Spreader safety device

Abstract

A spreader safety device is herein disclosed which has a ring like member having outwardly flared portions extending toward the axial ends thereof. The ring is sized so as to slidably fit over the spreader attachment element and the spreader cables. However, the ring is further sized to be sufficiently small so as to not slide over the gripping hooks attached to the free ends of the spreader. Accordingly, the ring slides into abutting contact with such hooks. The flared out portions of the ring generally describe two truncated cones very much resembling an hour glass. In operation, when the spreaders are separated for connection with the outside of an object to be hoisted, the safety device slides up the spreaders. When the hooks are then removed from the object and permitted to swing toward each other, the ring immediately falls into abutting engagement with the hooks so as to prevent excessive pendulum swinging of the spreaders and, hence, injury to any personnel standing in the vicinity of the spreaders.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.