Patent ID: 7455336

Claim:
A locking device that is capable of locking to a mating element, the locking device comprising: a housing including a softer material and at least one insert of a higher strength material, wherein the softer material is softer than the higher strength material, and the higher strength material has a higher strength than the softer material; a first bearing element; a latch for locking with the mating element, wherein the latch is arranged in the housing, and the latch is pivotably mounted on the first bearing element; a second bearing element; at least one securing element for securing a locked state of the locking device by interacting with the latch, wherein the at least one securing element is arranged in the housing, the at least one securing element is pivotably mounted on the second bearing element, the insert and a bearing element, which is selected from the group consisting of the first bearing element and the second bearing element, are joined together and at least partially encased by the softer material, said bearing element includes a bearing section that is encased by the softer material, and a feature, which is selected from the group consisting of the latch and the at least one securing element, is pivotably mounted on the encased bearing section of said bearing element the bearing section comprises a flange portion and shaft portions extending from the flange portion; wherein, the insert and the bearing element are joined by inserting one of the shaft portions through an aperture on the insert and placing the flange over the outer surface of the insert.