Extendable support pole

Claim 2

A telescoping pole comprising: a bottom tube having a locking collar whose bottom end encloses the bottom tube in a slidable and rotatable relation and is slotted to permit contamination to fall out of the collar, the collar having a circumferential locking groove and a circumferential release groove; and a top tube slidably disposed within the bottom tube in a telescoping manner, the top tube having at least one circumferential groove, the top tube being operably moveable between a retracted position wherein it is substantially contained within the outer tube, and an extended position wherein the top tube is locked in position extended from the bottom tube.

Claim 3

The pole of claim 1, further comprising a connecting fixture attached to a top end of the top tube.

Claim 4

The pole of claim 2, wherein the connecting fixture comprises a threaded bore for receiving a retaining bolt.

Claim 5

A pole comprising: a generally cylindrical bottom tube having a slidable locking collar assembly connected to an upper end of the bottom tube; a generally cylindrical top tube slidably disposed within the upper end of said bottom tube in a telescoping manner, the top tube having at least one circumferential groove, the top tube being operably moveable between a retracted position wherein it is substantially contained within the outer tube, and an extended position wherein the top tube is locked in position at least partially extended from the bottom tube; the locking collar assembly comprising a slidable collar having a locking groove and a release groove, said collar being slideably connected to an end of said bottom tube, a plurality of locking balls held captive between said top tube and said collar, and a bias spring operably positioned within an annular space formed between the locking collar and the top tube; a head member connected to the top end of the top tube; and a pivot member coupled to the head member to form a ball-and-socket joint, said pivot member being adapted to be connected to the load.

Claim 6

A pole comprising: a generally cylindrical bottom tube having a slidable locking collar assembly connected to an upper end of the bottom tube; a generally cylindrical top tube slidably disposed within the upper end of said bottom tube in a telescoping manner, the top tube having at least one circumferential groove, the top tube being operably moveable between a retracted position wherein it is substantially contained within the outer tube, and an extended position wherein the top tube is locked in position at least partially extended from the bottom tube; the locking collar assembly comprising a slidable collar having a locking groove and a release groove, said collar being slideably connected to an end of said bottom tube, a plurality of locking balls held captive between said top tube and said collar, and a bias spring operably positioned within an annular space formed between the locking collar and the top tube; a head member connected to the top end of the top tube; and a pivot member coupled to the head member to form a ball-and-socket joint, said pivot member being adapted to be connected to the load.

Claim 7

The pole of claim 4, further comprising a connecting fixture attached to the top end of the top tube.

Claim 8

The pole of claim 5, wherein the connecting fixture comprises threaded bore for receiving a retaining bolt.

Claim 9

A pole comprising: a generally cylindrical bottom tube having a sliding locking collar assembly connected to its upper end of the bottom tube, the bottom tube having inner circumferential constrictions; a generally cylindrical top tube slidably disposed in a telescoping manner within said bottom tube, the top tube having at least one circumferential groove; the locking collar assembly comprising a slidable collar having a locking groove and a release groove, said collar being slidably connected to an end of said bottom tube, a plurality of locking balls held captive between said top tube and said collar, and a bias spring operably positioned within an annular space formed between the locking collar and the top tube; a connecting fixture attached to a top end of the top tube; wherein the connecting fixture comprises a threaded bore for receiving a retaining bolt.

Claim 10

A pole comprising: a generally cylindrical bottom tube having a sliding locking collar assembly connected to its upper end of the bottom tube, the bottom tube having inner circumferential constrictions; a generally cylindrical top tube slidably disposed in a telescoping manner within said bottom tube, the top tube having at least one circumferential groove; the locking collar assembly comprising a slidable collar having a locking groove and a release groove, said collar being slidably connected to an end of said bottom tube, a plurality of locking balls held captive between said top tube and said collar, and a bias spring operably positioned within an annular space formed between the locking collar and the top tube; a connecting fixture attached to a top end of the top tube; wherein the connecting fixture comprises a threaded bore for receiving a retaining bolt.

Claim 11

A pole comprising: a generally cylindrical bottom tube having a slidable locking collar assembly connected to an upper end of the bottom tube; a generally cylindrical top tube slidably disposed within said bottom tube, the top tube having at least one circumferential groove; at least one middle tube slidably positioned between the bottom tube and the top tube, the middle tube having at least one circumferential groove, and a slidable locking collar assembly connected to its upper end; wherein for each pair of adjacent tubes, the outermost tube is an outer tube and the innermost tube is an inner tube; each of the locking collar assemblies comprising a slidable collar having a locking groove and a release groove, said collar being slideably disposed external to an end of the outer tube, a plurality of locking balls held captive between the inner tube and the collar, and a bias spring operably positioned within an annular space formed between the locking collar and the inner tube; a head member connectable to a top end of the top tube; and a pivot member being adapted to be coupled to the support load at a first end and is coupled to the head member at a second end such that a ball-and-socket joint is formed between the head member and the pivot member.

Claim 12

A pole comprising: a generally cylindrical bottom tube having a slidable locking collar assembly connected to an upper end of the bottom tube; a generally cylindrical top tube slidably disposed within said bottom tube, the top tube having at least one circumferential groove; at least one middle tube slidably positioned between the bottom tube and the top tube, the middle tube having at least one circumferential groove, and a slidable locking collar assembly connected to its upper end; wherein for each pair of adjacent tubes, the outermost tube is an outer tube and the innermost tube is an inner tube; each of the locking collar assemblies comprising a slidable collar having a locking groove and a release groove, said collar being slideably disposed external to an end of the outer tube, a plurality of locking balls held captive between the inner tube and the collar, and a bias spring operably positioned within an annular space formed between the locking collar and the inner tube; a head member connectable to a top end of the top tube; and a pivot member being adapted to be coupled to the support load at a first end and is coupled to the head member at a second end such that a ball-and-socket joint is formed between the head member and the pivot member.

Claim 13

The pole of claim 8, wherein the middle tube has at least one inner circumferential constriction.

Claim 14

An adjustable joint comprising: a first tube and a second tube, the second tube being slidably insertible within the first tube, the second tube including at least one circumferential groove formed in its outer surface, the first tube including a plurality of ball retaining holes formed proximate a first end thereof; a collar that is axially displaceable between a locked position and a released position connected to the first end of the first tube, the collar having a locking groove and a release groove; a plurality of locking balls retained between said collar and said first tube, the balls being operably positioned within the ball retaining holes, such that the balls are radially movable when the collar is in its released position and the balls are radially immovable when the collar is in its locked position; wherein the collar has a plurality of vertical bottom slots for permitting contamination that enters the collar to fall out of the collar.

Claim 15

An adjustable joint comprising: a first tube and a second tube, the second tube being slidably insertible within the first tube, the second tube including at least one circumferential groove formed in its outer surface, the first tube including a plurality of ball retaining holes formed proximate a first end thereof; a collar that is axially displaceable between a locked position and a released position connected to the first end of the first tube, the collar having a locking groove and a release groove; a plurality of locking balls retained between said collar and said first tube, the balls being operably positioned within the ball retaining holes, such that the balls are radially movable when the collar is in its released position and the balls are radially immovable when the collar is in its locked position; wherein the collar has a plurality of vertical bottom slots for permitting contamination that enters the collar to fall out of the collar.

Claim 16

A tubular pole which comprises: an upper inner tube and a lower outer tube in telescoping and rotatable relation; a lock mechanism positioned at the upper end of the lower tube in axially and rotatably movable relation with said tubes, said mechanism comprising: a one-piece collar surrounding and extending beyond the upper end of the lower tube to form an enclosed annular space with said tubes; wherein said lock in a first axial position locking said tubes against axial movement relative to one another and in a second axial position enabling said tubes to move axially relative to one another; and a plurality of vertically disposed slots in the bottom of said collar to enable contamination to drop out of the collar.

Claim 17

A tubular pole which comprises: an upper inner tube and a lower outer tube in telescoping and rotatable relation; a lock mechanism positioned at the upper end of the lower tube in axially and rotatably movable relation with said tubes, said mechanism comprising: a one-piece collar surrounding and extending beyond the upper end of the lower tube to form an enclosed annular space with said tubes; wherein said lock in a first axial position locking said tubes against axial movement relative to one another and in a second axial position enabling said tubes to move axially relative to one another; and a plurality of vertically disposed slots in the bottom of said collar to enable contamination to drop out of the collar.

Claim 18

A pole as defined in claim 11, wherein the lock mechanism comprises a ball lock mechanism.

Claim 19

A pole as defined in claim 11, wherein the collar has an internal surface which includes two superposed circumferential recesses, one of the recesses being deeper than the other recess, and wherein the lock mechanism further comprises a plurality of balls positionable in the shallower recess when the mechanism is in said first axial position and in the deeper recess when the mechanism is in said second axial position.

Claim 20

A pole as defined in claim 11 which further comprises an internal borerider provided near the upper end of said lower tube.

Claim 21

A pole as defined in claim 11 which further comprises an external borerider provided on the inner tube proximate the lower end of the inner tube.

Claim 22

A pole as defined in claim 11 which further comprises a spring positioned in said annular space biased to urge said mechanism to said first axial position.

Claim 23

A tubular pole which comprises: an upper inner tube and a lower outer tube in telescoping and rotatable relation; a ball lock mechanism positioned at the upper end of the lower tube in axially and rotatably movable relation with said tubes, said mechanism comprising: a one-piece collar surrounding and extending beyond the upper end of the lower tube to form an enclosed annular space with said tubes, and plurality of balls positioned in said annular space; said mechanism in a first axial position locking said tubes against axial movement relative to one another and in a second axial position enabling said tubes to move axially relative to one another; and a plurality of vertically disposed slots in the bottom of said collar to enable contamination to drop out of the collar.

Claim 24

A tubular pole which comprises: an upper inner tube and a lower outer tube in telescoping and rotatable relation; a ball lock mechanism positioned at the upper end of the lower tube in axially and rotatably movable relation with said tubes, said mechanism comprising: a one-piece collar surrounding and extending beyond the upper end of the lower tube to form an enclosed annular space with said tubes, and plurality of balls positioned in said annular space; said mechanism in a first axial position locking said tubes against axial movement relative to one another and in a second axial position enabling said tubes to move axially relative to one another; and a plurality of vertically disposed slots in the bottom of said collar to enable contamination to drop out of the collar.