Patent ID: 7494296

Claim:
A locking device, comprising: an outer element telescopically engaging an inner element, the outer element having a locking member, the locking member having a first wedge having a first pair of flat wedge surfaces turned in a first axial direction and a second wedge having a second pair of flat wedge surfaces turned in a second axial direction, the locking member having a tube shaped jaw, the tube shaped jaw having a lengthwise groove defined therein, the tube shaped jaw having at least one jaw wedge surface directed essentially tangential to and along the lengthwise groove, the jaw wedge surface of the tube shaped jaw being disposed on an outside of the tube shaped jaw, and at least one of the wedge surfaces of the first pair of wedge surfaces being slidable on the jaw wedge surface of the tube shaped jaw to urge an inner mantel surface of the tube shaped jaw against the inner element to lock the outer element relative to the inner element.