Patent ID: 8007411
Filing Date: 2011-08-30
Classification: A63B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A locking assembly comprising: a collar having an interior channel defined by a sidewall and a through-hole formed in the sidewall; a member having a member sidewall with an elliptical cross-sectional shape with a major axis extending across a widest portion of the elliptical cross-sectional shape from a first end portion to a second end portion and bifurcating the member sidewall into a first side portion and a second side portion, the member being slidably received inside the interior channel of the collar and configured to slide back and forth along a predetermined sliding path, the through-hole formed in the sidewall of the collar being adjacent to the second end portion of the member sidewall; a first engagement member disposed inside the interior channel of the collar adjacent to the first end portion of the member sidewall, the first engagement member being configured to engage portions of both the first side portion and the second side portion of the member sidewall located toward the first end portion of the member sidewall; a second engagement member disposed inside the interior channel of the collar adjacent to the first end portion of the member sidewall and spaced from the first engagement member along the predetermined sliding path, the second engagement member being movable relative to the first engagement member, the second engagement member being configured to engage portions of both the first side portion and the second side portion of the member sidewall located toward the first end portion of the member sidewall; a cam pivotally coupled to the collar and configured to pivot between a locked position and an unlocked position; and a cam follower assembly disposed between the cam and the member at the through-hole formed in the sidewall of the collar, the cam follower assembly having a movable engagement member configured to be biased by the cam, the movable engagement member being adjacent to the second end portion of the member sidewall and located between the first engagement member and second engagement member along the predetermined sliding path, the movable engagement member comprising a pair of force distribution members disposed inside the through-hole formed in the sidewall, each of the pair of force distribution members having a projection extending toward the member, the projection of one of the pair of force distribution members being adjacent to the first side portion of the member sidewall and the projection of the other of the pair of force distribution members being adjacent to the second side portion of the member sidewall, when the cam is pivoted into the locked position, the cam biases the movable engagement member through the through-hole moving the projection of the one of the pair of force distribution members into locking engagement with the first side portion of the member sidewall and the projection of the other of the pair of force distribution members into locking engagement with the second side portion of the member sidewall, thereby locking the member within the collar and preventing its slide along the predetermined sliding path, when the cam is pivoted into the unlocked position, and the cam does not bias the projections of the pair of force distribution members into locking engagement with the first side portion and the second side portion of the member sidewall, thereby releasing the member within the collar and permitting its slide along the predetermined sliding path.