Patent ID: 6908249
Filing Date: 2005-06-21
Classification: B25G,F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A lock for temporarily fixedly securing first and second associated pole sections in a telescoped arrangement, said lock comprising: a base defining an axially extending through-bore adapted for close sliding receipt of an end portion of the first associated pole section; a neck projecting from said base; a collar connected to said neck and radially constrictable relative to said base, said collar defining an opening aligned with said axially extending through-bore of said base, said collar adapted for close sliding receipt of the second associated pole section partially telescoped into said first associated pole section, wherein said collar is defined by first and second collar portions connected to said neck and terminating in respective first and second ears arranged in spaced-apart relation to each other, said ears defining respective first and second bores; a fastener extending through said first and second bores between said first and second ears, said fastener including a head abutting said first ear, an unthreaded first portion frictionally engaged with a portion of said first ear that defines said first bore to inhibit unintentional rotation of said fastener and a threaded distal end extending through said second bore defined in said second ear and projecting outwardly from said second ear; a lever having a head defining a threaded aperture that is threadably engaged with said threaded distal end of said fastener, said lever movable rotatably relative to said threaded distal end of said fastener between an unlocked position in which said collar slidably receives and accommodates the second associated pole section, and a locked position in which said head of said lever is advanced on said threaded distal end of said fastener toward said head of said fastener and urges said second ear toward said first ear to constrict said collar radially relative to said base into frictional gripping engagement with the second associated pole section received in the collar, wherein said first portion of said fastener defines an unthreaded cylindrical conformation that is located in said first bore defined by said first ear with a tight frictional fit sufficient to restrain said fastener against rotation in response to movement of said lever between said unlocked and said locked positions, wherein said fastener is selectively rotatable via application of torque to said head sufficient to overcome said tight frictional fit between said unthreaded cylindrical conformation and said first ear.