Patent ID: 7775071

Claim:
A lock assembly, said assembly comprising: a first lock portion, said first lock portion having an open end which receives a key; a second lock portion operatively connected to said first lock portion; a torsion spring interposed between said first lock portion and said second lock portion and operatively attached to said first lock portion and said second lock portion such that rotation of one of said first and second lock portions to a first position causes said torsion spring to bias the other of said first and second lock portions; a housing which contains said first and second lock portions and said torsion spring; apertures in said housing from which balls are selectively biased; a terminal end of said second lock portion, said terminal end having a flats portion and an engagement portion; and wherein said engagement portion of said terminal end of said second lock portion biases said balls from said apertures to a locked position of said lock assembly and said flats portion allows said balls to retreat into said apertures to an unlocked position; and wherein said second lock portion is capable of biased rotational movement relative to and independent of said first lock portion such that said lock assembly can be held in an intermediate position between said locked and unlocked positions in which said balls are urged partially out of said apertures by said rotationally biased engagement portion enabling said lock assembly to be preloaded into a locking device thereby eliminating the need for an installation key.