Locking mechanism for extendible telescoping tubular members

Claim 2

A locking mechanism for inner and outer telescoping tubular members formed with axially aligned, radial openings, said locking mechanism comprising: (a) a hollow housing surrounding the outer tubular member; (b) a lever mounted for pivotal movement within said housing; (c) oppositely directed locking plunger and lever actuating plunger mounted directly on opposite end sections of said lever, said locking plunger projecting out of said housing and entering registering openings in said inner and outer telescoping tubular members for restraining relative axial displacement between said inner and outer telescoping tubular members, said actuating plunger being disposed within said housing and projecting out of said housing and actuated to remove said locking plunger from registering openings in said inner and outer tubular members for relative axial displacement between said inner and outer telescoping tubular members; and (d) a spring disposed within said housing and connected to said lever for urging said locking plunger to remain in entered registering openings, the actuation of said actuating plunger to remove said locking plunger from registering openings being against the urgency of said spring, (e) said housing including means for guiding said actuating plunger during the actuation thereof.

Claim 3

A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hollow housing comprises detachably secured housing sections.

Claim 4

A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locking plunger is obliquely disposed relative to the axes of said telescoping tubular members for entering registering openings in said inner and outer tubular members when there is relative displacement between said tubular members in one axial direction for restraining relative axial displacement between said telescoping tubular members and for advancing over registering openings in said inner and outer tubular members where there is relative axial displacement between said tubular members in an opposite direction.

Claim 5

A carpet stretcher comprising: A. a pin head; B. a wall engaging member spaced from said pin head in the longitudinal direction; C. tubular assembly means interconnecting said pin head and said wall engaging member, said tubular assembly means comprising inner and outer telescoping tubular members formed with axially aligned, radial openings; D. handle linkage means interconnecting said pin head and said tubular assembly means for applying a stretching force to a carpet; and E. a locking mechanism for restraining said inner and outer tubular members against axial displacement relative to one another comprising: a. a hollow housing surrounding the outer tubular member, b. a lever mounted for pivotal movement within said housing, and c. oppositely directed locking plunger and lever actuating plunger mounted directly on opposite end sections of said lever, said locking plunger being disposed within said housing and projecting out of said housing and entering registering openings in said inner and outer telescoping tubular members for restraining relative axial displacement between said inner and outer telescoping tubular members, said actuating plunger being disposed within said housing and projecting out of said housing and actuated to remove said locking plunger from registering openings in said inner and outer tubular members for enabling relative axial displacement between said inner and outer telescoping tubular members, and d. a spring disposed within said housing and connected to said lever for urging said locking plunger to remain in entered registering openings, the actuation of said actuating plunger to remove said locking plunger from registering openings being against the urgency of said spring, e. said housing including means for guiding said actuating plunger during the actuation thereof.

Claim 6

A carpet stretcher comprising: A. a pin head; B. a wall engaging member spaced from said pin head in the longitudinal direction; C. tubular assembly means interconnecting said pin head and said wall engaging member, said tubular assembly means comprising inner and outer telescoping tubular members formed with axially aligned, radial openings; D. handle linkage means interconnecting said pin head and said tubular assembly means for applying a stretching force to a carpet; and E. a locking mechanism for restraining said inner and outer tubular members against axial displacement relative to one another comprising: a. a hollow housing surrounding the outer tubular member, b. a lever mounted for pivotal movement within said housing, and c. oppositely directed locking plunger and lever actuating plunger mounted directly on opposite end sections of said lever, said locking plunger being disposed within said housing and projecting out of said housing and entering registering openings in said inner and outer telescoping tubular members for restraining relative axial displacement between said inner and outer telescoping tubular members, said actuating plunger being disposed within said housing and projecting out of said housing and actuated to remove said locking plunger from registering openings in said inner and outer tubular members for enabling relative axial displacement between said inner and outer telescoping tubular members, and d. a spring disposed within said housing and connected to said lever for urging said locking plunger to remain in entered registering openings, the actuation of said actuating plunger to remove said locking plunger from registering openings being against the urgency of said spring, e. said housing including means for guiding said actuating plunger during the actuation thereof.

Claim 7

A carpet stretcher as claimed in claim 4 wherein said hollow housing comprises detachably secured housing sections.

Claim 8

A carpet stretcher as claimed in claim 4 wherein said locking plunger is obliquely disposed relative to the axes of said telescoping tubular members for entering registering openings in said inner and outer tubular members when there is relative displacement between said tubular members in one axial direction for restraining relative axial displacement between said telescoping tubular members and for advancing over registering openings in said inner and outer tubular members where there is relative axial displacement between said tubular members in an opposite direction.