# US 5,707,167 A · Extendable rod

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- Number: US 5,707,167 A
- Document ID: US5707167A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/657,185
- Filed: 1996-06-03
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1995-07-05
- Assignees: Lino Manfrotto + Co. S.p.A.
- Inventors: Gilberto Battocchio
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707167A

## CPC

- F16M 11/28: Undercarriages for supports with one single telescoping pillar
- F16M 2200/027: by friction
- Y10T 403/32467: Telescoping members
- Y10T 403/7071: Lever actuator
- Y10T 403/7077: for telescoping members
- F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An extendable rod comprises a bracelet which is releasably lockable on a rod-shaped element of the rod, a depression which is formed in the bracelet and which can accommodate an end portion of a lever pivoted on the bracelet in such a manner as to permit the relative sliding of the bracelet on the rod-shaped element, and a surface which is raised with respect to the depression and which is engaged by the end portion of the lever in order to tighten the bracelet on the rod-shaped element.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An extendable rod including at least two rod-shaped elements which can slide telescopically into one another, and means for extending the rod and locking the rod-shaped elements in the extended position, said means comprising a bracelet which is mounted on one of the rod-shaped elements and which can be tightened thereon by means of a bolt, a lever pivoted on the bracelet by means of the bolt, and front cam means located between the lever and the bracelet whereby upon pivoting of the lever on the bolt to a first operative position said front cam means is operated to permit sliding of the bracelet on the corresponding rod-shaped element and upon pivoting of the lever on the bolt to a second operative position said front cam means is operated to tighten the bracelet on the corresponding rod-shaped element,
characterised in that said front cam means comprise at least a first depression in the bracelet, at least one end portion of the lever where the lever is pivoted on the bracelet, the end portion being received in the depression when the lever is in the first operative position, and at least one surface of the bracelet which is raised with respect to the depression, so that the bracelet is tightened on the corresponding rod-shaped elements when the end portion of the lever is engaged on the surface in the second operative position of the lever.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A rod according to claim 1, wherein the surface has a second depression which is angularly offset with respect to the first depression, the end portion being at least partially sunk in the second depression when the lever is in the second operative position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A rod according to claim 2, wherein the first depression has a greater depth than has the second depression with respect to a lip of the surface of the bracelet.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A rod according to claim 1, comprising means for reducing contact friction between the end portion and the surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A rod according to claim 4, wherein the means for reducing friction comprise at least one idle roller on the end portion of the lever.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

A rod according to claim 2, comprising means for reducing contact friction between the end portion and the surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

A rod according to claim 3, comprising means for reducing contact friction between the end portion and the surface.