초록 ▼

A lock for securing first and second telescoped pole sections includes a base defining a through-bore for receipt of an end of a first pole section. A neck projects from the base and a collar is connected to the neck. The collar defines an opening aligned with the bore of the base. The collar receiv

A lock for securing first and second telescoped pole sections includes a base defining a through-bore for receipt of an end of a first pole section. A neck projects from the base and a collar is connected to the neck. The collar defines an opening aligned with the bore of the base. The collar receives a second pole section that is telescoped into the first pole section. A fastener is connected to the collar and a threaded end thereof projects from the collar. A lever control member is mated with the threaded end of the fastener and is movable to selectively radially constrict the collar. The fastener is rotatable relative to the collar but is frictionally engaged with the collar to prevent its unintended rotation. As necessary, the fastener is rotated relative to the collar to adjust the amount that the lever is advanced thereon.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A lock for temporarily fixedly securing first and second associated pole sections in a telescoped arrangement, said lock comprising:a base defining an axially extending through-bore adapted for close sliding receipt of an end portion of the first associated pole section; a neck projecting from sa

1. A lock for temporarily fixedly securing first and second associated pole sections in a telescoped arrangement, said lock comprising:a base defining an axially extending through-bore adapted for close sliding receipt of an end portion of the first associated pole section; a neck projecting from said base; a collar connected to said neck and radially constrictable relative to said base, said collar defining an opening aligned with said axially extending through-bore of said base, said collar adapted for close sliding receipt of the second associated pole section partially telescoped into said first associated pole section, wherein said collar is defined by first and second collar portions connected to said neck and terminating in respective first and second ears arranged in spaced-apart relation to each other, said ears defining respective first and second bores; a fastener extending through said first and second bores between said first and second ears, said fastener including a head abutting said first ear, an unthreaded first portion frictionally engaged with a portion of said first ear that defines said first bore to inhibit unintentional rotation of said fastener and a threaded distal end extending through said second bore defined in said second ear and projecting outwardly from said second ear; a lever having a head defining a threaded aperture that is threadably engaged with said threaded distal end of said fastener, said lever movable rotatably relative to said threaded distal end of said fastener between an unlocked position in which said collar slidably receives and accommodates the second associated pole section, and a locked position in which said head of said lever is advanced on said threaded distal end of said fastener toward said head of said fastener and urges said second ear toward said first ear to constrict said collar radially relative to said base into frictional gripping engagement with the second associated pole section received in the collar, wherein said first portion of said fastener defines an unthreaded cylindrical conformation that is located in said first bore defined by said first ear with a tight frictional fit sufficient to restrain said fastener against rotation in response to movement of said lever between said unlocked and said locked positions, wherein said fastener is selectively rotatable via application of torque to said head sufficient to overcome said tight frictional fit between said unthreaded cylindrical conformation and said first ear. 2. The lock as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second collar portions are spaced axially from said base.3. The lock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base, said neck and said collar are defined as a one-piece molded plastic construction.4. The lock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said axially extending through-bore defines first and second cylindrical portions, said second cylindrical portion having a smaller diameter than said first cylindrical portion and located axially between said first portion and said neck.5. The lock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said threaded distal end of said fastener defines a double lead left-handed thread.6. A telescoping pole apparatus comprising:a first pole section defining a first bore; a second pole section slidably located in said first bore of said first pole section in a telescoping arrangement; a lock connected to said first pole section and adapted to secure said second pole section axially relative to said first pole section, said lock comprising: a base defining an axial through-bore, wherein an end portion of said first pole section is located in said axial through-bore; a collar connected to said base and selectively radially constrictable relative to said base, said collar defining an opening aligned with said axial through-bore, said second pole section projecting from said first bore of said first pole section and through said opening of said collar, said collar, when radially constricted relative to said base, firmly engaging and retaining said second pole section in an axially and rotatably fixed position relative to said first pole section; a fastener connected to and frictionally engaged with said collar so as to be restrained against unintended rotation relative to said collar, said fastener comprising a head at a first end and a threaded second end that projects outwardly from said collar; and a control member that mates threadably with said threaded end of said fastener, said control member selectively manually rotatable relative to said fastener in first and second directions to constrict and expand said collar radially, respectively, said fastener restrained against rotation with said control member by frictional engagement between said fastener and said collar, wherein said fastener is selectively rotatable upon application of torque to said head sufficient to overcome said frictional engagement between fastener and said collar. 7. The telescoping pole apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said control member comprises a lever including:(i) a head defining a threaded aperture that receives said threaded end of said fastener; and (ii) a shank extending from said head and defining a wide flat tab. 8. The telescoping pole apparatus as set forth in claim 6, further comprising:a neck projecting outwardly from said base, wherein said collar is connected to said neck and axially spaced from said base. 9. The telescoping pole apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said collar comprises first and second collar portions that are connected to and project outwardly from said neck, said first and second collar portions terminating in respective first and second terminal ends that are spaced apart from each other and defined therebetween a gap in said collar.10. The telescoping pole apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said first and second terminal ends of said first and second collar portions define respective first and second apertures aligned with each other, wherein said fastener extends through aligned first and second apertures.11. The telescoping pole apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said fastener comprises a head opposite said threaded end and a portion adjacent said head that frictionally engages said first terminal end of said first collar portion whereby said fastener is held against unintended rotation relative to said first and second collar portions upon rotation of said control member relative to said fastener.12. The telescoping pole apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said threaded end of said fastener defines a double lead, left-handed thread.13. The telescoping pole apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said base and collar are defined as a one-piece molded plastic construction.14. A lock apparatus for fixedly securing first and second pole sections in a telescoped relationship relative to each other, said apparatus comprising:a first portion adapted for connection to an end portion of the first pole section; a second portion connected to said first portion and defining a collar that is selectively radially constrictable relative to said first portion and adapted for receipt of the second pole section partially telescoped into the first pole section, said collar, when radially constricted, firmly engaging and fixedly retaining the second pole section received thereby, said collar comprising first and second ears separated from each other by a space; a screw extending through said first and second ears of said collar and including a headed end and an opposite threaded end, said screw comprising an unthreaded cylindrical portion that is tightly frictionally engaged with only one of said first and second ears, said screw selectively manually rotatable relative to said first and second ears upon application of sufficient torque to said headed end to overcome said frictional engagement between said cylindrical portion of said screw and said one of said first and second ears; and a lever operably coupled to said threaded end of said screw and adapted for rotation in a first direction on said screw causing said lever to be advanced on said screw towards said headed end so that said collar is radially constricted, and adapted for rotation in a second direction opposite said first direction so that said lever moves away from said headed end of said screw and said collar resiliently radially expands, wherein said tight frictional engagement between said unthreaded portion of said screw and said one of said first and second ears restrains said screw against unintended rotation with said lever when said lever is moved in said first and second directions.