Self-locking hook

Abstract

A self-locking hook for supporting a load on a substantially horizontal surface is disclosed. The hook has a relatively rigid C-shaped body which includes a surface defining an opening for accommodating a substantially horizontal component and a support having a load bearing or attachment point. The surface of the opening includes a first contact area and a second contact area. The load bearing or attachment point is attached to the body relative to the opening such that application of a load at the load bearing point while the first contact area is contacting a component rotates the body about the first contact area until the second contact area abuts the component. This self-locking feature allows the hook to be used effectively on both component surfaces which are slightly angled or sloped and with loads which are not perpendicular to the component surface.

1 . A shower assembly for attaching to a shower head pipe, the assembly comprising:
 a hook comprising:
 a body comprising a first surface defining a first span of an opening and a second surface defining a second span of the opening opposite the first span; and 
 a support integral to the body and comprising an attachment point for bearing a hanging load; and 
   a shower unit attached to the attachment point of the hook such that it causes the body of the hook to bind the shower head pipe between the first surface and the second surface of the body.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shower unit comprises at least one shelf and is removably retained within the support. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the shower unit comprises a frame connected to the support. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the frame is permanently attached to the support. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second surfaces of the opening comprise a C-shaped portion for removably retaining the shower unit. 
   
   
       6 . The hook of  claim 5 , wherein the first surface comprises material having a high coefficient of friction. 
   
   
       7 . The hook of  claim 5 , wherein the second surface comprises material having a high coefficient of friction. 
   
   
       8 . A self-locking hook for attachment to a substantially horizontal component, the hook comprising:
 a body defining an opening therein for fitting around a substantially horizontal component, wherein a first surface of the body defining a first span of the opening is directly opposite a second surface of the body defining a second span of the opening; and   a support integral to the body and comprising an attachment point for bearing a hanging load, wherein the support is positioned relative to the opening such that application of a force at the attachment point normal to the component causes the body to bind the component between the first surface and the second surface.   
   
   
       9 . The self-locking hook of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the opening is lined with a resilient material. 
   
   
       10 . The self-locking hook of  claim 9 , wherein the material has a high coefficient of friction. 
   
   
       11 . The self-locking hook of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the first surface of the body comprises a resilient material. 
   
   
       12 . The self-locking hook of  claim 8 , wherein the second surface comprises a resilient material. 
   
   
       13 . The self-locking hook of  claim 8 , wherein the surface defining the opening is non-planar. 
   
   
       14 . The self-locking hook of  claim 13 , wherein the attachment point, the first surface, and the second surface are non-planar. 
   
   
       15 . The self-locking hook of  claim 8 , wherein the attachment point is offset from a straight line passing through the first and second surfaces. 
   
   
       16 . The self-locking hook of  claim 16 , wherein the support is positioned below the component when the hook is engaged with the component. 
   
   
       17 . The self-locking hook of  claim 8 , wherein the body is C-shaped. 
   
   
       18 . The self-locking hook of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one shelf unit connected to the support at the attachment point. 
   
   
       19 . The self-locking hook of  claim 18 , wherein the support comprises a C-shaped portion for removably retaining the at least one shelf unit. 
   
   
       20 . A self-locking hook comprising:
 a rigid body having a surface defining an opening for accommodating a substantially horizontal component, the surface comprising a first contact area and a second contact area; and   a support comprising a load bearing point and attached to the body relative to the opening such that application of a load at the load bearing point while the first contact area is contacting a component rotates the body about the first contact area until the second contact area abuts the component.   
   
   
       21 . The hook of  claim 20 , wherein the first contact area is directly opposite the second contact area. 
   
   
       22 . The hook of  claim 20 , wherein the surface defining the opening is substantially C-shaped. 
   
   
       23 . The hook of  claim 20 , wherein the surface defining the opening comprises material having a high coefficient of friction. 
   
   
       24 . The hook of  claim 20 , wherein the first contact area comprises material having a high coefficient of friction. 
   
   
       25 . The hook of  claim 20 , wherein the second contact area comprises material having a high coefficient of friction. 
   
   
       26 . The hook of  claim 20 , further comprising an integral load removably attached to the support. 
   
   
       27 . The hook of  claim 26 , wherein the integral load is a shower shelf unit.