Negative dobbies of the type incorporating swinging levers

A negative dobby for controlling the heddle frames on weaving looms wherein the dobby incorporates a swinging lever assembly which supports a lever element having articulated hooks carried on corresponding pivot pins adjacent the ends thereof which hooks are cooperatively engageable with pivotable retaining members controlled by a reading device, the improvement comprising each of said hooks having a bearing face which is in spaced relationship to and oriented generally toward a corresponding pivot pin, each of said retaining members including a locking lever means having a mounting portion and at least one outwardly extending free end portion, locking lever pivot pin means oriented generally parallel to said corresponding pivot pins and disposed generally between said bearing face of each of the hooks and their corresponding pivot pins, said mounting portion of each of said locking lever means being mounted to said locking lever pivot pins means so as to be pivotable with respect to said hooks, said free end portion of each of said locking lever means being selectively pivotable into engagement with said bearing face of said hooks.