US3674294A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Clamping telescopic tubes
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-03-16
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Granted: 1972-07-04
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Expires: 1990-03-16
Abstract
Abstract Clamping method and apparatus for an outer tube and an inner tube telescopically disposed within the outer tube, the apparatus being normally concealed from view and having a threaded coupling member mounted in one end of the inner tube, an anti-rotate loop carried by the coupling member and an expandable lock which opens against the inside surface of the outer tube and closes in response to axial displacement of the threaded coupling member. The anti-rotate loop firmly contacts the interior surface of the outer tube and is displaceable over the surface along the axis of the outer tube. Relative rotation of the inner and outer tubes causes the anti-rotate loop to bind against the inside surface of the outer tube to rotate the threaded coupling member relative to the inner tube thereby spreading the lock tightly against the inside surface of outer tube until further rotation of tubes as well as relative axial displacement are prevented.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur J Kirkham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:53
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B7/00; F16B7/10; F16B7/14; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32254; Y10T403/32426
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
Clamping structure comprising means for carrying the clamping structure at one end of one elongated member sized and shaped to fit within an open end of another generally hollow elongated member, yieldable anti-rotate means having relatively flat bearing surfaces formed with relatively sharp edges for generally axial insertion into and snug non-rotatable engagement with the interior surface of the hollow elongated member, lock means movable between an unlocked position and a locked position contiguous with the interior surface of the hollow elongated member and having relatively sharp surface-engaging portions for biting engagement with said surface to prevent relative axial movement of the elongated members, and means carried by said anti-rotate means and responsive to relative opposite rotation of the elongated members to cause the lock means to move between the two mentioned positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
Clamping structure comprising means for carrying the clamping structure at one end of one elongated member sized and shaped to fit within an open end of another generally hollow elongated member, yieldable anti-rotate means having relatively flat bearing surfaces formed with relatively sharp edges for generally axial insertion into and snug non-rotatable engagement with the interior surface of the hollow elongated member, lock means movable between an unlocked position and a locked position contiguous with the interior surface of the hollow elongated member and having relatively sharp surface-engaging portions for biting engagement with said surface to prevent relative axial movement of the elongated members, and means carried by said anti-rotate means and responsive to relative opposite rotation of the elongated members to cause the lock means to move between the two mentioned positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
139 words
In combination, a male pole, a female pole, telescopically related to the male pole, and clamping structure, the clamping structure comprising means for carrying the clamping structure at one end of the Male pole, yieldable anti-rotate means with memory formed with relatively flat skidding surfaces having relatively sharp edges for generally axial insertion into and snug non-rotatable engagement with the interior surface of the female pole, lock means movable between an unlocked position and a locked position contiguous with the interior surface of the female member and having relatively sharp surface-engaging portions for biting engagement with said surface to prohibit axial movement of one pole with respect to the other pole, and means carried by said anti-rotate means responsive to relative opposite rotation of the poles to cause the lock means to move between the unlocked and locked position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
139 words
In combination, a male pole, a female pole, telescopically related to the male pole, and clamping structure, the clamping structure comprising means for carrying the clamping structure at one end of the Male pole, yieldable anti-rotate means with memory formed with relatively flat skidding surfaces having relatively sharp edges for generally axial insertion into and snug non-rotatable engagement with the interior surface of the female pole, lock means movable between an unlocked position and a locked position contiguous with the interior surface of the female member and having relatively sharp surface-engaging portions for biting engagement with said surface to prohibit axial movement of one pole with respect to the other pole, and means carried by said anti-rotate means responsive to relative opposite rotation of the poles to cause the lock means to move between the unlocked and locked position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
147 words
Clamping structure for selectively preventing axial movement of one tube relative to another tube, the one tube having an inner end normally telescoped into the other tube, the improvement comprising: linking means carried by the one tube near the inner end, which linking means are displaceable relative to the one tube when the one tube and linking means are relatively rotated; yieldable resilient means mounted upon the linking means and having relatively flat tube-engaging surfaces formed with relatively sharp edges accommodating axial movement of the linking means relative to the inside surface of the other tube and resisting rotational movement of the resilient means relative to the other tube; and expandable means expanded by displacement of the linking means relative to the one tube for selectively biting into the inside surface of the other tube to thereafter prevent relative axial displacement of the one and other tubes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
147 words
Clamping structure for selectively preventing axial movement of one tube relative to another tube, the one tube having an inner end normally telescoped into the other tube, the improvement comprising: linking means carried by the one tube near the inner end, which linking means are displaceable relative to the one tube when the one tube and linking means are relatively rotated; yieldable resilient means mounted upon the linking means and having relatively flat tube-engaging surfaces formed with relatively sharp edges accommodating axial movement of the linking means relative to the inside surface of the other tube and resisting rotational movement of the resilient means relative to the other tube; and expandable means expanded by displacement of the linking means relative to the one tube for selectively biting into the inside surface of the other tube to thereafter prevent relative axial displacement of the one and other tubes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
Structure as defined in claim 3 wherein the expandable means comprise resilient jaw means having a generally U-shaped cross section with free ends adapted to bite into the interior surface of the outer tube when the jaw means are open.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
Structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said resilient means comprises a deformable loop attached to the linking means and adapted to be disposed within the outer tube, the loop having ski means formed with relatively flat tube-engaging surfaces accommodating axial displacement of the loop relative to the outer tube, said surfaces having relatively sharp edges which bind against the inner surface of the outer tube to resist rotational relative displacement therewith when a rotational force is exerted upon the deformable loop.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
106 words
Structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said linking means comprises a threaded shaft threadedly secured to the inner end of the one tube and having an axial slot therein into which the expandable means is disposed, and a bearing plate disposed at the inner end of the one tube upon which the expandable means are supported for relative movement with the one tube and a spreader-disc carried by the threaded shaft within the axial slot so that as the threaded shaft is advanced through the bearing plate, the expandable means will engage the spreader-disc and be forced outwardly into biting engagement with the other tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
Structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said expandable means are U-shaped and comprises an aperture at the bottom thereof and wherein said linking means is a threaded shaft having an enlarged head, the shaft being disposed through the aperture and into a threaded bore in the inner end of the one tube so that the ends of the U-shaped means are disposed adjacent the enlarged head and are outwardly projected thereby when the threaded shaft advances into the inner tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
92 words
Structure as defined in claim 3 further comprising a cylindrical insert adapted to be rigidly mounted in the inner end of the one tube, the insert comprising an axially elongated transverse slot into which the expandable means are disposed; and axial bore communicating the transverse slot with the exterior of the insert, the bore receiving linking means so that as the linking means are selectively advanced into the insert, the expandable means are forced outwaRdly through opposed apertures in the inner end of the one tube into engagement with the other tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |