Abstract:
An attachment for an extension poles, particularly for painter applications is disclosed. The device is designed to articulate and rotate about two or more axes to allow a painter to work at different angles. The device further provides novel structure allowing it to easily transition between engaged and unengaged positions. Ends of the device are configured to easily attach to an extension pole, paint brush, or roller brush, as applicable. In a preferred embodiment, the device is further telescoping, adding versatility.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This patent application contains subject matter claiming benefit of the priority date of U.S. Prov. Pat. App. Ser. No. 61/724,206 filed on Nov. 8, 2012 and entitled, ARTICULATING ATTACHMENT FOR EXTENSION POLES; accordingly, the entire contents of these provisional applications are hereby expressly incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention pertains generally to tool positioning devices and systems. More particularly in a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to an articulating brush or tool holder attachment for an elongated pole device. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Extension poles particularly for painter applications have been known in the art. One such example is a patented device owned by The Wooster Brush Company and is entitled, “Quick Release Lock Mechanism for Handle Extensions,” U.S. Pat. No. 7,721,391. Additionally known are articulating holder devices for brushes or tools attachable to an extension pole. One such example was proposed by Franklin et al., entitled “Tool Positioning System,” U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2010/0183362. 
         [0006]    According to Franklin and his co-inventors, articulating joints known in the art permit a reversibly lockable positioning and repositioning a tool or brush within a useful range of operation. Further, it is often desirable to rotatably position and reposition a tool or brush, perhaps frequently. For example, when painting with a paint roller mounted to an extension pole, the roller is typically horizontal to the ground. It is often advantageous to change the position of the roller to permit painting in different directions, for example, by orientating the paint roller perpendicular to the ground. 
         [0007]    Also as reported by Franklin et al., examples of moveable joints for connection components can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,768, awarded to Franklin on Jun. 23. 1992, which discloses, in part, a push-button adjustable jointed coupling for attaching paint rollers and the like. The drawback of U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,768 is that the apparatus utilizes a number of working metal parts, including a locking collar, set screw, cover plate, and two set screws on the cover plate; these components make the apparatus heavy and difficult to manufacture. U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,911 to Yates et al., discloses, in part, a two member apparatus with axially spaced teeth upon a first and second axially spaced button. U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,284 to Callahan discloses, in part, a lockable hub device having a base that accommodates a ganged pair of lockable attachment rings. U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,178, to Hsiu-E Yu, discloses, in part, a pivotable tool having a pair of interconnected arms disposed in a crossing relationship and having a manually releasable releasing device which locks the arms in a perpendicular open position for use as a wrench. U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,305 to Treche discloses, in part, a fastening subassembly for securing a hotstick component to another component or hotstick. U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,755 to Ampian, discloses, in part, a universally adjustable paint roller where the roller may be adjusted about three orthogonally disposed axes having a rotating mechanism coupled to an L-shaped member. U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,562 to Lowrey, et al. discloses, in part, a painting device with a pivotal adjustment frictionally held in place; the friction may be overcome by manual pressure to readjust joint position. 
         [0008]    Additional prior art examples  91 ,  92 ,  93  of extension pole  99  attachment are illustrated in  FIG. 1A  through  FIG. 1C . As shown particularly in  FIG. 1C , two wing nuts  94 ,  95  provide rotational and angular adjustment to the paint brush  97  (via a clamp  96  covered in a vinyl sleeve  98 ). To insure rigidity the prior art device  93  requires that the wing nuts  94 ,  95  be torqued rather tightly requiring pliers for adjustment. This is particularly inconvenient for a user. Also, in the example of a relatively long extension pole  99  of twenty feet, a back and forth motion of the paint brush  97  will cause the wing nuts to loosen. When the wing nuts eventually become too loose, the painter will be required to stop work, lower the extension pole and retighten the wing nuts. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment for an extension pool that more easily adjusts angularly and rotationally. It is an additional object of the invention to provide an attachment device that will remain rigid even after extended back and forth motion. Yet further, it is an object of the present invention to provide an articulating brush holder that can be adjusted by hand without additional tools. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention specifically addresses and alleviates the above mentioned deficiencies associated with the prior art. More particularly, the present invention in a first aspect, is an accessory attachment for an elongated pole device comprising: a first adjoining member corresponding to an x-axis being rotatable about a z-axis; and a second adjoining member corresponding to an y-axis being rotatable about the z-axis, wherein the second aligning member is further rotatable about an own axis, wherein the own axis is the y-axis. 
         [0011]    The present invention in this aspect is additionally characterized wherein the first member being rotatable about the z-axis comprises a thumb latch; and a fulcrum wherein the thumb latch transitions between an engaged position and an unengaged position about the fulcrum. Additionally further, the thumb latch unengaged position corresponds to the first and second adjoining members being rotatable about the z-axis, wherein the engaged position corresponding to the second and first adjoining members being fixed with regard to the z-axis. 
         [0012]    More specifically in this embodiment, the fulcrum has a pin connector connecting the thumb latch to the first adjoining member. Also as explained further herein, the thumb latch is a first thumb latch wherein a second thumb latch is configured to the second adjoining member having engaged and unengaged positions, wherein the unengaged position allows the second adjoining member to rotate about its own axis. 
         [0013]    The invention in this aspect is additionally characterized wherein the second thumb latch also has a pin connector configured as a fulcrum thereto, wherein the second adjoining member further comprises a plurality of apertures about a circumference thereof, the apertures assisting in the engaged and unengaged positions. Also according to the invention the accessory attachment includes: a male extension at a distal end of the second adjoining member; and a third thumb latch further configured at the distal end, wherein the male extension and the third thumb latch together are configured to receive a female handle on a roller cage device. 
         [0014]    The invention in this aspect is further characterized as comprising a handle portion wherein the handle portion transitions between a substantially cylindrical body to a partially rectangular body. Still further, the first adjoining member comprises a pair of disks each having an aperture therein aligned with the z-axis, wherein the second adjoining member further has a disk having an aperture configured between said pair of disks. These said disks form a hinge about the z-axis. Still further, a first of the pair of disks comprises a carve out to accommodate the first thumb latch. In a preferred embodiment, a paint brush clamp is configured to a second adjoining member distal end. 
         [0015]    These, as well as other advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description and drawings. It is understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
         [0016]    While the apparatus and method has or will be described for the sake of grammatical fluidity with functional explanations, it is to be expressly understood that the claims, unless expressly formulated under 35 USC 112, are not to be construed as necessarily limited in any way by the construction of “means” or “steps” limitations, but are to be accorded the full scope of the meaning and equivalents of the definition provided by the claims under the judicial doctrine of equivalents, and in the case where the claims are expressly formulated under 35 USC 112 are to be accorded full statutory equivalents under 35 USC 112. The invention can be better visualized by turning now to the following drawings wherein like elements are referenced by like numerals. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1A  through  FIG. 1C  are illustrative of similar prior art devices; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a first perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a second perspective view of the first preferred embodiment from an opposite vantage point; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the area bound by line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is an additional perspective view of the first preferred embodiment illustrating a device articulating as desired by a user; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is yet an additional perspective view of the present invention illustrating ends of the device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. Initially with regard to  FIG. 2 , a first preferred device  10  of the present invention is illustrated in perspective. In the most broad sense, the invention is directed to an accessory attachment  10  for an elongated pole device  99  allowing a user to align a tool  89  configured on an opposite end as necessitated by a particular job. More particularly with reference to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , the invention provides a first adjoining member  11  corresponding to an x-axis being rotatable about a z-axis. Further, a second adjoining member  21  is provided corresponding to a y-axis being rotatable about a z-axis. Also as shown, the second adjoining member  21  is further rotatable about an own axis (y-axis) allowing for aligning and rotating a tool  89  as described herein. 
         [0025]    More specifically regarding the first member being rotatable about the z-axis, a first thumb latch  31  is provided having a pin connector acting as fulcrum wherein the thumb latch transitions between an engaged position and an unengaged position about the fulcrum. Further, the unengaged position corresponds to the second adjoining member  21  being rotatable about the z-axis. Still further, the invention is characterized in that the engaged position corresponds to the second  21  and the first  11  adjoining members being fixed with regard to the z-axis. 
         [0026]    In a preferred embodiment, a third thumb latch  51  is provided that connects to an existing roller brush ( FIG. 2 ) according to the invention. However, in a slight variation as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a fixed hollow member  81  is coupled to the second adjoining member. This fixed hollow member  81  will have a clamp  96  at an interior thereof; and additionally be configured so that a typical roller brush  89  can fit over the fixed member, as desired by a user. 
         [0027]    As stated the fulcrum (for latch  31 ) comprises a pin connector connecting the first thumb latch  31  to the first adjoining member  11 . Also more specifically, a second thumb latch  41  is configured to the second adjoining member  21  having engaged and unengaged positions, wherein the unengaged position allows the second adjoining member  21  to rotate about its own axis (y-axis,  FIG. 5 ). The thumb latches  31 ,  41 ,  51  are relatively big buttons that are easy to engage and disengage and will not loosen with repeated back and forth movement providing stress to any connectors. 
         [0028]    More particularly with regard to  FIG. 4 , an enlarged view of the second thumb latch  41  is provided. As with the first thumb latch  31 , a fulcrum comprises a pin connector  42  to allow the thumb latch  41  to transition between engaged and unengaged positions. However different from the first thumb latch  31 , a plurality of apertures  43  are provided circumscribing the second adjoining member  21 . This configuration allows for the rotational aspects of invention  10  about the y-axis as shown. 
         [0029]    The present invention in the preferred embodiment  10  is additionally characterized in that the first adjoining member  11  comprises a handle portion that transitions between a substantially cylindrical body  12  to a partially rectangular body  13 . This design assists the engagement of the first thumb latch  31  and also allows for a smooth transition to a hinge  61 ,  63 ,  65  about the z-axis as further detailed herein. 
         [0030]    With regard to  FIG. 4 , the accessory attachment  10  for an elongated pole device  99  herein is additionally characterized wherein the first adjoining member  11  includes a pair of disks  61 ,  63  each having an aperture  62 ,  64  therein aligned with the z-axis. Also, the second adjoining member  21  further has a disk  65  having an aperture (not shown) configured between said pair of disks  61 ,  63 . The configuration  61 ,  62 ,  63 ,  64 ,  65  forms the aforementioned hinge about the z-axis. As shown, a screw is provided to complete the hinge. 
         [0031]    Further with reference to  FIG. 5 , a first  61  of the pair of disks has a carve out to accommodate the first thumb latch  31 . As described herein, the present invention  10  may also include a brush (or tool) clamp  96  configured to a second adjoining member distal end. A vinyl cover may also optionally be provided to the brush clamp  96 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a roller cage male extension  72  could be configured to the second adjoining member  21  distal end. Or an additional attachment has a clamp  96  to accommodate a paint brush. Yet still further according to the invention, the first  11  and second  21  adjoining members can be made telescoping or adjustable in length, thereby providing translational adjustment to the articulating and rotational properties. 
         [0032]    Also according to alternative embodiments, a paint key or paint can opener may be coupled to the first adjoining member distal end. Additionally, an LED light may be configured to the second adjoining member while a battery compartment may be configured to either the first or second adjoining member. As another accessory to the invention, a box cutter type knife can be configured to either of the first or second joining member, pivotally secured at one end and housed by the battery compartment. 
         [0033]    Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations. 
         [0034]    While the particular Articulating Attachment for Extension Poles as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims. 
         [0035]    Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.