Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Handle or shank
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-24
2001-02-06
Eley, Timothy V. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Handle or shank
C081S489000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182539
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a telescoping handle assembly and, in particular, to a locking mechanism for a telescoping handle assembly for a tool for use with a railroad car.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,950 describes a multipurpose tool for use with a railroad car. The tool is used to turn a brake wheel to set and release the brake of the railroad car. The tool includes a telescoping handle and is used by pulling on the tool to turn the brake wheel. The tool is also usable, by pushing, to adjust a retainer valve. The locking mechanism of the telescoping handle is not described. One tool manufactured in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,950 has a locking mechanism that includes cams engageable with the inner surface of a cylindrical tube. The tool is lockable at any position within its overall range, by a friction locking by the cams.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,780 describes a collet for a telescoping assembly including a plurality of flexible fingers that are cammed radially to hold two tube sections together against relative axial movement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a telescoping handle assembly comprising interfitting first and second telescoping handle sections. The first handle section has an outer surface and a series of grooves extending inward from the outer surface at predetermined locations spaced along the length of the first handle section, the grooves defining predetermined locking positions of the first handle section relative to the second handle section. The second handle section includes locking teeth that are fixed axially in position along the length of the second handle section and that are movable between a locked condition disposed in one of the grooves on the first handle section and an unlocked condition. The handle assembly comprises a locking sleeve movable in a first direction to apply radially inwardly directed force to the locking teeth to maintain the locking teeth in the locked condition and thereby to block telescopic movement of the first handle section relative to the second handle section. The locking sleeve is movable in a second direction opposite the first direction to enable movement of the locking teeth out of the locking condition thereby to enable telescopic movement of the first handle section relative to the second handle section.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3072425 (1963-01-01), Nicholls
patent: 4182364 (1980-01-01), Gilbert et al.
patent: 4596405 (1986-06-01), Jones
patent: 5433551 (1995-07-01), Gordon
patent: 5481950 (1996-01-01), Browning
patent: 5492430 (1996-02-01), Jones
patent: 5593239 (1997-01-01), Sallee
patent: 5649780 (1997-07-01), Schall
patent: 5823699 (1998-10-01), Austin, Jr. et al.
Eley Timothy V.
Nguyen Dung Van
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
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