Patent ID: 6979262

Claim:
A locking apparatus for releasably holding first and second relatively movable members in at least one predetermined relative position, comprising: a locking element supported on the first member for movement along a predetermined path in a first direction toward the second member to a locking position wherein an end of the locking element will be cooperatively received in a receptacle on the second member when the members are in the at least one predetermined position, and in an opposite second direction away from the second member to an unlocking position wherein the end of the locking element will be removed from the receptacle; an actuating element supported on the first member for movement in a direction in opposition to a first resilient biasing element to a release position for applying a resilient biasing force in the second direction against the locking element for automatically removing the locking element from the receptacle when the biasing force exceeds any opposing force acting to hold the locking element in the receptacle, the actuating element being movable in an opposite direction in cooperation with the locking element to move the locking element in the first direction to the locking position; a second resilient biasing element on the first member disposed for urging the actuating element in said opposite direction; and a latch supported on the first member for movement between a latching position in engagement with the actuating element when in the release position for releasably holding the actuating element in the release position, and an unlatched position disengaged from the actuating element to allow the second resilient biasing member to automatically move the actuating element in said opposite direction to move the locking element in the first direction including to the locking position when the members are in one of the predetermined relative positions.