Spring lock for telescoping members

Claim 2

A locking device for a pair of members, one of which is telescopically received in the other, said locking device comprising a pair of coil springs surrounding said one member and in frictional engagement therewith, means for attaching one of each of the ends of said coil springs to said other member, the other ends of said coil springs being lapped side-by-side and extending past each other and movable with respect to said other member, said coil springs being wound in the same direction but one of said coil springs is reversed, whereby movement of said other ends of said coil springs back toward each other will expand said coil springs to release said one member from frictional engagement thereby, said other ends of said coil springs being closely adjacent each other to facilitate such movement toward each other.

Claim 3

The locking device of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said one ends of said coil springs to said other member comprises a sleeve attached to said other member and having a longitudinally projecting portion therefrom, said sleeve having an opening through which said one member projects into said other member, said coil springs being contained within said longitudinally projecting portion of said sleeve, said sleeve having a longitudinal slot therein for receipt of said one ends of said coil springs, said sleeve further having a circumferential slot through which said other ends of said coil springs extend for connection to knobs.

Claim 4

The locking device of claim 2 wherein said sleeve has a shoulder adjacent said opening, said springs being disposed between said shoulder and the adjacent end of said other member.

Claim 5

A locking device for a pair of outer and inner telescoping members comprising spring means surrounding said inner member and in frictional engagement therewith, said spring means comprising a pair of coil springs surrounding said inner member and in frictional engagement therewith, said coil springs each having one of their ends fixed with respect to said outer member and their other ends movable toward each other for expanding said coil springs to release said inner member from frictional engagement thereby, said other ends of said coil springs being located relatively close to each other and having knobs thereon for engagement between the thumb and first finger of one hand to apply the required force to expand said springs as aforesaid.

Claim 6

A locking device for a pair of outer and inner telescoping members comprising spring means surrounding said inner member and in frictional engagement therewith, said spring means comprising a pair of coil springs surrounding said inner member and in frictional engagement therewith, said coil springs each having one of their ends fixed with respect to said outer member and their other ends movable toward each other for expanding said coil springs to release said inner member from frictional engagement thereby, said other ends of said coil springs being located relatively close to each other and having knobs thereon for engagement between the thumb and first finger of one hand to apply the required force to expand said springs as aforesaid.

Claim 7

A locking device for a pair of outer and inner telescoping members comprising spring means surrounding said inner member and in frictional engagement therewith, said spring means having one end fixed with respect to said outer member, and the other end being movable with respect to said outer member for expanding said spring means to release said inner member from frictional engagement thereby, and a sleeve attached to one end of said outer member and having a longitudinally projecting portion therefrom, said sleeve having an opening through which said inner member projects into said outer member, said spring means being contained within the longitudinally projecting portion of said sleeve, one end of said spring means being fixed to said sleeve, said sleeve having a circumferential slot through which the other end of said spring means extends for connection to a knob, and a peripheral groove intersected by said circumferential slot, said knob having a tongue portion which is received in said groove for retaining and guiding said knob along said groove.

Claim 8

A locking device for a pair of outer and inner telescoping members comprising spring means surrounding said inner member and in frictional engagement therewith, said spring means having one end fixed with respect to said outer member, and the other end being movable with respect to said outer member for expanding said spring means to release said inner member from frictional engagement thereby, and a sleeve attached to one end of said outer member and having a longitudinally projecting portion therefrom, said sleeve having an opening through which said inner member projects into said outer member, said spring means being contained within the longitudinally projecting portion of said sleeve, one end of said spring means being fixed to said sleeve, said sleeve having a circumferential slot through which the other end of said spring means extends for connection to a knob, and a peripheral groove intersected by said circumferential slot, said knob having a tongue portion which is received in said groove for retaining and guiding said knob along said groove.

Claim 9

A locking device for a pair of members, one of which is telescopically received in the other, said locking device comprising a pair of coil springs surrounding said one member and in frictional engagement therewith, means for attaching one of the ends of said coil springs to said other member, the other ends of said coil springs being movable with respect to said other member, said coil springs being wound in the same direction but one of said coil springs is reversed, whereby movement of said other ends of said coil springs toward each other will expand said coil springs to release said one member from frictional engagement thereby, said means for attaching said one ends of said coil springs to said other member comprising a sleeve attached to said other member and having a longitudinally projecting portion therefrom, said sleeve having an opening through which said one member projects into said other member, said coil springs being contained within said longitudinally projecting portion of said sleeve, said sleeve having a longitudinal slot therein for receipt of said one ends of said coil springs, said sleeve further havinG a circumferential slot through which said other ends of said coil springs extend for connection to knobs, said one ends of said coil springs being longitudinally spaced apart, and said other ends being in substantially the same plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said members.

Claim 10

A locking device for a pair of members, one of which is telescopically received in the other, said locking device comprising a pair of coil springs surrounding said one member and in frictional engagement therewith, means for attaching one of the ends of said coil springs to said other member, the other ends of said coil springs being movable with respect to said other member, said coil springs being wound in the same direction but one of said coil springs is reversed, whereby movement of said other ends of said coil springs toward each other will expand said coil springs to release said one member from frictional engagement thereby, said means for attaching said one ends of said coil springs to said other member comprising a sleeve attached to said other member and having a longitudinally projecting portion therefrom, said sleeve having an opening through which said one member projects into said other member, said coil springs being contained within said longitudinally projecting portion of said sleeve, said sleeve having a longitudinal slot therein for receipt of said one ends of said coil springs, said sleeve further havinG a circumferential slot through which said other ends of said coil springs extend for connection to knobs, said one ends of said coil springs being longitudinally spaced apart, and said other ends being in substantially the same plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said members.

Claim 11

The locking device of claim 6 further comprising a spacer interposed between said one ends of said springs.

Claim 12

The locking device of claim 1 wherein said one ends of said coil springs are longitudinally spaced apart, and said other ends are in substantially the same transverse plane.