Patent ID: 7004702

Claim:
A locking device comprising: a first part including a bore having a plurality of teeth spaced axially in levels spaced along the bore in an axial direction thereof, each of the teeth being inwardly inclined and terminating at a free end that defines an inner diameter of the first part, a first of the teeth in a first of the levels and a second of the teeth in a second of the levels adjacent the first level being spaced apart a distance in the axial direction of the bore; and a second part having an externally threaded shaft receivable in the bore of the first part, the second part including a continuous helical rib defining an outer diameter of the threaded shaft, the helical rib defining a continuous helical groove having a pitch along an axial direction of the threaded shaft, the pitch of the helical groove being different than the distance between the first and second teeth of the first part; wherein the inner diameter of the first part is smaller than the outer diameter of the threaded shaft and the threaded shaft is insertable into the bore by axial movement of the first part relative to the second part, such that when the threaded shaft of the second part is received in the bore of the first part, the free end of the first tooth is received in engagement with the helical groove, while the second tooth is not received in engagement with the helical groove but instead is deflected outwardly by the helical rib into engagement with the first tooth as a result of the pitch of the helical groove being different than the distance between the first and second teeth; and wherein the first part comprises a spiral-shaped strip that defines the bore, and the teeth extend into the bore from the spiral-shaped strip.