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A locking mechanism includes a lock housing and an activation shaft. The lock housing defines first and second axes, each being different than the other. The lock housing includes an inner mechanism housing wall, a hollow conduit defined by the inner mechanism housing wall, and a channel. The channe

A locking mechanism includes a lock housing and an activation shaft. The lock housing defines first and second axes, each being different than the other. The lock housing includes an inner mechanism housing wall, a hollow conduit defined by the inner mechanism housing wall, and a channel. The channel is defined by a portion of the inner mechanism housing wall and has first and second portions, where the first portion extends along the first axis and the second portion extends along the second axis. The activation shaft is at least partially surrounded by the hollow conduit and includes a shoulder protruding from the activation shaft towards the channel of the inner mechanism housing wall. In an unlock position, the shoulder is freely manipulatable within the first portion of the channel along the first axis, and in a lock position the shoulder is prevented from moving along the first axis.

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1. A locking mechanism comprising: a lock housing defining a first axis and a second axis, the first axis being different than the second axis, the lock housing including:an inner mechanism housing wall;a hollow conduit defined by the inner mechanism housing wall longitudinally extending along the f

1. A locking mechanism comprising: a lock housing defining a first axis and a second axis, the first axis being different than the second axis, the lock housing including:an inner mechanism housing wall;a hollow conduit defined by the inner mechanism housing wall longitudinally extending along the first axis; anda channel defined by a portion of the inner mechanism housing wall, the channel having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion extends along the first axis and the second portion extends along the second axis; andan activation shaft at least partially surrounded by the hollow conduit, the activation shaft having a lock position and an unlock position, the activation shaft including a shoulder protruding from the activation shaft towards the channel of the inner mechanism housing wall, the shoulder axially and rotatably movable within the channel about the first axis;wherein in the unlock position, the shoulder is freely manipulatable within the first portion of the channel along the first axis, and in the lock position, the shoulder is prevented from moving along the first axis; and,a ball detent mechanism disposed within the inner mechanism housing wall, wherein the ball detent mechanism maintains the shoulder in the unlocked position or the locked position, wherein the ball detent mechanism comprises: a ball disposed within a conduit having an opening, the conduit defined by the inner mechanism housing wall, the opening having a diameter less than the diameter of the ball; and a spring disposed within the conduit, the spring pushing the ball towards the opening when the shoulder applies pressure to the ball. 2. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the activation shaft has a transitional position, in the transitional position, the activation shaft transitions from the unlock position to the lock position or from the lock position to the unlock position. 3. The locking mechanism of claim 2, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis. 4. The locking mechanism of claim 2, wherein during the transitional position the activation shaft is prevented from moving along the first axis. 5. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the activation shaft includes a head portion free from being surrounded by the hollow conduit, the head portion rotating in a clockwise position moving the shoulder to the locked position and rotating in a counterclockwise position moving the shoulder to the unlocked position. 6. The locking mechanism of claim 5, wherein in the unlocked position, the head portion manipulates the shoulder along the first axis. 7. A mechanism for fastening an implement to a handle, the mechanism comprising: a rod having a first end and a second end;a fastener disposed on one of the first or second ends of the rod, the fastener comprising:a cage defining a cage cavity;a housing defining a housing cavity, wherein the cage is at least partially disposed in said housing cavity; anda plurality of retaining members at least partially retained within a plurality of passages of the cage including a first circumferential group of passages that are aligned with a first recess of the housing and a second circumferential group of passages that are aligned with a second recess of the housing, wherein the plurality of retaining members includes a first group of retaining members and a second group of retaining members, wherein the first group of retaining members are disposed within the first circumferential group of passages, wherein the second group of retaining members are disposed within the second circumferential group of passages;a plunger including a side surface that engages the plurality of retaining members for radially displacing the retaining members between the cage passages and the housing recesses; andan end plug including a distal end, a proximal end and an outer threaded side surface, wherein the cage cavity includes an inner threaded surface, wherein the outer threaded side surface of the end plug threadingly engages the inner threaded surface of the cage cavity; anda locking mechanism disposed on one of the first or second ends of the rod different than the end having the fastener, the locking mechanism comprising:a lock housing defining a first axis and a second axis, the first axis being different than the second axis, the lock housing including:an inner mechanism housing wall;a hollow conduit defined by the inner mechanism housing wall longitudinally extending along the first axis; anda channel defined by a portion of the inner mechanism housing wall, the channel having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion extends along the first axis and the second portion extends along the second axis; andan activation shaft connected to the one of the first or second ends of the rod and at least partially surrounded by the hollow conduit for moving the plunger within the cage cavity, the activation shaft having a lock position and an unlock position, the activation shaft including a shoulder protruding from the activation shaft towards the channel of the inner mechanism housing wall, the shoulder axially and rotatably movable within the channel about the first axis; wherein in the unlock position, the shoulder is freely manipulatable within the first portion of the channel along the first axis and in the lock position the shoulder is prevented from moving along the first axis. 8. The mechanism of claim 7, wherein the activation shaft has a transitional position, in the transitional position, the activation shaft transitions from the unlock position to the lock position or from the lock position to the unlock position. 9. The mechanism of claim 8, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis. 10. The mechanism of claim 8, wherein during the transitional position the activation shaft is prevented from moving along the first axis. 11. The mechanism of claim 7, further including a ball detent mechanism disposed within the inner mechanism housing wall, wherein the ball detent mechanism maintains the shoulder in the unlocked position or the locked position. 12. The mechanism of claim 11, wherein the ball detent mechanism comprises: a ball disposed within a conduit having an opening, the conduit defined by the inner mechanism housing wall, the opening having a diameter less than the diameter of the ball; anda spring disposed within the conduit, the spring pushing the ball towards the opening when the shoulder applies pressure to the ball. 13. The mechanism of claim 7, wherein the activation shaft includes a head portion free from being surrounded by the hollow conduit, the head portion rotating in a clockwise position moving the shoulder to the locked position and rotating in a counterclockwise position moving the shoulder to the unlocked position. 14. The mechanism of claim 13, wherein in the unlocked position, the head portion manipulates the shoulder along the first axis. 15. The mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the first recess and the second recess are spaced apart by an axial distance. 16. The mechanism according to claim 15, wherein an outer surface of the cage is spaced apart from an inner surface of the housing that forms the housing cavity, wherein the first circumferential group of passages and the second circumferential group of passages are also spaced apart by the axial distance. 17. The mechanism according to claim 16, wherein the plunger is at least partially movable within said cage cavity between: a first position to cause said plurality of retaining members to be displaced radially outwardly from the first and second circumferential groups of passages of the cage to the first and second recesses of the housing for thereby mechanically coupling said housing to said cage, and a second position to allow said plurality of retaining members to be displaced radially inwardly from the first and second recesses of the housing to the first and second circumferential groups of passages of the cage thereby allowing said housing to be uncoupled from said cage, wherein the plunger includes a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the plunger is at least partially disposed in said cage cavity. 18. The mechanism according to claim 17, further comprising: an urging member including a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the urging member is disposed directly adjacent the distal end of the plunger, wherein the distal end of the urging member is disposed directly adjacent the proximal end of the end plug, wherein the urging member is completely contained within the cage cavity. 19. The mechanism according to claim 18, wherein said side surface of the plunger includes first and second side surfaces that are spaced apart by the axial distance between the distal end of the plunger and the proximal end of the plunger, wherein each side surface includes: a first retaining member engagement surface, wherein the first retaining member engagement surface defines a first axial segment of the plunger to have a first diameter,a second retaining member engagement surface, wherein the second retaining member engagement surface defines a second axial segment of the plunger to have a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter, wherein contact of a corresponding one of the first group and the second group of retaining members with a first engagement surface results in the group of retaining members being displaced radially outwardly, wherein contact of the corresponding group of retaining members with the second engagement surface permits the group of retaining members to be displaced radially inwardly. 20. The mechanism according to claim 19, wherein each said side surface includes an intermediate retaining member engagement surface between the first and second retaining member engagement surfaces, wherein the intermediate retaining member engagement surface defines a third axial segment of the plunger to have a frusto-conical shape. 21. The mechanism according to claim 18, wherein the plunger is completely contained within the cage cavity. 22. The mechanism according to claim 18, wherein the spaced apart relationship of the outer surface of the cage and the inner surface of the housing that forms the housing cavity provides means for ensuring a consistent and repeatable connection between the cage and the housing by reducing a likelihood that contaminates located therebetween will interfere with connecting the cage and the housing of the outer surface of the cage engaging the inner surface of the housing. 23. A fastener, comprising: a cage defining a cage cavity;a housing defining a housing cavity, wherein the cage is at least partially disposed in said housing cavity; anda plurality of retaining members at least partially retained within a plurality of passages of the cage including a first circumferential group of passages that are aligned with a first recess of the housing and a second circumferential group of passages that are aligned with a second recess of the housing, wherein the plurality of retaining members includes a first group of retaining members and a second group of retaining members, wherein the first group of retaining members are disposed within the first circumferential group of passages, wherein the second group of retaining members are disposed within the second circumferential group of passages;a plunger including a surface that engages the plurality of retaining members;an end plug including a distal end, a proximal end and an outer threaded side surface, wherein the cage cavity includes an inner threaded surface, wherein the outer threaded side surface of the end plug threadingly engages the inner threaded surface of the cage cavity, wherein the first recess and the second recess are spaced apart by an axial distance, wherein an outer surface of the cage is spaced apart from an inner surface of the housing that forms the housing cavity, wherein the first circumferential group of passages and the second circumferential group of passages are also spaced apart by the axial distance, wherein the plunger is at least partially movable within said cage cavity between: a first position to cause said plurality of retaining members to be displaced radially outwardly from the first and second circumferential groups of passages of the cage to the first and second recesses of the housing for thereby mechanically coupling said housing to said cage, and a second position to allow said plurality of retaining members to be displaced radially inwardly from the first and second recesses of the housing to the first and second circumferential groups of passages of the cage thereby allowing said housing to be uncoupled from said cage, wherein the plunger includes a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the plunger is at least partially disposed in said cage cavity; and,an urging member including a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the urging member is disposed directly adjacent the distal end of the plunger, wherein the distal end of the urging member is disposed directly adjacent the proximal end of the end plug, wherein the urging member is completely contained within the cage cavity, wherein the housing is attached to an implement, wherein the cage is attached to a handle, wherein the handle comprises a locking mechanism for preventing movement of the plunger within the cage cavity. 24. The fastener according to claim 23, wherein said side surface of the plunger includes first and second side surfaces that are spaced apart by the axial distance between the distal end of the plunger and the proximal end of the plunger, wherein each side surface includes: a first retaining member engagement surface, wherein the first retaining member engagement surface defines a first axial segment of the plunger to have a first diameter,a second retaining member engagement surface, wherein the second retaining member engagement surface defines a second axial segment of the plunger to have a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter, wherein contact of a corresponding one of the first group and the second group of retaining members with a first engagement surface results in the group of retaining members being displaced radially outwardly, wherein contact of the corresponding group of retaining members with the second engagement surface permits the group of retaining members to be displaced radially inwardly. 25. The fastener according to claim 24, wherein each said side surface includes an intermediate retaining member engagement surface between the first and second retaining member engagement surfaces, wherein the intermediate retaining member engagement surface defines a third axial segment of the plunger to have a frusto-conical shape. 26. The fastener according to claim 23, wherein the plunger is completely contained within the cage cavity. 27. The fastener according to claim 23, wherein the spaced apart relationship of the outer surface of the cage and the inner surface of the housing that forms the housing cavity provides means for ensuring a consistent and repeatable connection between the cage and the housing by reducing a likelihood that contaminates located therebetween will interfere with connecting the cage and the housing of the outer surface of the cage engaging the inner surface of the housing. 28. The fastener according to claim 23, further comprising: an actuator rod attached to the plunger, wherein the actuator rod extends through a bore formed in the cage and out of the cage. 29. The fastener according to claim 23, wherein the outer surface of the cage and the inner surface of the housing are spaced between 0.005 inches and 0.500 inches. 30. The fastener according to claim 23, wherein the outer surface of the cage and the inner surface of the housing are spaced between 0.020 and 0.200 inches. 31. The fastener according to claim 23, wherein the outer surface of the cage and the inner surface of the housing are spaced between 0.050 and 0.150 inches. 32. The fastener according to claim 23, wherein the spacing between the outer surface of the cage and the inner surface of the housing ranges anywhere between 0.005 inches and 0.500 inches continuously along an axial length of cavity. 33. The fastener according to claim 32, wherein the spacing between the outer surface of the cage and the inner surface of the housing extends angularly continuously 360°. 34. The fastener according to claim 23, wherein each retaining member of each of the first and second groups of retaining members are angularly offset from one another at an angle, wherein the first group of retaining members are angularly offset from the second group of retaining members by an angle.