Patent ID: 7258046

Claim:
A retainer for constraining slidable movement of a sleeve along a shaft between an open position and a closed position, the sleeve having an end cap fixed on a rearward end of the sleeve to provide a circumferential recess between the rearward end of the sleeve and a forward face of the end cap, the retainer comprising: a body slidable in and along the sleeve; first and second inwardly and outwardly flexible, transversely opposed, circumferentially spaced ribs at a rearward end of the body, the first rib having an outwardly projecting first lug releasably engageable within the recess at a rearward end of the first rib, the second rib having an outwardly projecting second lug releasably engageable within the recess at a rearward end of the second rib, a spring normally outwardly biasing the first rib and the first lug in a first direction, and normally outwardly biasing the second rib and the second lug in a second direction opposed to the first direction; a first channel formed in and extending along an inward surface of the first rib to receive a first leg of the spring; and a second channel formed in and extending along an inward surface of the second rib to receive a second leg of the spring.