Locking mechanism for extendible telescoping tubular members

A locking mechanism for inner and outer telescoping tubular members formed with axially aligned, radial openings, said locking mechanism comprising:

• (a) a hollow housing surrounding the outer tubular member;
• (b) a lever mounted for pivotal movement within said housing;
• (c) oppositely directed locking plunger and lever actuating plunger mounted at opposite end sections of said lever, said locking plunger projecting out of said housing and entering registering openings in said inner and outer telescoping tubular members for restraining relative axial displacement between said inner and outer telescoping tubular members, said actuating plunger projecting out of said housing and actuated to remove said locking plunger from registering openings in said inner and outer tubular members for relative axial displacement between said inner and outer telescoping tubular members;
• (d) a spring disposed within said housing and connected to said lever for urging said locking plunger to remain in entered registering openings, the actuation of said actuating plunger to remove said locking plunger from registering openings being against the urgency of said spring;
• and
• (e) a fulcrum member fixedly positioned in said housing and a fixedly positioned block in said housing having an apex confronting said fulcrum member, said lever being disposed between said block and said fulcrum member intermediate the end portions of said lever.

A carpet stretcher comprising:

• A. a pin head;
• B. a wall engaging member spaced from said pin head in the longitudinal direction;
• C. tubular assembly means interconnecting said pin head and said wall engaging member, said tubular assembly comprising inner and outer telescoping tubular members formed with axially aligned, radial opening;
• D. handle linkage means interconnecting said pin head and said tubular assembly means for applying a stretching force to a carpet;
• and
• E. a locking mechanism for restraining said inner and outer tubular members against axial displacement relative to one another comprising:
• a. a hollow housing surrounding the outer tubular member,
• b. a lever mounted for pivotal movement within said housing, and
• c. oppositely directed locking plunger and lever actuating plunger mounted at opposite end sections of said lever, said locking plunger projecting out of said housing and entering registering openings in said inner and outer telescoping tubular members for restraining relative axial displacement between said inner and outer telescoping tubular members, said actuating plunger projecting out of said housing and actuated to remove said locking plunger from registering openings in said inner and outer tubular members for enabling relative axial displacement between said inner and outer telescoping tubular members;
• and
• d. a spring disposed within said housing and connected to said lever for urging said locking plunger to remain in entered registering openings, the actuation of said actuating plunger to remove said locking plunger from registering openings being against the urgency of said spring,
• e. said housing including means for slidably mounting said housing on the outer tubular member enabling said housing to be movable in the axial direction of said telescoping tubular members along said outer tubular member in response to the actuation of said actuating plunger removing said locking plunger from registering openings in said inner and outer tubular members.

A carpet stretcher comprising:

• A. a pin head;
• B. a wall engaging member spaced from said pin head in the longitudinal direction;
• C. tubular assembly means interconnecting said pin head and said wall engaging member, said tubular assembly comprising inner and outer telescoping tubular members formed with axially aligned, radial openings;
• D. handle linkage means interconnecting said pin head and said tubular assembly means for applying a stretching force to a carpet;
• and
• E. a locking mechanism for restraining said inner and outer tubular members against axial displacement relative to one another comprising:
• a. a hollow housing surrounding the outer tubular member,
• b. a lever mounted for pivotal movement within said housing,
• c. oppositely directed locking plunger and lever actuating plunger mounted at opposite end sections of said lever, said locking plunger projecting out of said housing and entering registering openings in said inner and outer telescoping tubular members for restraining relative axial displacement between said inner and outer telescoping tubular members, said actuating plunger projecting out of said housing and actuated to remove said locking plunger from registering openings in said inner and outer tubular members for enabling relative axial displacement between said inner and outer telescoping tubular members;
• d. a spring disposed within said housing and connected to said lever for urging said locking plunger to remain in entered registering openings, the actuation of said actuating plunger to remove said locking plunger from registering openings being against the urgency of said spring;
• and
• e. a fulcrum member fixedly positioned in said housing and a fixedly positioned block in said housing having an apex confronting said fulcrum member, said lever being disposed between said block and said fulcrum member intermediate the end portions of said lever.