Telescopic support and improved means of locking the same

Claim 2

A telescopic support comprising an inner support member fitting telescopically within a tubular outer support member, a pair of lock plates, each lock plate including a ring part encircling said inner support member and a tab part extending outwardly from said ring part, means anchoring said lock plates to said outer support member at said tab parts wherein one of said lock plates is pivotal about its connection to said anchor means at its tab part between a tilted position preventing extension of said inner support member relative to said outer support member and a release position allowing said extension and wherein the other of said lock plates is pivotal about its connection to said anchor means at its tab part between a tilted position preventing retraction of said inner support member relative to said outer support member and a release position allowing said retraction, and biasing means positioned at one side of and spaced laterally outwardly from said inner support member, said biasing means contacting said lock plates at the tab parts thereof and urging said lock plates into their respective tilted lock positions.

Claim 3

The support of claim 1 wherein said biasing means is positioned between the tab parts of said lock plates to normally urge said tab parts apart.

Claim 4

The support of claim 2 wherein the tab part is angularly disposed relative to the ring part of each lock plate, the tab part of one said lock plate being oppositely positioned from and extending in an angular relationship to the tab part of the other lock plate.

Claim 5

The support of claim 3 wherein said oppositely positioned tab parts have confronting inner faces, said biasing means including a helical spring having one end abutting the inner face of one tab part and its other end abutting the inner face of the other tab part.

Claim 6

The support of claim 4 wherein said confronting inner faces diverge outwardly from said inner support number.

Claim 7

The support of claim 8 wherein said spring is greater compressed by said tab parts along its side most closely adjacent said inner support number.

Claim 8

An awning pole comprising an upper support member fitting telescopically within a tubular lower support member, a pair of lock plates, each pair of lock plates including a ring part encircling said support member and a tab part extending outwardly from said ring part, means anchoring said lock parts to said lower support member at said tab parts wherein one of said lock plates is pivotal about its connection to said anchor means at its tab part between a tilted position preventing extended movement of said upper support member relative to said lower support member and a release position allowing said extended movement and wherein the other of said lock plates is pivotal about its connection to said anchor means at its tab part between a tilted position preventing retractive movement of said upper supporT member relative to said lower support member and a release position allowing said retractive movement, biasing means contacting said lock plates at the tab parts thereof and positioned at one side of and spaced laterally outwardly from said upper support member normally urging said lock plates into their respective tilted lock positions, said lower support member having a lower end located below said lock plates and adapted to contact the ground, the lower end of said lower support member carrying means for anchoring said lower end to said ground.

Claim 9

An awning pole comprising an upper support member fitting telescopically within a tubular lower support member, a pair of lock plates, each pair of lock plates including a ring part encircling said support member and a tab part extending outwardly from said ring part, means anchoring said lock parts to said lower support member at said tab parts wherein one of said lock plates is pivotal about its connection to said anchor means at its tab part between a tilted position preventing extended movement of said upper support member relative to said lower support member and a release position allowing said extended movement and wherein the other of said lock plates is pivotal about its connection to said anchor means at its tab part between a tilted position preventing retractive movement of said upper supporT member relative to said lower support member and a release position allowing said retractive movement, biasing means contacting said lock plates at the tab parts thereof and positioned at one side of and spaced laterally outwardly from said upper support member normally urging said lock plates into their respective tilted lock positions, said lower support member having a lower end located below said lock plates and adapted to contact the ground, the lower end of said lower support member carrying means for anchoring said lower end to said ground.

Claim 10

A telescopic support comprising an inner support member fitting telescopically within a tubular outer support member, a pair of lock plates, each lock plate including a ring part encircling said inner support member and a tab part extending outwardly from said ring part, means anchoring said lock plates to said outer support member at said tab parts wherein one of said lock plates is pivotal about its connection to said anchor means between a tilted position preventing extension of said inner support member relative to said outer support member and a release position allowing said extension and wherein the other of said lock plates is pivotal about its connection to said anchor means between a tilted position preventing retraction of said inner support member relative to said outer support member and a release position allowing said retraction, and biasing means positioned at one side of and spaced laterally outwardly from said inner support member, said biasing means contacting said lock plates and urging said lock plates into their respective tilted lock positions, said anchor means including an exterior arm part, one end portion of said arm part secured to said outer support means, the other end portion of said arm part extending spacedly along said inner support member and having spaced confronting shoulders, the tab part of each lock plate having an aperture therein, said other end portion of the arm part extending with shiftable clearance through said aperture in each tab part, said tab parts located between said shoulders, said biasing means including a helical spring means encircling said arm part between said shoulders, one end of said spring abutting one of said tab parts and the other end of said spring abutting the other of said tab parts whereby said tab parts engage said shoulders.

Claim 11

A telescopic support comprising an inner support member fitting telescopically within a tubular outer support member, a pair of lock plates, each lock plate including a ring part encircling said inner support member and a tab part extending outwardly from said ring part, means anchoring said lock plates to said outer support member at said tab parts wherein one of said lock plates is pivotal about its connection to said anchor means between a tilted position preventing extension of said inner support member relative to said outer support member and a release position allowing said extension and wherein the other of said lock plates is pivotal about its connection to said anchor means between a tilted position preventing retraction of said inner support member relative to said outer support member and a release position allowing said retraction, and biasing means positioned at one side of and spaced laterally outwardly from said inner support member, said biasing means contacting said lock plates and urging said lock plates into their respective tilted lock positions, said anchor means including an exterior arm part, one end portion of said arm part secured to said outer support means, the other end portion of said arm part extending spacedly along said inner support member and having spaced confronting shoulders, the tab part of each lock plate having an aperture therein, said other end portion of the arm part extending with shiftable clearance through said aperture in each tab part, said tab parts located between said shoulders, said biasing means including a helical spring means encircling said arm part between said shoulders, one end of said spring abutting one of said tab parts and the other end of said spring abutting the other of said tab parts whereby said tab parts engage said shoulders.