Patent ID: 8322589

Claim:
A surgical instrument, comprising: an elongate shaft; a joint; an end effector, wherein said end effector is selectively movable relative to said elongate shaft about said joint, said end effector comprising: a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and an anvil movably coupled to said channel; a locking mechanism having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein, when said locking mechanism is in said locked configuration, said locking mechanism is configured to engage at least one of said elongate shaft and said end effector and at least limit relative movement between said elongate shaft and said end effector, wherein said locking mechanism comprises: a lock member moveable relative to said joint, wherein said lock member is configured to engage said end effector when said locking mechanism is in said locked configuration; and an actuator, wherein said lock member is operably engaged with said actuator; and a closure drive operably engaged with said anvil, wherein said closure drive is movable between a first position and a second position to move said anvil between an open position and a closed position, and wherein, when said closure drive is in said second position, said closure drive is adjacent to said actuator and configured to restrain travel of said actuator and hold said locking mechanism in said locked configuration.