Load-support system employing instantaneously adjustable hook

An adjustable hook for use with load-supporting cords, said hook having:

• a) a U-shaped hook portion terminating in a first relatively short integral leg and a second relatively long integral leg wherein said first and second legs are spaced apart, said second relatively long integral leg terminating at its free end in a hook base portion;
• and,
• b) means defining a latch pivotally mounted on said hook base portion for pivotal movement between first and second limit positions, said latch defining means and said hook base portion forming a bore having:
• i) a linear axis lying in a plane containing at least said second relatively long leg;
• ii) a cord outlet at the end of said bore remote from said first relatively short leg;
• and iii), a cord inlet at the end of said bore closest to said first relatively short leg;
• whereby:
• i) when said latch defining means is in said first limit position, said bore is characterized by having a substantially uniform diameter throughout its axial length so as to permit a cord to be passed freely through said bore with said adjustable hook being slideable in either direction along and relative to the cord;
• ii), when said latch defining means is pivoted relative to said hook base portion from said first limit position to said second limit position, the end of said latch defining means closest to said cord outlet end of said bore shifts inwardly toward said bore axis, reducing the diameter of said bore adjacent said cord outlet ends and clamping the cord within the reduced diameter end of said bore so as to prevent movement of the cord from said cord inlet end of said bore through said cord outlet end of said bore while permitting movement of the cord from said cord outlet end of said bore through said cord inlet end;
• and iii), wherein disposition of the cord on a line substantially co-axial with said bore axis and exterior of said cord inlet end of said bore permits free slideable movement of said adjustable hook along and relative to the cord in either direction, while shifting of that portion of the cord exterior to said cord inlet end of said bore to a position defining an acute included angle with respect to said bore axis serves to pivot said latch defining means from said first limit position to said second limit position and to maintain said latch defining means in said second limit position.