Patent ID: 9556653
Date: 2017-01-31
CPC Classifications: B60R,B68C,E05B,E05C,Y10T

Claim:
1. An apparatus for locking a saddle comprising: a first bar having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, the first bar having a non-circular cross-section and being tubular and hollow to define an elongated internal longitudinal channel, the first bar defining a first plurality of pairs of holes, respective pairs of the first plurality of pairs being spaced longitudinally along the first bar, respective holes of each of the plurality of pairs being positioned opposite one another in transverse alignment about a periphery of the first bar; a first hook extending from the first bar, the first hook having a base at which the first hook is attached to the first bar, the first hook extending from the base toward the second longitudinal end of the first bar; a fastener extending from the second longitudinal end of the first bar and having a portion having a corresponding non-circular cross-section dimensioned to slide freely in a longitudinal direction along the first bar while maintaining collinear positioning and rotational alignment of the fastener relative to the first bar, the fastener defining a second plurality of pairs of holes, the second plurality of pairs being spaced longitudinally along the fastener, respective holes of each of the plurality of pairs being positioned opposite one another in transverse alignment about a periphery of the fastener, the fastener further defining a rigid structure formed in a loop extending from the second bar, the loop defining a central opening dimensioned to receive a cantle portion of the saddle; and a locking mechanism adapted to selectively lock the fastener in one of a plurality of longitudinal positions relative to the first bar; wherein the first bar and the fastener can be longitudinally translated relative to each other to cause a selected pair of holes of the first bar to longitudinally align with another selected pair of holes of the fastener in selected relative positions of the first bar and the fastener, such that a shackle can be placed simultaneously through the selected pairs of holes to lock the first bar and the fastener to each other in a selected longitudinally-fixed relationship.