GB2539962A

GB2539962A - Supports of adjustable length

Info

Publication number: GB2539962A
Application number: GB1511718.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gullo Paolo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-07-03
Filing date: 2015-07-03
Publication date: 2017-01-04
Also published as: GB201511718D0

Abstract

An elongate support of variable length comprising telescopic outer 14 and inner 16 sleeves, a member 10 (e.g. a handle) connected to the outer sleeve including a switch which when activated imparts movement to a rod 22 which extends through a channel in the members and the sleeves, the distal end interacting with a locking mechanism that holds the inner sleeve in place relative to the outer sleeve, such that pressing the switch releases the locking mechanism 32-45 and allows the length of the support to be changed by sliding the inner sleeve. Preferably the locking mechanism comprises a cone 36 and spring 38 with release of the switch pushing ball bearings 44 into indents in the inner wall of the inner sleeve to hold it in place. The support might be used e.g. as a walking stick or as a table leg.

Description

SUPPORTS OF ADJUSTABLE LENGTH FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to elongate supports of adjustable length. More especially the invention concerns elongate supports including inter alia walking sticks and hiking poles (referred to below simply as "walking sticks") and legs of tables, chairs and other items of furniture whose length can be adjusted simply at the whim of the user.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Conventionally, walking sticks and furniture legs are produced as items of standard lengths with no or only limited ability to vary length. In the context of walking sticks, it will be appreciated that there are occasions when a longer or shorter stick or pole would be advantageous, such as when walking up or down sloping surfaces or adjusting the length for users of different height. There are also occasions when a walker would personally prefer to walk with a longer or shorter stick rather than one of a standard length.

In the context of furniture legs, there are numerous occasions when a table becomes unstable simply because a surface on which one or more table or chair legs is/are located is uneven. This can lead to an object such as a folder paper napkin or the like being positioned between the foot of one or more legs and the ground surface. To render a table or chair stable in this way is generally unsatisfactory.

There have been many attempts to produce, in particular walking sticks of variable length, but none has been found to be satisfactory for reasons of, for example, over complication. Examples of such supports appear in DE2738104A1 and CN204378122U.

This invention sets out to provide an elongate support such as a walking stick or furniture leg whose height can be adjusted simply and effectively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention in one aspect, the invention provides an elongate support of variable length, the elongate support comprising an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve located telescopically within the outer sleeve, a handle connected to the outer sleeve and including an operating button or switch which, while activated, imparts movement to an operating rod which extends through a channel formed in the handle and through the inner sleeve to a position in which its lower end lies close to a locking mechanism which operates to lock the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve, down ward movement of the operating rod imparted by activation of the operating button or switch causing the locking mechanism to disengage to enable the inner and outer tubular members to move relative to one another to enable the overall length of the elongate support to be increased or decreased such relative movement only being possible when the operating button or switch is engaged, deactivation of the operating button or switch causing the operating rod to re-engage to prevent relative movement between the inner and outer tubular members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings of one embodiment of the invention, in which:-

Figures 1 and 2 are side views of a walking stick in accordance with the invention when, respectively, fully extended and when not extended;

Figure 3 is a side view in section of the walking stick illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of detail A of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that whereas this detailed description concerns a walking stick of variable length, the invention is equally applicable to other support items such as hiking poles and the legs of items of furniture such as tables and chairs.

The walking stick illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings comprises a handle (10) and an extendable leg (12) which comprises an upper sleeve (14) and a lower sleeve (16) of lesser diameter than that of the upper sleeve, the lower sleeve (16) being enabled to slide both upwardly and downwardly within the upper sleeve (14) to reduce or increase the overall length of the stick.

As will be seen from Figure 3, the handle (10) is secured to the uppermost end of the upper sleeve (14), the latter extending into and being secured within a suitably shaped and dimensioned bore (18) formed in the lower end of the handle.

The handle (10) includes an operating button or switch (20) set in its upper surface which, when pressed, imparts downwards movement to an operating rod (22) which extends through a bore (23) formed in the handle (10) and the upper and lower sleeves (14, 16) .

The operating button (20) includes a downwardly extending shaft (24) formed with a bore (25) into which extends the upper end of the rod (22). The shaft (24) is positioned within an indent (26) set in the upper surface of the handle (10) the indent being formed with an upper shoulder (28) and a lower shoulder (30) . Thus, when the operating button (20) is pressed, the rod (22) is moved downwards until the under surface of the shaft (24) makes contact with the shoulder (28) and the bottom edge of the shaft (24) makes contact with the shoulder (30) of the indent (26).

The operating rod (22) forms part of a locking mechanism by which it is possible to vary the length of the walking stick by enabling the lower sleeve (16) to slide within the upper sleeve (14).

As will be seen most clearly from Figure 4, the lower end of the operating rod (22) extends into a sleeved end (32) of a rod (34) which forms part of a spring loaded locking mechanism. In the position shown in Figure 4, the lower end of the operating rod (22) Is positioned above the floor (35) of the sleeved end (32) of the rod (34) .

The locking mechanism includes a cone (36) which is supported on one end of the rod (34) . A helical return spring (38) is positioned around the rod (34) which returns the rod (34) to the position shown in Figure 4 when the upper and lower sleeves are in the position also shown in Figure 4. The cone (36) is held in place on the rod (34) by a nut (40).

Ball bearings (44) are positioned below an annular ledge (45) secured to the inner surface of the lower sleeve (16) and are located in suitably positioned indents formed in the internal surface of the upper sleeve (14) to lock the lower sleeve (16) at one of several selected positions relative to the upper sleeve (14).

Downward movement of the rod (22) imparted by pressing the operating button (20) displaces the operating rod (34) and the cone (36) to remove the ball bearings (44) from the indents in which they are currently located to enable the lower sleeve (16) to be moved relative to the upper sleeve (14). A vertical series of spaced indents is provided to enable the lower sleeve (16) to be positioned at any one of several selected heights along the length of the upper sleeve (14) simply by pressing the operating button (20) to impart sliding movement to the rod (22) to release the locking mechanism until the ball bearings locate in the indents at the selected new stick length.

Once pressure on the operating button (20) is released, the operating rod (22) moves upwardly to the position shown in the drawings, so locking the inner and outer sleeves together once more in the selected position.

It is to be understood that the foregoing is merely exemplary of adjustable supports in accordance with the invention and that various modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An elongate support of variable length, the elongate support comprising an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve located telescopically within the outer sleeve, a member connected to the outer sleeve and including a switch which, while activated, imparts movement to an operating rod which extends through a channel formed in the member and through the inner sleeve to a position in which its lower end lies close to a locking mechanism which operates to lock the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve, downward movement of the operating rod imparted by activation of the switch causing the locking mechanism to disengage to enable the inner and outer sleeves to move relative to one another to cause the overall length of the elongate support to be increased or decreased, such relative movement only being possible when the switch is engaged, deactivation of the switch causing the operating rod to re-engage to prevent relative movement between the inner and outer sleeves.

2. An elongate support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the member is secured to the uppermost end of the upper sleeve, the latter extending into and being secured within a suitably shaped and dimensioned bore formed in the lower end of the member.

3. An elongate support as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the switch includes a downwardly extending shaft formed with a bore into which extends the upper end of the operating rod.

4. An elongate support as claimed in claim 3 wherein the shaft is positioned within an indent set in the upper surface of the member, the indent being formed with an upper shoulder and a lower shoulder whereby when the switch is pressed, the rod is moved downwards until the under surface of the shaft makes contact with the shoulder and the bottom edge of the shaft makes contact with the shoulder of the indent.

5. An elongate support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which the operating rod forms part of a locking mechanism by which it is possible to vary the length of the elongate support by enabling the lower sleeve to slide within the upper sleeve.

6. An elongate support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the lower end of the operating rod extends into a sleeved end of a rod which forms part of a spring loaded locking mechanism.

7. An elongate support as claimed in claim 6 wherein the locking mechanism includes a cone which is supported on one end of the rod.

8. An elongate support as claimed in claim 7 wherein a helical return spring is positioned around the rod.

9. An elongate support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein ball bearings are positioned below an annular ledge secured to the inner surface of the lower sleeve and are located in suitably positioned indents formed in the internal surface of the upper sleeve to lock the lower sleeve at one of several selected positions relative to the upper sleeve.

10. An elongate support as claimed in claim 9 wherein vertical series of spaced indents is provided to enable the lower sleeve to be positioned at any one of several selected heights along the length of the upper sleeve by pressing the switch to impart sliding movement to the rod to release the locking mechanism until the ball bearings locate in the indents at the selected new support length.