A positive locking latch assembly for a hook having an open saddle. The latch assembly includes a latch body having a latch face and a pair of opposed sides. The latch body rotates between an open position and a closed position. A torsion spring urges the latch body toward the closed position. A lock plate retained within the latch body is movable between a locked and an unlocked position. A compression spring urges the lock plate toward the locked position. A tab extending from the lock plate extends into an opening in the latch face. A lip extending from the tab is manually movable to engage the latch face in order to retain the lock plate in an unlocked position.

A positive locking latch assembly for a hook having an open saddle. The latch assembly includes a latch body having a latch face and a pair of opposed sides. The latch body rotates between an open position and a closed position. A torsion spring urges the latch body toward the closed position. A lock plate retained within the latch body is movable between a locked and an unlocked position. A compression spring urges the lock plate toward the locked position. A tab extending from the lock plate extends into an opening in the latch face. A lip extending from the tab is manually movable to engage the latch face in order to retain the lock plate in an unlocked position.

There is disclosed a retrieval system for retrieving a vessel from water to a deck of a recovery vessel, comprising: a lifting device mounted on the deck of the recovery vessel, the device comprising a substantially vertically extending structure and a lifting hook mounted to said substantially vertically extending structure so as to be raised and lowered therefrom by way of a first winch; a connection lead having a free end configured to detachably connect to a connection link of the vessel to be retrieved from the water an opposing end of the connection lead being located on the recovery vessel; a capture member mounted with respect to the lifting hook to capture the connection link of the vessel when the free end of the connection lead is raised towards the lifting hook; and a control member mounted with respect to the lifting hook of the lifting device and configured to receive at least a portion of the connection lead so as to direct the connection link to the capture member to be captured thereby as the free end of the connection lead is raised towards the lifting hook; wherein upon capture of the connection link by the capture member the winch is operated to facilitate lifting of the vessel from the water to the deck of the recovery vessel.

There is disclosed a retrieval system for retrieving a vessel from water to a deck of a recovery vessel, comprising: a lifting device mounted on the deck of the recovery vessel, the device comprising a substantially vertically extending structure and a lifting hook mounted to said substantially vertically extending structure so as to be raised and lowered therefrom by way of a first winch; a connection lead having a free end configured to detachably connect to a connection link of the vessel to be retrieved from the water an opposing end of the connection lead being located on the recovery vessel; a capture member mounted with respect to the lifting hook to capture the connection link of the vessel when the free end of the connection lead is raised towards the lifting hook; and a control member mounted with respect to the lifting hook of the lifting device and configured to receive at least a portion of the connection lead so as to direct the connection link to the capture member to be captured thereby as the free end of the connection lead is raised towards the lifting hook; wherein upon capture of the connection link by the capture member the winch is operated to facilitate lifting of the vessel from the water to the deck of the recovery vessel.

An automated lifting hook apparatus which includes a hook housing and a hook member movably connected to the hook housing, the hook member moveable between a retracted position and a hook position, the hook member defining a hook engagement point when the hook member is in the hook position. A guide frame can be connected to the hook housing, the guide frame including at least one guide plate extending outward relative to the hook engagement point of the hook member in a first direction and at a downward angle. In some embodiments, the guide frame can include a plurality of guide plates extending radially outward from the hook engagement point at respective downward angles.

An automated lifting hook apparatus which includes a hook housing and a hook member movably connected to the hook housing, the hook member moveable between a retracted position and a hook position, the hook member defining a hook engagement point when the hook member is in the hook position. A guide frame can be connected to the hook housing, the guide frame including at least one guide plate extending outward relative to the hook engagement point of the hook member in a first direction and at a downward angle. In some embodiments, the guide frame can include a plurality of guide plates extending radially outward from the hook engagement point at respective downward angles.

A hook gate or hoist hook having a hook gate that is designed to prevent dynamic rollout. The lockable gate includes one or more release mechanisms that allow the gate to unlock and open upon actuation of the release mechanisms. The release mechanisms reside within a circumferential guard that extends outwardly from the gate. The guards preferably extend at least as far as the release mechanism or beyond the extension of the release mechanism. The hook gate further includes anti-snagging flanges extending generally in the vertical direction from both the top and bottom portions of the guard. The circumferential guard and the anti-snagging flanges in combination make it nearly impossible for an attachment mechanism to become improperly oriented under a load and effectively eliminate the possibility of dynamic rollout.

A hook gate or hoist hook having a hook gate that is designed to prevent dynamic rollout. The lockable gate includes one or more release mechanisms that allow the gate to unlock and open upon actuation of the release mechanisms. The release mechanisms reside within a circumferential guard that extends outwardly from the gate. The guards preferably extend at least as far as the release mechanism or beyond the extension of the release mechanism. The hook gate further includes anti-snagging flanges extending generally in the vertical direction from both the top and bottom portions of the guard. The circumferential guard and the anti-snagging flanges in combination make it nearly impossible for an attachment mechanism to become improperly oriented under a load and effectively eliminate the possibility of dynamic rollout.

A hook assembly comprises a hook member and a latch member. The hook member has a body and a hook point defined at one end of the body. The hook point is spaced apart from and opposite a catch tab protruding from the body at an intermediate point on the body. A hook gap is defined between the hook point and the catch tab. The latch member is pivotably coupled to the body and movable between an open position in which the latch member is retracted toward the body and a closed position in which the latch member is pivoted to contact the hook point and thereby close the hook gap. The latch member defines a latch engagement opening sized larger than at least a portion of the catch tab so that the latch member is retractable past the catch tab in the closed position.

A hook assembly comprises a hook member and a latch member. The hook member has a body and a hook point defined at one end of the body. The hook point is spaced apart from and opposite a catch tab protruding from the body at an intermediate point on the body. A hook gap is defined between the hook point and the catch tab. The latch member is pivotably coupled to the body and movable between an open position in which the latch member is retracted toward the body and a closed position in which the latch member is pivoted to contact the hook point and thereby close the hook gap. The latch member defines a latch engagement opening sized larger than at least a portion of the catch tab so that the latch member is retractable past the catch tab in the closed position.