Locking Retainer for Slidable Supports

Abstract

A locking retainer can include a strap that at least partly bounds an internal area and includes a locking arm with a locking pin that extends into the internal area and a release tab extending opposite the locking arm and away from the internal area. The strap can have a locking configuration in which, with a slidable support within the internal area, the locking pin extends into two locking apertures to lock the slidable support at a fixed length. The locking tab can be moved towards the internal area to move the strap into an unlocking configuration in which the locking pin is removed from the internal area to release the locking pin from the two locking apertures.

1 . A locking retainer for a slidable support that includes a first support member with a first locking aperture and a second support member with a second locking aperture, with the first support member and the second support member slidably engaging each other to define a support profile, the locking retainer comprising:
 a strap that at least partly bounds an internal area that is internal to the strap, and that supports a tab and a locking arm with a locking pin;   the strap having a locking configuration in which, with the slidable support disposed within the internal area, the tab angles away from the internal area and the locking pin extends into the internal area to extend into the first and second locking apertures and lock the slidable support at a fixed length; and   the tab being configured to be moved towards the internal area to move the strap into an unlocking configuration in which the locking pin is removed from the internal area to release the locking pin from the first and second locking apertures.   
     
     
         2 . The locking retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the tab extends away from the internal area at an acute angle. 
     
     
         3 . The locking retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the strap includes a first side arm, a second side arm, and a linking portion that secures the first side arm to the second side arm; and
 wherein the locking arm extends away from the linking portion within a plane defined by the linking portion.   
     
     
         4 . The locking retainer of  claim 3 , wherein the linking portion has cutouts extending axially inward adjacent to the locking arm and the tab, the cutouts narrowing the linking portion adjacent to the locking arm and the tab. 
     
     
         5 . The locking retainer of  claim 4 , wherein the cutouts adjacent to each side of the locking arm are axially aligned with the cutouts adjacent to each side of the tab. 
     
     
         6 . The locking retainer of  claim 3 , wherein the locking arm is configured to pivot at the linking portion to move the strap into the unlocked configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The locking retainer of  claim 3 , wherein the locking pin is axially offset and laterally equidistant from the first side arm and the second side arm. 
     
     
         8 . The locking retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the locking arm is tapered, narrowing in the direction of the locking pin. 
     
     
         9 . The locking retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is formed as a unitary body. 
     
     
         10 . The locking retainer of  claim 1 , with the first locking aperture of the first support member and the second locking aperture of the second support member being slots, wherein the locking pin is sized and configured to be received within the first and second locking apertures. 
     
     
         11 . A locking retainer for a slidable support that includes a first support member with a first locking aperture and a second support member with a second locking aperture, the first support member and the second support member slidably engaging each other to define a support profile, the locking retainer comprising:
 a strap that at least partly bounds an internal area that is internal to the strap and includes:
 a first side arm; 
 a second side arm; and 
 a linking portion connecting the first side arm to the second side arm; 
   a locking arm extending away from the linking portion, the locking arm having a locking pin extending inwards relative to the internal area; and   a tab extending from the linking portion opposite the locking arm and outward relative to the internal area;   the strap having a locking configuration in which, with the slidable support within the internal area, the locking pin extends into the first and second locking apertures to lock the slidable support at a fixed length; and   the tab being configured to be urged toward the internal area, when the strap is in the locking configuration, to move the locking arm away from the internal area and the locking pin out of the first and second locking apertures of the slidable support.   
     
     
         12 . The locking retainer of  claim 11 , wherein the tab is planar and extends away from the slidable support at an acute angle. 
     
     
         13 . The locking retainer of  claim 11 , wherein the linking portion has cutouts extending axially inward adjacent to each side of the locking arm and the tab, narrowing the linking portion adjacent to the locking arm and the tab. 
     
     
         14 . The locking retainer of  claim 13 , wherein the cutouts adjacent to each side of the locking arm are axially aligned with the cutouts adjacent to each side of the tab. 
     
     
         15 . The locking retainer of  claim 13 , wherein the strap is configured to deform at the cutouts, upon the tab being urged toward the slidable support, to pivot the locking arm away from the internal area. 
     
     
         16 . The locking retainer of  claim 11 , wherein the strap further includes:
 a first reentrant lip extending from the first side arm opposite the linking portion; and   a second reentrant lip extending from the second side arm opposite the linking portion.   
     
     
         17 . The locking retainer of  claim 11 , wherein the locking arm is tapered, narrowing in the direction of the locking pin. 
     
     
         18 . The locking retainer of  claim 11 , wherein the locking pin is axially offset and laterally equidistant from the first side arm and the second side arm. 
     
     
         19 . A method of operating a locking retainer for slidable adjustment of a slidable support, the locking retainer having a strap that at least partly bounds an internal area in which the slidable support is received, the strap including a linking portion, a locking arm extending from the linking portion with a locking pin that extends into the internal area, and a tab extending from the linking portion in the opposite direction of the locking arm and away from the internal area, the slidable support including a first support member with a first locking aperture and a second support member with a second locking aperture, with the first support member and the second support member slidably engaging each other to define a support profile, and with the strap initially in a locking configuration in which the slidable support extends into the internal area and the locking pin extends into the first and second locking apertures, the method comprising:
 applying a force to the tab in a direction toward the slidable support to pivot the locking arm at the linking portion, in a direction away from the slidable support, and remove the locking pin from the first and second locking apertures.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 removing the force from the tab to automatically return the locking pin to engagement with different locking apertures of the slidable support.