Swivel lifting ring assembly with an off-center eyelet

Abstract

A swivel lifting ring assembly (1) including a flange (11) with an off-center eyelet (116) holding a lifting loop (16), a base plate assembly (12, 13) received in a through channel provided in the flange (11), and a bolt (14) held in the base plate assembly (12, 13) by a circlip-type elastic ring (15) and adapted to engage with a load to be lifted. The lifting loop (16) can be a metal loop fitted with a spring brake to hold the metal loop in position, and two non-polyhedral clamping lugs (161) providing a means for rotating the bolt (14). This enables to apply a manual tightening torque when fitting to the load. If the operation does not involve any pivoting of the metal loop (16) around the axis of the bolt (14), lifting can be carried out without any risk of unscrewing.

Description

SWIVEL LIFTING RING ASSEMBLY WITH AN OFF-CENTER EYELETTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates in general to equipment for lifting load, and particularly to lifting rings that can be securely mounted on structures for lifting the same and can be easily removed. More specifically, the present invention relates to a swivel lifting ring having an off-center eyelet.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Lifting ring assemblies having a lower end which is threadedly securable to a load and an upper eye member which is securable to a base are known.

[0003] For example, U.S. Patent No. 6,017,071 describes a hoist assembly having a swiveling head with a pivoting shackle. A lift swivel is captured by a housing and is rotatable relative to the housing. A shackle assembly including a lifting ring is fastened to the lift swivel. A lift bolt is threaded into the housing opposite the shackle assembly. The lift bolt includes an axially extending shaft for threading into a corresponding hole in a structure to be lifted. The end of the shaft in the hole is expandable to lock the shaft in the structure hole. A retainer such as a snap ring, or a jam ring and setscrews are provided to securely lock the lift bolt to the housing. However, this hoist assembly is complicated in design and is not suitable for angular lifts and tilting under load, as this lifting assembly has a centered lifting point and swivels directly above the load. Also, there is always a risk of injury and damaging of the load during the use as the lifting elements, including the shackle, are made of metal.

[0004] U.S. Patent No. 5,927,780 discloses another example of a swivel lifting ring, which is intended for a web sling. The swivel lifting ring having a screw with a threaded shank for receiving a load and a body which receives the screw therethrough. A web sling includes a spool having a saddle to receive a fabric web sling. A frame has a first pair of legs connected to the sling spool and a second pair of legs which pivotally connect with the lifting ring body. Though this device is more suitable for angular lifts, it also is complicated in design and uses metal elements which can lay down and damage the load.

[0005] U.S. Patent No. 6,267,422 discloses a side mount lifting ring assembly adapted to swivel through a full 360 degrees and pivot through a full 180 degrees. The lift comprises a body, a cylindrical bushing, a load bearing flange, a closed lifting loop, and a threaded mounting member. Lifting loads exerted on the lifting loop induce bending stress on the mounting member which are compensated for by the load bearing flange. However, this lifting ring, including the lifting loop, is made of steel and is not intended for using a textile lifting loop. The lifting loop that can be used with this lifting ring is limited to having a generally linear segment engaging the channel in the body of the assembly.

[0006] U.S. Design Patent No. US D453,102 S shows another design of a side pull lifting ring, which comprises a flange with an off-center eyelet, a bushing inserted into the flange, and a threaded mounting member passing through the bushing. However, this lifting ring is intended to be used with a rigid, metal shackle attachable to the eyelet and is not intended for using a textile loop sling. Moreover, since the flange is pulled onto the bushing there is a risk that the flange can slip off the bushing in use.

[0007] Therefore, there is still a need to develop an improved swivel lifting ring design which is usable in tight, narrow spaces and suitable for angular lifts, tilting under load, and for using in pairs.

[0008] Further, there is a need to provide a versatile lifting ring capable of incorporating either a metal lifting loop or a textile lifting loop that is easy-to-use with no risk of injury, lightweight, flexible and less prone to damaging.

[0009] Further, there is a need to provide a simplified design of the lifting ring enabling quick and easy assembly, while at the same time ensuring a reliable interconnection of the lifting ring elements.

[0010] Also, there is a need to provide a design of the lifting ring assembly that enables applying a manual tightening torque when fitting to the load, without a need in additional tools, and which configuration reduces risks of unscrewing of the assembly mounting member from the load in use.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In order to effectively solve all the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to a lifting ring assembly adapted to attach to an object to be lifted, the assembly adapted to swivel through a full 360 degrees, said assembly comprising a flange, a first base plate, a second base plate, a mounting member, and a lifting loop.

[0012] The flange comprises: two parallel spaced portions, an upper portion and a lower portion, each comprising a substantially circular through hole, the through holes having substantially same size and being coaxially positioned one under the other to form a substantially cylindrical channel through the flange; and an eyelet portion laterally and integrally extending from and connecting the upper and lower portions and comprising an eyelet which central axis is substantially perpendicular to and spaced from a central axis of each of the two through holes of the upper and lower portions.

[0013] The first base plate comprises a substantially cylindrical bushing portion rotatably received in the channel and having opposed distal end and proximal end spaced apart at an axial distance greater than a depth of the channel, and an annular flange portion radially transversely extending from the distal end of the bushing portion and integrally formed with the bushing portion and adapted to bear against a surface of the object to be lifted.

[0014] The second base plate comprises a substantially cylindrical bushing portion press-fitted in the bushing portion of the first base plate and having opposed distal end and proximal end spaced apart at an axial distance, and an annular flange portion radially transversely extending from the distal end of the bushing portion and integrally formed with the bushing portion.

[0015] The mounting member extends through the bushing portion and the flange portion of the second base plate to engage with the object to be lifted.

[0016] The lifting loop is movably received in the eyelet of the flange.

[0017] In one of the embodiments, the eyelet portion is substantially C-shaped in lateral crosssection.

[0018] In one of the embodiments, each of the parallel spaced portions of the flange is a substantially flat portion provided with one or more ribs protruding towards the other one of the parallel spaced portions. The one or more ribs of each of the parallel spaced portions preferably face the corresponding one or more ribs of the other one of the parallel spaced portions.

[0019] In one of the embodiments, the upper portion of the flange has a bottom surface and a top surface which is a top face of the flange, and the lower portion of the flange has a top surface and a bottom surface which is a bottom face of the flange. The through hole of each of the upper and lower portions of the flange connects the top surface and the bottom surface thereof.

[0020] In one of the embodiments, the axial distance between the opposed distal end and proximal end of the bushing portion of the second base plate is substantially equal to the axial distance between the opposed distal end and proximal end of the bushing portion of the first base plate.

[0021] In one of the embodiments, the mounting member comprises a cylindrical shaft rotatably extending through the bushing portion and the flange portion of the second base plate, and preferably comprises a head which serves as a gripping surface for tools and from which the shaft integrally extends.

[0022] In one of the embodiments, the mounting member is a threaded mounting member, and the cylindrical shaft comprises a threaded portion for engaging with the object to be lifted. The threaded mounting member can be a bolt, such as a hexagon-head bolt.

[0023] In one of the embodiments, the assembly further comprises a ring holding the shaft of the mounting member in the second base plate. The ring preferably is a circlip-type elastic ring.

[0024] In one of the embodiments, the second base plate comprises an annular groove provided on an internal surface of the bushing portion, and the shaft of the mounting member is provided with an annular groove. The annular groove of the second base plate and the annular groove of the threaded mounting member coincide providing a closed annular channel, and the ring is seated inside the annular channel formed by the annular grooves.

[0025] In one of the embodiments, the lifting loop is a closed textile loop, preferably made of a synthetic fabric, and more preferably the synthetic textile loop is a woven-and- stitched interlinked webbing loop.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment, the lifting loop is a metal loop, preferably made of steel.

[0027] In one of the embodiments, the metal lifting loop is fitted with a spring brake to hold the metal loop in position.

[0028] In one of the embodiments, the metal lifting loop comprises two clamping lugs, preferably non-polyhedral clamping lugs, which protrude from two opposite internal walls of the metal loop in direction to each other so as to enable trapping the head of the mounting member between the lugs, when the metal lifting loop is maximally inclined in direction to the mounting member, with a possibility of rotating the head of the mounting member about a longitudinal axis of the mounting member by means of the lugs of the metal lifting loop.

[0029] In one of the embodiments, where the mounting member is a hexagon-head bolt, the two clamping lugs are sized so that the distance between the lugs is larger than the distance between any two opposite side walls of the six walls of the head of the bolt, and shorter than the distance between any two side edges of the head of the bolt.

[0030] In one of the embodiments, the flange, the base plates, and the mounting member are made of steel. Preferably, hardness of the steel ranges from 30 to 38 HRC. More preferably, the grades of steel are 25CrMo4 for the flange and / or 42CrMo4 for the mounting member and base plates.

[0031] The present invention thus provides an advantageous solution for lifting load by a lifting ring assembly, which can be used in tight, narrow spaces due to that it rotates 360° and is capable to incorporate a flexible textile lifting loop.

[0032] The present invention is ideal for angular lifts and tilting under load, since it always swivels out to the side away from the load. When not in use, the lifting loop can be laid away from the load.

[0033] The present invention is perfectly used in pairs as this is a “de-centered” lifting ring which simply means it lifts “off center”.

[0034] Furthermore, the lifting ring assembly according to the invention has a simplified but still reliable design with a minimum number of elements, enabling quick assembly. Due to providing a circlip-type elastic ring, the shaft of the threaded mounting member is reliably held in the base plate assembly, reducing the risk of disassembling of the lifting ring elements when in use, lifting the load.

[0035] Further, the lifting ring according to the invention is versatile as it is “multitool”, i.e. capable of incorporating either a metal lifting loop or a textile lifting loop. Using the textile loop advantageously provides for a lightweight assembly, safe use with no risk of injury, flexibility and a reduced risk of damaging. Using the metal loop with the clamping lugs, on the other side, allows to trap the threaded mounting member and rotate it by means of the metal lifting loop, which ensures easy manual tightening of the threaded mounting member when attaching the same to the load, without any additional tools, and prevents from unscrewing in use.

[0036] For installing the lifting ring assembly according to the invention, all that is needed is a threaded hole.

[0037] These and other advantages and features of the present invention are described with specificity below.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which prominent aspects and features of the invention are illustrated.

[0039] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swivel lifting ring assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, with a metal lifting loop being in a first position.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a front view of the swivel lifting ring assembly as shown in FIG. 1.

[0041] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view A-A as indicated in FIG. 2.

[0042] FIG. 4 is a top view of the swivel lifting ring assembly as shown in FIG. 1.

[0043] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view B-B as indicated in FIG. 4.

[0044] FIG. 6 is a side view of the swivel lifting ring assembly as shown in FIG. 1.

[0045] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view C-C as indicated in FIG. 6.

[0046] FIG. 8 is a front view of the swivel lifting ring assembly shown in FIGS. 1-7, with the metal lifting loop being in a second position.

[0047] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view D-D as indicated in FIG. 8.

[0048] FIG. 10 is a top view of the swivel lifting ring assembly as shown in FIG. 8.

[0049] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view F-F as indicated in FIG. 10.

[0050] FIG. 12 is a side view of a flange of the swivel lifting ring assembly shown in FIGS. 1-11

[0051] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view G-G as indicated in FIG. 12.

[0052] FIG. 14 is a side view of a bottom base plate of the swivel lifting ring assembly shown in FIGS. 1-11

[0053] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view H-H as indicated in FIG. 14.

[0054] FIG. 16 is a side view of a top base plate of the swivel lifting ring assembly shown in FIGS. 1-11

[0055] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view I-I as indicated in FIG. 16.

[0056] FIG. 18 is a side view of a bolt of the swivel lifting ring assembly shown in FIGS. 1- 11

[0057] FIG. 19 is a top view of the bolt shown in FIG. 18.

[0058] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view E-E as indicated in FIG. 8.

[0059] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the rigid lifting loop of the swivel lifting ring assembly shown in FIGS. 1-11.

[0060] The present figures relate to schematic drawings so that any dimension of the elements shown in the drawings may deviate from a specifically implemented setup.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] In the following discussion that addresses a number of embodiments and applications of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration of specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0062] Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. However, any single inventive feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or only address one of the problems discussed above. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described below.

[0063] Where the present description refers to “preferred” embodiments / features, combinations of these “preferred” embodiments / features shall also be deemed as disclosed as long as this combination of “preferred” embodiments / features is technically meaningful.

[0064] The term “substantially” refers to a possibility of deviating not more than 10° or 5% from a value. For example, the term “substantially perpendicular” refers to a possibility of deviating not more than 10° from perpendicular alignment. According to another example, the term “substantially same size” refers to a possibility of deviating not more than 5% from the size value.

[0065] Turning now to FIGS. 1-11, a swivel lifting ring assembly 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The swivel lifting ring assembly 1 includes a flange 11 with an off-center eyelet 116, a base plate assembly rotatably received in a through channel provided in the flange 11 and comprising a first base plate 12 and a second base plate 13, a threaded mounting member 14 held in the base plate assembly by a ring 15 and adapted to engage with an object to be lifted, and a lifting loop 16 movably received in the off-center eyelet 116 and attachable to a base lifting equipment.

[0066] As better illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the flange 11 comprises two similarly shaped, substantially parallel spaced portions, an upper portion 110 and a lower portion 111. The upper portion 110 has a top surface 1100, which is a top face of the flange 11, and a bottom surface 1101, and the lower portion 111 has a top surface 1111 and a bottom surface 1110, which is a bottom face of the flange 11. Each of the two parallel spaced portions 110, 111 comprises a substantially circular through hole 112 connecting the top surface and the bottom surface thereof. The through holes 112 are coaxially positioned one under the other and have substantially same size and generally form together a through channel in the flange 11. An eyelet portion 113 laterally and integrally extends from the two parallel spaced portions 110, 111 in a direction substantially perpendicular to a central axis 114 of each of the through holes 112 (which is a central axis of the through channel formed by the through holes 112) so that the eyelet portion 113 connects the parallel spaced portions 110, 111. The eyelet portion 113 can be substantially C-shaped in lateral cross-section. A central axis 115 of an eyelet 116, preferably substantially cylindrical eyelet (as better illustrated in FIG. 11), which is formed by the eyelet portion 113 to receive the lifting loop 16, is substantially perpendicular to and spaced from a central axis 114 of each of the through holes 112.

[0067] Preferably, each of the parallel spaced portions 110, 111 is substantially flat and provided with one or more ribs 117 to reinforce the structure. The one or more ribs 117 of each of the parallel spaced portions 110, 111 face the corresponding one or more ribs 117 of the opposite one of the parallel spaced portions 110, 111. In one of possible embodiments, which is particularly illustrated in FIG. 13, there can be three ribs 117 arranged around the through hole 112 on each of the parallel spaced portions 110, 111 and protruding in direction of the corresponding three ribs 117 of the other one of the parallel spaced portions 110, 111.

[0068] The base plate assembly is rotatably received through both the through holes 112 of the flange 11 with the second base plate 13 press-fitted into the first base plate 12. The first base plate 12 is better illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 and comprises a substantially cylindrical bushing portion 120 having opposed distal end 120a and proximal end 120Z> spaced apart at an axial distance, and an annular flange portion 121 radially transversely extending from the distal end 120a of the bushing portion 120 and integrally formed with the bushing portion 120. A substantially cylindrical through channel 122 is thus formed in the first base plate 12, extending concentrically with a longitudinal axis 123 of the first base plate 12 through the bushing portion 120 and the flange portion 121 of the first base plate 12.

[0069] The bushing portion 120 of the first base plate 12 is received in a substantially cylindrical through channel formed by walls of both the through holes 112 provided in the parallel spaced portions 110, 111 of the flange 11 so that the flange 11 is rotatable about the longitudinal axis 123 and the bushing portion 120. The axial distance between the opposed distal end 120a and proximal end 120Z> of the bushing portion 120 should be greater than a distance between the top surface (1100) of the upper portion (110) and the bottom surface (1110) of the lower portion (111) (i.e., a depth of the substantially cylindrical through channel formed by walls of the two through holes 112 of the flange 11). The flange portion 121 of the first base plate 12 is adapted to bear against a surface of an object to be lifted.

[0070] The second base plate 13 is better illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17 and comprises a substantially cylindrical bushing portion 130 having opposed distal end 130a and proximal end 130Z> spaced apart at an axial distance, and an annular flange portion 131 radially transversely extending from the distal end 130a of the bushing portion 130 and integrally formed with the bushing portion 130. A substantially cylindrical through channel 132 is thus formed in the second base plate 13, extending concentrically with a longitudinal axis 133 of the second base plate 13 through the bushing portion 130 and the flange portion 131 of the second base plate 13. The second base plate 13 comprises an annular groove 134 provided on an internal surface of the bushing portion 130, in the through channel 132. The annular groove 134 is adapted to receive the ring 134, and preferably is substantially semicircular in cross section.

[0071] The bushing portion 130 of the second base plate 13 is received in the through channel 122 provided in the bushing portion 120 of the first base plate 12 such that the bushing portion 130 of the second base plate 13 fits into the internal diameter of the bushing portion 120 of thesecond base plate 12, and enabling the second base plate 13 to be press-fitted inside the first base plate 12. The axial distance between the opposed distal end 130a and proximal end 130Z> of the bushing portion 130 of the second base plate 13 should be substantially equal to a depth of the cylindrical through channel 122 formed in the bottom base plate 12 (i.e., the axial distance between the opposed distal end 130a and proximal end 130Z> of the bushing portion 130 of the second base plate 13 should be substantially equal to the axial distance between the opposed distal end 120a and proximal end 120Z> of the bushing portion 120 of the first base plate 12).

[0072] The threaded mounting member 14 rotatably extends through the through channel 132 of the second base plate 13 and is configured to engage an object to be lifted. The threaded mounting member 14 comprises a head 140 serving as a gripping surface for tools, and a cylindrical shaft 141 extending from the head 140 and adapted to extend through the through channel 132 of the second base plate 13 and comprising a threaded portion 1410 for threadedly engaging the object to be lifted. The threaded mounting member 14 is preferably a bolt, for example, a hexagon-head bolt as illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19.

[0073] The shaft 141 of the threaded mounting member 14 is provided with an annular groove 144 adapted to receive the ring 15. The annular groove 134 of the second base plate 13 and the annular groove 144 of the threaded mounting member 14 coincide in the lifting ring assembly 1 providing a closed annular channel. The ring 15 is seated inside the annular channel formed by the annular grooves 134, 144 to reliably hold the shaft 141 of the threaded mounting member 14 in the base plate assembly. The ring 15 preferably is a circlip-type elastic ring.

[0074] The lifting loop 16 is a closed loop, which can be a textile or metal loop received into the eyelet 113 of the flange 11 in a freely movable manner and is further attachable to a base lifting equipment by its opposite free part. FIGS. 1-11 show an embodiment with the metal loop 16 in two different positions in respect to the other elements of the assembly 1. FIGS. 1-7 particularly show the metal lifting loop in a first position, and FIGS. 8-11 show the lifting loop 16 in a second position. The first position of the lifting loop 16 is a maximal inclination of the metal lifting loop 16 in direction to the threaded mounting member 14. The second position of the lifting loop 16 is an upright position which is parallel to the central axis 114 of each of the two through holes 112 of the upper and lower portions 110, 111 of the flange 11.

[0075] In one of possible embodiments, the lifting loop can be a textile lifting loop (not shown), preferably made of a synthetic fabric. More preferably, the synthetic textile loop is a woven-and-stitched inter-linked webbing loop made from Dyneema® fiber yams. Alternatively, a chain of textile loops can be used with the first textile loop received in the off-center eyelet 116 of the flange 11. Preferably, Murlink® synthetic chain can be selected, which is constructed from the woven-and-stitched inter-linked webbing loops made from Dyneema®. The characteristics of an example of a suitable Murlink® synthetic chain are provided in Table 1 below.

[0076] Table 1

[0077] The metal lifting loop 16 can be used to replace the textile loop in the swivel lifting ring assembly 1, which makes the swivel lifting ring according to the present invention a versatile, “multitool” lifting ring. The metal lifting loop 16 can be fitted with a spring brake to hold the metal loop in position. Preferably, the metal lifting loop 16 comprises two clamping lugs 161, more preferably non-polyhedral clamping lugs, which protrude from two opposite internal walls of the metal loop 16 in direction to each other (see FIGS. 20 and 21) to enable the head 140 of the threaded mounting member 14 be trapped between the lugs 161 in the first position of the metal lifting loop 16 (as better shown in FIG. 2), so as to ensure rotating the head 140 of the threaded mounting member 14 about a longitudinal axis of the mounting member 14 by means of the metal lifting loop 16 when in the first position and rotated with the flange 11 about the central axis 114 of the through holes 112 of the flange 11. This feature makes it possible to apply a manual tightening torque when fitting to the load (the object to be lifted). Also, if the operation does not involve any pivoting of the lifting metal loop 16 around the axis of the threaded mounting member 14, lifting can be carried out without any risk of unscrewing. If this is not the case, a torque spanner is required.

[0078] When the threaded mounting member 14 is a hexagon-head bolt, the two clamping lugs 161 are preferably sized so that the shortest distance between the lugs 161 is 1) larger than the distance between any two opposite side walls 1400 of the six walls of the head 140 of the bolt 14, and 2) shorter than the distance between any two side edges 1401 of the head 140 of the bolt 14, so as to provide a means for rotating the head 140 by the metal lifting loop 16, at the same time preventing unscrewing of the bolt 14 in use.

[0079] Apart from that the lifting loop that can be made of fabric, the rigid version of the lifting loop and the other parts of the swivel lifting ring assembly 1, which are made of metal, are preferably made of steel. Preferably, the grades of steel are 25CrMo4 for the flange and 42CrMo4 for the threaded mounting member and base plates. Hardness of steel for the metal parts of the swivel lifting ring assembly preferably ranges from 30 to 38 HRC. The parts of the swivel lifting ring assembly must be hard enough to be resistant and ductile enough not to break.

[0080] Due to the shape, the flange 11 is preferably made by casting steel. That is, the flange 11 preferably is obtained directly by solidification of the liquid metal in molds made of refractory or metallic material, and which reproduce the final shapes and dimensions of the part that would be difficult to achieve by other processes.

[0081] The swivel lifting ring assembly 1 is assembled as follows. The lifting loop 16 is installed into the off-center cylindrical eyelet 116 of the flange 11. After that, the bushing portion 120 of the first base plate 12 is inserted through the through channel formed by walls of both the through holes 112 provided in the upper and lower portions 110, 111 of the flange 11, from the bottom face 1110 (see FIGS. 2, 6 and 12) of the flange 11. Then, the bushing portion 130 of the second base plate 13 is inserted into the through channel 122 provided in the bushing portion 120 of the first base plate 12 from the top face 1100 of the flange 11, and the second base plate 13 is press-fitted inside the first base plate 12. After that, the elastic ring 15 is installed in the annular groove 144 of the threaded mounting member 14, and the threaded mounting member 14 is inserted into the through channel 132 provided in the second base plate 13 of the base plate assembly and pressed until the elastic ring 15 gets into the annual groove 134 provided on the internal wall of the second base plate 13 and fixes the threaded mounting member 14 in place within the base plate assembly. The swivel lifting ring assembly 1 can thenbe attached to an object to be lifted by threading into a preliminary provided threaded hole therein.

[0082] The above disclosed subject-matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and serves to provide a better understanding of the present invention set out in the appended set of claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A lifting ring assembly (1) adapted to attach to an object to be lifted, the assembly adapted to swivel through a full 360 degrees, said assembly (1) comprising:a flange (11) comprising:two parallel spaced portions, an upper portion (110) and a lower portion (111), each comprising a substantially circular through hole (112), the through holes (112) having substantially same size and being coaxially positioned one under the other to form a substantially cylindrical channel through the flange (11), andan eyelet portion (113) laterally and integrally extending from and connecting the upper and lower portions (110, 111) and comprising an eyelet (116) which central axis (115) is substantially perpendicular to and spaced from a central axis (114) of each of the two through holes (112) of the upper and lower portions (110, 111); anda lifting loop movably received in the eyelet (116) of the flange (11);and characterized by further comprising:a first base plate (12) comprising a substantially cylindrical bushing portion (120) rotatably received in the channel and having opposed distal end (120a) and proximal end (120Z>) spaced apart at an axial distance greater than a depth of the channel, and an annular flange portion (121) radially transversely extending from the distal end (120a) of the bushing portion (120) and integrally formed with the bushing portion (120) and adapted to bear against a surface of the object to be lifted;a second base plate (13) comprising a substantially cylindrical bushing portion (130) press-fitted in the bushing portion (120) of the first base plate (12) and having opposed distal end (130a) and proximal end (130Z>) spaced apart at an axial distance, and an annular flange portion (131) radially transversely extending from the distal end (130a) of the bushing portion (130) and integrally formed with the bushing portion (130); anda mounting member extending through the bushing portion (130) and the flange portion2. The assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the eyelet portion (113) is substantially C-shaped in lateral cross-section.

3. The assembly (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each of the parallel spaced portions (110, 111) of the flange (11) is a substantially flat portion provided with one or more ribs (117) protruding towards the other one of the parallel spaced portions (110, 111), the one or more ribs (117) of each of the parallel spaced portions (110, 111) preferably facing the corresponding one or more ribs (117) of the other one of the parallel spaced portions (110, 111).

4. The assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper portion (110) of the flange (11) has a bottom surface (1101) and a top surface (1100) which is a top face of the flange (11), and the lower portion (111) of the flange (11) has a top surface (1111) and a bottom surface (1110) which is a bottom face of the flange (11), and wherein the through hole (112) of each of the upper and lower portions (110, 111) of the flange (11) connects the top surface and the bottom surface thereof.

5. The assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the axial distance between the opposed distal end (130a) and proximal end ( 130Z>) of the bushing portion (130) of the second base plate (13) is substantially equal to the axial distance between the opposed distal end (120a) and proximal end (120Z>) of the bushing portion (120) of the first base plate (12).

6. The assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting member comprises a cylindrical shaft (141) rotatably extending through the bushing portion (130) and the flange portion (131) of the second base plate (13), and preferably comprises a head (140) which serves as a gripping surface for tools and from which the shaft (141) integrally extends.

7. The assembly (1) according to claim 6, wherein the mounting member is a threaded mounting member (14), wherein the cylindrical shaft (141) comprises a threaded portion (1410) for engaging with the object to be lifted, and wherein the threaded mounting member (14) preferably is a bolt, more preferably a hexagon-head bolt.

8. The assembly (1) according to claim 6 or claim 7, further comprising a ring (15) holding the shaft (141) of the mounting member in the second base plate (13), the ring (15) preferably being a circlip-type elastic ring.

9. The assembly (1) according to claim 8, wherein the second base plate (13) comprises an annular groove (134) provided on an internal surface of the bushing portion (130), and the shaft (141) of the mounting member is provided with an annular groove (144), and wherein the annular groove (134) of the second base plate (13) and the annular groove (144) of the threaded mounting member (14) coincide providing a closed annular channel, and the ring (15) is seated inside the annular channel formed by the annular grooves (134, 144).

10. The assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lifting loop is a closed textile loop, preferably made of a synthetic fabric, and more preferably the synthetic textile loop is a woven-and-stitched inter-linked webbing loop.

11. The assembly (1) according to any one of claims 6-9, wherein the lifting loop is a metal loop (16), preferably made of steel.

12. The assembly (1) according to claim 11, wherein the metal lifting loop (16) is fitted with a spring brake to hold the metal loop in position.

13. The assembly (1) according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the metal lifting loop (16) comprises two clamping lugs (161), preferably non-polyhedral clamping lugs, which protrude from two opposite internal walls of the metal loop (16) in direction to each other to enable trapping the head (140) of the mounting member between the lugs (161), when the metal lifting loop (16) is maximally inclined in direction to the mounting member, with a possibility of rotating the head (140) of the mounting member about a longitudinal axis of the mounting member by means of the lugs (161) of the metal lifting loop (16).

14. The assembly (1) according to claim 13, wherein the mounting member is a hexagonhead bolt, and wherein the two clamping lugs (161) are sized so that the distance between the lugs (161) is larger than the distance between any two opposite side walls (1400) of the six walls of the head (140) of the bolt, and shorter than the distance between any two side edges (1401) of the head (140) of the bolt.

15. The assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flange (11), the base plates (12, 13), and the mounting member are made of steel, wherein preferably hardness of the steel ranges from 30 to 38 HRC, wherein more preferably the grades of steel are 25CrMo4 for the flange (11) and / or 42CrMo4 for the mounting member and base plates (12, 13).

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