US Patent 8104988 Locking connector system

Components for use in a locking connector system, such a heavy duty shackles, comprise a retainer, a body structure and pin which is axially moveable into a receiving cavity of the body structure, the body structure having a transversely directed cavity interconnecting with the cavity and have a latching shoulder. The retainer has a body, a latch element associated with the body and adapted to move into a space adjacent the latching shoulder of the aperture when the retainer is inserted into the transverse aperture to retain the retainer in its aperture and the body of the retainer having a projecting portion for location adjacent the surface portion of the pin for restraining the pin from removal when the retainer is inserted, the retainer further having a latch actuator which is displaceable in the body from a released position to an engaged position for moving the latch element from its retracted position to a latching position, and the latch actuator further having releasable retention means for retaining the latch actuator in the engaged position but, on application of a retraction force, adapted to release the latch actuator to permit its return to its retracted position, thereby allowing return of the latch element to its retracted position, whereby the retainer may be removed from the aperture and the pin removed from the cavity.