Patent ID: 8162276

Claim:
A hook assembly comprising: a first portion and a second portion, each of the first portion and the second portion being rotatably joined at a rotary joint at respective joint ends thereof, the first portion and the second portion each defining a perimeter shape wherein the first portion and the second portion define (a) an enclosed orientation when the joint is in a first rotational position with respective free ends of the first portion and the second portion in a confronting relationship so as to form an enclosed interior shape and (b) a hook orientation when the joint is in a second rotational position rotationally remote from the first rotational position; and wherein the joint includes an index assembly that selectively maintains the first portion and the second portion in each of the first rotational position and the second rotational position with movement therebetween by application of predetermined rotational torque at the joint, and wherein the index assembly includes a first index surface on the first portion having at least one male projection and a second index surface on the second portion having at least one female detent, each of the first index surface and the second index surface being rotatably positioned on an axis and a spring assembly that movably biases the first index surface toward the second index surface, and allows movement of the first index surface away from the second index surface under compression of the spring assembly.