Telescoping mast assembly

A telescoping mast assembly comprising a plurality of interconnected mast sections nested within each other for movement along a path between retracted and extended positions, and drive means including single ribbon drive member means connected to one of said sections for displacing said sections in opposite directions along said path between said extended and retracted positions and ribbon contour forming means for shaping said ribbon means along said path, said ribbon contour forming means being a longitudinally extending mold between a first end and a second end, said first end adjacent said reel means and said second end adjacent said mast sections, said mold has slot means extending between said first and second ends for shaping said single steel strip.

A telescoping mast assembly comprising a plurality of interconnected mast sections nested within each other for movement along a path between retracted and extended positions, and drive means including single ribbon drive member means connected to one of said sections for displacing said sections in opposite directions along said path between said extended and retracted positions and ribbon contour forming means for shaping said ribbon means along said path, said single ribbon drive member means has an axis and said ribbon contour forming means includes a plurality of axially spaced dies each having a first end and a second end.

A telescoping mast assembly comprising a plurality of interconnected mast sections nested within each other for movement along an axis between retracted and extended positions, a single drive member having a loop shape within said mast sections and connected to one of said sections for displacing said sections in opposite directions along said axis between said extended and retracted positions, said single drive member having two longitudinally extending free edges generally parallel to said axis, said free edges being unattached.

A telescoping mast assembly comprising a plurality of interconnected mast sections nested within each other for movement along an axis between retracted and extended positions, a single drive member having a loop shape within said mast sections and connected to one of said sections for displacing said sections in opposite directions along said axis between said extended and retracted positions, reel means for storing said drive member, said drive member having a planar cross sectional shape on said reel means, ribbon contour forming means for shaping said ribbon means between said reel means and said mast sections, said ribbon contour forming means being a longitudinally extending mold between a first end and a second end, said first end adjacent said reel means and said second end adjacent said mast sections, said mold having slot means extending between said first and second ends for shaping said single steel strip.

A telescoping mast assembly comprising a plurality of interconnected mast sections nested within each other for movement along an axis between retracted and extended positions, a single drive member having a loop shape within said mast sections and connected to one of said sections for displacing said sections in opposite directions along said axis between said extended and retracted positions, said single drive member having an axis and including ribbon contour forming means for shaping said ribbon, said ribbon contour forming means including a plurality of axially spaced dies each having a first end and a second end.

A telescoping mast assembly comprising a plurality of interconnected mast sections nested within each other for movement along an axis between retracted and extended positions, single drive member means for displacing said sections in opposite directions along said axis between extended and retracted positions, said single drive member means including longitudinally extending free edges and rolled against an inherent bias to form a loop cross-sectional shape within said mast sections, said free edges being unattached.