Lock with internal retainer

Abstract

A locking assembly has two members which are moveable into coupling engagement with one another. The two members have lock engaging walls, and one of the members has an opening between the lock engaging walls for receiving a lock. The lock comprises a lock body and a retainer. The lock body has a channel for receiving a portion of the retainer. An end of the retainer extends underneath a retainer engaging wall, thus resisting movement of the lock out of the opening.

1 . A lock assembly, comprising: 
 (a) a first member, a second member, and a lock;    (b) said first member and said second member being moveable longitudinally with respect to one another into coupling engagement, and said first member and said second member having respective engaging surfaces to resist transverse movement of said first member and said second member with respect to one another when said first member and said second member are in coupling engagement;    (c) said first member and said second member each having a lock engaging wall, and said second member defining an opening between said lock engaging wall of said first member and said lock engaging wall of said second member when said first member and said second member are in coupling engagement, said opening receiving said lock to resist longitudinal movement of said first member with respect to said second member;    (d) said lock comprising a lock body and a retainer, said lock body defining a channel in communication with a side of said lock body; and    (e) said retainer being located at least partially within said channel, a portion of said retainer extending beyond said side so as to interfere with removal of said lock body from said opening.    
     
     
         2 . The lock assembly of  claim 1  wherein said lock body travels along a path that does not require significant displacement of soil fines to remove said lock body from said opening.  
     
     
         3 . The lock assembly of  claim 1  wherein said lock body substantially fills said opening.  
     
     
         4 . The lock assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first member is a base member and said second member is a wear member.  
     
     
         5 . The lock assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first member is a nose of an adapter and said second member is a point.  
     
     
         6 . The lock assembly of  claim 1  wherein said retainer has a pair of legs and a hinge portion, and said legs are capable of being moved toward each other.  
     
     
         7 . The lock assembly of  claim 6  wherein said lock body has an opening in communication with said channels, and said hinge portion is received within said opening.  
     
     
         8 . The lock assembly of  claim 1  wherein said retainer is formed at least partially from an elastomeric material.  
     
     
         9 . The lock assembly of  claim 1  wherein said retainer is formed at least partially from metal.  
     
     
         10 . The lock assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a retainer engaging wall located on one of said first member and said second member.  
     
     
         11 . The lock assembly of  claim 1  wherein said retainer is unitary.  
     
     
         12 . The lock assembly of  claim 1  wherein said retainer comprises separate members.  
     
     
         13 . The lock assembly of  claim 1  wherein said lock body is tapered so that the bottom of said lock body is narrower than the top of said lock body.  
     
     
         14 . The lock assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a lock member fastening said retainer to said lock body.  
     
     
         15 . The lock assembly of  claim 1  wherein said retainer is deformable and is in a relaxed condition when fully inserted into said lock body.  
     
     
         16 . A lock, comprising: 
 (a) a rigid, substantially incompressible lock body, said lock body being generally block shaped, and said lock body defining an opening and a pair of channels in communication with said opening and in communication with opposite sides of said lock body; and    (b) a retainer having a hinge portion and a pair of legs terminating in respective ends, said hinge portion being receivable within said opening and each of said pair of legs being receivable within a respective one of said pair of channels, and said ends of said legs extending beyond said sides of said lock body.    
     
     
         17 . The lock of  claim 16  wherein said retainer is deformable.  
     
     
         18 . The lock of  claim 16  wherein said lock body has a groove lip for prying said retainer out of said lock body.  
     
     
         19 . The lock of  claim 16  wherein said retainer is at least partially formed from an elastomer.  
     
     
         20 . The lock of  claim 16  wherein said retainer has a pair of fastening members and said lock body has a pair of shelves for engaging said fastening member.  
     
     
         21 . The lock of  claim 16  wherein said lock body is tapered so as to be narrower at the bottom of said lock body than the top of said lock body.  
     
     
         22 . The lock of  claim 16 , further comprising a longitudinal take-up member.  
     
     
         23 . The lock of  claim 16  wherein said lock body further comprises a pry ledge for receiving a pry tool.  
     
     
         24 . A method for locking a first member to a second member, said first member and said second member being moveable longitudinally into coupling engagement, comprising: 
 (a) providing a lock comprised of a lock body and a retainer;    (b) providing said first member and said second member with respective engaging surfaces to resist transverse movement of said first member and said second member with respect to one another when said first member and said second member are in coupling engagement;    (c) providing said first member and said second member each with a lock engaging wall, and defining in said second member an opening between said lock engaging wall of said first member and said lock engaging wall of said second member when said first member and said second member are in coupling engagement for receiving said lock to resist longitudinal movement of said first member with respect to said second member;    (d) defining a channel in said lock body in communication with a side of said lock body;    (e) inserting said lock body into said opening; and    (f) inserting said retainer into said channel of said lock body so that a portion of said retainer extends beyond said side of said lock body and interferes with removal of said lock out of said opening.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said retainer is deformed to insert said retainer into said channel.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said lock body is inserted into said opening before said retainer is inserted into said lock body.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said retainer is at least partially inserted into said lock body before said lock body is inserted into said opening.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the step of unlocking said assembly by removing said lock from said opening, comprising the step of removing said retainer from said channel and the step of moving said lock body from said opening without significantly displacing any soil fines within said opening.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said lock body is inserted into said opening by hand.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said lock body is removed with a pry tool.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said lock body is provided with another channel and said retainer is formed to have a hinge portion and a pair of legs.