Patent ID: 7340867
Filing Date: 2008-03-11
Classification: E04B,E04C,E04H,F16B,F16D,Y02A,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A mechanism that allows movement in one direction and lockable in an opposite direction, comprising: a) a first member disposed against a second member; b) one of said first and second members being movable relative to another one of said first and second members in a first direction, and said one of said first and second members being locked relative to said another one of said first and second members in a second direction opposite to said first direction; c) said first and second members including first and second opposing walls, respectively; d) one of said first and second walls including a first receiving volume; e) another one of said first and second opposing walls including a plurality of second receiving volumes; f) a resilient member disposed between said first and second opposing walls, said resilient member is biased to occupy one of said second receiving volumes; g) said first and second receiving volumes are configured in cross-section such that when said one of said first and second members is moved in said first direction relative to said another one of said first and second members, said resilient member is shifted into and fully received within said first receiving volume, thereby allowing further movement of said one of said first and second members, said first receiving volume including opposite first and second cam surfaces in cross-section and a curved surface disposed between said first and second cam surfaces, said second cam surface being disposed at less than 90° relative to said one of said first and second walls; and h) said first and second receiving volumes are configured in cross-section such that when said one of said first and second members is moved in said second direction relative to said one of said first and second members, said resilient member is only partially received within said one of said second receiving volumes, thereby precluding further movement of said one of said first and second members.