Extensible strut for use in device such as a gas spring

Abstract

An extensible strut such as a gas spring and having a cylinder, a rod guided by the cylinder and slidably extending through one end of the cylinder to the outside, and a locking mechanism for locking the rod at an extended position. The locking mechanism has inner and outer axially contiguous recesses formed in the outer circumference of the rod and having respectively oppositely inclining surfaces defining therebetween a ridge, a locking member selectively and rockingly movable between the inner and outer recesses and having axially spaced and radially projecting inner and outer legs, a resilient ring for snappingly locating the locking member in either of the inner and outer recesses, a retaining element secured to the cylinder for cooperating with the inner leg of the locking member when the same is in the outer recess thereby preventing the contraction of the rod, and a releasing element secured to the cylinder at the location axially outwards of the retaining element for cooperating with the outer leg of the locking member when the same is in the outer recess thereby snappingly move the same into the inner recess.