Snap ring

Abstract

A snap ring in which a main ring has a circular opening with an inner diameter. The ring body has split ends and handles extending outwardly from the ring body near the ends, to enable compression of the ring. The handles include a locking mechanism which releasably engages upon ring compression during installation. The ring body, in a locked state, has a gap between the split or free ends. A suitable implement such a screwdriver can be inserted into the gap and manipulated to release the locking mechanism to release and allow the ring to spring open for the purpose of removal.

1 . A snap ring comprising a ring body having a circular opening with an inner diameter around a central axis, said ring body having split ends, a pair of handles extending axially outwardly from the ring body, said body being resilient and compressible by movement of the handles toward each other, said handles additionally comprising locking means for releasably locking the ring body in a compressed state during installation of the ring body, a gap between the split ends of the ring body, said locking means being disengagable upon insertion and manipulation of an implement inserted into the gap, thereby causing the ring body to spring open with an increase in the inner diameter thereof, in order to allow removal of the ring body.  
   
   
       2 . The snap ring of  claim 1 , wherein the handles each comprise an opening therethrough, and together comprise two openings.  
   
   
       3 . The snap ring of  claim 2 , wherein the openings are graspable by the fingers of a user, in order to compress the ring body.  
   
   
       4 . The snap ring of  claim 1 , wherein said locking means comprise opposed interlocking shoulders in the handles.