Abstract:
An electric telescoping pole for allowing the user to quickly and effortlessly alter the length of a pole used for coupling tools to. The electric telescoping pole includes a pair of tubular members, the first member telescopically receiving the second member, an electric drive assembly housed in the base of the first member, which, by way of a switching mechanism, electrically controls the pole&#39;s length.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to telescoping poles and more particularly pertains to a new electric telescoping pole for allowing the user to quickly and effortlessly alter the length of a pole used for coupling tools to. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of telescoping poles is known in the prior-art. More specifically, telescoping poles heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,385,849 4,258,825; 4,539,927; 4,911,039; 5,333,4722; and Des. 354,554. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new electric telescoping pole. The inventive device includes a pair of tubular members, the first member telescopically receiving the second member, an electric drive assembly housed in the base of the first member, which, by way of a switching mechanism, electrically controls the pole&#39;s length. 
     In these respects, the electric telescoping pole according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing the user to quickly and effortlessly alter the length of a pole used for coupling tools to. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of telescoping poles now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new electric telescoping pole construction wherein the same can be utilized for allowing the user to quickly and effortlessly alter the length of a pole used for coupling tools to. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new electric telescoping pole apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the telescoping poles mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new electric telescoping pole which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art telescoping poles, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a pair of tubular members, the first member telescopically receiving the second member, an electric drive assembly housed in the base of the first member, which, by way of a switching mechanism, electrically controls the pole&#39;s length. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new electric telescoping pole apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the telescoping poles mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new electric telescoping pole which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art telescoping poles, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new electric telescoping pole which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new electric telescoping pole which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new electric telescoping pole which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such electric telescoping pole economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new electric telescoping pole which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new electric telescoping pole for allowing the user to quickly and effortlessly alter the length of a pole used for coupling tools to. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new electric telescoping pole which includes a pair of tubular members, the first member telescopically receiving the second member, an electric drive assembly housed in the base of the first member, which, by way of a switching mechanism, electrically controls the pole&#39;s length. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new electric telescoping pole that allows the user to reach high work areas when extended, then quickly retract the pole for the purpose of reaching the attached tool, for example a paint roller, thereby increasing efficiency. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new electric telescoping pole that can be used with a variety of different tools making it very universal in nature. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new electric telescoping pole in the extended position according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention in the retracted position. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the drive assembly of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, a new electric telescoping pole embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the electric telescoping pole  10  generally comprises a pair of tubular members. The first tubular member  12  telescopically receives the second tubular member  14 . 
     A drive assembly  16  rotatably controls a cable spool  18 . The cable spool  18  includes a control cable  20 . A first end of the control cable  20  is coupled to and wrapped about the cable spool  18  for rotatably extending and retracting the control cable  20 . 
     The control cable  20  engages a pulley member  22  such that when the cable spool  18  rotatably retracts the control cable  20 , the pulley member  22  is biased towards the distal end of the control cable  20  thereby retracting the second tubular member  14  into the first tubular member  12 . 
     A biasing member  26  for biasing the second tubular member  14  to an extended position when the control cable  20  is extended. 
     The first tubular member  12  includes a switching mechanism  28  for electrically biasing the drive assembly  16  multi-directionally such that an operator can selectively extend and retract the first tubular member  12  with respect to the second tubular member  14 . 
     The tubular members are of substantially equal lengths and include respective proximal and distal ends. The proximal end of the second tubular member  30  is received in the distal end of the first tubular member  32 . 
     The first tubular member  12  includes an electrical drive assembly  16  housed in the proximal end of the first tubular member  34 . 
     The drive assembly  16  includes a drive motor  36  and a plurality of gear members  38  for engaging the cable spool  18 . 
     The drive motor  36  has an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the first tubular member  12 , and is fixedly coupled to an inside surface of the first tubular member  40 . 
     The drive motor  36  is coupled to a main wiring harness  42 . 
     The pulley member  22  is fixedly mounted to an inside surface of the second tubular member  44  proximate the distal end of the second tubular member  46 . 
     The first tubular member  12  includes an end cap  48  that is selectively couplable to the distal end of the first tubular member  32 . 
     The end cap  48  includes an electrical contact surface  50  for contacting a battery  52  when the end cap  48  is coupled to the first tubular member  12 . The surface has a connecting means for connecting a first battery terminal  54  to the main wiring harness  42 . 
     The battery  52  has an outside diameter approximately equal to an inside diameter of the first tubular member  12 , and a connecting means for connecting a second battery terminal  56  to the main wiring harness  42 . 
     The control cable  20  is positioned substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first and second tubular members  12 ,  14 . The distal end of the control cable  24  is fixedly mounted to an inside surface of the first tubular member  40  proximate the cable spool  18 . 
     The length of the control cable  20  is extendable and retractable by rotation of the cable spool  18 . 
     The biasing member  26  is a spring  58 , which includes respective distal and proximal ends. 
     The spring  58  has an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the first tubular member  12 . 
     The distal end of the spring  60  contacts the proximal end of the second tubular member  30  such that when the second tubular member  14  is fully retracted the spring  58  is fully compressed. 
     The proximal end of the spring  62  abuts a shoulder surface  64 . The shoulder surface  64  is fixedly coupled to the inside surface of the first tubular member  40  proximate the distal end of the control cable  24 . 
     The switching mechanism  28  includes a connecting means for connecting the drive assembly  16  to the main wiring harness  42 . The switching mechanism  28  is coupled to an outer surface  66  of the first tubular member  12  proximate the proximal end of the second tubular member  30  for allowing the user access to the switching mechanism  28 . 
     The distal end of the second tubular member  46  includes a coupling means for selectively coupling the second tubular member  14  to a tool or other similar apparatus such as a paint roller  70 . 
     Each of the tubular members is produced from one material selected from a group of materials consisting of plastic, fiberglass, steel, or aluminum. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.