초록 ▼

An adjustable shaft for an implement which can be increased or decreased in length and can be oriented in a number of ways which change the alignment of the handle end of the implement relative to the operating end of the implement is disclosed. The adjustable shaft comprises a first shaft and a sec

An adjustable shaft for an implement which can be increased or decreased in length and can be oriented in a number of ways which change the alignment of the handle end of the implement relative to the operating end of the implement is disclosed. The adjustable shaft comprises a first shaft and a second shaft of lesser diameter. The first shaft is hollow and the second shaft is slidably receivable therein. A mechanism for aligning the second shaft relative to the first shaft is attached to one end of the first shaft. The aligning mechanism includes a plurality of projections which extend away from the first shaft when the alignment mechanism is connected thereon. The projections are adapted to engage the second shaft. A collar member, which is slidable along the second shaft, engages with the projections of the alignment mechanism and presses them against the second shaft so that they frictionally engage the same. The length of the shaft may be adjusted by simply altering the length of the second shaft which is received inside the first shaft. The second shaft and the alignment mechanism are configured to interlock with each other so that rotational movement of the second shaft with respect to the first shaft is substantially prevented.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An adjustable shaft for an implement having a hollow first shaft; a second shaft of lesser diameter than the first shaft, said second shaft being slidably receivable within the first shaft; an alignment means detachably connected to the first shaft, proximate one end thereof; the alignment means

1. An adjustable shaft for an implement having a hollow first shaft; a second shaft of lesser diameter than the first shaft, said second shaft being slidably receivable within the first shaft; an alignment means detachably connected to the first shaft, proximate one end thereof; the alignment means having a plurality of projections which extend away from the first shaft when the alignment means is mounted thereon; the projections being adapted to engage the second shaft when the second shaft is received within the first shaft; a collar member being slidably mounted on the second shaft, the collar member being adapted to engage the alignment means so that the collar member presses the projections of the alignment means against the second shaft when it is received in the first shaft, so that the first and second shafts are detachably connected together and longitudinal movement of the second shaft with respect to the first shaft is thereby substantially prevented; wherein the first shaft has a plurality of holes proximate the end of the first shaft to which the alignment means is connected; and the alignment means comprises: a first member which is threaded on its external surface and which has a plurality of teeth on one end thereof; said first member also having a plurality of catches for engaging in the holes in the first shaft, so that when the first member is engaged in the holes, the teeth extend away from the first shaft; a second member having a plurality of teeth on one end thereof for interlocking with the teeth of the first member; said second member also having a plurality of projections on the opposite end thereof for engaging the second shaft; and an internally threaded ring member for securing the first member and second member together when the teeth of the first and second members are interlocked; the ring member being adapted to thread onto the threaded external surface of the first member. 2. An adjustable shaft for an implement as defined in claim 1, wherein the second member has an internal, circumferential lip which rests on the end of the first shaft, to which the first member is connected, when the first member and second member are connected together and the catches of the first member are engaged in the holes in the first shaft. 3. An adjustable shaft for an implement as defined in claim 1, wherein the second member is externally threaded and the collar member is internally threaded for engagement with the second member. 4. An adjustable shaft for an implement as defined in claim 1 wherein the collar member is internally tapered so that when the collar member engages the projections on the second member, the projections are pressed against the second shaft. 5. An adjustable shaft for an implement as defined in claim 1, wherein the second shaft and the second member are configured to interlock with each other so that rotational movement of the second shaft with respect to the first shaft is substantially prevented. 6. An adjustable shaft for an implement as defined in claim 5, wherein the second shaft has an internal longitudinal groove and the second member has an internal longitudinal ridge for interlocking with said groove, so that when the alignment means is connected to the first shaft, rotational movement of the second shaft with respect to the first shaft is substantially prevented. 7. An adjustable shaft for an implement as defined in claim 6, wherein the orientation of the second shaft may be varied by rotating the second member with respect to the first member so that different teeth on the first and second members interlock with each other, thereby causing the ridge in the second member to be rotationally shifted relative to the first member, and consequently causing rotational shifting of the second shaft, relative to the first member, when it is received in the first shaft. 8. Method of increasing the length of an adjustable shaft for an implement having a hollow first shaft; a second shaft of lesser diameter than the first shaft, said second shaft being slidably receivable within the first shaft; an alignment means detachably connected to the first shaft, proximate one end thereof; the alignment means having a plurality of projections which extend away from the first shaft when the alignment means is mounted thereon; the projections being adapted to engage the second shaft when the second shaft is received within the first shaft; a collar member being slidably mounted on the second shaft, the collar member being adapted to engage the alignment means so that the collar member presses the projections of the alignment means against the second shaft when it is received in the first shaft, so that the first and second shafts are detachably connected together and longitudinal movement of the second shaft with respect to the first shaft is thereby substantially prevented; wherein the first shaft has a plurality of holes proximate the end of the first shaft to which the alignment means is connected; and where the alignment means comprises a first member which is threaded on its external surface and which has a plurality of teeth on one end thereof; said first member also having a plurality of catches for engaging in the holes in the first shaft, so that when the first member is engaged in the holes, the teeth extend away from the first shaft; a second member having a plurality of teeth on one end thereof for interlocking with the teeth of the first member; said second member also having a plurality of projections on the opposite end thereof for engaging the second shaft; and an internally threaded ring member for securing the first member and second member together when the teeth of the first and second members are interlocked; the ring member being adapted to thread onto the threaded external surface of the first member; said method comprising the steps of: a) disengaging the collar member from the second member so that the collar member no longer presses the projections of the second member against the second shaft; b) pulling the second shaft in a direction away from the end of the first shaft, to which the alignment means is connected, to the point that the desired length of shaft is obtained; c) re-engaging the collar member with the second member so that the collar member presses the projections of the second member against the second shaft and thereby secures the second shaft in the first shaft. 9. Method of assembling the adjustable shaft of an implement having a hollow first shaft; a second shaft of lesser diameter than the first shaft, said second shaft being slidably receivable within the first shaft; an alignment means detachably connected to the first shaft, proximate one end thereof; the alignment means having a plurality of projections which extend away from the first shaft when the alignment means is mounted thereon; the projections being adapted to engage the second shaft when the second shaft is received within the first shaft; a collar member being slidably mounted on the second shaft, the collar member being adapted to engage the alignment means so that the collar member presses the projections of the alignment means against the second shaft when it is received in the first shaft, so that the first and second shafts are detachably connected together and longitudinal movement of the second shaft with respect to the first shaft is thereby substantially prevented; wherein the first shaft has a plurality of holes proximate the end of the first shaft to which the alignment means is connected; and where the alignment means comprises a first member which is threaded on its external surface and which has a plurality of teeth on one end thereof; said first member also having a plurality of catches for engaging in the holes in the first shaft, so that when the first member is engaged in the holes, the teeth extend away from the first shaft; a second member having a plurality of teeth on one end thereof for interlocking with the teeth of the first member; said second member also having a plurality of projections on the opposite end thereof for engaging the second shaft; and an internally threaded ring member for securing the first member and second member together when the teeth of the first and second members are interlocked; the ring member being adapted to thread onto the threaded external surface of the first member; said method comprising the steps of: a) inserting the first member onto the first shaft and engaging the catches of the first member in the holes in the first shaft; b) engaging the second member with the first member so that the teeth of the first and second members interlock with each other; c) threading the ring member onto the interlocked first and second members to secure them in place; d) inserting the second shaft into the first shaft; e) slidably moving the second shaft into the first shaft until the desired length of shaft is obtained; f) slidably moving the collar member along the second shaft to engage with the projections of the second member; g) threading the collar member onto the second member so that the collar member presses the projections of the second member against the second shaft, thereby securing the second shaft to the first shaft.