IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0338810
(2003-01-08)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Segall, Paul M.
- Wang, S. Fu
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
18 인용 특허 :
11 |
초록
▼
A method and apparatus for adjusting the relative position between a pair of elongate, tubular shafts using an adjustment mechanism having a wedge element operably moveable along a ramp by shifting of an actuator member. The adjustment mechanism is configured to reduce binding thereof by supporting
A method and apparatus for adjusting the relative position between a pair of elongate, tubular shafts using an adjustment mechanism having a wedge element operably moveable along a ramp by shifting of an actuator member. The adjustment mechanism is configured to reduce binding thereof by supporting the actuator member in more than one location to maintain desirable contact between the wedge element and the ramp and the inner wall of the one of the pair of shafts, providing for an increased range of movement of the wedge element along the ramp to prevent undesirable frictional engagement between the actuator member and the ramp, and by providing a stop to substantially maintain the wedge element from unintentionally withdrawing into the inner shaft and wedged therein.
대표청구항
▼
1. An apparatus for adjusting the relative position between two elongate, tubular shafts, the apparatus comprising:an outer elongate, tubular shaft having a diameter and an inside wall;an inner elongate, tubular shaft having a diameter, the diameter of the inner shaft being less than the diameter of
1. An apparatus for adjusting the relative position between two elongate, tubular shafts, the apparatus comprising:an outer elongate, tubular shaft having a diameter and an inside wall;an inner elongate, tubular shaft having a diameter, the diameter of the inner shaft being less than the diameter of the outer shaft permitting the inner shaft to be slidable at least partially within the outer shaft;a wedge element positioned within the outer shaft, the wedge element movable between a wedged position disposed against the inner wall of the outer shaft and an unwedged position generally removed from the inner wall of the outer shaft, the wedged position substantially preventing relative movement between the inner and outer shafts and the unwedged position permitting relative movement between the inner and outer shafts;a ramp positioned within the outer shaft and having an inclined surface, the wedge element ridable along the inclined surface of the ramp between the wedged position and the unwedged position; andan actuator member at least partially received within the inner shaft, the actuator member being operably connected to the wedge element for shifting the wedge element along the inclined surface of the ramp between the wedged position and the unwedged position, the actuator member having a first end region operably connected to the wedge element and a second end region, the first and second end regions both being substantially supported by supports within the inner shaft effective to generally maintain the position of the actuator member and the wedge member operably attached thereto. 2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner shaft has an internal end disposed within the outer shaft and an opposite end disposed external of the outer shaft, the ramp being connected to an end region of the inner shaft and having the inclined surface inclined downwardly away from the end region of the inner shaft. 3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein a biasing mechanism is operably connected to the actuator member and provides a biasing force to urge the wedge element operably connected to the first end region of the actuator member to the wedged position substantially preventing relative movement between the inner and outer shafts. 4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein the actuator member has an actuator control operably attached to the second end region thereof and disposed external to the inner shaft permitting shifting of the actuator member and the wedge element attached to the first end region thereof against the biasing force of the biasing mechanism to shift the wedge element to the unwedged position permitting relative movement between the inner and outer shafts. 5. The apparatus in accordance with claims 4 , wherein the actuator member has a flexible portion disposed between the first and second end regions thereof permitting the actuator control attached to the second end region of the actuator member to be in a non-linear alignment relative to the wedge element attached to the first end region of actuator member. 6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein an upstanding pair of the apparatus is used in an adjustable garment rack, the adjustable garment rack comprising:a base portion having the outer shafts of the apparatus disposed at opposite ends thereof; anda garment rod having the inner shafts of the apparatus operably connected thereto, the garment rod being spaced from the base portion effective to permit use of the garment rod for hanging garments, the spacing between the base portion and the garment rod being adjustable using the apparatus. 7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the support at the first end region of the actuator member comprises a slot formed in the ramp. 8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the ramp comprises a pair of opposing sidewalls having upper and lower edges, the lower edges of the sidewalls being connected by a bottom wall and the inclined surface of the ramp being the upper edges of the sidewalls opposite the bottom wall. 9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the ramp comprises a piece of sheet metal folded at the intersections of the sidewalls and the bottom wall thereof. 10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the support at the second end region of the actuator member comprises a centering member disposed on the external end of the outer shaft, the centering member having a surface for abutting against the actuator member to generally maintain the actuator member in alignment relative to the outer shaft. 11. A method of forming an apparatus for adjusting the relative position between two elongate, tubular shafts, the method comprising:providing an outer elongate, tubular shaft having a diameter and an inside wall;providing an inner elongate, tubular shaft having a diameter, the diameter of the inner shaft being less than the diameter of the outer shaft permitting the inner shaft to be slidable at least partially within the outer shaft;positioning a wedge element within the outer shaft, the wedge element movable between a wedged position disposed against the inner wall of the outer shaft and an unwedged position generally removed from the inner wall of the outer shaft, the wedged position substantially preventing relative movement between the inner and outer shafts and the unwedged position permitting relative movement between the inner and outer shafts;positioning a ramp within the outer shaft and having an inclined surface, the wedge element ridable along the inclined surface of the ramp between the wedged position and the unwedged position;connecting an actuator member at least partially received within the inner shaft to the wedge element for shifting the wedge element along the inclined surface of the ramp between the wedged position and the unwedged position;supporting a first end region of the actuator member having the wedge element connected thereto relative to the inner shaft with a first support; andsupporting a second end region of the actuator member opposite the first end region relative to the inner shaft with a second support. 12. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the inner shaft has an internal end disposed within the outer shaft and an opposite end disposed external of the outer shaft, including the steps of connecting the ramp to an end region of the inner shaft and downwardly inclining the inclined surface away from the end region of the inner shaft. 13. The method in accordance with claim 12, including operably connecting a biasing mechanism to the actuator member to provide a biasing force urging the wedge element operably connected to the first end region of the actuator member to the wedged position substantially preventing relative movement between the inner and outer shafts. 14. The method in accordance with claim 13, including attaching an actuator control to the second end region of the actuator member and disposed external to the inner shaft to permit shifting of the actuator member and the wedge element attached to the first end region thereof against the biasing force of the biasing mechanism to shift the wedge element to the unwedged position permitting relative movement between the inner and outer shafts. 15. The method in accordance with claim 14, including providing the actuator member with a flexible portion disposed between the first and second end regions thereof permitting the actuator control attached to the second end region of the actuator member to be in a non-linear alignment relative to the wedge element attached to the first end region of actuator member. 16. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the step of supporting the first end region of the actuator member with a first support comprises forming a slot in the ramp and aligning at least a portion of the first end region of the actuator member within the slot. 17. The method in accordance with claim 11, comprising forming the ramp by folding a piece of sheet metal to have a pair of opposing sidewalls having upper and lower edges, the lower edges of the sidewalls being connected with a bottom wall. 18. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the step of supporting the second end region of the actuator member with a second support comprises attaching a centering member to the inner shaft and aligning at least a portion of the second end region of the actuator member within an aperture of the centering member. 19. An apparatus for adjusting the relative position between two elongate, tubular shafts, the apparatus comprising:an outer elongate, tubular shaft having a diameter and an inside wall;an inner elongate, tubular shaft having a diameter, the diameter of the inner shaft being less than the diameter of the outer shaft permitting the inner shaft to be slidable at least partially within the outer shaft;wedge means positioned within the outer shaft, the wedge means shiftable between a wedged position substantially preventing relative movement between the inner and outer shafts and an unwedged position substantially permitting relative movement between the inner and outer shafts;actuator means operably attached to the wedge means for shifting the wedge means between the wedged position and the unwedged position, the actuator means having a first end region and a second end region opposite the first end region;first support means effective to generally maintain the position of the first end region of the actuator means; andsecond support means effective to generally maintain the position of the second end region of the actuator means. 20. An adjustable garment rack comprising:a base;a pair of upstanding tubular outer shafts attached to opposing end regions of the base;a pair of upstanding tubular inner shafts, each of the inner shafts being slidably received within the outer shafts;a garment rod extending between the upstanding tubular inner shafts and spaced a distance from the base; andan adjustment mechanism provided between each of inner and outer shafts permitting adjustment of the relative position between the inner and outer shafts to adjust the distance between the garment rod and the base, the adjustment mechanism having a ramp attached to the inner shaft and within the outer shaft, an actuator member at least partially received within the inner shaft having one end attached to a wedge element slidable along the ramp between a wedged position wherein the wedge element engages the outer shaft to substantially prevent relative movement between the inner and outer shafts and an unwedged position permitting relative movement between the inner and outer shafts, the actuator member being biased by a biasing mechanism to shift the wedge element to the wedged position, and the actuator member shiftable against the biasing force of the biasing mechanism to shift the wedge element to the unwedged position, and a pair of supports for generally maintaining the position of the actuator member within the inner shaft. 21. The adjustable garment rack in accordance with claim 20, wherein:a second pair of upstanding tubular outer shafts are attached to opposing end regions of the base;a second pair of upstanding tubular inner shafts are slidably received within the second pair of outer shafts, each of the upstanding inner and outer shafts having an adjustment mechanism therebetween; anda second garment rod extends between the second pair of upstanding tubular inner shafts and is spaced a distance from the base. 22. The adjustable garment rack in accordance with claim 21, wherein the first and second pair of upstanding tubular inner shafts each include a non-linear portion effective to position the first and second garment rods a predetermined distance apart, and the actuator members include flexible portions sufficient to enable non-linear operation of the wedge elements using the actuator members. 23. An adjustable garment rack comprising:a base;a pair of upstanding tubular outer shafts attached to opposing end regions of the base;a pair of upstanding tubular inner shafts, each of the inner shafts being slidably received within the outer shafts;a garment rod extending between the upstanding tubular inner shafts and spaced a distance from the base;a second pair of upstanding tubular outer shafts are attached to opposing end regions of the base;a second pair of upstanding tubular inner shafts are slidably received within the second pair of outer shafts;a second garment rod extends between the second pair of upstanding tubular inner shafts and is spaced a distance from the base; andan adjustment mechanism provided between each of the inner and outer shafts permitting adjustment of the relative position between the inner and outer shafts to adjust the distance between the garment rod and the base, the adjustment mechanism having a ramp attached to the inner shaft and within the outer shaft, an actuator member at least partially received within the inner shaft having one end attached to a wedge element slidable along the ramp between a wedged position wherein the wedge substantially prevents relative movement between the inner and outer shafts and an unwedged position permitting relative movement between the inner and outer shafts, the actuator member being biased by a biasing mechanism to shift the wedge element to the wedged position, and the actuator member shiftable against the biasing force of the biasing mechanism to shift the wedge element to the unwedged position, and a pair of supports for generally maintaining the position of the actuator member within the inner shaft, wherein the first and second pair of upstanding tubular inner shafts each include a non-linear portion effective to position the first and second garment rods a predetermined distance apart, and the actuator members include flexible portions sufficient to enable non-linear operation of the wedge elements using the actuator members.
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