US 2010/0244475 A1Published application

Extendable reaching tool

AssigneeAmes True Temper, Inc.

InventorStephen D. Hatcher

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Abstract

An extendable tool having an internal drive assembly is disclosed. The extendable components of the internal drive assembly are two, or more, telescoping drive shafts each having an alignment structure. The alignment structure ensures that the drive shafts generally maintain their circumferential alignment relative to each other, i.e. the shafts rotate together and maintain their orientation, while allowing the drive shafts to slide axially relative to each other. In one embodiment the drive shafts have a non-circular cross-section, and more preferably, a square cross-section. Each inner drive shaft has a cross-sectional area that is slightly smaller than the next larger outer drive shaft. Thus, the drive shafts may slide axially relative to each other. However, when the drive shafts are rotated, the non-circular shape causes the inner drive shaft and the larger outer drive shaft to engage each other and rotate together.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An internal drive assembly for an extendable tool having an actuatable tool head assembly with a least one moving element, said extendable tool having a handle shaft assembly with an inner shaft, an outer shaft, and a positioning assembly, said inner shaft being slidably disposed within said outer shaft and axially movable between a plurality of positions whereby said extendable tool may be configured to have different lengths, said positioning assembly structured to maintain said inner shaft and said outer shaft in a temporarily fixed relationship, said internal drive assembly for an extendable tool comprising:

an actuator structured to be coupled to said shaft assembly, said actuator structured to move between a first position and a second position;
a hollow, first drive shaft having a first alignment structure, said first drive shaft coupled to said actuator and structured to rotate in response to said actuator moving between said first and second positions;
a second drive shaft having a second alignment structure, said second drive shaft sized to be slidably disposed within said hollow first drive shaft;
wherein, when said second drive shaft is at least partially disposed in said hollow first drive shaft, said first alignment structure and said second alignment structure interface so that the orientation of said hollow drive first shaft and said second drive shaft remains substantially fixed;
and
said second drive shaft being coupled to, and structured to actuate, said actuatable tool head assembly.

3 more elements

An extendable tool comprising:

a handle shaft assembly with an inner shaft, an outer shaft, and a positioning assembly;
an internal drive assembly disposed within said handle shaft assembly;
an actuatable tool head assembly with a least one moving element, said actuatable tool head assembly coupled to said handle shaft assembly and structured to be actuated by said internal drive assembly;
said inner shaft being slidably disposed within said outer shaft and axially movable between a plurality of positions whereby said extendable tool may be configured to have different lengths;
said positioning assembly structured to maintain said inner shaft and said outer shaft in a temporarily fixed relationship;
said internal drive assembly including an actuator, a first drive shaft, and a second drive shaft;
said actuator structured to be coupled to said shaft assembly, said actuator structured to move between a first position and a second position;
said first drive shaft being hollow and having a first alignment structure, said first drive shaft coupled to said actuator and structured to rotate in response to said actuator moving between it's first and second positions;
said second drive shaft having a second alignment structure, said second drive shaft sized to be slidably disposed within said hollow first drive shaft;
wherein, when said second drive shaft is at least partially disposed in said hollow first drive shaft, said first alignment structure and said second alignment structure interface so that the orientation of said hollow drive first shaft and said second drive shaft remains substantially fixed;
and
said second drive shaft being coupled to, and structured to actuate, said actuatable tool head assembly.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.