Patent ID: 11946596
Assignee: MSA TECHNOLOGY, LLC
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  A | IPC A  F

Claim 16:
17. A locking mechanism for securing a regulator of an air tank to a back plate assembly of a self-contained breathing apparatus, the locking mechanism comprising:
at least one locking member comprising a latching end opposite a controlling end, the latching end having a sloped surface at an acute angle; and
at least one biasing member for biasing at least a portion of the at least one locking member,
wherein the at least one locking member is movable between a first locked position, wherein the latching end is configured to engage the regulator to prevent movement of the regulator relative to the latching end, and a second unlocked position, wherein the latching end is configured to disengage the regulator to permit movement of the regulator relative to the latching end,
wherein:
the controlling end is configured for facilitating movement of the latching end,

the at least one biasing member is configured to bias the latching end to the first locked position, and
the sloped surface is configured for automatically moving the at least one locking member out of the first locked position into the second unlocked position during the insertion of the air tank into a receiving cradle or during the insertion of the receiving cradle into a cradle receiving arrangement on the plate.