Adjustable ski pole with split retainer ring

Claim 1

A telescopic coupling comprising a first elongated member of tubular configuration, one end of which constitutes a stop shoulder, said one end being screw-threaded, an outer sleeve having one end portion adjustably screwed on said screw-threaded end and its other end projecting beyond said stop shoulder, a second elongated member having an end portion passing through said outer sleeve and telescoping and slidingly and adjustably mounted in the bore of said first member, said outer sleeve having an internal stop shoulder spaced longitudinally from said first-named stop shoulder, a longitudinally split inner sleeve concentrically surrounding and radially and longitudinally displaceable relative to said end portion of said second tubular section and confined in said outer sleeve and having one end adapted to abut said first-named stop shoulder and its other terminal end being chamfered to provide a substantially annular bevel which is spaced from but longitudinally adjustable toward said internal stop shoulder, and a split resilient expansible and contractible ring encompassing said end portion of said second tubular section and interposed between said internal shoulder and said annular bevel of said inner sleeve, the outer peripheral surface of said second member being provided with encircling longitudinally spaced endless annular grooves defining keeper seats for selective reception and retention of said ring when contracted by said inner sleeve, said inner sleeve being constructed of resilient material to enable it to radially expand and partially override the ring and contract it inwardly, whereby said inner sleeve is radially expanded into flush engagement with said outer sleeve, said split ring being of uniform circular cross section and resiliency and normally having an internal diameter slightly larger than the second member to enable free movement when the split ring is not contracted by the inner sleeve, each of said annular grooves being of circular configuration and of semi-circular cross section of a diameter equal to that of said split ring, whereby the split ring is compressed into snug, retentive engagement with substantially the entire circumference of one of said annular grooves when contracted by said inner sleeve to provide positive locking in both longitudinal directions.