A lock mechanism which can be placed on a shaft, such as a bar or pole, in either a first direction or second direction, is secured to the shaft using two sets of balls which project out of apertures in an inner cylinder to frictionally engage the shaft. The balls are selectively retractable from their projecting position to allow the inner cylinder to slide on and/or be removed from the shaft. Biasing members, such as wavy springs, bias the two sides of the lock mechanism towards one another. In the locked configuration, the balls are forced by inclined surfaces within the two sides to project outwardly from the inner hollow cylinder. The inclined surfaces are aligned with two rows of apertures in the inner hollow cylinder, and they are inclined in opposite directions. Thus, either way the lock mechanism is installed or placed on the shaft, the balls will project out of the apertures in the inner hollow cylinder and will securely engage the shaft.

An intensive use furniture concealed attachment device for securing furniture in a safe manner having a building bracket attached to the floor or wall and a tab attached to the furniture. The building bracket includes a tab flange and a pin flange. The tab is attached to the furniture in a mounting saddle formed on a mounting surface. The tab is adapted to slidingly engage the building bracket. A hole is formed in the furniture adjacent to the mounting saddle. A guide tube is disposed on the pin flange. A ball pin inserted into the hole and through the guide tube to engage the pin flange and connect the furniture to the building bracket. The tab connected to the building bracket provides support in the x, y and z axis directions.

A release mechanism for releasably securing a releasable structure to a stationary structure, where the mechanism employs release balls that can re-secure the releasable structure to the stationary structure. The release mechanism includes a base portion having three rails extending radially outward from a center of the base portion, and a rotatable portion rotatably mounted to the base portion, where the rotatable portion has a cam indentation. The release balls are positioned between the base portion and the rotatable portion so that one of the release balls is ridable on each of the rails and all of the release balls are positioned within the cam indentation. The cam indentation is configured so that as the rotatable portion is rotated relative to the base portion the cam indentation causes and allows the release balls to move along the rails in unison with each other to hold and release the releasable structure.

The invention relates to a coupling for connecting construction parts, a truss provided therewith and associated method and use. The coupling comprises a female and a male coupling part. The female coupling part comprises: a tubular receiving part, in the wall of which an opening is provided; a ball which is placed in the opening and which is movable in radial direction of the receiving part; and a locking sleeve which is screwed onto and encloses the receiving part and which by being screwed is movable in the longitudinal direction of the receiving part between an opened position, in which the locking sleeve allows movement of the ball in the opening for the purpose of placing/removing the male coupling part into/from the receiving part, and a closed position in which the locking sleeve locks the male coupling part in the female coupling part with the ball, wherein the male coupling part is an elongate pin which comprises in its outer wall a groove for the ball.

A lock mechanism which can be placed on a shaft, such as a bar or pole, in either a first direction or second direction, is secured to the shaft using two sets of balls which project out of apertures in an inner cylinder to frictionally engage the shaft. The balls are selectively retractable from their projecting position to allow the inner cylinder to slide on and/or be removed from the shaft. Biasing members, such as wavy springs, bias the two sides of the lock mechanism towards one another. In the locked configuration, the balls are forced by inclined surfaces within the two sides to project outwardly from the inner hollow cylinder. The inclined surfaces are aligned with two rows of apertures in the inner hollow cylinder, and they are inclined in opposite directions. Thus, either way the lock mechanism is installed or placed on the shaft, the balls will project out of the apertures in the inner hollow cylinder and will securely engage the shaft.

A lock mechanism which can be placed on a shaft, such as a bar or pole, in either a first direction or second direction, is secured to the shaft using two sets of balls which project out of apertures in an inner cylinder to frictionally engage the shaft. The balls are selectively retractable from their projecting position to allow the inner cylinder to slide on and/or be removed from the shaft. Biasing members, such as wavy springs, bias the two sides of the lock mechanism towards one another. In the locked configuration, the balls are forced by inclined surfaces within the two sides to project outwardly from the inner hollow cylinder. The inclined surfaces are aligned with two rows of apertures in the inner hollow cylinder, and they are inclined in opposite directions. Thus, either way the lock mechanism is installed or placed on the shaft, the balls will project out of the apertures in the inner hollow cylinder and will securely engage the shaft.

A releasable restraint may comprise a base and a socket coupled to the base. The socket may include a head and a shaft extending from the head. A sleeve may be configured to translate relative to the shaft of the socket. A plurality of balls may be located in the shaft of the socket. A plug may be received by a plug groove defined by the socket.

A lock mechanism for controlling a rotating component including an outer shaft attachable to a stationary component and having a slotted ring defining capture slots and an interior annular space, a control ring having a first end disposed in the annular space, an inner shaft attachable to a rotating component configured to rotate relative to the stationary component, and the inner shaft engaged with a second end of the control ring, a first collar rotatably disposed around the slotted ring, the first collar having a plurality of release recesses, and a plurality of first bearings respectively retained within the capture slots beneath the first collar. In a first rotational position of the first collar, the plurality of release recesses align with the capture slots to rotationally disengage the rotating and stationary components. In a second rotational position of the first collar, the plurality of release recesses misalign with the capture slots to rotationally engage the rotating and stationary components.

A quick release device of a hand tool includes: a main body; an operating portion, including a slidable sleeve movably disposed around the main body and a pin radially inserted into the slidable sleeve, the operating portion further including a movable rod movably disposed in the main body, the pin connected with the movable rod; an annular plastic body, rotatably disposed around the slidable sleeve and corresponding to the pin, a stepped structure formed between the slidable sleeve and the annular plastic body; an identification portion, disposed around the annular plastic body; wherein the slidable sleeve is movable between first and second positions, when the slidable sleeve moves toward the first position, the pin drives the movable rod to move toward a fixing position; when the slidable sleeve moves toward the second position, the pin pushes the movable rod to move toward a releasing position.

Intensive use furniture having a concealed attachment device. The concealed attachment device comprising a building bracket attached to the floor or wall having a tab flange and a pin flange. A tab attached to the furniture in a mounting saddle. The tab extending out from a tab seat to slidingly engage the building bracket. A ball pin inserted into a hole in the side wall of the furniture is guided by a guide tube having a recessed shoulder for supporting the head of the ball pin. The ball pin in the tube having a head on the recessed shoulder and a shaft extending through the pin flange where the ball engages the building bracket. The tab connection providing support in the x, y and z axis direction. The ball pin connection supporting the tab connection in the x, y and z axis direction.