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, a second ring and a latch assembly, said first ring half including a nest having a nest opening on a front portion of said first ring, said second ring half, said latch assembly connected to a front portion of said second ring, 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 spring arrangement having a longitudinal axis and a vertical member that is movable along said longitudinal axis of said spring arrangement, said latch arrangement configured to move both in a plane that is non-parallel relative to the longitudinal axis of said spring arrangement and in a plane that is parallel to said longitudinal axis of said spring arrangement, a base portion of said latch arrangement connected to said vertical member to enable said latch arrangement to move in said plane that is non-parallel to said longitudinal axis of said spring arrangement, said spring arrangement creating a force on front portions of said first and second rings 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 rings has a front end, each of said first and second rings have 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 at least partially positioned on said outer top surface of said first ring, said nest angling downwardly from said outer top surface of said first ring, said nest including a bottom slot, said bottom slot at least partially positioned below said nest opening, said front portion of said second ring including a latch cavity, said latch cavity including a top opening, said front end of said second ring configured to contact or be positioned closely adjacent to said front end of said first ring when said first and second rings 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 rings 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, a second ring and a latch assembly configured to releasably connect said first and second rings, each of said first and second rings having 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 including a nest, said nest at least partially positioned on said outer top surface of said first ring, said nest including a nest opening, said nest angles downwardly from said outer top surface of said first ring, said nest including a bottom slot, said bottom slot at least partially positioned below said nest opening, said front portion of said second ring including a latch cavity, said latch cavity including a top opening, said front end of said second ring configured to contact or be positioned closely adjacent to said front end of said first ring when said first and second rings 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, said spring arrangement having a longitudinal axis and a vertical member that is movable along said longitudinal axis of said spring arrangement, 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 spring arrangement and in a plane that is parallel to said longitudinal axis of said spring arrangement, said latch arrangement includes a base portion and a top portion, said base portion of said latch arrangement connected to said vertical member to enable said latch arrangement to move in said plane that is non-parallel to said longitudinal axis of said spring arrangement, said spring arrangement configured to cause said base portion of said latch arrangement to move along said longitudinal axis of said spring arrangement when said vertical member moves along said longitudinal axis of said spring arrangement, 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, said spring arrangement configured to create a force on said vertical member so as to cause said front portions of said first and second rings 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, a second ring and a latch assembly configured to releasably connect said first and second rings, each of said first and second rings having 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 including a nest, said nest at least partially positioned on said outer top surface of said first ring, said nest including a nest opening, said nest angles downwardly from said outer top surface of said first ring, said nest including a bottom slot, said bottom slot at least partially positioned below said nest opening, said front portion of said second ring including a latch cavity, said latch cavity including a top opening, said front end of said second ring configured to contact or be positioned closely adjacent to said front end of said first ring when said first and second rings 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, said spring arrangement having a longitudinal axis and a vertical member that is movable along said longitudinal axis of said spring arrangement, 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 spring arrangement and in a plane that is parallel to said longitudinal axis of said spring arrangement, said latch arrangement includes a base portion and a top portion, said base portion of said latch arrangement connected to said vertical member to enable said latch arrangement to move said plane that is non-parallel to said longitudinal axis of said spring arrangement, said spring arrangement configured to cause said base portion of said latch arrangement to move along said longitudinal axis of said spring arrangement when said vertical member moves along said longitudinal axis of said spring arrangement, 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, said spring arrangement configured to create a force on said vertical member so as to cause said front portions of said first and second rings 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 rings 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.