US 7,552,892 B1
	Dual-sliding fin lock assembly
David A. Bittle, Somerville, Ala. (US); Gary T. Jimmerson, Athens, Ala. (US); and Julian L. Cothran, Arab, Ala. (US)
Assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, D.C. (US)
Filed on Dec. 20, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/613,228.
Int. Cl. F42B 10/14 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 244—3.29

13 Claims

1. A multi-sliding fin lock assembly for locking a deployed fin in place on a flying object so as to render stability to the flight of the object and enable the object to reach its pre-selected destination more accurately, said lock assembly comprising: a plurality of object lugs, said object lugs each having a hole therethrough and being fixedly attached to the outer surface of said object while being separated by a given distance from each other; a fin; a plurality of sliding locks, said locks each having a hole therethrough and a protruding step, said sliding locks being positioned between said object lugs; a plurality of fin lugs attached to said fin, said fin lugs each having a hole therethrough and a notch, said step and notch allowing said sliding lock and said fin lug to fit together, each fin lug being sandwiched between one object lug and one sliding lock; a pin passing through said holes of said object lugs, fin lugs and sliding locks, said pin thereby securing said fin to said object; and a means to maintain said fin firmly in the deployed position for the duration of the flight of the object.