Abstract: A latching mechanism for a hoisting hook of the type having a C-shaped body portion with a stem at one end and a tip at an opposite end spaced from the stem to form a mouth, a longitudinally extending latch pivotally connected at one end to the stem for pivotal movement towards and away from the body portion about a horizontal pivot axis perpendicular to and spaced from the central axis of the stem, the tip having a recess means therein terminating in a stop means, the latch being provided with a projection means adjacent the opposite free end, whereby, when the latch is pivoted about its pivot axis away from the body portion, the projection means will pass into the recess means until it engages the stop means, constituting a closed position of the latch with respect to the hook, a spring means for urging the latch away from the body portion towards and into engagement with the tip, and rotatable locking means at the opposite end of the latch and selectively engagable with the upper end of the tip for retaini

Abstract: A gate latching mechanism comprising a gate for closing the mouth of a hoist hook. The gate is attached to the hook and pivotally movable out of the mouth of the hook about a substantially vertical pivot axis spaced from the central axis of the stem of the hook. A spring which is located at the pivot axis biases the gate to swing to an open position. The free end of the gate is provided with a latch which, when closed, covers the tip of the hook, a lock which holds the latch engaged with the tip until the lock is manually released, and a locking spring for moving the lock to the locked position when the latch is moved to engage the tip.