Patent ID: 6095714
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: F16B,F16L,H01Q,Y10T

Abstract:
A joint for a telesoping tube assembly comprising:first and second hollow cylindrical members having front and rear ends;said front end of said first hollow cylindrical member including a lip, said lip radially inwardly extending from said front end to define a front end opening of a first diameter;said rear end of said second hollow cylindrical member including a flange, said flange being radially outwardly extending to define a peripheral edge of a second diameter;spring finger means carried by said second cylindrical member;said second hollow cylindrical member and said spring finger means being oriented coaxial of said first hollow cylindrical member and being at least partially received within said first hollow cylindrical member and extending through said front end of said first hollow member, and said second cylindrical member being axially movable a limited extent relative to said first cylindrical member to define a telescoping relationship;said spring finger means being of a predetermined length oriented along the length direction of said second cylindrical member and having proximal and distal ends with said proximal end being connected to said second hollow cylindrical member and said distal end being free, said spring finger means being mechanically biased to flare said distal end radially outwardly of said second hollow cylindrical member;an O-ring;said O-ring having an inner diameter, outer diameter, a predetermined thickness and a predetermined elasticity;said O-ring being positioned over said spring finger means, coaxial with said second hollow cylindrical member and internal of said first hollow cylindrical member for restraining said spring finger means from flaring radially outwardly;said O-ring being slidable axially along said second cylindrical member relative to said spring finger means;said first diameter defined by said lip being smaller than said outer diameter of said O-ring;said second diameter defined by said peripheral edge of said flange being greater than said inner diameter of said O-ring and greater than said first diameter defined by said lip, whereby said lip is adapted to block axial movement of said O-ring when said second hollow cylindrical member is axially moved a predetermined extent out said front end of said first hollow cylindrical member;said distal end of said spring finger means being axially spaced from said flange by a predetermined spacing distance; andwherein said spring finger means is withdrawn from a position underlying said O-ring and, released from restraint imposed by said O-ring, radially outwardly expands against said lip to latch said joint in extended position when said spring finger means is axially carried by said second cylindrical member out said front end by a second predetermined extent of axial movement.