Lock mechanism

Abstract

A lock mechanism is disclosed herein that can be used to lockingly 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.

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 - 20 . (canceled)