Telescopic handle for a hand tool

A telescopic handle for a hand tool, comprising:

• an outer sleeve elongated along an axis to terminate at first and second ends, and having an inner peripheral surface which defines an axial bore;
• a main shank having a distal end for connection to a tool head, a proximate end opposite to said distal end along the axis, and an outer surrounding surface which extends between said distal and proximate ends, and which is configured to be inserted into said axial bore and in fitting engagement with said inner peripheral surface so as to be slidable and rotatable relative to said inner peripheral surface along and about the axis, said outer surrounding surface having a plurality of retained regions which are axially displaced from each other;
• a key-and-keyway mechanism including a keyway which is formed in one of said outer surrounding surface and said inner peripheral surface, and which extends axially, and a key member which is disposed in and extends radially and outwardly of the other one of said outer surrounding surface and said inner peripheral surface, and which is matingly engaged with said keyway to guide movement of said main shank along the axis and to guard against rotation of said main shank about the axis relative to said outer sleeve, said key member being angularly displaced from said retained regions about the axis;
• a retaining member having retaining and actuated ends opposite to each other radially, and disposed in and movable radially relative to said inner peripheral surface between an extended position, where said retaining end extends outwardly of said inner peripheral surface to engage a selected one of said retained regions so as to guard against the movement of said main shank along the axis, and a retracted position, where said retaining end is retracted into said outer sleeve to be disengaged from said retained regions so as to permit the movement of said main shank along the axis;
• and
• an operating member disposed to be movable axially relative to said outer sleeve and having an actuating surface which is configured to be moved axially to actuate said actuated end so as to move said retaining member between the extended and retracted positions.