GB2403765A

GB2403765A - Twist grip locking means for telescopic members

Info

Publication number: GB2403765A
Application number: GB0316187A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yinka Davies
Original assignee: Raymond Adewunhi
Current assignee: Raymond Adewunhi
Priority date: 2003-07-10
Filing date: 2003-07-10
Publication date: 2005-01-12
Also published as: GB0316187D0

Abstract

An outer telescopic tube has a fixed grip member attached thereto and receives an inner tube. A rotatable housing functions as a twisting actuator and has internal threads which engage external threads on a threaded actuator. When the twisting actuator is turned it causes the threaded actuator to compress a rubber (or like elastomer) actuator against the grip member to cause it to expand against the outer tube to effect locking of the tubes against relative movement.

Description

TWIST GRIP

This invention relates to a twist grip.

A particular application of such a grip is in connection with the invention of GB patent 2366254 and international application PCT/GB 01 05595, which relates to a child-vehicle raincover, but is not limited to such use.

Nevertheless, in view of the particular application of the twist grip of this invention, the description and claims of our above noted GB patent and PCT application are incorporated herein by this reference thereto.

The raincover and its frame referred to above are best summarized in the said PCT application as a child pusher's raincover which is detachable, adjustable and retractable and comprises two main parts, namely, a raincover (1,2) which shelters the pusher from rain/snow, for example, and a pair of adjustable telescopic supporting pole members (4,5) which extend out of, and retract within themselves, to allow the user to adjust the raincover to a desired height, each telescopic pole (4,5) being preferably provided with a tightening device or twist grip which allows each telescopic pole (4,5) to be set at the desired length to be achieved by sliding movement of one part of the telescopic pole (4,5) within the other, a lower end of each telescopic pole (4,5) being attachable to the frame of the child carrying vehicle whilst the raincover is attachable to an upper end of the pole (4,5), the raincover being kept in a desired position for use (see Fig 1 of the GB patent or of the said PCT application) by a pair of dual functioning clamps (3) and the adjustable telescopic poles (4,5) supporting the rain cover (1,2) being detachably attached to the vehicle by dual functioning universal clamps (6) which permit both complete detachment of the raincover from the vehicle and angle movement both backwards and forwards around the point of fixing. In a preferred embodiment, elasticated clips (7), as shown in Fig 7 of the said GB patent and of the said PCT application, provide additional support for storage purposes.

The present invention is an improvement of the tightening device schematically shown at (4) in Fig 4, for example, of the said GB Patent 2366254 and PCT application GB 0105595.

The new twist grip which is the result of our improvement has been found to have real advantages in use as described above with the child vehicle pusher's raincover, and also in the many and varied uses to which such tightening devices are presently normally put.

According to the present invention, there is provided a twist grip device adapted for use with a pair of telescopic members sliding one within the other, said device having a generally cylindrical housing member acting as a twist member and housing therein a generally cylindrical actuator member which itself receives an annular compressible gripping member composed of rubber or like elastomer, said actuator member being externally threaded at one end thereof to cooperate with corresponding internal threading at one end of said twist member, and a generally cylindrical rigid gripping member also held within said twist member and retained therein at one end by an internal lip at the other end of said twist member, the other end of said rigid gripping member being capable of entering the other end of said actuator member and abutting against said compressible gripping member therein, the rigid gripping member being slidably received within the housing constituting the twist member but being capable of receiving the outer telescopic member in a tight fit, and the inner telescopic member being capable of entering the actuator member at the threaded end thereof and passing through the said annular compressible gripping member and said rigid gripping member to enter said outer telescopic member, tightening of the grip of said annular compressible gripping member on said inner telescopic member being achieved by rotating said twist member in one direction to cause said rigid gripping member to be urged against the adjoining compressible gripping member, whereby the latter tightens its grip on the inner telescopic member, the outer telescopic member being held in a tight fit by the rigid gripping member, rotation of the twist member in the other direction of rotation releasing the pressure on the annular compressible gripping member and the resulting gripping of the inner telescopic pole, whereby relative sliding movement between the two telescopic poles is made possible.

In a preferred embodiment of the device of the invention, the actuator member is provided at its other end which receives the annular compressible gripping member with a set of inwardly extending projections acting as dogs which locate said annular gripping member by entering into and sliding within corresponding recesses formed in the outer surface of said annular member, the adjoining end of said fixed gripping member being also provided on its outer surface with corresponding recesses receiving said dogs.

The housing constituting the twist member is preferably provided with an array of external raised ribs which aid the manual gripping of said twist member to allow rotation thereof in order to tighten the grip of the annular compressible gripping member on the inner telescopic member.

It will be seen from the above that the action of the twist grip device of the invention is to hold securely a pair of telescopic members which are normally free to slide one within the other, the gripping action being achieved by the compression of the annular compressible gripping member in a confined space. The twisting force exerted on the inner telescopic member is sufficient to restrain the two telescopic members from moving relative to one another.

To assist the addressee, Figs 2b and 4 ofthe above noted GB Patent 2366254 and International Patent Application GB 0105595 are included as drawings accompanying this application to indicate the point of use of the improved twist grip device of the invention which is to replace the previously employed twist grip device shown at 4 in Figs 2b and 4 of the said GB Further drawings are now referred to for a better understanding of the Invention.

In these drawings: Fig 1 is a sectional elevation of one constructional form of twist grip device according to the invention; Fig 2 is the same sectional elevation but additionally showing the device in use; Fig 3 is an exploded view of the device of Figs 1 and 2; Figs 4 and 5 are a perspective view and an elevation of a detail of the device of Figs 1-3; Figs 6 and 7 are a perspective view and an elevation of another detail of the device of Figs 1-3; Figs 8 and 9 are a perspective view and an elevation of a further detail of the device of Figs 1-3; and Figs 10 and 1 1 are, respectively, a perspective view and an elevation of a still further detail of the device of Figs 1-3.

The twist grip device illustrated in the accompanying drawings (Figs 1-11) comprises a generally cylindrical housing acting as a twist member which receives within it an assembly of the other components of the twist grip device, namely, a generally cylindrical threaded actuator provided with internal dogs, an annular compressible gripping member composed of rubber or a like elastomer and a generally cylindrical rigid gripping member which is tapered or chamfered at one end in order to be able to enter the lower end of the actuator member and to abut against the annular compressible gripping member which is housed within the lower end of the actuator member as seen in Figs 1 and 2.

The housing constituting the twist member is provided at its lower end as shown in Figs 1 and 2 with a radially inwardly projecting lip against which the lower end of the rigid gripping member abuts, as shown in Figs 1 and 2, and is thereby retained within the housing. The upper end of the housing is internally screw threaded, the screw threading cooperating with external threading at the upper end portion of the generally cylindrical actuator member.

A set of four inwardly projecting dogs (not shown) is provided on the inside surface of the lower end portion of the actuator member. The dogs slide within corresponding recesses formed in the outer surface of the annular compressible gripping member and in corresponding recesses formed in the chamfered upper end of the generally cylindrical rigid gripping member.

Fig 2 of the drawings shows the twist grip device of the invention in use.

The rigid gripping member constituting a fixed grip establishes a sliding fit only with the inside surface of the housing constituting the twist member but receives the outer pole of the two telescopic poles shown in a tight fit. On the other hand, the inner telescopic pole shown entering the device at its upper end passes comfortably through the annular gripping member so as to enter at least that portion of the outer telescopic pole which is within the fixed grip and the housing, the inner pole generally extending further into the outer pole. The arrangement is such that the inner and outer poles are able to slide one within the other as desired when establishing the required length of the telescopic assembly. When it is desired to fix that length, the housing constituting the twist member of the device is manually rotated so that the rigid gripping member which abuts against the annular compressible gripping member is urged against the latter and subjects it to compression, a shoulder on the inside of the threaded actuator receiving the annular gripping member preventing the latter from further upward travel as seen in Figs 1 and 2, whereby the annular gripping member is compressed and tightens its grip on the inner telescopic pole. Since the outer pole is tightly gripped by the rigid gripping member, which is itself held at one end against the annular gripping member and at its other end against the lip formed at one end of the housing, the rotation of the outer housing or twist member in one direction of rotation causes compression of the annular gripping member, whereby both poles are held in position by the device and sliding movement of one pole relative to the other is prevented. Rotation of the housing in the opposite direction of rotation releases the compression and allows relative sliding movement between the two poles.

Fig 3 shows the four separate components of the twist grip device of the invention in an exploded view. Figs 4 and 5 show the threaded actuator member, the dogs not being visible in these views. Figs 6 and 7 show the annular compressible gripping member. Figs 8 and 9 show the generally cylindrical rigid gripping member which is chamfered at one end and provided with recesses corresponding to the dogs on the inside of the threaded actuator member. Finally, Figs 10 and 1 1 show the twist member.

Claims

1 A twist grip device adapted for use with a pair of telescopic members sliding one within the other, said device having a generally cylindrical housmg member acting as a twist member and housing therein a generally cylindrical actuating member which itself receives an annular compressible gripping member composed of rubber or like elastomer, said actuator member being externally threaded at one end thereof to cooperate with corresponding internal threading at one end of said twist member, and a generally cylindrical rigid gripping member also held within said twist member and retained therein at one end by an internal lip at the other end of said twist member, the other end of said rigid gripping member being capable of entering the other end of said actuator member and abutting against said compressible gripping member therein, the rigid gripping member being slidably received within the housing constituting the twist member but capable of receiving the outer telescopic member in a tight fit, and the inner telescopic member being capable of entering the actuator member at the threaded end thereof and passing through the said annular compressible gripping member and said rigid gripping member to enter said outer telescopic member, tightening of the grip of said annular compressible gripping member on said inner telescopic member being achieved by rotating said twist member in one direction to cause said rigid gripping member to be urged against the adjoining compressible gripping member, whereby the latter tightens its grip on the inner telescopic member, the outer telescopic member being meanwhile held in a tight fit by the rigid gripping member, and rotation of said twist member in the opposite direction of rotation releasing the compression of the inner telescopic member by the compressible gripping member, whereby relative sliding movement between the two telescopic poles is made possible.

2 A device according to claim 1 wherein the actuating member is provided at its other end which receives the annular compressible gripping member with a set of inwardly extending projections which locate said annular gripping member by entering into and sliding within corresponding recesses formed in the outer surface of the annular compressible gripping member, the adjoining end of the fixed gripping member being also provided on its outer surface with corresponding recesses receiving said projections.

3 A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the housing constituting the twist member is provided with an array of external raised ribs which aid the manual gripping of said twist member to allow rotation thereof in order to tighten the grip of the annular compressible gripping member on the inner telescopic member.