Abstract:
A pole assembly includes a first mounting member defining a locking hole, and a second mounting member setting around the first mounting member. The second mounting member includes a tab operable to be bent into the locking hole to lock the mounting members together.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a pole assembly. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    A supporting apparatus for photovoltaic modules may be made by welding a plurality of metal poles together with a non-flexible structure, which results in inconvenience in transportation of the supporting apparatus. Another type of supporting apparatus is assembled by a number of retractable and rotatable poles. The retractable and rotatable poles are connected to each other by screws, which is still inconvenient to assemble the poles. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of a pole assembly. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an assembled, isometric view of the pole assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line of III-III of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    The disclosure, including the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements, is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.” 
         [0010]    Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , an embodiment of a pole assembly includes a first mounting member  10  and a second mounting member  20 . 
         [0011]    The first mounting member  10  includes a middle plate  11  and two side plates  13  extending from opposite sides of the middle plate  11 . The middle plate  11  includes a recessed portion  111  and two raised portions  113  extending from opposite sides of the recessed portion  111 . Each side plate  13  includes a recessed portion  131  and two raised portions  133  extending from opposite sides of the recessed portion  131 . The raised portions  133  adjacent to the middle plate  11  are perpendicularly connected to the raised portions  113 . Each recessed portion  131  defines a rectangular locking hole  135 . 
         [0012]    The second mounting member  20  includes a middle wall  21 , two sidewalls  23  extending from opposite sides of the middle wall  21 , and two blocking flanges  25  extending towards each other from sides of the sidewalls  23  opposite to the middle wall  21 . The middle wall  21  includes a recessed portion  211  and two raised portions  213  extending from opposite sides of the recessed portion  211 . Each sidewall  23  includes a recessed portion  231  and two raised portions  233  extending from opposite sides of the recessed portion  231 . The raised portions  233  adjacent to the middle wall  21  are perpendicularly connected to the raised portions  213 . Each recessed portion  231  defines a U-shaped slot  234 . The recessed portion  231  bounded by the slot  234  forms a rectangular tab  235 . An elongated notch  237  is defined in a lower portion of an inner surface of each tab  235 , facing the other recessed portion  231 . 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , in assembly, the second mounting member  20  is set around the first mounting member  10 . The middle wall  21  and the sidewalls  23  are in close contact with the middle plate  11  and the side plates  13  respectively. The blocking flanges  25  abut the raised portions  133  opposite to the middle plate  11 . The tabs  235  align with the locking holes  135 . The tabs  235  are then bent with finger pressure into the locking holes  135  to engage in the locking holes  135 . Thus the first mounting member  10  is mounted to the second mounting member  20 . The size of the tabs  235  are configured for close mating with the locking holes  135  lengthwise along the second mounting member  20 , to prevent lengthwise movement of the second mounting member  20  relative to the first mounting member  10 . The notches  237  are used to facilitate the easy bending of the tabs  235 . 
         [0014]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.