Abstract: A lock mechanism which can be placed on a shaft, such as a bar or pole, in either a first direction or second direction, is secured to the shaft using two sets of balls which project out of apertures in an inner cylinder to frictionally engage the shaft. The balls are selectively retractable from their projecting position to allow the inner cylinder to slide on and/or be removed from the shaft. Biasing members, such as wavy springs, bias the two sides of the lock mechanism towards one another. In the locked configuration, the balls are forced by inclined surfaces within the two sides to project outwardly from the inner hollow cylinder. The inclined surfaces are aligned with two rows of apertures in the inner hollow cylinder, and they are inclined in opposite directions. Thus, either way the lock mechanism is installed or placed on the shaft, the balls will project out of the apertures in the inner hollow cylinder and will securely engage the shaft.

Abstract: A lock mechanism which can be placed on a shaft, such as a bar or pole, in either a first direction or second direction, is secured to the shaft using two sets of balls which project out of apertures in an inner cylinder to frictionally engage the shaft. The balls are selectively retractable from their projecting position to allow the inner cylinder to slide on and/or be removed from the shaft. Biasing members, such as wavy springs, bias the two sides of the lock mechanism towards one another. In the locked configuration, the balls are forced by inclined surfaces within the two sides to project outwardly from the inner hollow cylinder. The inclined surfaces are aligned with two rows of apertures in the inner hollow cylinder, and they are inclined in opposite directions. Thus, either way the lock mechanism is installed or placed on the shaft, the balls will project out of the apertures in the inner hollow cylinder and will securely engage the shaft.

Abstract: A lock mechanism which can be placed on a shaft, such as a bar or pole, in either a first direction or second direction, is secured to the shaft using two sets of balls which project out of apertures in an inner cylinder to frictionally engage the shaft. The balls are selectively retractable from their projecting position to allow the inner cylinder to slide on and/or be removed from the shaft. Biasing members, such as wavy springs, bias the two sides of the lock mechanism towards one another. In the locked configuration, the balls are forced by inclined surfaces within the two sides to project outwardly from the inner hollow cylinder. The inclined surfaces are aligned with two rows of apertures in the inner hollow cylinder, and they are inclined in opposite directions. Thus, either way the lock mechanism is installed or placed on the shaft, the balls will project out of the apertures in the inner hollow cylinder and will securely engage the shaft.

Abstract: A lock mechanism which can be placed on a shaft, such as a bar or pole, in either a first direction or second direction, is secured to the shaft using two sets of balls which project out of apertures in an inner cylinder to frictionally engage the shaft. The balls are selectively retractable from their projecting position to allow the inner cylinder to slide on and/or be removed from the shaft. Biasing members, such as wavy springs, bias the two sides of the lock mechanism towards one another. In the locked configuration, the balls are forced by inclined surfaces within the two sides to project outwardly from the inner hollow cylinder. The inclined surfaces are aligned with two rows of apertures in the inner hollow cylinder, and they are inclined in opposite directions. Thus, either way the lock mechanism is installed or placed on the shaft, the balls will project out of the apertures in the inner hollow cylinder and will securely engage the shaft.

Abstract: A portable exercise or rehabilitation device which permits users to perform a variety of stretching exercises includes a ground contacting member which the user uses to contact the ground, preferably between their legs, and a moveable handle which the user holds onto while performing stretching. The moveable handle slides away to greater and greater distances from the ground contacting member using a telescoping assembly. Once at a preferred separation distance, a lock holds the telescoping member in place so that the user may brace the ground contacting member against the ground and stretch his or her back, shoulders, or other muscles using the handle. The device preferably is on the order of sixteen to forty inches long in its non-extended state and can be conveniently carried in a gym pouch.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a shaft provides secure frictional engagement to the shaft while manually operable to be removed from the shaft. There is a first cylinder allowable to slide freely on the shaft. One or more holes retaining one or more balls allow a projection of the balls into an interior of the first cylinder. A tensioning ring (second cylinder) partially overlaps the first cylinder, retains the balls within the holes, and has at least a portion of the inside diameter increasing in diameter. A biasing mechanism acts against the second cylinder to urge the balls into the first cylinder interior to frictionally engage the shaft. Two release mechanisms movable with the biasing mechanism manually actuated against the bias move the second cylinder to allow the balls to freely move within the holes and the locking mechanism to be slid onto and removed from the shaft.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a shaft provides secure frictional engagement to the shaft while manually operable to be removed from the shaft. There is a first cylinder allowable to slide freely on the shaft. One or more holes retaining one or more balls allow a projection of the balls into an interior of the first cylinder. A tensioning ring (second cylinder) partially overlaps the first cylinder, retains the balls within the holes, and has at least a portion of the inside diameter increasing in diameter. A biasing mechanism acts against the second cylinder to urge the balls into the first cylinder interior to frictionally engage the shaft. Two release mechanisms movable with the biasing mechanism manually actuated against the bias move the second cylinder to allow the balls to freely move within the holes and the locking mechanism to be slid onto and removed from the shaft.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a shaft provides secure frictional engagement to the shaft while manually operable to be removed from the shaft. There is a first cylinder allowable to slide freely on the shaft. One or more holes retaining one or more balls allow a projection of the balls into an interior of the first cylinder. A tensioning ring (second cylinder) partially overlaps the first cylinder, retains the balls within the holes, and has at least a portion of the inside diameter increasing in diameter. A biasing mechanism acts against the second cylinder to urge the balls into the first cylinder interior to frictionally engage the shaft. Two release mechanisms movable with the biasing mechanism manually actuated against the bias move the second cylinder to allow the balls to freely move within the holes and the locking mechanism to be slid onto and removed from the shaft.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a shaft provides secure frictional engagement to the shaft while manually operable to be removed from the shaft. There is a first cylinder allowable to slide freely on the shaft. One or more holes retaining one or more balls allow a projection of the balls into an interior of the first cylinder. A tensioning ring (second cylinder) partially overlaps the first cylinder, retains the balls within the holes, and has at least a portion of the inside diameter increasing in diameter. A biasing mechanism acts against the second cylinder to urge the balls into the first cylinder interior to frictionally engage the shaft. Two release mechanisms movable with the biasing mechanism manually actuated against the bias move the second cylinder to allow the balls to freely move within the holes and the locking mechanism to be slid onto and removed from the shaft.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a shaft provides secure frictional engagement to the shaft while manually operable to be removed from the shaft. There is a first cylinder allowable to slide freely on the shaft. One or more holes retaining one or more balls allow a projection of the balls into an interior of the first cylinder. A tensioning ring (second cylinder) partially overlaps the first cylinder, retains the balls within the holes, and has at least a portion of the inside diameter increasing in diameter. A biasing mechanism acts against the second cylinder to urge the balls into the first cylinder interior to frictionally engage the shaft. Two release mechanisms movable with the biasing mechanism manually actuated against the bias move the second cylinder to allow the balls to freely move within the holes and the locking mechanism to be slid onto and removed from the shaft.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a shaft provides secure frictional engagement to the shaft while manually operable to be removed from the shaft. There is a first cylinder allowable to slide freely on the shaft. One or more holes retaining one or more balls allow a projection of the balls into an interior of the first cylinder. A tensioning ring (second cylinder) partially overlaps the first cylinder, retains the balls within the holes, and has at least a portion of the inside diameter increasing in diameter. A biasing mechanism acts against the second cylinder to urge the balls into the first cylinder interior to frictionally engage the shaft. Two release mechanisms movable with the biasing mechanism manually actuated against the bias move the second cylinder to allow the balls to freely move within the holes and the locking mechanism to be slid onto and removed from the shaft.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a shaft provides secure frictional engagement to the shaft while manually operable to be removed from the shaft. There is a first cylinder allowable to slide freely on the shaft. One or more holes retaining one or more balls allow a projection of the balls into an interior of the first cylinder. A tensioning ring (second cylinder) partially overlaps the first cylinder, retains the balls within the holes, and has at least a portion of the inside diameter increasing in diameter. A biasing mechanism acts against the second cylinder to urge the balls into the first cylinder interior to frictionally engage the shaft. Two release mechanisms movable with the biasing mechanism manually actuated against the bias move the second cylinder to allow the balls to freely move within the holes and the locking mechanism to be slid onto and removed from the shaft.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a shaft provides secure frictional engagement to the shaft while manually operable to be removed from the shaft. There is a first cylinder allowable to slide freely on the shaft. One or more holes retaining one or more balls allow a projection of the balls into an interior of the first cylinder. A tensioning ring (second cylinder) partially overlaps the first cylinder, retains the balls within the holes, and has at least a portion of the inside diameter increasing in diameter. A biasing mechanism acts against the second cylinder to urge the balls into the first cylinder interior to frictionally engage the shaft. Two release mechanisms movable with the biasing mechanism manually actuated against the bias move the second cylinder to allow the balls to freely move within the holes and the locking mechanism to be slid onto and removed from the shaft.