Patent ID: 9580945
Date: 2017-02-28
CPC Classifications: E05C,F16F

Claim:
1. A telescoping hold open rod assembly for use in holding a panel in an open position at the selection of a user to access an opening covered by the panel, the rod assembly comprising: an inner tube formed to include an annular groove; an outer tube formed to include an L-shaped slot and a hole, the outer tube configured to receive the inner tube at least partially therein and allow telescoping movement of the inner tube relative to the outer tube along an axis between an extended position where the annular groove is generally aligned with the hole and a collapsed position where the annular groove is spaced apart from the hole; a bearing positioned at an end of one of the inner tube and outer tube and a latch spaced apart from and positioned at an opposing end of the other of the inner tube and outer tube from the bearing; and a locking mechanism including a sleeve carried on the outer tube, a ball bearing positioned in the hole of the outer tube between the sleeve and the inner tube, and a pin configured to extend through the sleeve into the L-shaped slot of the outer tube and control motion of the sleeve relative to the outer tube; wherein the sleeve is configured to translate axially and rotate about the axis relative to the outer tube when the ball bearing is received in the annular groove of the inner tube to capture the ball bearing in the annular groove and lock the rod assembly in the extended position.