Patent ID: 7261286

Claim:
A lift spring assembly, comprising: a compression spring rod assembly comprising a housing having a longitudinal axis and axially opposite ends; a rod member coaxial with said axis and having an inner end in said housing and an outer end axially outwardly of one of said opposite ends; a bushing adjacent said one of said opposite ends of said housing supporting said rod member for reciprocation axially of said housing between extended and retracted positions relative thereto; a guide member on said inner end of said rod member for supporting said rod member during movement of said rod member; a first spring assembly extending between one of said opposite ends of said housing and said guide member; a second spring assembly extending between the other of said opposite ends of said housing and said guide member; a mounting member extending from one of said opposite ends of said housing for mounting said spring rod assembly to an associated hood assembly; a locking member rotatably connected to said mounting member and extending along said axis of said housing, wherein said locking member pivots into locking engagement with one of said ends of said housing in response to compression of one of said first spring assembly and said second spring assembly and extension of one of said first spring assembly and said second spring assembly; wherein said locking member is of a one-piece construction and comprises a first arm having an opening therein for pivotally mounting said locking member onto said mounting member via a fastener; and, wherein said locking member further comprises a second arm extending at substantially 90 degrees from said first arm wherein each of said arms comprises a first end and a second end, wherein said first ends are pivotally attached to an end of said rod member extending beyond an end of said housing.