Invalid device having interlocking telescoping members

• US 4,616,668 A
• Filed: 10/16/1984
• Issued: 10/14/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tubular Fabricators Industry, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tubular Fabricators Industry, Inc.
• Inventors: Battiston, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kramer, Arnold W.
• Application Number:
  US06/661,515
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 403/108, 403/50, 403/51, 403/DIG. 6, 135/107, 135/108, 135/69, 135/75, 135/84, 135/DIG. 9, 135/37, 135/38, 135/39, 135/40, 135/41, 135/65, 135/66, 135/67
• US Class Current: 135/75
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2009/007 of adjustable length, e.g. telescopic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 9/00 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/105 locking in discrete positions, e.g. in extreme extended position

Abstract

An arrangement of interlocking telescoping members, having particular applicability with invalid devices, such as walking canes, foldable walkers and the like, includes an outer telescoping member having a plurality of longitudinally arranged apertures; an inner telescoping member telescopically received within the outer telescoping member, the inner telescoping member including a single aperture; a push button extending outwardly through the aperture of the inner telescoping member for engagement with one of the longitudinally arranged apertures of the outer telescoping member; a spring disposed within the inner telescoping member and secured to the push button for outwardly biasing the push button through the aperture of the inner telescoping member; and a plastic, resilient sleeve snuggly surrounding the outer telescoping member at least about the longitudinally arranged apertures so as to provide a pinch free adjustment, to prevent rattle between the telescoping members, and with the sleeve being capable of having different colors thereon.

Claims

1. An arrangement of interlocking telescoping members for an invalid device, comprising:

an outer telescoping member having a plurality of apertures spaced and substantially aligned along the longitudinal direction of said outer telescoping member;

an inner telescoping member telescopically received within said outer telescoping member and having an aperture;

button means engaging with said inner telescoping member and said outer telescoping member by extending through said aperture of said inner telescoping member and a selected aperture of said outer telescoping member, and with an outer end of said button means extending outwardly beyond said selected aperture;

first biasing means for outwardly biasing said button means with a first force to normally bias said outer end of said button means outwardly beyond said selected aperture; and

elastic sleeve means tightly surrounding only said outer telescoping member about said plurality of apertures thereof for biasing said button means against the force of said first biasing means, whereby to permit pinch-free depression of said button means to adjust said outer telescoping member with respect to said inner telescoping member and to prevent rattle between said inner telescoping member and said outer telescoping member.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1;

wherein said button means includes a button section extending through the aperture of said inner telescoping member and a base section for limiting outward travel of said buttom section through the aperture of said inner telescoping member, and said first biasing means includes spring means within said inner telescoping member for outwardly biasing said button section through the aperture of said inner telescoping member for engagment with one of said longitudinally arranged apertures of said outer telescoping member.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1;

wherein said elastic sleeve means is formed from a resilient, plastic material shrunk fit onto said outer telescoping member.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3;

wherein said sleeve means has a thickness of approximately 35 mil.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1;

wherein said sleeve means has a color associated therewith.