Lock mechanism

Abstract

A lock mechanism is disclosed herein that can be used to Iockingly secure and release sections of an apparatus relative to one another. The lock mechanism can lockingly secure the sections of the apparatus relative to one another in a plurality of different positions and, when released or unlocked, can allow the sections of the apparatus to rotate relative to one another and to different ones of the plurality of different positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first sub-assembly for securely connecting to a first section of a device;   a second sub-assembly rotatably connected to the first sub-assembly;   a third sub-assembly connected to the second sub-assembly; and   a fourth sub-assembly rotatably connected to the third sub-assembly and rotatably connected to a second section of the device,   wherein, when in a first apparatus position, at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth sub-assemblies can lock to secure the first and second sections of the device in a first device position,   wherein, when in a second apparatus position, at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth sub-assemblies can lock to secure the first and second sections of the device in a second device position,   wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth sub-assemblies can be unlocked to allow rotation of at least some of the first, second, third, and fourth sub-assemblies relative to each other to move the first, second, third and fourth sub-assemblies from the first apparatus position to the second apparatus position and to allow rotation of the first and second sections of the device relative to each other to move the first and second sections of the device from the first device position to the second device position.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a connection mechanism for rotatably connecting the second sub-assembly to the first sub-assembly, wherein the connection mechanism forms an axis of rotation for the second sub-assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a connection mechanism for connecting the third sub-assembly to the second sub-assembly, wherein the connection mechanism is adjustable to adjust tension and distance between the second sub-assembly and the third sub-assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a connection mechanism for rotatably connecting the fourth sub-assembly to the third sub-assembly, wherein the connection mechanism forms an axis of rotation for the third sub-assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a connection mechanism for rotatably connecting the fourth sub-assembly to the second section of the device, wherein the connection mechanism forms an axis of rotation for the fourth sub-assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the fourth sub-assembly includes a pin lock for, in the first or second apparatus position, locking the fourth sub-assembly to the third sub-assembly or for, in the first or second apparatus position, locking the fourth sub-assembly to the second section of the device. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a wedge assembly rotatably connected to the first sub-assembly; and 
 a connection mechanism for rotatably connecting the wedge assembly to the first sub-assembly, 
 wherein the connection mechanism forms an axis of rotation for the wedge assembly. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as in  claim 7 ,
 wherein the wedge assembly can be in a first wedge position when the first, second, third, and fourth sub-assemblies are in the first and second apparatus positions and when the first and second sections of the device are in the first and second device positions,   wherein the wedge assembly can be in a second wedge position when the first, second, third, and fourth sub-assemblies are in a third apparatus position and when the first and second sections of the device are in a third device position,   wherein, when in the third apparatus position, at least some of the first, second, third, and fourth sub-assemblies can lock to secure the first and second sections of the device in the third device position, and   wherein, when in the second wedge position, the wedge assembly can bridge the first and second sections of the device in the third device position.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as in  claim 8 ,
 wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth sub-assemblies can be unlocked to allow rotation of at least some of the first, second, third, and fourth sub-assemblies relative to each other to move the first, second, third and fourth sub-assemblies from the first apparatus position to the third apparatus position and to allow rotation of the first and second sections of the device relative to each other to move the first and second sections of the device from the first device position to the third device position, and   wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth sub-assemblies can be unlocked to allow rotation of at least some of the first, second, third, and fourth sub-assemblies relative to each other to move the first, second, third and fourth sub-assemblies from the third apparatus position to the second apparatus position and to allow rotation of the first and second sections of the device relative to each other to move the first and second sections of the device from the third device position to the second device position.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first mechanism for securely connecting to a first section of a device; and   a second mechanism for rotatably connecting to a second section of the device,   wherein the second mechanism is rotatably coupled to the first mechanism, and   wherein the first and second mechanism are rotatable relative to one another to a plurality of different mechanism positions for lockingly securing the first and second sections of the device relative to one another in respective ones of a plurality of different device positions.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as in  claim 10  wherein the second mechanism is rotatably coupled to the first mechanism via one or more intermediate mechanisms. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the second mechanism and the one or more intermediate mechanisms are rotatable around a plurality of different axes of rotation. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as in  claim 10  further comprising a rotatable wedge mechanism for bridging the first and second sections of the device in one of the plurality of different device positions. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as in  claim 10  further comprising at least one locking mechanism for locking the first and second mechanisms in each of the plurality of different mechanism positions. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of sub-assemblies rotatably connected to each other at respective ones of a plurality of pivots,   wherein, when each of the plurality of sub-assemblies is in a first position, a first of the plurality of pivots is above a force vector intersecting a reminder of the plurality of pivots, and   wherein, when each of the plurality of sub-assemblies is in a second position, the first of the plurality of pivots is below the force vector intersecting the remainder of the plurality of pivots.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein, when in the second position, a contact point of one of the plurality of sub-assemblies engages a contact point of another of the plurality of sub-assemblies. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 ,
 wherein at least one of the sub-assemblies can securely connect to a first section of a device,   wherein at least one of the sub-assemblies can rotatably connect to a second section of the device at one of the plurality of pivots, and   wherein at least some of the plurality of sub-assemblies are rotatable relative to one another to a plurality of different positions, including the first and second positions, for lockingly securing the first and second sections of the device relative to one another in respective ones of a plurality of different device positions.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as in  claim 17  wherein a force applied to separate the first and second sections of the device creates a second force vector along the first of the plurality of pivots that pulls the first of the plurality of pivots further below the force vector. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein a locking force acts along the force vector. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein at least some of the plurality of sub-assemblies are rotatable to a third position.