Patent attributes
A lock and release mechanism includes a primary ring with a first surface and a second surface, each surface including a plurality of channels of varying depths. A secondary ring has first and second surfaces, the first surface including a plurality of channels of varying depths. The channels of the secondary ring are aligned with a portion of an opposing channel of the primary ring. Arranged between the primary and secondary rings are a plurality of low friction elements partially arranged within a channel of the primary ring and partially arranged within an opposing channel of the secondary ring. In order to lock and release the mechanism, the primary ring translates relative to the secondary ring such that the bearing balls move within each channel from a first depth to a second depth greater than the first depth.
