Extension pole for tools

• US 6,546,596 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2001
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cynthia L. Grote, Rick V. Grote
• Original Assignee: Cynthia L. Grote, Rick V. Grote
• Inventors: Grote, Rick V., Grote, Cynthia L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): BANNAPRADIST, LISA M
• Application Number:
  US09/755,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20020088091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 164/29, 161/15, 164/27, 814/89, 403/377, 403/378, 403/109--10, 403/379, 403/305, 406/12, 463/47.7, 287/58
• US Class Current: 16/429
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/0205 characterised by the handle, e.g. handle shape or material B05C17/0217, B05C17/022 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/04 telescopic; extensible; sectional
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 15/10 Handles, reels and switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/25 Handle fastening means, clamp band
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/41 Coupling, e.g. handle, rod, shaft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/1616 Position or guide means

Abstract

An extension pole for tools provides nearly universal attachment of a wide variety of different tool heads or components, for painting, cleaning, and other tasks which may require a long reach to access otherwise inaccessible areas. The present extension essentially comprises a tubular base or handle component and a tubular extension component. The extension tube telescopes within the base tube and may be locked at the desired extended length by a pull release pin which extends through a selected one of several holes in a keyway in the extension tube. The distal end of the handle tube includes a folded down tab which engages the extension tube keyway, to preclude axial rotation of the extension tube within the base tube. The distal end of the extension tube includes a threaded attachment, preferably having an Acme threaded configuration to provide nearly universal attachment of a wide variety of devices.

Claims

1. An extension pole for tools, comprising:

an elongate, tubular handle portion having a hollow interior, the handle portion having a distal end;

an elongate, tubular extension portion having a hollow interior and a longitudinally disposed external keyway, the keyway having a floor, a plurality of spaced apart lock pin holes being defined in the floor;

said extension portion having a thicker wall than said handle portion and having a plurality of stiffener ribs extending longitudinally in the interior of said extension portion, for resisting bending of said extension portion;

said extension portion telescopingly disposed within said handle portion for selectively adjusting said extension portion relative to said handle portion as desired, with said handle portion and said extension portion defining a variable total length;

said extension portion having a proximal end slidably disposed in said handle portion and having a distal end;

lock pin assembly, including;

a cylindrical sleeve permanently attached to the distal end of said handle portion;

a lock pin housing extending radially from said sleeve;

a lock pin having a shaft extending through said lock pin housing and through said sleeve, the lock pin having a button at one end of the shaft disposed outside of said lock pin housing and having a collar disposed about the shaft inside said lock pin housing; and

a helical compression spring concentrically disposed around the lock pin shaft between the lock pin housing and the lock pin collar, the spring biasing the lock pin shaft against the floor of the keyway and through one of the holes defined in the keyway;

a tab integral with and extending from the distal end of said handle portion into the keyway, the tab preventing rotation of said extension portion relative to said handle portion and maintaining said lock pin in alignment with the keyway;

a stop pin at the proximal end of said extension portion extending into the keyway, said stop pin engagable with said tab in order to prevent the proximal end of said extension portion from separating from said handle portion; and

a threaded pin extending from the distal end of said extension portion, the threaded pin having Acme external threads for attachment of a tool having an internally threaded fitting, and having an internally threaded bore defined therein for attachment of a tool having an externally threaded fitting.