Patent ID: 8821061

Claim:
A forward locking pull pin comprising: a housing, said housing comprising an engagement portion and a body portion, said housing being substantially hollow, said housing having an inner surface, an outer surface, a top end surface and a bottom end surface, each of said top end surface and said bottom end surface having an opening formed therein; a pull pin shaft, wherein at least a portion of said pull pin shaft is contained within said housing and at least a second portion extends through said opening in said bottom end surface of said housing; an inner shaft, wherein at least a portion of said inner shaft is contained within said pull pin shaft and at least a second portion extends through said opening in said top end surface of said housing; a first biasing means positioned within said housing for biasing said pull pin shaft in a forward direction, said forward direction being in opposition to a retraction direction; a second biasing means positioned within said pull pin shaft for biasing said inner shaft; a pull mechanism coupled to said inner shaft and configured to allow manipulation of said pull pin shaft in said retraction direction; and at least one ball bearing contained within said housing between said top end surface and said bottom end surface; said inner surface of said housing having at least one locking space formed therein, capable of holding at least a portion of said at least one ball bearing; said pull pin shaft having at least one ball aperture formed therethrough, configured such that when said pull pin shaft is in a first forward position, said at least one ball aperture is radially aligned with said at least one locking space and capable of holding at least a second portion of said at least one ball bearing, thereby locking said pull pin shaft in said first forward position; said inner shaft having a ball release section located adjacent said ball aperture; and wherein said pull pin is configured such that an external force applied to said inner shaft, in a direction opposing said second biasing means, moves said ball release section into vertical alignment with said at least one ball aperture, allowing said ball bearing to move into said ball release portion and out of said at least one locking space, and thereby allowing said pull pin shaft to more into at least a second retracted position.