Lock and release apparatus

Claim 1

The A bar and collar, lock and release apparatus, comprising: A. a collar portion comprising, at least: a. a cylindrical shell defining an axial passage for receipt of a bar, and a plurality of radial openings in said shell; b. a radially movable ball located within each of said openings in said shell; and c. a tension ring positioned outside and coaxial with said cylindrical shell and being axially slidable with respect to said cylindrical shell alternately in a first axial direction and in a second axial direction, said tension ring including, at least, a tapered portion defining a tapered inner surface adjacent said movable balls, said tapered portion being tapered to urge said movable balls radially inwardly into said axial passage of said shell as said tension ring moves in said first axial direction relative to said shell and to accommodate radial movements of said ball out of said passage as said tension ring moves in said second axial direction relative to said shell; and B. a rigid, elongated bar member comprising, at least: a. an axially extending arcuate surface segment, said curved surface segment defining a surface representing, in profile, an arc of a circle; and b. an axially extending flat surface segment, said flat surface segment defining a surface representing, in profile, a straight line; c. said arcuate surface segment and said flat surface segment being arranged in succession circumferentially about said bar member, C. said bar member being insertable into said passage of said collar portion, and said collar portion and said bar member being capable of relative angular movement when said bar member is within said passage; D. said arcuate surface segment cooperating with said collar portion to create a gripping action which resists axial movement of said collar portion relative to said bar member in at least one axial direction; and E. said flat surface segment cooperating with said collar portion to weaken said gripping action; F. whereby alignment of each said radially movable ball with said arcuate surface segment of said bar enhances said gripping action while allowing relative angular movement between said bar member and said collar portion, and whereby alignment of at least one said radially moveable ball with said flat surface segment of said bars at least weakens said gripping action.