Chain hook

Claim 1

In combination with a chain, a chain hook adapted to be detachably connected therewith, said chain including links having rounded opposite ends and at least an intermediate link and a pair of adjoining links connected thereto, said hook comprising a body having a lower bight and a pair of spaced-apart, upstanding legs defining a throat open at the upper end for receiving said intermediate link on a plane transverse of said body and bisecting said throat, said legs each including a pair of concave spaced-apart stop surfaces on opposite sides engageable with a rounded end of said adjoining links for limiting movement of said intermediate link along said plane while engaged in said throat, said legs dimensioned for permitting downward pivotal movement of at least one of said adjoining links toward said bight about a pivot axis normal to said plane when the other adjoining link is engaged against an adjacent stop surface, and link support means including a pair of latEral projections extending from said bight transversely outwardly of both pairs of said stop surfaces in opposite directions forming a pair of saddle surfaces for supporting said intermediate link below said pivot axis, said saddle surfaces sloping downwardly and outwardly from an intersection thereof intermediate said opposite stop surfaces of each leg in said throat, each projection including a concavely curved underside sloping upwardly and outwardly from a lower edge of said bight, said concavely curved surfaces adapted to receive a curved end portion of an outer chain link connected to said adjoining link and forming bearing surfaces supporting said outer chain link for pivotal movement downward toward said bight.