Tension-mounted pole caddy

A tension-mounted pole for mounting between two substantially parallel surfaces, the tension-mounted pole comprising:

• a central tubular body;
• a first telescoping tubular body having a telescoping first end coupled with the central tubular body and a free second end;
• a second tubular body having a telescoping first end coupled with the central tubular body and a free second end;
• and
• a manually actuated extension mechanism mounted to the central tubular body, the extension mechanism includes:
• a first toothed rack provided within the central tubular body and having a first end section and a second end section, the second end section is connected to the telescoping first end of the first tubular body,
• a second toothed rack provided within the central tubular body and having a first end section and a second end section, the second end section is connected to the telescoping first end of the second tubular body, and
• a pinion gear in engagement with the first and second toothed racks, the pinion gear allows for simultaneous movement of the first and second tubular bodies in opposite directions relative to the central tubular body, and
• a locking member biased into simultaneous engagement with each of the first and second toothed racks,
• wherein the first toothed rack includes first teeth and second teeth separated from the first teeth by a first separating wall of the first toothed rack, the locking member engaging the first teeth and the pinion engaging the second teeth,
• wherein the second toothed rack includes first teeth and second teeth separated from the first teeth by a second separating wall of the second toothed rack, the locking member engaging the first teeth and the pinion engaging the second teeth.