Variable length telescopic connector and method for use

An adjustable, force-bearing telescopic connector comprising:

• a male member and a female member having respective ends which are positionable in telescopic relation and configured to provide a gap therebetween sufficient to allow limited axial movement;
• and
• an expandable spring for selectively restricting said members against relative axial movement in one direction in response to force on one said member in one axial direction and for releasing said members for relative axial movement to adjust the telescopic relation of said members, said spring having two ends and an engageable portion between said members, each end configured to provide a release finger, the release fingers being cooperative to expand the engageable portion of the spring away from the male member;
• said female member having a recess in communication with said gap, said recess having a shoulder portion for sufficiently receiving the engageable portion of the spring to be free of said male member when the spring is expanded and a female cam portion engageable with the spring when the spring is not expanded;
• the female member further having an opening in communication with said recess, the opening being sufficient to accommodate the release fingers to expand the engageable portion of the spring away from the male member;
• said male member having a plurality of positioning recesses axially alignable with the recess in said female member, each positioning recess having a male cam portion engageable with the spring and a shoulder portion for insufficiently receiving the engageable portion of the spring to be free of said female member when the spring is not expanded;
• said engageable portion of the spring engaging male and female cam portions to restrict said male and female members against relative axial movement when the spring is not expanded, and said engageable portion being received in the recess of said female female member to release said members for relative axial movement when the spring is expanded.

An adjustable, force-bearing fastener adapted for attachment to a pipe or the like having a plurality of recesses or the like along its length, said fastener comprising:

• a female member positionable on said pipe or the like and configured to provide a gap therebetween sufficient to allow limited axial movement with respect to said pipe or the like when positioned thereon and a recess adapted to be in communication with said gap;
• and
• an expandable spring for selectively restricting said female member against axial movement relative to said pipe or the like in one axial direction and for releasing said female member for axial movement relative to said pipe or the like to adjust the position of said female member along said pipe or the like, said spring having two ends and an engageable portion, at least one of said ends configured to provide a release finger, the release finger being operable to expand the engageable portion of the spring away from the pipe or the like when the female member is positioned thereon;
• said recess having a shoulder portion for sufficiently receiving the engageable portion of the spring to be free of said pipe or the like when the spring is expanded and a female cam portion engageable with the spring when the spring is not expanded;
• the female member further having an opening in communication with said recess, the opening being sufficient to accommodate the release finger to expand the engageable portion of the spring away from the pipe or the like when positioned thereon;
• said engageable portion of the spring engaging the female cam portion to restrict said female member against axial movement relative to said pipe or the like when the spring is not expanded, and said engageable portion being received in the recess of said female member to release said female member for axial movement relative to said pipe or the like when the spring is expanded.