Joints and connections – Articulated members – Lockable at fixed position
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-13
2001-04-10
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Articulated members
Lockable at fixed position
C285S303000, C403S109100, C403S109300, C015S144400, C016S114100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213672
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to telescoping poles, and more specifically, to a telescoping pole having a tubular outer pole, having a keying guide running the length of its inner surface and penetrated by a series of locking holes, and an inner pole having a spring biased button protruding from the outer surface which button tracks the keying guide, thereby preventing the telescoping inner pole from rotating within the outer pole and simultaneously maintaining padial alignment of the button with each locking hole for ease of securing a telescoped configuration.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Extension poles are useful in numerous applications. One such application involves cleaning devices, such as mops or the like. In marine applications, for instance to clean boat hulls, the poles (normally stainless steel, aluminum or other metals) are not buoyant, and thus will sink when dropped in the water. Poles are thus frequently lost and can negatively effect worker productivity. Moreover, the most commonly used and available telescoping poles are circular in cross section, which lock at a desired telescoped extension length by means of a spring biased locking button which passes through a hole formed in the outer cylindrical pole. When the hole and the button engage, the pole is mechanically locked into position and can be released by manual pressure on the button. However, another frustrating and time consuming problem becomes evident in marine applications, particularly when quickly retrieving lines by means of hooks attached to, a telescoping pole. When a user tries to expand or retract the pole, the inner pole with the snap button fastener often rotates, thus mis-aligning the button with the corresponding hole in the outer pole, thus preventing engagement of the hole and button. To remedy the situation, the user generally twists and turns the poles relative to each other in what sometimes seems a futile attempt to align the snap button with the corresponding hole until the snap button engages.
Finally, another problem associated with using telescoping poles in marine environments is the marring of finishes or surfaces, due to inadvertent contact of the bottom portion of most poles with, such surfaces. Such contact can leave unsightly marks or nicks on the surfaces of boats and other smoothly finished products.
Of course, numerous other applications can be envisioned other than marine applications in which such problems can be a nuisance. Therefore, a telescoping cleaning pole that is lightweight, buoyant, incorporates a guide member to ensure that the inner and outer poles stay radially and axially aligned with each other, and has a protective coating to prevent nicks or marks on the cleaned surface would be highly desirable to anyone. who has occasion to. use telescoping poles. There is, therefore, a need for a lightweight, buoyant, telescoping cleaning pole that automatically keeps the inner and outer pole in perfect alignment to each other and greatly reduces the possibility of nicks or marks on a finished surface due to inadvertent contact with the telescoping pole. The present invention provides such a device.
Telescoping poles have been described in the patent literature; however, none address the above mentioned problems or needs. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,594,824 issued to ZIEGLER et al. on Jun. 17, 1986, U.S. Pat. No 4,932,176 issued to ROBERTS et al. on Jun. 12, 1990, U.S. Pat. No 5,271,682 issued to REALDON on Dec. U.S. Pat. No 21, 1993, and U.S. Pat. No 5,333,422 issued to WARREN et al. on Aug. 2, 1994, all describe extendable telescoping pole-like structures but fail to disclose a buoyant lightweight pole having a self-aligning spring biased snap button assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,989 issued to APPLE on Aug. 16, 1994, British Pat. No. 524,030 issued on July 1940, and German Pat. No. 548,005 issued on May 1931 describe extendable poles but fail to disclose a telescoping lightweight buoyant pole having a self-aligning spring biased snap button assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,012 issued to NEWVILLE on Aug. 9, 1994, discloses a telescoping washing and scrubbing brush handle that provides a leakage free connection between the inner and outer pole. However, the NEWVILLE patent does not disclose a buoyant telescoping pole having a self-aligning spring biased snap button in addition to a protective coating to reduce the likelihood of scratching the cleaned surface.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Moreover, a need is shown for a telescoping pole which, regardless of application, is able to solve the aforementioned problems related to marring, buoyancy and misalignment of telescoping components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a telescoping pole that is both lightweight and buoyant. It is another object of the invention to provide a telescopic pole that has a self aligning spring biased snap button. It is a further object of the invention to provide a telescoping pole having a coating to prevent or reduce the occurrence of nicks or marks on the cleaned surface.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a telescoping pole having a self aligning snap button to receive a cleaning implement.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
The present invention accomplishes these objectives by providing a telescoping self aligning pole having an inner pole dimensioned and configured to fit within an outer pole which is equipped with a guide for receiving a snap button, thereby preventing rotation of the inner pole relative to the outer pole. The guide allows the telescoping pole to self-align such that the user does not have to twist and maneuver the inner and outer poles when changing the pole length.
Located on the front of the inner pole is a snap button which fits within the guide of the outer pole and is thereby guided along a straight path towards a plurality of holes located along the outer pole in communication with and axially aligned with the guide. Once the snap button is positioned under a corresponding hole, the force of a spring member attached to the snap button forces the snap button into the hole. This snap action causes the inner and outer poles to become locked without need for rotation of the poles relative to one another.
Foam inserts located on both ends of the inner pole allow the telescoping pole to be buoyant. A special layer of rubberized or polymer coating protects the cleaned surface from abrasions due to contact with the telescoping pole.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1007512 (1911-10-01), Aardahl
patent: 2864100 (1958-12-01), Bruger
patent: 3244437 (1966-04-01), Belicka
patent: 4003668 (1977-01-01), Kelly, III et al.
patent: 4524484 (1985-06-01), Graham
patent: 4594824 (1986-06-01), Ziegler et al.
patent: 4793646 (1988-12-01), Michaud, Jr.
patent: 4904379 (1990-02-01), Ward
patent: 4932176 (1990-06-01), Roberts et al.
patent: 5105752 (1992-04-01), Pompei et al.
patent: 5209176 (1993-05-01), Pompei et al.
patent: 5271682 (1993-12-01), Realdon
patent: 5333422 (1994-08-01), Warren et al.
patent: 5336012 (1994-08-01), Newville
patent: 5337989 (1994-08-01), Apple
patent: 5343587 (1994-09-01), Findley
patent: 5387048 (1995-02-01), Kuo
patent: 5449100 (1995-09-01), Eckhart
patent: 5515574 (1996-05-01), Larson
patent: 5591507 (1997-01-01), Jones
patent: 5799357 (1998-09-01), Taylor
patent: 5940933 (1999-08-01), Chang
patent: 548005 (1931-05-01), None
patent: 524030 (1940-07-01), None
Browne Lynne H.
Harrington Curtis L.
Malcolm Tomlyne A
LandOfFree
Telescoping pole & cleaning tool does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Telescoping pole & cleaning tool, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Telescoping pole & cleaning tool will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2554030