Patent ID: 8011444
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: B23Q,B24B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A locking assembly for a spindle defining a longitudinal axis and having a spindle slot, the spindle supported for rotation about the longitudinal axis in a housing, the locking assembly comprising: a locking member supported for movement perpendicular to the longitudinal axis into and out of engagement with the spindle slot, the locking member preventing rotation of the spindle with respect to the housing when engaged with the spindle slot and permitting rotation of the spindle with respect to the housing when disengaged from the spindle slot; a biasing member interconnected with the locking member; and a collar surrounding a portion of the spindle, the collar including at least one cam surface and being rotatable about the longitudinal axis with respect to the spindle and housing between an unlocked position and a locked position; wherein rotation of the collar into the unlocked position enables the biasing member to bias the locking member out of engagement with the spindle slot; wherein rotation of the collar into the locked position causes the cam surface to abut and deflect the biasing member such that the biasing member biases the locking member toward engagement with the spindle slot; wherein the biasing member deflects to accommodate rotation of the collar into the locked position with the spindle slot not aligned with the locking member; wherein the biasing member includes a detent bend; wherein the collar further includes a locked detent groove and an unlocked detent groove; wherein the detent bend is received in the locked detent groove in response to the collar being rotated to the locked position to resist rotation of the collar out of the locked position; and wherein the detent bend is received in the unlocked detent groove in response to the collar being rotated to the unlocked position to resist rotation of the collar out of the unlocked position.