Lock

Abstract

A lock assembly comprising a locking element having; a body having a first locking axis; at least one tab movable relative to the body, the tab movable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the first locking axis; a locking surface having at least one retaining element; wherein the lock assembly is operative to adopt a locked condition where the at least one tab engages with a respective one of the at least one retaining element to prevent relative movement between the locking element and the locking surface in at least one direction of the first locking axis.

1 . A lock assembly comprising:
 a locking element having;
 a body having a first locking axis; 
 at least one tab movable relative to the body, the tab movable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the first locking axis; 
   a locking surface having at least one retaining element;
 wherein the lock assembly is operative to adopt a locked condition where the at least one tab engages with a respective one of the at least one retaining element to prevent relative movement between the locking element and the locking surface in at least one direction of the first locking axis; and 
 wherein the lock assembly is operative to change from the locked condition to an unlocked condition by a first relative movement between the locking element and the locking surface, said first relative movement causing said at least one tab to move towards its retracted position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The lock assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein in the locked condition, the at least one tab is biased towards its extended position. 
     
     
         3 . The lock assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking surface is formed on an interior surface defining a cavity, and wherein the locking element is disposed within the cavity when the lock assembly is in the locked condition. 
     
     
         4 . The lock assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the at least one tab and locking surface includes a camming surface arranged to cause movement of the at least one tab towards its retracted position during said first relative movement. 
     
     
         5 . The lock assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the first relative movement includes relative rotation between the locking element and the locking surface about the first locking axis. 
     
     
         6 . The lock assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the lock assembly is operative to adopt the locked condition from an unlocked condition by a second relative movement between the locking element and the locking surface. 
     
     
         7 . The lock assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one locking tab is caused to move towards the retracted position during said second relative movement. 
     
     
         8 . The lock assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the at least one tab and locking surface includes a camming surface arranged to cause movement of the at least one tab towards its retracted position during said second relative movement. 
     
     
         9 . The lock assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the wherein the second relative movement includes relative rotation between the locking element and the locking surface about the first locking axis. 
     
     
         10 . The lock assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the second relative movement includes relative translation between the locking element and the locking surface along the first locking axis. 
     
     
         11 . The lock assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the locking surface includes one or more channels that permit location and/or removal of the locking element in the cavity whilst the at least one tab is in a substantially extended position. 
     
     
         12 . The lock assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tab is arranged to move relative to the lock element body along a movement axis between the extended and retracted positions, the movement axis being generally perpendicular to the first axis and offset from the first axis. 
     
     
         13 . The lock assembly according to  claim 2 , further comprising at least one biasing member engagable with the at least one tab to bias the or each tab into the extended position, wherein the at least one biasing member is one or more elastomeric members which are engagable with a rear surface of the respective tabs and which are arranged to compress on movement of the at least one tab from its extended position towards its retracted position. 
     
     
         14 . The lock assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking surface is formed on a retaining member. 
     
     
         15 . A locking system comprising:
 a housing having a passage;   a retaining member received in the passage of the housing; and   at least one lock assembly comprising   a locking element having;
 a body having a first locking axis; 
 at least one tab movable relative to the body, the tab movable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the first locking axis; 
   a locking surface having at least one retaining element;
 wherein the lock assembly is operative to adopt a locked condition where the at least one tab engages with a respective one of the at least one retaining element to prevent relative movement between the locking element and the locking surface in at least one direction of the first locking axis; and 
   herein the lock assembly is operative to change from the locked condition to an unlocked condition by a first relative movement between the locking element and the locking surface, said first relative movement causing said at least one tab to move towards its retracted position, the lock assembly being disposed in at least part of the passage;
 wherein in use, the locking element of the lock assembly retains the retaining member in the passage of the housing. 
   
     
     
         16 . The locking system according to  claim 15 , wherein the retaining member retains a component wherein the component is any one of a shroud, tooth, adaptor or coupling for a ground engaging tool.