Lock ring

A method for using a lock ring comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a lock ring, said lock ring comprising a first ring portion, a second ring portion and a latch assembly, said first ring portion including a nest having a nest opening on a front portion of said first ring portion, said latch assembly connected in and at least partially positioned in a latch cavity located in a front portion of said second ring portion, said latch cavity having a longitudinal axis, said latch assembly including a latch arrangement and a spring arrangement, said latch arrangement configured to be releasably positionable in said nest opening when said lock ring is in a closed and locked position, said latch arrangement configured to move both in a plane that is non-parallel relative to the longitudinal axis of said latch cavity and in a plane that is parallel to said longitudinal axis of said latch cavity, a base portion of said latch arrangement engaging said spring arrangement to enable said spring arrangement to cause said base portion of said latch arrangement to move in said plane that is parallel to said longitudinal axis of said latch cavity, said spring arrangement creating a force on said base portion of said latch arrangement to cause at least one of said first and second ring portions to be drawn toward one another when said top portion of said latch arrangement is positioned in said nest opening, said front portion of each of said first and second ring portions has a front end, each of said first and second ring portions has an outer top surface, an inner bottom surface and a side surface positioned between said outer top surface and an inner bottom surface, said nest on said first ring portion at least partially positioned on said outer top surface of said first ring portion, said nest angling downwardly from said outer top surface of said first ring portion, said nest including a bottom slot, said bottom slot at least partially positioned below said nest opening, said latch cavity including a top opening, said front end of said second ring portion configured to contact or be positioned closely adjacent to said front end of said first ring portion when said first and second ring portions are in a locked position, said spring arrangement at least partially positioned in said latch cavity, at least a portion of said latch arrangement extending outwardly from said top opening of said latch cavity;
• b. positioning said first and second ring portions about a member;
• and,
• c. inserting said latch arrangement into said nest opening to secure said lock ring in said closed and locked position.

A lock ring comprising a first ring portion, a second ring portion and a latch assembly configured to releasably connect said first and second ring portions, each of said first and second ring portions has a front portion with a front end, a rear portion, an outer top surface, an inner bottom surface and a side surface positioned between said outer top surface and said inner bottom surface, said front portion of said first ring portion including a nest, said nest at least partially positioned on said outer top surface of said first ring portion, said nest including a nest opening, said nest angles downwardly from said outer top surface of said first ring portion, said nest including a bottom slot, said bottom slot at least partially positioned below said nest opening, said front portion of said second ring portion including a latch cavity having a longitudinal axis, said latch cavity including a top opening, said front end of said second ring portion configured to contact or be positioned closely adjacent to said front end of said first ring portion when said first and second ring portions are in a locked position, said latch assembly including a spring arrangement and a latch arrangement, said spring arrangement at least partially positioned in said latch cavity, at least a portion of said latch arrangement positioned outside latch cavity, said latch arrangement configured to move in both a plane that is non-parallel relative to the longitudinal axis of said latch cavity and in a plane that is parallel to said longitudinal axis of said latch cavity, said latch arrangement includes a base portion and a top portion, said base portion of said latch arrangement engaging said spring arrangement to enable said spring arrangement to cause said base portion of said latch arrangement to move in said plane that is parallel to said longitudinal axis of said latch cavity, said top portion of said latch arrangement configured to be at least partially positionable in said nest opening and to releasably connect to said nest of said first ring portion, said spring arrangement configured to create a force on said latch arrangement so as to cause said front portions of said first and second ring portions to be drawn toward one another when said top portion of said latch arrangement is positioned in said nest, said spring arrangement including one or more mechanical springs, fluid springs or combinations thereof.

A method for using a lock ring comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a lock ring, said lock ring comprising a first ring portion, a second ring portion and a latch assembly configured to releasably connect said first and second ring portions, each of said first and second ring portions has a front portion with a front end, a rear portion, an outer top surface, an inner bottom surface and a side surface positioned between said outer top surface and said inner bottom surface, said front portion of said first ring portion including a nest, said nest at least partially positioned on said outer top surface of said first ring portion, said nest including a nest opening, said nest angles downwardly from said outer top surface of said first ring portion, said nest including a bottom slot, said bottom slot at least partially positioned below said nest opening, said front portion of said second ring portion including a latch cavity having a longitudinal axis, said latch cavity including a top opening, said front end of said second ring portion configured to contact or be positioned closely adjacent to said front end of said first ring portion when said first and second ring portions are in a locked position, said latch assembly including a spring arrangement and a latch arrangement, said spring arrangement at least partially positioned in said latch cavity, at least a portion of said latch arrangement positioned outside latch cavity, said latch arrangement configured to move in both a plane that is non-parallel relative to the longitudinal axis of said latch cavity and in a plane that is parallel to said longitudinal axis of said latch cavity, said latch arrangement includes a base portion and a top portion, said base portion of said latch arrangement engaging said spring arrangement to enable said spring arrangement to cause said base portion of said latch arrangement to move in said plane that is parallel to said longitudinal axis of said latch cavity, said top portion of said latch arrangement configured to be at least partially positionable in said nest opening and to releasably connect to said nest of said first ring portion, said spring arrangement configured to create a force on said latch arrangement so as to cause said front portions of said first and second ring portions to be drawn toward one another when said top portion of said latch arrangement is positioned in said nest, said spring arrangement including one or more mechanical springs, fluid springs or combinations thereof;
• b. positioning said first and second ring portions about a member;
• and,
• c. inserting said top portion of said latch arrangement into said nest opening to secure said lock ring in said locked position.