Hook assembly

A hook assembly comprising a lifting eye bolt (2) and a hook (4) mounted at opposite ends of a body (3), a combined latch-ejector unit (31) rotatably disposed on the hook (4) for adjustment between a first position in which the hook opening is closed and a second position in which the hook opening is uncovered and for releasing a load attached to the hook and an operating device (24, 30) for adjustment of the latch-ejector unit between the first and second positions, the hook (4) being firmly mounted at the lower end of the body (3) and the lifting eye bolt (2) being mounted in the upper end of the body (3) for limited movement towards and away from the hook (4), at least one energyaccumulating member (15) being operatively inserted between the body (3) and the lifting eye bolt (2) for storing energy therein during the movement of the lifting eye bolt (2) away from the hook when the hook assembly (1) is exposed to load, a locking and transmitting link System (12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22) being provided for transmitting, upon relief of the load from the hook assembly after a preceding loading, the energy stored in the energyaccumulating member (15) to the operating device (24, 30) of the latch-ejector unit (31) for automatic adjustment of the latch ejector unit between the first and second positions thereof, and a damper (16) operatively inserted between the body (3) and the lifting eye bolt (2) to delay, upon relief of the load from the hook assembly (1), the transmission of the accumulated energy of the energy-accumulating member (15) to the operating device (24, 30) of the latch-ejector unit (31) via the locking and transmitting link system (12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22).