having a cylindrical shape spreads the pulling force of the hook more evenly across the fingers, but the hard plastic still puts contact stress on the tendons of the hand as they are squeezed against the finger bones. Therefore, circulatory compromise, neuropathy and trigger finger CTD symptoms are likely to develop over time. In use, the hand that is gripping the handle is under constant tension or stress. Injuries and disease processes such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and the like are therefore quite common in the meatpacking industry, and have resulted in a large number of health-related claims and absenteeism. Irritation and severe callousing on the fingers between which the stem or shank of the meat hook extends is also not only very common, but endemic. While the need for a more ergonomic or less stressful design meat hook is clearly known, to date no one has up to now developed a device which adequately addresses all of the inadequacies and disadvantages of the conventional meat hook, while incorporating also the practical advantages of the present hook. One improved meat hook handle, which has been used, is the so-called “D” handle in which the curved section of the “D” supports the impaling or slab handling hook itself while the closure of the curved portion of the “D” may be grasped by the hand of the worker. Unfortunately, while this arrangement avoids the passage of the hook shank member between the user&#39;s fingers, it allows the handle to rotate adversely in the palm unless gripped very tightly even when a rectangular configuration or surface is provided on the handle. 
     3. Description of Related Art 
     The patented prior art with respect to grasping devices in general and meat hooks in particular discloses a wide variety of different arrangements designed to improve the efficiency of the hook and its grasping power. The most relevant of such prior art references known to the present inventor are disclosed and discussed below. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,73,830 issued to L. G. Wade on May 7, 1901, entitled “Lumber Hook,” discloses a hook designed for grasping boards in a pile of lumber. The hook is made of metal and has a flat shank with a right-angled prong at its distal end, which prong serves as a hook. A wrist strap enables the user to let go of the hook when it is not in use while still keeping it in a close relationship to the user&#39;s body. The Wade hook does not illustrate unique features and advantages of the applicant&#39;s meat hook device, however, such as the angled or offset handle frame or quick-release wrist strap. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,136 issued to R. J. Groves on May 18, 1909, entitled “Implement for Shocking Grains,” discloses a tool having a handle section that is aligned with the shank of the tool and held in the user&#39;s palm, a forwardly extending hook section, and a small loop attached to the shank of the hook for receiving the user&#39;s forefinger, which loop improves the user&#39;s grip on the tool. While Groves broadly discloses a hook and strap combination, the particular advantages of the present inventor&#39;s meat hook are not disclosed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 9,29,173,136 issued to D. B. Stone on Jul. 27, 1909, entitled “Husking Device,” discloses a hook for use in corn husking activities that is secured both to the user&#39;s wrist and upper arm, so that the tool does not have to be gripped in the hand by the user during use. However, the wrist and arm straps of the Stone device do not appear to be “quickly releasable” when a certain minimal amount of outside force is exerted. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,086,636 issued to O. C. Anderson on Feb. 10, 1914, entitled “Shocking Hook,” discloses a hook for handling bundles of corn and the like having three hook members extending forwardly from a single shank, a gripping handle aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shank, and a strap for securing the device to the forearm. While the advantages of the device are not clearly listed, it appears the hook is designed to aid in lifting bundles while reducing the amount of stress on the user&#39;s hand and arm in a manner basically generally similar to your the present invention except secured to the forearm rather than the wrist. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,542,503 issued to C. Haidele on Jun. 16, 1925, entitled “Meat Hook,” discloses a meat hook having a wooden handle aligned with and surrounding a straight shank portion, and in addition, having an adjustably positionable outwardly protruding trigger member over which one&#39;s forefinger is placed during use of the tool, thereby improving the user&#39;s grip and gripping power. Such tool still must be gripped in the user&#39;s hand at all times during use, however. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,278,610 issued to P. Brownstone et al. on Apr. 7, 1942, entitled “Bundle Picker,” discloses a leather gauntlet member that is securable around a user&#39;s hand and having a pair of forwardly extending hooks that are thrust into bundles and the like. The Brownstone bundle picker appears to be designed to reduce stress on the hands and fingers that might occur due to lifting the bundles by continually gripping a hook, but has a different construction from the present invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,310,331 issued to H. Michaud on Mar. 21, 1967, entitled “Log Hook,” discloses a log hook having a handle with flattened lateral faces around which the user&#39;s hand is cupped and oriented so that it is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shank. While the shank section of the Michaud hook does not have to extend through or between the user&#39;s fingers, the user must maintain a tight grip on the handle at all times, or else the hook will be dropped. This so-called D handle arrangement has been suggested for use in meat hooks. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,387 issued to J. M. Lindbergh on Dec. 6, 1977, entitled “Net-Raising Tool,” discloses a tool using a modification of a “D” handle for use by fishermen to grasp and raise a fishing net from the sea by the use of several hook members attached to a handle section. A wrist strap is not provided. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,592 issued to C. P. Jackson on Dec. 21, 1982, entitled “Multi-Purpose Log Handling Tool,” discloses a logging tool having an appearance similar to that of a “conventional” meat hook with a “D” type handle. The hook has an opening on its proximate end in which a closed loop handle is received. The main improvement of such device appears to be that the handle can be adjusted so that it is either rigidly or swivelably secured to the hook, and thus the tool can be easily arranged for either lifting or rolling logs. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,412 issued to J. J. Meeko on Dec. 11, 1984, entitled “Weight Lifting Grips,” discloses a weight lifting gripping aid including a curved weight engagement. The device includes a wrist strap secured to a semicircular cradle that surrounds a portion of a weightlifting bar, so that the amount of tension on the user&#39;s fingers and hands in supporting the wearer or the weightlifting bar is reduced, allowing either a greater amount of weight to be lifted or lifted for a longer period of exercise without having to stop due to tiring of the hand and fingers. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,875 issued to F. Ziegler on Apr. 28, 1987, entitled “Hook Construction,” discloses a meat hook having a handle section and a strap section. The handle is situated in a C-shaped frame which surrounds the front and sides of the hand when the handle is gripped, and a hook member extends forwardly from the front of the C-shaped frame rather than between the fingers of the user. In addition, a strap member is provided along the rear of the frame, which strap member is placed over the top but not the bottom of the wrist, and thus apparently is not actually secured to the wrist. The strap member is designed to prevent the hook element from rotating upwardly when a downward manual force is applied on the hook by the user. The construction of the hook and handle is different from that of the present inventor&#39;s invention. The arrangement is basically a variation of the “D” type handle arrangement. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,465 issued to P. D. Dooley on Sep. 8, 1987, entitled “Gaff for Landing Fish,” discloses a hook having an elongated shank section and an angled pistol grip style handle member attached extending downwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of the shank. The hook member extends from one side of the handle but does not extend around to the front. A wrist strap is not disclosed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,279 issued to C. L. Fritscheian et al. on Jan. 19, 1988, entitled “Hook Water Sports Hand Grip” discloses a hand grip having a palm strap section designed to fit in the user&#39;s palm and having a rib configuration on the finger end of the palm strap section, as well as a finger loop on the same end of the palm strap. The palm strap is also secured around the user&#39;s wrist by a wrist strap. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,974 issued to T. W. Buhr on Mar. 7, 1989, entitled “Method of Attaching a Wrist to a Bar for Exercising,” discloses a strap also for use in securing one&#39;s wrist to an exercise bar, with the purpose being to prevent the user&#39;s wrist from weakening before the muscles being exercised are fatigued. Such strap includes a Velcro® closure on its ends. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,257 issued to R. F. Bailey on Apr. 9, 1991, entitled “Meat Hook,” discloses a meat hook having a shank section that is straight for a short section starting from the proximate or handle end, and then is angled upwardly just before the hook section, and also having an upwardly or downwardly vertically extending handle member situated at about a 90° angle with respect to the shank. There is no means for alleviating the requirement to grip the handle tightly at all times such as in the present invention. Furthermore, the handle and therefore, the grip is parallel to the hook rather than perpendicular thereto and thus requires a different hand orientation than with a conventional meat hook. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,319 issued to T. Tarail on Nov. 14, 2000, entitled “Exercise Grip,” discloses another exercise gripping aid, which is secured to the wrist of the user by a Velcro® releasable strap member. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,849,036 issued to F. Forslid on Feb. 1, 2005, entitled “Gripping Device,” discloses another gripping aid for gripping a rounded handgrip, which device is secured to the wrist of a user by a Velcro® releasable strap member. Such strap apparently is not secured around the wrist in the same manner as the strap member of the present inventor&#39;s meat hook invention, however. 
     U.S. Design Patent D429,626 issued to R. C. Hearn et al. on Aug. 22, 2000, entitled “Meat Hook,” discloses a meat hook having a handle member connected to the underside of the shank by a rounded frame which surrounds the hand when the handle is grasped. In addition, the shank extends rearwardly past the handle where a rounded padded support is attached, which support contacts the upper side of the wrist and prevents the hook from twisting in the hand of the user when it is pressed downwardly into a slab of meat. While in use the wrist support probably enables the user to maintain a less firm grip on the handle member, the Hearn meat hook does not include a wrist strap and has a different construction from the present inventor&#39;s hook. 
     U.S. Design Patent D481,287 issued to M. O. Crist on Oct. 28, 2003, entitled “Drawknife with Wrist Support,” discloses an ornamental design for a drawknife having a blade extending upwardly from a handle member, which member has a rearwardly disposed frame structure with apparently a Velcro® wrist strap attached. 
     The present inventor&#39;s meat hook device is significantly different from, for example, the Ziegler meat hook device and, it is believed, the other known devices either disclosed above or otherwise known to the inventor. First, the wrist strap of the Ziegler device, for example, merely prevents the hook from pivoting when it is forced into a meat product, while the present inventor&#39;s strap is secured tightly around the entire wrist, and therefore the user does not have to grip the handle as tightly to pull or move a product, since much of the force that was initially applied only by the hand is now transferred to the wrist. In addition, the frame that surrounds the hand of the Ziegler device makes it harder to remove one&#39;s hand from the device quickly, and therefore presents a safety hazard to a user should the hook, frame, or strap become stuck or entangled in a conveyor belt of a meat processing line or the like. Another considerable advantage of the present inventors&#39; hook over the conventional meat hook is that the hook shank is offset where it engages the handle next to the little finger. Thus, there is less rubbing and irritation occurring between the fingers or wear occurring to a protective glove worn over the hand than in the traditional meat hook. In addition, the handle of the present inventor&#39;s meat hook cannot entrap the hand, because it is open on the thumb side of the handle, which enables the user to grasp the handle with the thumb at the top of the handle next to the fingers at the end of the handle or wrapped around the handle at any time during use. In addition, the inventor&#39;s strap arrangement is attached to the bottom of the handle in a loop fashion at the inside of the wrist and extending around to the back of the wrist. The strap is also attached using hook and loop fasteners, and a pull tab is provided so that the hook and loop fasteners can be very quickly torn apart or opened, and the strap released in the event of an emergency. It is extremely important that a meat hook be readily releasable from the hand in case of emergency, but be securely held during actual use. The present inventor&#39;s strap also transfers the force of the hook to the back of the wrist which will allow the user to significantly reduce his grip on the handle portion of the device while pulling on the hook engaged with a slab of meat or the like. Such arrangement significantly reduces the occurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome and so-called trigger finger (because a similar injury reducing the ability to move the finger occurs in those continuously contracting the finger used to operate the trigger of a gun). Furthermore, the present inventor&#39;s hook can be lowered to the side of the user where such user can release the grip, totally enabling the user to exercise his or her fingers between use while still allowing the hook to be maintained ready for use. This cannot be accomplished in the Ziegler invention. The user of the present inventor&#39;s hook device, for example, can then use both hands and quickly re-grasp the hook to continue its use. The present invention is also inexpensive to manufacture and therefore can be mass-produced in a cost-effective manner. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a meat hook that can be used by workers in packaging plants and the like for significantly longer periods of time without any discomfort being experienced by the user. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a meat hook that significantly reduces the occurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger in the hands of meat packers and the like. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a meat hook having a wrist strap means wherein during use a large percentage of the pulling force required in using the hook is transferred from the handle portion of the hook to the user&#39;s wrist via such wrist strap. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a meat hook device having a wrist strap that can be easily and quickly removed or detached by a worker in the event of an emergency. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a meat hook having a wrist strap further comprising a pull away tab to facilitate quick removal. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a meat hook wherein the amount of movement of the hook in the hands of the user is significantly reduced, and the occurrence of irritation between the user&#39;s fingers caused by the hook shank is eliminated and the amount of wear that occurs on protective clothing worn by such user is drastically reduced. 
     It is a still further object of the invention to provide a meat hook wherein the hook shank exits from one side of the handle and curves around to a position in front of any fingers gripping the handle with the hook inclined substantially in a plane parallel to the fingers curved about the handle. 
     It is a still further object of the invention to provide a meat hook having the hook shank embedded within a molded plastic handle such shank extending through the plastic at diverse angles and passing from one end of the handle where it curves back to a position in front of the handle opposite a hand gripping the handle adjacent one end and curving back upon and reentering the other end of the handle to form an attachment means for a wrist strap. 
     It is a still further object of the invention to provide a hook having a continuous shank passing at diverse angles through a molded or stamped plastic handle and extending from said handle to form a transverse hook on one side and a curved wrist strap attachment means at the other side. 
     Still other objects and advantages of the invention will become clear upon review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an ergonomic hand held hook for handling heavy loads quickly and efficiently without undue strain or injury to the handler and is particularly useful for use as a so-called “meat hook”. The hook is provided with an offset mounting or support frame preferably as a unitary extension of the hook structure itself, which frame extends through the handle, which may be formed of plastic and extends from the handle opposite the hook to provide an attachment for a wrist strap including a quick disconnect feature for safety. The offset mounting of the hook allows the hook itself to be centered over the fingers of the user&#39;s hand clenched over the handle of the hook so the hook does not extend between the fingers of the user&#39;s hand even though centered over the hand. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an end elevation view from the side of the meat hook device of the present invention with the wrist strap removed. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the meat hook device of the present invention at right angles to that shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the meat hook device of the present invention opposite to that shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the meat hook device of the present invention with the molded handle and wrist strap removed from the respective shank and strap tie portions. 
         FIG. 5  is a view of the outer side of the wrist strap used with the meat hook device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a view of the inner side of the wrist strap used with the meat hook device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view from the bottom of the meat hook device of the present invention in the hand of a user. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view from the top of the meat hook device of the present invention grasped in the hand of a user and secured by the strap element about the wrist. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing the meat hook device of the present invention being secured by its strap means over a protective glove to the hand and wrist of a user. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing the meat hook device of the present invention secured over a protective glove to the hand and wrist of a user with the user&#39;s fingers in a relaxed, non-gripping position with respect to the handle. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing the pull tab on the wrist strap being pulled to release the hook and loop fasteners of the wrist strap of the invention. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates the meat hook device of the invention with the hook and loop fasteners of the wrist strap of the invention after it has been released. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view from the top of the meat hook device of the present invention with the strap disengaged from any user. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view from the bottom of the meat hook device of the present invention with the strap disengaged. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description is of the best mode or modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which in connection with the following description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and construction of the invention. 
     As indicated above, a number of variations and improvements upon the traditional meat hook have been devised in the past, but none has been completely satisfactory. While the traditional meat hook having the hook extending from the middle of a transverse handle, particularly where the handle is flattened to allow a firm grip, is effective, efficient and inexpensive, it is medically and ergonomically undesirable because the user&#39;s hand becomes excessively fatigued over long periods of use such as, for example, the length of the usual shift in a meat packing plant or the like and because the traditional extension of the hook between the central or middle fingers of the hand to provide both balance and additional stability of the hook in the user&#39;s hand when handling heavy slabs of meat, over fairly short periods of use causes either sores and actual ulcers between the fingers or heavy calluses of the skin between the fingers, or both. The invention of the so-called “D” handle for the hook, such “D” arrangement being of various constructions, and wherein the hook extends from an arcuate structure extending from one side of the handle to the other, sometimes in the form of a flattened shroud or shield, removed the hook from between the fingers, thus solving the problem of sores and calluses, but also removed the stabilizing influence of the hook extending between the fingers and the stress of use, and particularly the stress of having the fingers curled tightly about the handle for long periods, remains. Consequently, stress related medical problems with respect to the hand also remain with the “D” design of such hooks. There have been other developments attempting to alleviate various problems of meat hooks, but none has been particularly successful and meat packer&#39;s hand problems have remained and even intensified. In short, there has been no ergonomically successful and efficient substitute for the traditional meat hook and large numbers of the traditional design meat hooks remain in use. 
     The present inventor, who has had considerable contact with and experience with the problems common with meat hooks in the packing industry, has studied the problems encountered and has now devised the ergonomically improved meat hook of the invention, which is both efficient in eliminating or at least very considerably alleviating the problems previously inherent in the traditional meat hook structure and effective in handling slabs of meat and the like. In solving such problems, the inventor has provided a meat hook extending from a bent shank or hook support frame contained within a molded handle similar to the handle of a conventional handled meat hook, but with the centrally positioned hook structure mounted upon a portion of the shank or hook support frame extending from one end of the handle and curving around outside or outboard of the fingers of the user to the base of the hook structure itself. The hook itself is more or less conventional. Meanwhile, the shank or hook support frame extending through the handle extends from a position near one end of the back or bottom of the handle and curves around preferably at an angle with the base of the hook, but oriented at an angle with respect to the hook, but essentially in line with the wider dimension of the handle and preferably reenters the molded handle for a short distance forming overall a loop at the rear of the handle upon which is mounted during use a quick detachable strap preferably with hook and loop fastening portions which can be wrapped about or attached to the wrist of the user with a short unattached end which can be easily grasped by the user with his or her other hand and quickly detached in an emergency such as where the hook may be caught in something and the user wishes to quickly disengage him or herself from it. 
     The strap aids in holding the hook in the hand by tying one end to the wrist of the user, enabling the user to grasp the handle less tightly during use and in addition allowing the user, when the hook is not actually in a slab of meat or the like, to straighten, or partially straighten his or her fingers to various degrees without laying the meat hook down or hanging it on something, but rather keeping it immediately available for use. Being able to straighten or flex the fingers (plus actually doing so) alleviates long term cramping and loss of flexibility that would otherwise occur in the fingers. 
       FIGS. 1-14  illustrate a preferred embodiment of the meat hook device of the present invention.  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  are side, top, and bottom views of the meat hook  20  of the present invention with the wrist strap  50  (shown in  FIGS. 5-6 ) detached,  FIG. 4  illustrates the hook and hook support portion  22  of the meat hook  20  with both the gripping handle and wrist strap detached or not yet applied,  FIGS. 7-12  illustrate several views of the meat hook device  20  in the hand of a user, while  FIGS. 13-14  are top and bottom perspective views of the meat hook device  20 . 
     Hook section  22  comprises preferably a continuous elongated solid metal rod or cylinder formed to include a curved end or hook section  23  having an end point  24 . Curved end or hook section  23  is connected to one end of straight upper shank section  25  of hook support, while the other end of upper shank section  25  of hook support  22  is connected to laterally extending shank section  26 . Laterally extending shank section  26  is connected at its other end to lower shank section  27 , which section  27  is substantially in parallel with upper shank section  25 . Shank sections  25 ,  26 , and  27 , as is evident in  FIG. 4 , are all in substantially the same plane, with curved end of hook section  23  extending downwardly from upper shank section  25 . Referring particularly now to  FIG. 4 , connected to the rearward end of lower shank section  27  is handle support section  28 . Handle support section  28  is preferably aligned at approximately a 100-140 degree angle with respect to lower shank section  27 , and in addition, as best shown in  FIG. 1 , is angled downwardly at an angle of approximately 25 degrees from the plane of shank sections  25 ,  26 , and  27 . A loop to which the wrist strap is connected as described below is formed on the other end of handle support section  28  via side sections  30  and  31  which are joined together by bottom section  32 . 
     Once overall hook section  22  has been formed as described by any suitable machinery or tools, handle or gripping member  36 , preferably made of plastic, is secured over handle support section  28  and preferably a portion of section  30  of such hook. Handle  36  is preferably made of a polymer or plastic approved for use with food such as polyethylene or polypropylene and is molded directly around handle section  28 , as well as around the upper ends of side sections  30  and  31 . Handle  36  preferably has a relatively smooth surface with a rounded top side  38  forming a double frustum. As a result of such configuration, lower shank section  27  of hook  22  is offset to one side from upper shank section  25 , while in addition, upper shank section  25  is aligned more or less with the center of handle or gripping member  36 , although shank  25  may be offset slightly to one side or the other of handle member  36  if desired, or may be aligned substantially in front of the first and second or second and third fingers as desired. The double frustum configuration of the top or front of the handle aids in aligning the hook in a central position in front of the user&#39;s hand. In addition, as indicated above, while shanks  25 ,  26 , and  27  are in substantially the same plane, handle support section  28 , and as a result also first and second side faces  39  and  40  of handle or gripping member  36 , as well as the loop formed by side and bottom sections  30 - 32 , are bent at about a 25 degree downward angle with respect to shanks  25 - 27 . Such angle is important in that it compensates for a substantial amount of the movement or rotation of the wrist when the hook is thrust downwardly or otherwise forced into a slab of meat or other surface. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate the outer and inner sides, respectively, of wrist strap  50  (see also  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). While strap  50  may be of varying types, a preferred strap arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,412 issued to Joseph J. Meeko on Dec. 11, 1984, entitled “Weight Lifting Grips”, the entirety of which patent is hereby incorporated by reference with respect to the strap disclosed therein. Strap  50  is made of a suitable material such as a strong nylon or cotton webbing, and in the embodiment shown has a length L of approximately 18 inches and a width of approximately 2 inches. As is best illustrated in  FIG. 5 , wherein the top side  51  of strap  50  is facing upwardly, such strap  50  has a first end  54  and a second end  55 . Situated side-by-side at a position slightly offset from the midpoint of strap  50 , preferably slightly nearer to second end  55 , and with their bottom edges preferably also angled towards second end  55  when overlapped or secured together, are first and second cooperating hook and loop fastener members  57  and  58 . Such fastener members  57  and  58 , as described below, are used to secure strap  50  around bottom section  32  of hook  20 . In addition, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a second pair of cooperating hook and loop fastener members  59  and  60  are attached to bottom side  52  of strap  50 , spaced apart approximately 8 inches from one another. While the exact dimensions and distance apart of hook and loop fasteners  59  and  60  are variable, the fasteners should be adequately positioned to secure strap  50  around a user&#39;s wrist in the manner described below, and to allow for some adjustment of strap  50  when it is secured to such a user&#39;s wrist. Note also that first end  54  of strap  50  is preferably brightly colored such as with a paint or other covering, and preferably red in color, plus the wording “PULL”  61  is preferably clearly indicated on top side  51  in large letters (see  FIGS. 8 ,  9 ,  13  and  14 ). This coloring and wording on first end  54  of strap  50  serves as an emergency pull or release reminder for someone having the meat hook device secured to his or her hand and wrist, as will be now be described. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 7-8  and  2 - 14 , strap  50  is looped over bottom section  32  of the steel loop formed in hook  20 , with top side  51  facing downwardly and abutting bottom section  32  and positioned between angled and cooperating hook and loop fasteners  57  and  58 . Fasteners  57  and  58  are then brought into abutting contact, thereby releasably securing strap  50  to hook  20 . Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , device  20  is then grasped by the user with the hook point  24  facing forwardly and downwardly in front of the user&#39;s fingers, and with handle or gripping member  36  positioned in the palm area of the user&#39;s hand and the loop holding strap  50  in place adjacent the inner side of the user&#39;s wrist or heel of the hand. Then, second end  55  of strap  50  is looped over the top of the wrist so that second side  52  and fastener  60  are facing upwardly. First end  54  of strap  50  is then looped around the opposite side of the wrist with first side  51  and fastener  59  facing downwardly, after which cooperating fasteners  59  and  60  are brought into abutting contact. In such position, as best shown in  FIG. 8 , first end  54  of strap  50  with brightly colored end and lettering  61  is facing upwardly and loosely extending to one side of the device. 
     In final operating or working position, the strap  50  is secured around the wrist of the user wrapping the first end upwardly and then over the top of the wrist, and then wrapping the other end of the strap over the other side and then over the top of the first strap, so that cooperating hook and loop fastener sections  59  and  60  are in contact and are holding the strap around the user&#39;s wrist. 
     The advantages of the present inventor&#39;s meat hook device over prior art devices are numerous. First, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the shank portion of hook  20  does not extend between and irritate the user&#39;s fingers, or where a protective glove is worn, cause an inordinate amount of wear on the glove in such area. Instead, the hook shank is offset at lower section  27  where it engages the handle member  36 , but the curved pointed end  24  of hook  20  is still positioned centrally in front of the top section  38  of handle member  36 , so that the device is still nicely balanced and a rearward pulling force on the handle with the hook engaging a slab of meat or the like will not cause the handle to attempt to twist in the user&#39;s hand. Strap  50 , which is tightly secured around the user&#39;s wrist, transfers the force exerted on the hook to the back of the wrist, which will allow users to significantly reduce the amount of gripping force required on handle  36  when pulling on hook  20 . Since the constant gripping force on handle  36  is reduced, the number of injuries caused by such constant gripping force, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger, will also be very substantially reduced. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the device may be lowered to the side of the user with one&#39;s grip on the handle being totally released between uses of the hook, without the hook actually being put down and possibly becoming lost or damaged. This will also give the user a further chance to exercise, and/or rest his or her fingers. Furthermore, while the wrist strap  50  securely connects the device  20  to the user&#39;s hand and wrist, the arrangement of pull tab  61  ensures that the device and wrist strap are not entrapping. The thumb side of the handle is not blocked by offset lower shank section  27 , and in addition, as demonstrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , pulling upwardly and rearwardly on pull-tab  61  will cause the hook and loop fasteners  59  and  60  to quickly and easily release the strap from around the wrist of the user. Furthermore, the pulling force of cooperating hook and loop fasteners  59  and  60  is such that if the device  20  does in fact become entangled in a dangerous situation such as to a conveyor belt, leading to a meat cutting machine or the like, the strap will automatically be released or torn off from the users wrist, thereby providing an alert or even startled user time to pull his or her hand away from the device  20  before injury or damage can occur. 
     As will be evident, the hook of the invention has at least at present its greatest intended use in the handling of heavy slabs of meat, for example, in coolers and the like. However, it will be evident that the design and principles of the invention can be applied for use in any hand operation where hand held hooks may be used to secure a hold upon large unwieldy packages or bundles with consequent strain and possible injury to the hands and arms of the same. Once the hook of the invention is taken in the hand and the strap secured, the use of the hook is exactly the same as in use of a conventional meat hook except with respect to occasionally loosening or straightening out the fingers. 
     As will be evident from the above, the hook and shank of the hook including the section within the molded or otherwise formed handle can be formed in any suitable way by the usual bending tools or machinery and the handle can likewise be formed or molded in any suitable manner such as integrally molding over the shank portion of the hook or forming in two halve with appropriate frame structure accommodating grooves and securing over the shank. The invention provides the simple, yet ergonomically and medically effective meat hook for which the industry has been waiting. 
     While the present invention has been described at some length and with some particularly with respect to the several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention.