Patent ID: 8677727

Claim:
A locking device, comprising: first and second legs operatively coupled to one another to form a perimeter substantially uninterrupted from a proximal end of the first leg to a proximal end of the second leg, the first leg proximal end and the second leg proximal end being separated by an opening, the first leg proximal end and the second leg proximal end each respectively defining a passage, the first leg proximal end having a keyway extending from the first leg passage, the first leg proximal end having first and second shoulders adjacent the keyway, the second leg proximal end having a receiving area extending from the second leg passage; a locking pin passing through the second leg passage; the locking pin having a key and a stop that prevent the locking pin from passing entirely through the second leg passage such that the locking pin is inseparable from the second leg proximal end; the locking pin having first and second ends; the key being at the locking pin first end; the locking pin being movable between an open position wherein the opening is generally unobstructed and the key is seated in the receiving area, a closed position wherein the opening is obstructed by the locking pin and the key is seated against the first leg proximal end with the first and second shoulders preventing the key from reaching the keyway, and an intermediate position wherein the key extends beyond the first and second shoulders to access the keyway; a biasing member that biases the locking pin such that the key seats against the first leg proximal end when the locking pin is at the closed position, such that the key passes at least partially through the keyway when the locking pin is at the intermediate position and the key is aligned with the keyway, and such that the locking pin moves to the closed position when the locking pin is at the intermediate position and the key is aligned distinctly from the keyway and the first and second shoulders; wherein: the stop is at the locking pin second end; the locking pin has a first segment extending from the locking pin first end and a second segment extending from the locking pin second end; the first segment has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the second segment; a push plate is movable over the second segment and restricted from moving above the first segment; and the biasing member extends between the stop and the push plate.