That cocking/uncocking feature is not merely for storing the rifle with the mainspring released. Instead, it is the original “safety” of that action. You may load the rifle, uncock the lock as described and carry the loaded gun without any danger. Just pushing that cocking lever forward cocks the rifle for a shot.
The basic Heeren action, as shown in the drawings above, was invented by Count Arturo Heeren together with the Nagel & Menz gunshop in Baden – Baden and patented in 1880. As the patent was held by N&M, all Heeren action rifles were sold and signed by Nagel & Menz until the patent expired. But N&M never made the actions. Instead, they had them made by Stephan Heym Jr., Suhl. Until WW2 all these actions were made in Suhl by Stephan and son Max Heym, later by Ernst Kerner & Co., Suhl. Postwar several Swiss, Austrian and German gunmakers made such actions. Just as “Farquarson” is often used for any hammerless falling block action by English speakers, Germans are apt to call any such action a “Heeren”.