Vertically adjustable device for suspending an article from a ceiling

[0053] In accordance with the present invention, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a ceiling hook H′ that comprises a base 10′ adapted to be secured to a ceiling C′, a hook 12′ for suspending articles therefrom, such as planters, and a retractable cable 14′, or the like, that connects the hook 12′ to the base 10′. Generally, a lower end of the cable 14′ is fixedly attached to an upper end of the hook 12′, whereas an upper end of the cable 14′ is secured to a mechanism located inside the base 10′ and adapted to allow the cable 14′ to retract in, or to be extended from, the base 10′, thereby adjusting the elevation of the hook 12′ and thus of the article attached thereto. The base 10′ defines an elongated, e.g. oblong, opening 16′ in a lower wall 18′ thereof, with the cable 14′ extending downwardly through the base 10′ via the elongated opening 16′. The internal structure of the base 10′ will become more apparent from the following description of a variant ceiling hook H illustrated in FIGS. 3 to