Importance

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Abstract

A locking device including a plurality of small, discrete elements and means for confining the elements in a string. Further included are primary and secondary biasing means at opposite ends of the string for biasing the elements into a contiguous series with each adjacent pair meeting at a junction. The locking device also has a plurality of actuator means. Each of the actuator means in an unlocked state is poised adjacent a junction, and is movable from the unlocked state to a locked state in which it is interjected into its adjacent junction for shifting the remainder of the elements against the force of the biasing means to misalign all of the remaining junctions with respect to their associated actuators and prevent the remaining actuators from moving to the locked state. The biasing means returns all the elements to the contiguous series when the actuator means in the locked state is returned to the unlocked state. Further included are means for realigning an element junction with each of the actuator means to allow any of the actuator means to be moved to the locked state.

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First Claim