Patent ID: 11871862
Assignee: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICES
Field: Furniture, games (Other fields)
Classification: CPC A  E | IPC A  E

Claim 0:
1. A retractable arm comprising
an outer tube comprising:
a channel extending therethrough;
a first opening formed in a surface of the outer tube proximate a first end of the outer tube; and
a second opening formed in the surface of the outer tube proximate a second end of the outer tube; and

an inner tube slidably disposed at least partially within the channel of the outer tube; and
a pawl pivotably attached to the inner tube, the pawl comprising a curved surface and a planar surface, the pawl configured to protrude at least partially from the first opening when the inner tube is at a first position within the channel, and configured to protrude at least partially from the second opening when the inner tube is at a second position within the channel,
wherein a portion of the planar surface of the pawl is in contact with an inner surface of the outer tube when the inner tube is in transition from the first position to the second position, and a portion of the curved surface is in contact with the inner surface of the outer tube when the inner tube is in transition from the second position to the first position.