Locking telescoping rod
First Claim
1. A telescoping rod adjustable to a range of household environments comprising:
- an elongate first tubular member defining a primary axis;
a cam body secured to an end of the first tubular member having a first cam slot and an adjacent second cam slot;
a first elastomeric sleeve disposed about the cam body in the first cam slot;
a second elastomeric sleeve disposed about the cam body in the second cam slot; and
an elongate second tubular member sized to receive the first tubular member within an internal cavity and engage the first and second elastomeric sleeves, wherein a rotation of the second tubular member to a locked position relative to the cam body causes the cam body to engage and to elastically deform the first and second elastomeric sleeves, the elastomeric sleeves thereby exerting an outward radial force from the first and the second elastomeric sleeves against an internal surface of the second tubular member to resist axial translation of the second tubular member relative to the cam body;
wherein the cam body includes asymmetric ramped cam surfaces in each of the first and second cam slots such that when the first and the second elastomeric sleeves are rotated about the primary axis, the elastomeric sleeves engage the ramped cam surfaces to cause a material interference which elastically deforms the first and second elastomeric sleeves and thereby exerts the outward radial force on the internal surface of the second tubular member; and
wherein the first elastomeric sleeve and the second elastomeric sleeve are formed from a closed cross-section.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A telescoping rod is adjustable to a range of household environments and includes a first tubular member defining a primary axis. A cam body is secured to an end of the first tubular member, and the cam body defines ramped outer surfaces that vary in distance from the primary axis as a function of angular position about the axis. A second tubular member is sized to slide over the first tubular member and the cam body. The rod also includes a first cam sleeve and a second cam sleeve disposed about the ramped outer surfaces of the cam body. Rotation of the second tubular member about the primary axis relative to the cam body causes the first and the second cam sleeves to exert outward forces against an inner surface of the second tubular member that are applied at substantially different angles relative to each other.
49 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A telescoping rod adjustable to a range of household environments comprising:
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an elongate first tubular member defining a primary axis; a cam body secured to an end of the first tubular member having a first cam slot and an adjacent second cam slot; a first elastomeric sleeve disposed about the cam body in the first cam slot; a second elastomeric sleeve disposed about the cam body in the second cam slot; and an elongate second tubular member sized to receive the first tubular member within an internal cavity and engage the first and second elastomeric sleeves, wherein a rotation of the second tubular member to a locked position relative to the cam body causes the cam body to engage and to elastically deform the first and second elastomeric sleeves, the elastomeric sleeves thereby exerting an outward radial force from the first and the second elastomeric sleeves against an internal surface of the second tubular member to resist axial translation of the second tubular member relative to the cam body; wherein the cam body includes asymmetric ramped cam surfaces in each of the first and second cam slots such that when the first and the second elastomeric sleeves are rotated about the primary axis, the elastomeric sleeves engage the ramped cam surfaces to cause a material interference which elastically deforms the first and second elastomeric sleeves and thereby exerts the outward radial force on the internal surface of the second tubular member; and wherein the first elastomeric sleeve and the second elastomeric sleeve are formed from a closed cross-section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A telescoping rod adjustable to a range of household environments comprising:
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a first tubular member defining a primary axis; a cam body secured to an end of the first tubular member, the cam body defining asymmetric ramped outer surfaces that vary in distance from the primary axis as a function of angular position about the primary axis; a second tubular member sized to slide over the first tubular member and the cam body; a first cam sleeve disposed about the asymmetric ramped outer surfaces of the cam body; and a second cam sleeve disposed about the asymmetric ramped outer surfaces of the cam body, wherein a rotation of the second tubular member about the primary axis relative to the cam body causes each of the first and the second cam sleeves to generate an outward force against an inner surface of the second tubular member, and wherein the outward force of the second cam sleeve is opposed to the outward force of the first cam sleeve; wherein the cam body includes first and second slots each having an asymmetric ramped outer surface, wherein the first and second slots are oriented so that the asymmetric ramped outer surfaces are positioned diametrically opposite to each other; and wherein the first cam sleeve and the second cam sleeve are formed from a closed cross-section of elastomeric material and elastically deform to exert the outward radial force. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A telescoping rod adjustable to a range of household environments comprising:
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a first elongate tubular member; a second elongate tubular member adapted to longitudinally translate over the first tubular member to adjust an overall length of the telescoping rod;
a cam body affixed to an end of the first tubular member, the cam body defining an asymmetric ramped surface; andan elastomeric sleeve disposed about the ramped surface of the cam body, wherein the elastomeric sleeve deforms in response to a rotation about the cam body thereby causing a first outward radial force upon an inner surface of the second tubular member, and wherein the radial force restricts longitudinal translation of the second tubular member relative to the first tubular member; and further comprising a second elastomeric sleeve disposed about the cam body and adapted to, in response to rotation about the cam body, apply a second outward radial force against the inner surface of the second elongate tubular member at an angle that is substantially different from the first outward radial force; and wherein the first elastomeric sleeve and the second elastomeric sleeve are formed from a closed cross-section of elastomeric material and elastically deform to exert the respective outward radial force. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification