when the rotatable fastening member 12 is rotated 90 u00b0 relative to the line y 1 that is to the center line z 1 of the gripping device 10 the second fastening member 16 comprises a plate having a thickness h substantially equal to the lower region 12 b 1 of the first arm 12 a 1 the second fastening member 16 includes a lower edge 16 a 1 and side edges 16 a 2 and 16 a 3 interconnected at a top part thereof thereby defining a central cavity o the cavity o comprises an elongated recess 16 b extending into the upper end of the second fastening member 16 in this manner a chain can be fastened to the second fastening member 16 by disposing one chain link transversely relative to is the longitudinal axis of the recess 16 b and by taking the subsequent link through the recess 16 b fig2 b presents a gripping device 10 as seen in the direction of arrow k 1 in figure 1a with the rotatable fastening member 12 in 90 u00b0 rotation position i e aligned with line z 1 and with the second fastening member 16 in position in this arrangement the second fastening member 16 is disposed within the recess 15 of the first clamping member 11 a 1 the width of the lower edge 16 a 1 of the second fastening member 16 is slightly smaller than the width of the recess.