Patent ID: 7171771
Filing Date: 2007-02-06
Classification: E02F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A lock adapted to be received into an opening in an assembly for securing two separable components together, the lock comprising a wedge and a spool, the wedge having a first end, a second end, a rounded cross section, and an exterior thread, the wedge further being tapered toward a first end for initial receipt into the opening, the spool including a pair of spaced arms extending away from the wedge and a body portion interconnecting the arms, each said arm including an inner surface facing the other said arm, each said inner surface tapering away from the opposite arm, and the body including a trough on a side opposite the arms for receiving the wedge, the trough including a thread portion for cooperating with the exterior thread of the wedge, and a retainer resiliently biased against the wedge to resist loosening of the wedge, the wedge and the spool being threadedly coupled together in the opening such that rotation of the wedge about an axis translates the wedge in the opening in a direction generally parallel to the axis and along the spool to tighten the lock in the opening thereby causing the wedge to press against a first of the components and the arms of the spool to press against a second of the components, the wedge and spool thereby pressing in opposite directions to hold the two components together.