Patent Publication Number: US-11390493-B2

Title: Safety latch for a hook

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of hoists and rigging equipment, and more particularly to a hook assembly including a safety latch. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     The Occupation Health and Safety Administration (“OSHA”) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (“ASME”) require latches to be on hooks used in material handling applications such as hooks used with cranes and hoists. Latches are frequently damaged in the field. There is a need for an improved design that is advantageous for manufacturing and for end users. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the above described need. With parenthetical reference to the corresponding parts, portions or surfaces of the disclosed embodiment, merely for the purposes of illustration and not by way of limitation, in one embodiment the present invention provides a hook assembly ( 10 ) with a hook ( 11 ) having a body portion ( 13 ) with a first end ( 16 ) and a second end ( 19 ). The body portion ( 13 ) extends along a curve to a tip ( 43 ) disposed at the second end ( 19 ). The body portion ( 13 ) has a neck portion ( 31 ) disposed in spaced apart relation to the tip ( 43 ) such than an opening ( 46 ) is formed between the tip ( 43 ) and the neck portion ( 31 ). The neck portion ( 31 ) has an opening formed therein. A latch ( 40 ) has a first end ( 61 ) and a second end ( 62 ) disposed opposite from the first end ( 61 ). The first end ( 61 ) has a pair of opposed members ( 63 ,  66 ) extending therefrom and disposed in spaced apart facing relation. At least one of the opposed members ( 63 , 66 ) has an elongate slot ( 50 ) formed therein. The opposed member ( 63 ,  66 ) has a portion surrounded by at least one wall forming a shoulder ( 56 ). The portion is disposed adjacent to the slot ( 50 ). The portion is configured to receive a nut ( 53 ). The latch ( 40 ) is pivotally connected to the neck portion ( 31 ) of the hook ( 11 ). A biasing member ( 49 ) is configured to bias the latch ( 40 ) in a closed position such that the second end ( 62 ) of the latch ( 40 ) engages with the tip ( 43 ) of the hook ( 11 ) to close the opening between the tip ( 43 ) and the neck portion ( 31 ). A fastener ( 37 ) extends through the openings in the opposed members ( 63 ,  66 ) of the latch ( 40 ) and through the opening in the neck portion ( 31 ). The fastener ( 37 ) is configured to slide along the elongate slot ( 50 ). The fastener ( 37 ) is configured to be inserted into the assembly in a first position while the tension on the biasing member ( 49 ) is released. The first position is configured to allow the latch ( 40 ) to rotate inward past the tip ( 43 ) of the hook ( 11 ). The fastener ( 37 ) is configured to move into a second position where it engages with a nut ( 53 ) that when installed is positioned in the portion and blocked by the at least one shoulder ( 56 ) such that the fastener ( 37 ) is no longer able to slide in the slot ( 50 ). 
     In another aspect, the shoulder ( 56 ) is formed by a recessed portion ( 69 ). 
     The assembly ( 10 ) may further comprise a pair of ears ( 17 ,  18 ) extending from the hook ( 11 ). 
     In another aspect, the ears ( 17 ,  18 ) may be disposed in spaced apart facing relation. 
     In another aspect, the ears ( 17 ,  18 ) having openings defined therein sized to receive a pin configured to attach the hook ( 11 ) to a load. 
     In another aspect, opposed members ( 63 ,  66 ) on the latch ( 40 ) have a shoulder ( 56 ) formed on the outer wall at a midportion of the slot ( 50 ). 
     In yet another aspect, one of the opposed members ( 63 ,  66 ) has a round opening ( 106 ) defined therein. 
     In another aspect, the outer wall of the opposed member ( 63 ,  66 ) with the round opening ( 106 ) may have a shoulder ( 160 ) formed therein. 
     In yet another aspect, the neck portion ( 31 ) may have a narrow portion with an opening defined therein. The opening may be configured to align with the openings in the opposed members ( 63 ,  66 ) on the latch ( 40 ). 
     In another aspect, the biasing member ( 49 ) may be a coil spring disposed around the fastener ( 37 ) that attaches the latch ( 40 ) to the neck portion ( 31 ) of the hook ( 11 ). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the assembly of the present invention shown during installation of the latch. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 1  shown in a middle position. 
         FIG. 3  is a first perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 1  shown in the installed position. 
         FIG. 4  is a second perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 1  shown in the installed position. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the latch. 
         FIG. 6  is a right side elevational view of the latch shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the latch. 
         FIG. 8  is a right side elevational view of the latch shown in  FIG. 7   
         FIG. 9  is a left side elevational view of the latch shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention shown in connection with an eye hook. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     At the outset, it should be clearly understood that like reference numerals are intended to identify the same structural elements, portions or surfaces consistently throughout the several drawing figures, as such elements, portions or surfaces may be further described or explained by the entire written specification, of which this detailed description is an integral part. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (e.g., cross-hatching, arrangement of parts, proportion, debris, etc.) together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof, (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or of rotation, as appropriate. 
     Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-9 , and initially to  FIG. 1  thereof, this invention provides a hook assembly  10  with a hook  11  having a body  13  with a first end  16  and a second end  19 . The hook  11  may be formed of a high strength material such as steel or the like for use in industrial applications for connecting a load to a crane, hoist or the like. The first end  16  may be provided with a pair of spaced apart, ears  17  and  18  that terminate at the first end  16  of the body  13 . The ears  17  and  18  may be configured in facing relation and may be provided with openings  22  and  25  defined therein. The openings  22 ,  25  receive a pin (not shown) for connecting the hook assembly  10  to a wire or rope as described below. The ears  17  and  18  form a U-shaped opening  28  therebetween. The ears  17  and  18  are configured in this manner for attaching the hook assembly  10  to a wire rope or cable attached to a crane or hoist. The ears  17  and  18  extend upward from a neck portion  31  of the body  13 . 
     The neck portion  31  may be provided with an opening for receiving a fastener  37 . The fastener  37  pivotally attaches a latch  40  to the neck portion  31  as will be described in detail herein. The body  13  extends along a curve until it reaches the second end  19 . The second end  19  terminates in a tip  43 . An opening  46  is formed between the tip  43  and the neck portion  31 . The opening  46  leads to a U-shaped space  47  defined by the body  13  of the hook  11 . 
     The latch  40  is pivotally attached to the neck portion  31 . A biasing member  49  ( FIGS. 3-4 ) such as a spring or the like biases the latch  40  in the counterclockwise direction. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the latch  40  is shown in its initial position where the tension on the biasing member  49  is released. In this position, the fastener  37  such as a screw, bolt or the like can be inserted through aligned openings in the latch  40  and the neck portion  31 . As shown, the free end  38  or the end opposite the head  39  of the fastener  37  is shown extending through one of the openings in the latch  40 . The design provides for assembly of most of the components without spring tension and without having to position the latch  40  in its final installed position. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , the slot described in further detail herein provides for sliding the fastener  37  forward in the slot to reduce the length of the portion of the pivoting latch  40  that extends beyond the fastener  37 . As a result, in this position of fastener  37  in the slot, the latch  40  is capable of rotating past the tip  43 .  FIG. 2  shows a mid-position where the latch  40  has been rotated past the tip  43  and extends into the U-shaped space  47  formed by the hook H. 
     In  FIG. 3 , the fastener  37  is pushed backward in the slot  50  and a nut  53  is attached to the fastener  37 . As will be described in greater detail herein, once the nut  53  is attached to the fastener  37 , the fastener  37  is no longer able to slide within the slot  50  because the nut  53  bears against a shoulder  56  (best shown in  FIGS. 5-6 ) formed near the opening for the fastener  37 . Accordingly, the position shown in  FIG. 3  corresponds to the final installed position of the latch  40 . The final installed position corresponds to the position where the latch  40  is under spring tension and is engaged with the tip  43  of the hook  11 . When the latch  40  is installed in the hook assembly  10 , it provides a bias in the normally closed position such that the latch  40  extends between the neck portion  31  and the tip  43  and is held against the tip  43  by the force of the biasing member  49 . The latch  40  is configured to rotate inward into the space  47  created by the hook  11  such that the hook  11  can be connected to an attachment member on a load. Once the attachment member passes by the latch  40  and enters the space  47  inside the hook  11 , the latch  40  rotates under the force of the biasing member  49  until it engages with the tip  43 . In this position the latch  40  is in the closed position and the load is secured to the hook assembly  10 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , the assembly is shown from the opposite side such that the head  39  of the fastener  37  is visible. As shown the neck portion  31  may be provided with a narrow portion  59  containing the opening for receiving the fastener  37 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 5-6 , a detailed view of one embodiment of the latch  40  is shown. The latch  40  may be provided with a body  60  having a first end  61  and a second end  62  disposed opposite from the first end  61 . A pair of opposed members  63 ,  66  are disposed in spaced apart facing relation at the first end  61 . In  FIG. 5 , each opposed member  63 ,  66  is provided with an opening formed in the shape of an elongate slot  50 . The outside surface of the opposed member  63 ,  66  may be provided with a recessed surface  69  that forms the shoulder  56 . The slot  50  extends beyond the shoulder  56 . With reference to the orientation of  FIG. 6 , when the latch  40  is being installed on the hook assembly  10 , the fastener  37  slides to the bottom  75  of the slot  50  so that the end of the latch  40  can rotate past the tip  43  of the hook  11 . Once the end of the latch  40  rotates past the tip  43  into the space  47  inside the hook  11 , the fastener  37  can be slid into the top  78  of the slot  50 . In this position, the nut  53  can be attached to the end of the fastener  37 . In the installed position, the nut  53  engages with the shoulder  56  formed on the outside of the opposed member  63 ,  66  such that the fastener  37  is captured at the top  78  of the slot  50  and can no longer move to the bottom  75  of the slot  50 . Accordingly, when the latch  40  rotates the end of the latch  40  engages with the tip  43  to form a lock that prevents the cable or rope attached to the load from exiting from the space  47  inside the hook  11 . The embodiment in  FIG. 5  includes matching slots  50  on both opposed members  63 ,  66  as shown in  FIG. 6  which provides for installation of the fastener  37  from either side. 
     In  FIGS. 7-9 , an alternate embodiment of the latch is shown. Latch  100  has a slot  150  on one side and a round opening  106  on the opposite side. The fastener  37  is installed with the head  39  on the side of the round opening  106 . The opposite end  38  of the fastener  37  that receives the nut  53  is disposed in the side with the elongated slot  150 . The slot  150  provides for moving the shaft of the fastener  37  toward the bottom  153  of the slot  150  to allow the latch  100  to rotate past the tip  43  into the space  47  inside the hook  11 . Once the latch  100  is in position inside the space  47 , the nut  53  can be attached to the end of the fastener  37 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the round opening  106  has a shoulder  160  disposed in spaced apart relation below the bottom of the opening  106 . In  FIG. 9 , a shoulder  170  is disposed at a position between the two ends of the slot  150 . When the nut  53  is attached to the fastener  37 , the nut  53  bears against the shoulder  170  which prevents the shaft of the fastener  37  from moving toward the bottom  153  of the slot  150 . Accordingly, the latch  100  and biasing member  49  can be connected to the hook assembly  10  with the latch  100  positioned outside the hook  11  and without spring tension. Once the latch  100  is connected to the neck portion  31  of the hook  11 , the latch  100  can be rotated into position inside the hook  11  against the force of the biasing member  49  and the nut  53  can be placed on the end of the fastener  37 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 10 , an alternate embodiment of the invention shows a latch  240  of the present invention installed on an eye hook  200 . The body  213  extends to a tip  243 . The latch  240  is constructed in the same manner as the embodiment described above and may be installed without spring tension in the same manner as the embodiment described above. Accordingly, the latch construction of the present invention may be used with almost any type of hook as will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art based on this disclosure. 
     The present invention contemplates that many changes and modifications may be made. Therefore, while the presently-preferred form of the safety latch for a hook has been shown and described, and several modifications and alternatives discussed, persons skilled in this art will readily appreciate that various additional changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined and differentiated by the following claims.