Patent ID: 7316455

Claim:
A locking device, comprising: a support part; a spring coupled to the support part and movable into at least one locking position and a release position; at least two retaining rods having a plurality of recesses movably coupled to the support part, the spring interacting with the recesses so that movement of the spring into the locking position causes the support part to be locked relative to the retaining rods and movement of the spring into the release position causes the spring to disengage the recesses; and a sliding element which can be set at least in a first position and in a second position, the spring interacting with the sliding element so that, when the sliding element is set into the first position, the spring is in the locking position and when the sliding element is set into the second position, the spring is the release position, wherein the spring is provided in such a manner that locking of the retaining rods can be brought about by at least one of fixing a central region of the spring and applying a force on the central region of the spring, wherein the sliding element has a plurality of projections, and the spring comprises a plurality of actuating regions, so that a movement of the sliding element parallel to a plane defined by the retaining rods results in a movement of the actuating regions which is essentially vertical thereto.