Telescoping post

Claim 1

An infinitely adjustable telescoping post for extending between vertically spaced apart floors in a building under construction for use as a fence post in a temporary safety fence which also includes a plurality of panels having an upper rail and a middle rail, said telescoping post comprising a first post member having an elongated, rigid hollow body defining an internal rectilinear passage of constant crosssection; a section post member having an elongated rigid body, one end portion of which having a constant cross-section and outer dimensions adapted to fit relatively closely in slidable telescoping relationship within said passage of said first post member; a lug rigidly attached to said first post member and extending outwardly therefrom; a locking means for retaining said first and second post members into extended telescoping relationship when said telescoping post is subjected to longitudinal compression, said locking means comprising an aperture plate having an aperture therein through which said second post member extends, said aperture plate having a portion thereof extending outwardly from said second post member forming a boss; a first toggle link having a generally compressed S-shape with inner and outer substantially straight end portions and an integral mid portion interconnecting each end protion at an angle, thereby forming a first boss at the interconnection between the inner end portion and the mid portion and a second boss at the interconnection between the outer end portion and the mid portion, said first toggle link being pivotably connected at the inner end portion thereof to said aperture plate boss at a first pivot point a transverse distance from said second post member; a second toggle link pivotably connected at one end thereof to said first boss at a second pivot point and pivotably connected at the other end to said lug at a third pivot point a transverse distance from said first post member, said outer end portion of said first toggle link comprising a handle extending along said second toggle link but slightly spaced therefrom so as to facilitate actuation of said locking means and for retaining the upper rail of the safety fence in position, the actuation of the locking means being effected by urging said handle toward said telescoping post for locking same and away from said telescoping post for releasing said second post member relative to said first post member whereby said toggle links are operable between a released position to a locking position, and when is said locking position said second pivot point is closer to said telescoping post than either said first or third pivot points thereby producing a toggle effect for holding the locking means in the locked position, and further when in said locking position, one side of said apertured plate is urged away from said lug along the axis of said telescoping post thereby to prevent sliding of said second post member within said passage when said telescoping post is subjected to longitudinal compression; a relatively thick boot mounted on each end of said telescoping post, said boots made of rubber-like resilient material for facilitating the positioning of said locking means in the locked position and for acting as friction elements; hook means operable to interconnect said toogle links and said first post member when said locking means is in the locking position whereby to prevent accidental release; and a bracket rigidly mounted on said first post member for supporting the middle rail of the safety fence.