US 5,099,539 AGranted

Telescoping extension rod having pivotably adjustable tool head

OwnerGlen R. Foresterinventor

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Abstract

An extension rod assembly for manually positioning a tool head in contact with a work surface comprises an extension rod, a pivotable tool head, and a control linkage for locking the tool head in a selected angular position relative to the extension rod. The control linkage comprises an elongate connecting member which extends through the rod, a manually operable handle at the control end of the rod, and a clutch mechanism which is operated by the handle. The clutch has a first position in which it is disengaged from the connecting member, and a second position in which it is frictionally engaged to the connecting member in order to exert a linearly-directed force on the connecting member so as to actuate a locking assembly which locks the tool head in position. In the disengaged position, the clutch permits linear movement of the connecting member past the clutch and handle as tubular portions of the extension rod are telescoped to a desired length. In this manner, operation of the handle to select the disengaged position permits the operator.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An extension rod assembly for manually positioning a tool head in contact with a work surface, said extension rod assembly comprising:

an elongate rod member having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, said rod member being configured so that the length of said rod member is selectively adjustable:
a base member for attachment to said tool head;
pivot means rotatably interconnecting said base member and said first end of said rod member;
locking means having an unlocked position for permitting rotation of said base member about said pivot means and a locked position for preventing said rotation;
a handle member mounted to said second end of said rod member, said handle member being configured for manual selection of a first handle position and a second handle position;
and
a control linkage for operatively interconnecting said handle member and said locking means so that said locking mechanism is moved to said unlocked position in response to selection of said first handle position and said locking mechanism is moved to said looked position in response to selection of said second handle position, said control linkage being configured to operatively interconnect said handle at said second end of said tool member to said locking means at said first end of said rod member at various positions to which said first and second ends of said rod member are moved relative to one another as said length of said rod member is selectively adjusted;
whereby in response to selection of said first handle position, said base member is freely pivotable relative to said axis of said rod member so as to bring a said tool head which is attached to said base plate into alignment with said work surface, and in response to selection of said second handle position, said base member is locked in an angular position relative to said rod member so as to retain said tool head which is attached to said base plate in alignment with said work surface as said extension rod assembly is manipulated by an operator.

5 more elements

An extension rod assembly for manually positioning a tool head in contact with a work surface, said extension rod assembly comprising:

an elongate rod member having first and second tubular portions which are telescopically interconnected so that the length of said rod member is selectively adjustable by telescoping said first tubular portion relative to said second tubular portion;
a base member for attachment to said tool head;
pivot means rotatably interconnecting said base member and a first end of said elongate rod member;
locking means selectively movable to an unlocked position for permitting rotation of said base member about said pivot means and to a locked position for preventing said rotation;
an elongate connecting member having a first end connected to said locking means, said connecting member being mounted to said rod member for linear movement;
a handle member mounted to a second end of said rod member, said handle member being configured to pivot from a released handle position to a compressed handle position in response to an operator closing the grip of a hand on said handle member;
clutch means operatively connected to said handle member so that
(a) said clutch means disengages from said elongate connecting member in response to selection of said released handle position so that said connecting member is free to move linearly past said clutch means as said locking means to which said end of said connecting member is attached is displaced linearly relative to said handle member as said tubular portions are telescoped to adjust said length of said rod member, and
(b) said clutch means engages said connecting member in response to selection of said contracted handle position and displaces said connecting member linearly in a first direction so as to move said locking means from said unlocked position to said locked position;
and
means for biasing said connecting member linearly in a second direction so as to move said locking means to said unlocked position in response to disengagement of said connecting member from said clutch means.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.