A thrust reverser (130, 200) comprising a pivot door (134, 136, 202, 204) and a lock mechanism (210, 300, 400), the lock mechanism (210, 300, 400) comprising: a frame portion (302, 402) of the thrust reverser (130, 200), the frame portion (302, 402) defining a first direction (230, 306, 406) and a second direction (232, 308, 408) with respect to the thrust reverser (130, 200); a blade housing (312, 412) connected to the frame portion (302, 402); a blade member (314, 414) slidably disposed within the blade housing (312, 412) and configured to translate with respect to the first direction (230, 306, 406) and the second direction (232, 308, 408), the blade member (314, 414) configured to engage a lock fitting (218, 460) of the pivot door (134, 136, 202, 204); an actuator (212, 303, 403) configured to translate the blade member (314, 414) in the first direction (230, 306, 406); a spring element (334, 434, 444) configured to urge the blade member (314, 414) in the second direction (232, 308, 408); and a loose-joint coupling (322, 422) configured to connect the actuator (212, 303, 403) to the blade member (314, 414), wherein the loose-joint coupling (322, 422) comprises a first or coupling member made integral with the blade member (314, 414) and configured to translate the blade member (314, 414) in the first direction (230, 306, 406) in response to the actuator (212, 303, 403), and the first or coupling member includes a bottom portion, a first side portion and a second side portion, wherein the actuator (212, 303, 403) includes a translating member configured to translate in the first direction (230, 306, 406) and the second direction (232, 308, 408) and an arm connecting the translating member to the blade member (314, 414), wherein the loose-joint coupling (322, 422) is positioned between the arm and the blade member (314, 414), wherein the blade member (314, 414) comprises a base portion (316, 416) and the blade housing (312, 412) comprises a hollow portion (320, 420) configured for translational movement of the base portion (316, 416) within the blade housing (312, 412), and wherein the spring element (334, 434, 444) is a coil spring (336, 436) having a first end configured to abut the blade housing (312, 412) and a second end configured to abut the blade member (314, 414). a frame portion (302, 402) of the thrust reverser (130, 200), the frame portion (302, 402) defining a first direction (230, 306, 406) and a second direction (232, 308, 408) with respect to the thrust reverser (130, 200); a blade housing (312, 412) connected to the frame portion (302, 402); a blade member (314, 414) slidably disposed within the blade housing (312, 412) and configured to translate with respect to the first direction (230, 306, 406) and the second direction (232, 308, 408), the blade member (314, 414) configured to engage a lock fitting (218, 460) of the pivot door (134, 136, 202, 204); an actuator (212, 303, 403) configured to translate the blade member (314, 414) in the first direction (230, 306, 406); a spring element (334, 434, 444) configured to urge the blade member (314, 414) in the second direction (232, 308, 408); and a loose-joint coupling (322, 422) configured to connect the actuator (212, 303, 403) to the blade member (314, 414), wherein the loose-joint coupling (322, 422) comprises a first or coupling member made integral with the blade member (314, 414) and configured to translate the blade member (314, 414) in the first direction (230, 306, 406) in response to the actuator (212, 303, 403), and the first or coupling member includes a bottom portion, a first side portion and a second side portion, wherein the actuator (212, 303, 403) includes a translating member configured to translate in the first direction (230, 306, 406) and the second direction (232, 308, 408) and an arm connecting the translating member to the blade member (314, 414), wherein the loose-joint coupling (322, 422) is positioned between the arm and the blade member (314, 414), wherein the blade member (314, 414) comprises a base portion (316, 416) and the blade housing (312, 412) comprises a hollow portion (320, 420) configured for translational movement of the base portion (316, 416) within the blade housing (312, 412), and wherein the spring element (334, 434, 444) is a coil spring (336, 436) having a first end configured to abut the blade housing (312, 412) and a second end configured to abut the blade member (314, 414).