Extension arm and method of use

• US 10,449,827 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2018
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles Andrew Jerney
• Original Assignee: Charles Andrew Jerney
• Inventors: Jerney, Charles Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Shirsat, Vivek K
• Application Number:
  US16/053,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20180339571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 454129-135, 454 2, 454 81, 454152, 454155, 454262, 454299, 454314, 454316, 454335, 294209-210
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00364 for caravans or trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/0065 Control members, e.g. levers or knobs B60H1/00985 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/262 Openings in or on the vehicle roof

Abstract

A method of operating at least one of a fan and a vent in a ceiling of a recreational vehicle using an extension arm, the extension arm including an elongated shaft with an operable end, comprising grabbing the extension arm with one'"'"'s hand; engaging one of a turn switch, a turn crank, and a knob of one of the fan and vent in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle with the operable end; and at least one of operating the fan and vent by rotating one of the turn switch, the turn crank, and the knob with the operable end by rotating the extension arm with one'"'"'s hand.

Claims

1. A method of operating at least one of a fan and a vent in a ceiling of a recreational vehicle using an extension arm, the extension arm including an elongated shaft with a proximal end and a distal operable end, comprising:

gripping the proximal end of the elongated shaft;

engaging one of a turn switch, a turn crank, and a knob of one of the fan and vent in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle with the distal operable end;

at least one of operating the fan and vent by rotating one of the turn switch, the turn crank, and the knob with the distal operable end by rotating the proximal end of the extension arm, causing a corresponding rotation in the distal operable end of the extension arm,

wherein the distal operable end includes a coupling attached to the extension arm, the coupling including a plurality of tangs, and engaging includes engaging the turn switch with the plurality of tangs, the turn switch includes a plurality of arms and the coupling of the distal operable end includes a plurality of spaced notches separating the plurality of tangs, and engaging includes receivably engaging the plurality of arms of the turn switch in the plurality of spaced notches of the coupling of the operable end so that the plurality of tangs extend through the plurality of notches, external to a periphery of the coupling.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupling with tangs include an outer surface and a plurality of reinforcement tangs adhered to the outer surface to reinforce the tangs and prevent the tangs from breaking off from the coupling.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupling with tangs include an outer surface and the distal operable end includes an outer, larger-diameter coupling with outer tangs adhered to the outer surface of coupling to reinforce the tangs and prevent the tangs from breaking off from the coupling.

4. A method of operating at least one of a fan and a vent in a ceiling of a recreational vehicle using an extension arm, the extension arm including an elongated shaft with a proximal end and a distal operable end, comprising:

gripping the proximal end of the elongated shaft;

engaging one of a turn switch, a turn crank, and a knob of one of the fan and vent in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle with the distal operable end;

at least one of operating the fan and vent by rotating one of the turn switch, the turn crank, and the knob with the distal operable end by rotating the proximal end of the extension arm, causing a corresponding rotation in the distal operable end of the extension arm,

wherein the extension arm includes a circular end with a smaller-diameter concentric O-ring seated circumferentially within the circular end so as to form an upper exposed O-ring surface, and the method further includes receiving a smaller-diameter fan switch within the circular end and pressing the fan switch with the upper exposed O-ring surface to operate the fan in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle.

5. A method of operating at least one of a fan and a vent in a ceiling of a recreational vehicle using an extension arm, the extension arm including an elongated shaft with a proximal end and a distal operable end, comprising:

gripping the proximal end of the elongated shaft;

engaging one of a turn switch, a turn crank, and a knob of one of the fan and vent in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle with the distal operable end;

at least one of operating the fan and vent by rotating one of the turn switch, the turn crank, and the knob with the distal operable end by rotating the proximal end of the extension arm, causing a corresponding rotation in the distal operable end of the extension arm,

wherein distal operable end of the extension arm includes a cap, and the method further includes pressing a fan switch with the cap to operate the fan in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle.

6. A method of operating at least one of a fan and a vent in a ceiling of a recreational vehicle using an extension arm, the extension arm including an elongated shaft with a proximal end and a distal operable end, comprising:

gripping the proximal end of the elongated shaft;

engaging one of a turn switch, a turn crank, and a knob of one of the fan and vent in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle with the distal operable end;

at least one of operating the fan and vent by rotating one of the turn switch, the turn crank, and the knob with the distal operable end by rotating the proximal end of the extension arm, causing a corresponding rotation in the distal operable end of the extension arm,

wherein the knob is a vent control knob and includes a plurality of protruding portions and the distal operable end includes a coupling attached to the extension arm, the coupling including an open-ended vent knob control member having a closed periphery and a plurality channels, and engaging includes receivably engaging the plurality of protruding portions of the vent control knob within the plurality of channels of the coupling of the distal operable end without the plurality of portions extending externally to the closed periphery of the coupling.

7. A method of operating at least one of a fan and a vent in a ceiling of a recreational vehicle using an extension arm, the extension arm including an elongated shaft with a proximal end and a distal operable end, comprising:

gripping the proximal end of the elongated shaft;

engaging one of a turn switch, a turn crank, and a knob of one of the fan and vent in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle with the distal operable end;

at least one of operating the fan and vent by rotating one of the turn switch, the turn crank, and the knob with the distal operable end by rotating the proximal end of the extension arm, causing a corresponding rotation in the distal operable end of the extension arm,

wherein the turn crank includes a single turn crank arm and the distal operable end includes a plurality of notches, and engaging includes receivably engaging the single turn crank arm within one of the plurality of notches.

8. A method of operating at least one of a fan and a vent in a ceiling of a recreational vehicle using an extension arm, the extension arm including an elongated shaft with a proximal end and a distal operable end, comprising:

gripping the proximal end of the elongated shaft;

engaging one of a turn switch, a turn crank, and a knob of one of the fan and vent in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle with the distal operable end;

at least one of operating the fan and vent by rotating one of the turn switch, the turn crank, and the knob with the distal operable end by rotating the proximal end of the extension arm, causing a corresponding rotation in the distal operable end of the extension arm,

wherein the turn crank includes a pair of arms extending linearly in opposite directions from each other and the distal operable end includes a plurality of notches, and engaging includes receivably engaging the pair of arms within two respective notches of the plurality of notches.

9. A method of operating at least one of a fan and a vent in a ceiling of a recreational vehicle using an extension arm, the extension arm including an elongated shaft with a proximal end and a distal operable end, comprising:

gripping the proximal end of the elongated shaft;

engaging one of a turn switch, a turn crank, and a knob of one of the fan and vent in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle with the distal operable end;

at least one of operating the fan and vent by rotating one of the turn switch, the turn crank, and the knob with the distal operable end by rotating the proximal end of the extension arm, causing a corresponding rotation in the distal operable end of the extension arm,

wherein the proximal end of the extension arm is a second operable end including one of;

a coupling including a plurality of tangs,

a coupling including a plurality of tangs and a plurality of spaced notches separating the plurality of tangs,

a coupling including a plurality of tangs, an outer surface, and a plurality of reinforcement tangs adhered to the outer surface,

a coupling including a plurality of tangs, an outer surface, and an outer, larger-diameter coupling with outer tangs adhered to the outer surface of coupling,

a circular end with an O-ring thereon,

an end cap, or

a coupling including an open-ended vent knob control member having a plurality channels and a plurality of notches, and

the method further comprising;

engaging one of a turn switch, a pressable switch, a turn crank, and a knob of one of the fan and vent in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle with the second operable end; and

at least one of operating the fan and vent by one of rotating one of the turn switch, the turn crank, and the knob with the second operable end by rotating the extension arm, and pressing the pressable switch with the second operable end by raising the extension arm.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method includes engaging the extension arm near the second operable end and operating one of the turn switch, the turn crank, and the knob with the distal operable end followed by engaging the extension arm near the distal operable end, and operating one of the turn switch, the turn crank, and the knob with the second operable end.