Locking telescoping rod

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016017906-A1
Application number	US-201414336187-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 21, 2014
Priority date	Jul 21, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A telescoping rod is adjustable to a range of household environments and includes a first tubular member defining a primary axis. A cam body is secured to an end of the first tubular member, and the cam body defines ramped outer surfaces that vary in distance from the primary axis as a function of angular position about the axis. A second tubular member is sized to slide over the first tubular member and the cam body. The rod also includes a first cam sleeve and a second cam sleeve disposed about the ramped outer surfaces of the cam body. Rotation of the second tubular member about the primary axis relative to the cam body causes the first and the second cam sleeves to exert outward forces against an inner surface of the second tubular member that are applied at substantially different angles relative to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A telescoping rod adjustable to a range of household environments comprising:
an elongate first tubular member defining a primary axis; a cam body secured to an end of the first tubular member having a first cam slot and an adjacent second cam slot; a first elastomeric sleeve disposed about the cam body in the first cam slot; a second elastomeric sleeve disposed about the cam body in the second cam slot; and an elongate second tubular member sized to receive the first tubular member within an internal cavity and engage the first and second elastomeric sleeves, wherein a rotation of the second tubular member to a locked position relative to the cam body causes an outward radial force from the first and the second elastomeric sleeves against an internal surface of the second tubular member to resist axial translation of the second tubular member relative to the cam body.

2 . The telescoping rod of claim 1 wherein the cam body includes ramped cam surfaces in each of the first and second cam slots such that when the first and the second elastomer sleeves are rotated about the primary axis the cam surfaces cause a material interference to exert the outward radial force on the internal surface of the second tubular member.

3 . The telescoping rod of claim 1 wherein the outward radial force from the first elastomeric sleeve is diametrically opposed to the outward radial force from the second elastomeric sleeve.

4 . The telescoping rod of claim 1 wherein a rotation of the second tubular member relative to the cam body to an unlocked position reduces the outward radial force from the first and second elastomeric sleeves to substantially zero to allow axial translation of the second tubular member relative to the cam body.

5 . The telescoping rod of claim 1 wherein the first and the second elastomeric sleeves include a protrusion on an external surface to contact the second tubular member in the locked position and in an unlocked position.

6 . The telescoping rod of claim 1 wherein a coefficient of friction between the elastomeric sleeves and the second tubular member is greater than the coefficient of friction between the elastomeric sleeves and the cam body.

7 . The telescoping rod of claim 1 wherein each of the first cam slot and the second cam slot defines a ramped surface that varies in distance from the primary axis as a function of an angular position around the cam body.

8 . A telescoping rod adjustable to a range of household environments comprising:
a first tubular member defining a primary axis; a cam body secured to an end of the first tubular member, the cam body defining ramped outer surfaces that vary in distance from the primary axis as a function of angular position about the axis; a second tubular member sized to slide over the first tubular member and the cam body; a first cam sleeve disposed about the ramped outer surfaces of the cam body; and a second cam sleeve disposed about the ramped outer surfaces of the cam body, wherein a rotation of the second tubular member about the primary axis relative to the cam body causes each of the first and the second cam sleeves to generate an outward force against an inner surface of the second tubular member, and wherein the outward force of the second cam sleeve is opposed to the outward force of the first cam sleeve.

9 . The telescoping rod of claim 8 wherein the ramped surfaces cause a material interference in response to the rotation of the second tubular member about the primary axis.

10 . The telescoping rod of claim 8 wherein the ramped outer surfaces of the cam body defines at least one stop wall to limit rotation of the second tubular member in one direction.

11 . The telescoping rod of claim 8 wherein the cam body defines an unlocked position, and wherein a locked position is rotated approximately 90 degrees about the primary axis from the unlocked position.

12 . The telescoping rod of claim 8 wherein the first cam sleeve and the second cam sleeve are formed from a closed section elastomeric material.

13 . The telescoping rod of claim 8 wherein a coefficient of friction between the cam sleeves and the second tubular member is greater than the coefficient of friction between the cam sleeves and the cam body.

14 . The telescoping rod of claim 8 wherein a counter-rotation of the second tubular member relative to the cam body reduces the outward force from the first cam sleeve and the second cam sleeve to substantially zero to allow axial translation of the second tubular member relative to the cam body.

15 . A telescoping rod adjustable to a range of household environments comprising:
a first elongate tubular member; a second elongate tubular member adapted to longitudinally translate over the first tubular member to adjust an overall length of the telescoping rod; a cam body affixed to an end of the first tubular member, the cam body defining an asymmetric ramped surface; and an elastomeric sleeve having a closed section and disposed about the ramped surface of the cam body, wherein the elastomeric sleeve deforms in response to a rotation about the cam body thereby causing a first outward radial force upon an inner surface of the second tubular member, and wherein the radial force restricts longitudinal translation of the second tubular member relative to the first tubular member.

16 . The telescoping rod of claim 15 wherein a coefficient of friction between the elastomer sleeve and the second elongate tubular member is greater than the coefficient of friction between the elastomeric sleeve and the cam body.

17 . The telescoping rod of claim 15 wherein the ramped surface of the cam body varies in distance from a primary axis as a function of an angular position around the cam body, and wherein the cam body defines a stop wall adjacent to peak distance from the primary axis to limit rotation in one direction.

18 . The telescoping rod of claim 15 wherein the elastomeric sleeve includes a protrusion disposed on an outer portion to maintain contact with the inner surface of the second elongate tubular member.

19 . The telescoping rod of claim 18 wherein rotation of the second elongate tubular member engages the protrusion and causes a concurrent rotation of the elastomeric sleeve.

20 . The telescoping rod of claim 15 further comprising a second elastomeric sleeve disposed about the cam body and adapted to, in response to rotation about the cam body, apply a second outward radial force against the inner surface of the second elongate tubular member at an angle that is substantially different from the first outward radial force.

Assignees

• Liberty Hardware Mfg Corp

Inventors

• Bertrand Stephen
• Daniels James Leroy

Classifications

• F16B7/1427 Primary

  with cammed or eccentrical surfaces co-operating by relative rotation of the telescoping members or by rotation of an external collar · CPC title

• Y10T403/32501

  Cam or wedge · CPC title

• F16B7/105

  locking in discrete positions, e.g. in extreme extended position · CPC title

• F16B7/14 Primary

  locking in intermediate {non-discrete} positions {(the rod or tube being locked by a tilting clip F16B2/246)} · CPC title

• F16B7/1463

  with the expansion of an element inside the outer telescoping member due to the axial movement towards a wedge or a conical member · CPC title