Patent attributes
A locking mechanism (20) for locking a roller-tube (30) in its assembly (22), such as found in awning contraptions mounted on RV and other motor vehicles (34). A shaft (42) slides to-and-fro in its bore (44) extending between end walls (35, 36) of a body (33). A collar (49) at one end of shaft (42) captures the latter's motion at one end (50) of body (33). Another collar (53) disposed on shaft (42) along its length projecting beyond the opposite end (54) of body (33) also prevents escape of shaft (42) from body (33) in its other direction. Collars (49, 53) function to limit the sliding of shaft (42) back and forth as a hooking wand is applied to one or the other. A pin (59) in detent (60) seats in body (33) from its bottom wall (38) to engage a point or annular groove (55) in shaft (42) to maintain a length of a portion (47) in an elongated length (46) in shaft (42) so that portion (47) of shaft (42) engages a stop or peg (74) on the periphery (82) of an end cap (72) of roller-tube (30) to immobilize roller tube (30) from rotating. Threaded holes (67) are provided on back wall (39) of body (33) for mounting mechanism (20) to a support arm (28) to which roller-tube assembly (22) is connected.
