Patent ID: 9709212
Date: 2017-07-18
CPC Classifications: E04H,F16C,F16M,Y10T

Claim:
1. An extendable/retractable column comprising: a plurality of linked sections each including a plurality of individual sections, each of the individual sections including a first and second end and a pair of opposing sides, the individual sections pivotally connected to one another in end-to-end relationship; each pivotally connected individual section having a first pivot axis adjacent the first end and a second pivot axis adjacent the second end to allow the first end of an individual section to pivot relative to the second end of an adjacent individual section, all the pivot axes of the individual sections of a linked section being substantially parallel; each linked section having the pivot axes of its individual sections oriented substantially nonparallel to the pivot axes of the remaining linked sections of the plurality of linked sections; each linked section being spaced from the remaining linked sections when the column is retracted; each opposing side of each individual section of a linked section including a surface oriented substantially perpendicular to all the said pivot axes of the individual sections of the same linked section; each individual section of a linked section having a plurality of substantially flat projections extending outwardly from each opposing side in a direction substantially parallel to the pivot axes of the same linked section; each outwardly extending flat projection of each individual section of a linked section being oriented substantially nonparallel to the pivot axes of the individual sections making up the remaining linked sections of the plurality of linked sections; and said flat projections of a first individual section of a first linked section engaging the flat projections of a second individual section of a second linked section when the first and second linked sections are extended and interconnected with one another to form the column and permitting the opposing sides of the individual sections to release and separate from one another when the linked sections are retracted.