Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A releasable locking device for frictionally engaging a bar member, comprising: a cam sleeve adapted to be adjustably positioned in selectable locations along said bar member, said cam sleeve haivng an internal surface generally conforming in shape to the external surface of said bar member entirely along the length of said cam sleeve and said internal surface of said cam sleeve normally being dimensioned the same as or larger than said bar member so as to be slidably movable along said bar member for adjustably positioning said cam sleeve in a selected location, said cam sleeve being formed of a resilient material for selective radially uniform compressed frictional engagement with said external surface of said bar member; and a pair of cam collars adpated to be operably disposed in substantially coaxial axially fixed and oppositely directed relation on said cam sleeve, said cam collars each having a continuous internal cam surface adapted to cooperate with a mating external cam surface on said cam sleeve to reduce the dimension of said internal surface of said cam sleeve for selective radially uniform compressed frictional engagement with said bar member in response to opposing axially stationary rotation of said cam collars relative to said cam sleeve in locking directions, said cam collars cooperaing with said cam sleeve to define a pair of interconnected individual locking members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
A releasable locking device for frictionally engaging a bar member, comprising: a cam sleeve adapted to be adjustably positioned in selectable locations along said bar member, said cam sleeve haivng an internal surface generally conforming in shape to the external surface of said bar member entirely along the length of said cam sleeve and said internal surface of said cam sleeve normally being dimensioned the same as or larger than said bar member so as to be slidably movable along said bar member for adjustably positioning said cam sleeve in a selected location, said cam sleeve being formed of a resilient material for selective radially uniform compressed frictional engagement with said external surface of said bar member; and a pair of cam collars adpated to be operably disposed in substantially coaxial axially fixed and oppositely directed relation on said cam sleeve, said cam collars each having a continuous internal cam surface adapted to cooperate with a mating external cam surface on said cam sleeve to reduce the dimension of said internal surface of said cam sleeve for selective radially uniform compressed frictional engagement with said bar member in response to opposing axially stationary rotation of said cam collars relative to said cam sleeve in locking directions, said cam collars cooperaing with said cam sleeve to define a pair of interconnected individual locking members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The releasable locking device as defined by claim 1 wherein said cam sleeve is formed with said external cam surfaces oppositely directed, said cam collars being substantially identical in construction, said cam collars being disposed on said cam sleeve with said internal cam surfaces oppositely directed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The releasable locking device as defined by claim 2 wherein said cam sleeve includes a first portion of increasing radius in one circumferential direction defining one of said external cam surfaces and wherein said cam sleeve includes a second portion of increasing radius in the other circumferential direction defining the other of said external cam surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The releasable locking device as defined by claim 3 wherein said cam collars are arranged with said internal cam surfaces thereof having increasing radii in the same circumferential directions as the corresponding ones of said external cam surfaces of said cam sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The releasable locking device as defined by claim 4 wherein said locking directions are the circumferential directions of increasing radii of said internal and external cam surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The releasable locking device as defined by claim 5 wherein said cam collars are adapted to permit expansion of the dimension of said internal surface of said cam sleeve to release said cam sleeve from selective radially compressed frictional engagement with said bar member in response to opposing axially stationary rotation of said cam collars relative to said cam sleeve in releasing directions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The releasable locking device as defined by claim 6 wherein said releasing directions are directly opposite the circumferential directions of increasing radii of said internal and external cam surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
The releasable locking device as defined by claim 3 including an axially extending slot in each of said first and second portions of said cam sleeve, said axially extending slots each being disposed between positions of maximum and minimum radii of said external cam surfaces, said axially extending slots extending from opposing ends of said cam sleeve to an intermediate point between said first and second portions thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The releasable locking device as defined by claim 8 wherein said cam sleeve is circumferentially slit substantially completely thereabout at said intermediate point between said first and second portions thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The releasable locking device as defined by claim 9 wherein said axially extending slots are circumferentially spaced at said intermediate point to define a bridge portion joining said first and second portions of said cam sleeve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The releasable locking device as defined by claim 10 including a retaining flange on each of the opposing ends of said cam sleeve, said axially extending slots extending through said retaining flanges, said retaining flanges being adapted to retain said cam collars in axially stationary positions on said cam sleeve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The releasable locking device as defined by claim 11 wherein said internal surface of said cam sleeve is generally cylindrical, said cam sleeve being of a length substantially the same as the combined length of said cam collars, said retaining flanges maintaining said cam collars in abutting relation on said cam sleeve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The releasable locking device as defined by claim 12 wherein said cam collars each include an external gripping surface defined by a plurality of lugs.