Automatic locking telescopic slide

A hood prop is adjustable by rotation and without tools. A base rod 33 fits into a hollow friction rod 34 and may be twisted in a first direction to lock in place and in a second opposite direction to loosen for adjustment. A base screw 32 secures a free floating friction piece 31 and a threaded base piece 30 to a threaded base rod 33. The treaded base rod 33 may be inserted into the hollow friction rod 34 and then twisted. The rotation causes the free floating friction piece to press upon the inside wall of the hollow friction rod. The slant surfaces of the free floating friction piece and threaded base piece help move an extended section 40 of the friction piece into the inner wall of the hollow friction rod. The use of two slant surfaces 61 on the threaded base piece 30 facilitates quick response to rotation in either direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to telescopic slide assemblies. More particularly, the invention relates to means and methods of telescopic and expandable slides with twist locks used to prop open a car hood or trunk.

(2) Description of the Related Art

Several slide type devices are known in the related art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,583 by Taylor discloses a telescopic support that supports the inside surface of an automobile trunk. Taylor uses a system of pins that go through a support tub. The pins require two hands to adjust and may require the use of tools.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,050 by Glock et al discloses a solid bar telescopically inserted within an outer tube. A bulky exterior coil spring is used to adjust the length of the mechanism.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,062 by Roehl discloses a telescopic mechanism using a spring and latching member to adjust the overall length of the assembly.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes shortfalls in the related art by presenting an unobvious and unique combination and configuration telescopic members and internal friction members that toollessly lock and unlock two sliding members for length adjustment.

One of the main advantages of this invention is the use and design of a free floating friction piece that has one 45 degree slant surface and floats upon a base screw. The free floating friction piece is sometimes moved against a base piece, the base piece having two 45 degree slant surfaces. The base piece has internal treads and is in close contact with the treads of the base screw. When torque is applied to a joining telescopic members, the free floating friction piece will be urged past the outside circumference of the base piece and apply friction to the inner wall of a hollow friction rod.

In one contemplated embodiment, a user may insert a base rod into a friction rod to achieve a desired assembly length. The relative positions of the two rods are secured by twisting the rods in a first direction, causing the free floating friction piece to press upon the inner wall of the hollow friction rod. A user may then rotate the two rods in a second direction to release the two rods. The system is self-adjusting and self-maintaining as the base piece has two slant surfaces to accommodate any rotation of the free floating friction piece.

The present invention overcomes shortfalls in the related art by providing an easy to maintain system of locking that does not require the use of tools or special skill.

In one contemplated use of the disclosed slide system, the trunk or hood of a vehicle may be propped open in an efficient, functional and attractive manner.

These and other objects and advantages will be made apparent when considering the following detailed specification when taken in conjunction with the drawings.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

10one embodiment of the invention in general30threaded base piece or base piece31free floating friction piece or friction piece32base screw33base rod or threaded base rod34friction rod or hollow friction rod40area of friction piece extending beyond base piece, also known as the extended section of the friction piece3141gap area between friction piece31and base piece3050end stopper51collar52end flange53end bevel60slant surface of free floating friction piece3161slant surface of threaded base piece3062internal threads of base rod3370round stopper80shaft portion of base screw3290flat end of friction piece31100threaded end section of base rod33, also known as the flat surface of the base rod.110center void area of free floating friction piece31, the center void area110being smooth and not having treads112smooth interior wall of the free floating friction piece31120center void area within base rod33130center void area within hollow friction rod34150outside diameter section of base piece30. The outside diameter section150fits into the center void area130defined by the inside wall210of the friction rod34200plane of the base piece210inside or interior wall of hollow friction rod34220flat end of threaded base piece30, the flat end220used to press against the flat screw head section225of the base screw32225flat screw head section of the base screw32230point of transition between the outside diameter section150and the start of the slant surface61of the threaded base piece30240head section of base screw32250threaded shaft section of base screw32

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Unless otherwise noted in this specification or in the claims, all of the terms used in the specification and the claims will have the meanings normally ascribed to these terms by workers in the art.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application.

The above detailed description of embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while steps are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having steps in a different order. The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not only the systems described herein. The various embodiments described herein can be combined to provide further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the detailed description.

Any and all the above references and U.S. patents and applications are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions and concepts of the various patents and applications described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.

These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above detailed description. In general, the terms used in the following claims, should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above detailed description explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses the disclosed embodiments and all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims.

The terms “clockwise”, “counter clockwise”, “rotation in a first direction” and “rotation in a second direction” are interchangeable and are relevant only in reference to each other. Typically, embodiments of the disclosed invention are rotated clockwise to lock the rods in place and counter clockwise to release the rods. However, opposite directions of rotation are contemplated.

While disclosed embodiments are generally directed toward the art of propping up car hoods and car trunk lids, other uses are contemplated as the disclosed assemblies solve many problems in the art of mechanical attachment.

Referring toFIG. 1, a base screw32has a shaft portion80with exterior threads, the exterior threads intersecting with interior threads of a threaded base piece30. The exterior threads of the base screw32do rest within an interior void of a free floating friction piece31, but, the void within the center of the friction piece31is greater in diameter as compared to the external threads of the base screw32. Thus, the free floating friction piece31is not directly moved by a rotation of the base screw32.

The free floating friction piece31comprises a flat end90(FIG. 5) near a base rod33and an opposite side, slanted at a 45 degree angle. The slanted side or slant surface60of the free floating piece may slide upon either of the two slant surfaces61of the base piece. The use of two slant surfaces61of the base piece30allows for the automatic alignment of the slant surfaces found upon the base piece and free floating friction piece.

In changes of rotational direction, one of the two slant surfaces61of the base piece30will be in position to line up with the slant surface60of the free floating friction piece31. The use of two slant surfaces upon the base piece provides an advantage over the known prior art, as either direction of rotation is accommodated.

A subtle feature of the disclosure is the portion40of the free floating friction piece31that may extend beyond the outer circumference of the base piece30. InFIG. 1the extended section40may be caused by movement between the slant surfaces of the friction piece and the base piece. When the friction piece31extends beyond the outer sections of the base piece30, the combined width of the base piece and extension area40may exceed that of the inside diameter of the hollow friction rod34and lock the friction rod and base rod33.

Referring toFIG. 2an end section is shown with an end stopper50, collar51, end flange52, end bevel53in connection with telescopic member, such as a friction rod34.

FIG. 3shows a gap area41between two slant surfaces of a base piece and friction piece31. The gap area allows the friction piece to stay within the profile of the base piece and hence fit into the hollow friction rod34.

FIG. 4shows a friction piece31urged beyond the plane of the base piece30. The extended section40of the friction piece31may secure the attached base rod33into a hollow friction rod34.

FIG. 5shows a slant surface61of a threaded base piece30and a slant surface60of a floating friction piece31. On the right hand side of the floating friction piece31a base rod33is shown. The flat side90of the friction piece31may rest upon the threaded end section100of the base rod33.

The base rod33has a center void120that will accept the base screw32.FIG. 1shows the base rod33in attachment with the base screw32, such that the flat ends of both the friction piece and base rod are urged together.

FIG. 6shows a gap41between a threaded base piece30and a floating friction piece31. Also, the internal threads62of the base rod33are shown. The base screw32is shown with a flat screw head section225that may press upon the flat end220of the threaded base piece30.

FIG. 7shows a lack of threads within the center void110of a free floating friction piece31. A center void area130of the hollow friction rod34is shown.

FIG. 8shows another view of the internal void110of a free floating friction piece31. Here again, the internal void110area of the free floating friction piece does not have threads. In contrast, the base piece30is shown threaded into the base screw32.

FIG. 9shows a threaded relationship between a base screw32and a threaded base piece30. A free floating friction piece31is shown resting upon its flat side90. The free floating friction piece31is shown with one slant surface60.

FIG. 10shows a perspective view of a base screw32, base piece30and floating friction piece31. A gap can be seen between the base screw32and the center void within the free floating friction piece31.

FIG. 11shows a threaded base piece30in alignment with the center void130of a hollow friction rod34. The extended section40of the free floating friction piece31will extend past the plane200of the base piece. The extended section40is urged into the inside wall210of the hollow friction rod34.

FIG. 12shows a close up of the extended section40of friction piece31. The extended section40is shown extending past the plane of the base piece30.

FIG. 13shows the extended area40of the friction piece to be outside of the diameter of the friction rod34. As a user twists the base rod into the hollow friction rod34, the extended area40slides outwardly and presses upon the inside wall of the hollow friction rod. The process may be reversed by a user. In the reversal process, the slanted side of the friction piece may move to either slanted side of the base piece.

FIG. 14shows a friction piece31fitting into a friction rod34. Note that the friction piece31is not in contact with the base piece30.

FIG. 15shows one contemplated embodiment of the disclosure. Two end pieces or end stoppers50on either side may be used to hold open a car hood or car trunk, but other uses are contemplated.

FIG. 16shows a round stopper70that is sometimes used to cover the intersection or area between a friction rod and base rod.

FIG. 17shows an end section of an end stopper50.

The angle of slant61of the base piece and the angle of slant60of the free floating base piece may be in the range of 25 to 75 degrees. In the best mode known to date, the slants are in the range of 40 to 50 degrees. The working model is constructed with an approximate slant of 45 degrees, give or take three degrees.

Embodiments of the invention may include the following items:

Item 1. An adjustable rod system, the system comprising:

a) a base rod33, the base rod comprising a cylinder with an interior void defined by interior threads, the base rod having an end section100, the end section having a flat surface;

b) a free floating friction piece31, having a shape of a cylinder with a longitudinal interior center void110defined by a smooth interior210wall, the free floating friction piece31having a flat end90on a first end and on a second end, having a slant section60angled in the range of 40 to 50 degrees;

c) a threaded base piece30having a shape of a cylinder with a longitudinal interior center void defined by internal treads, the threaded base piece30having a flat end220on a first end and a second end defined by two slant surfaces61, the slant surfaces having an angle in the range of 40 to 50 degrees, the threaded base piece30having an outside diameter section150defined by the area between the flat end220and a point of transition230between the outside diameter section150and the start of the slant surface61of the threaded base piece30;

d) a base screw32having a head section240, an adjoining a flat screw head section225, and a threaded shaft section250, the treaded shaft section having threads compatible with:

i) the internal threads of the threaded base piece30; and

ii) the internal threads62of the base rod33; and

e) a hollow friction rod34having a shape of a cylinder with a longitudinal interior center void130defined by an interior wall210, the interior wall having sufficient diameter to accept the head section240of the base screw, the threaded base piece30and the free floating friction piece31.

The system of item 1 wherein the hollow friction rod has sufficient diameter to accept the threaded base rod33.

The system of item 1 wherein the flat end90of the free floating friction piece31is configured to abut the flat end section100of the base rod33.

The system of item 1 wherein the threaded base rod33and the hollow friction rod include stoppers50, the stoppers comprising hemisphere shaped components.

A kit comprising:

a) a base rod33, the base rod comprising a cylinder with an interior void defined by interior threads, the base rod having an end section100, the end section having a flat surface;

b) a free floating friction piece31, having a shape of a cylinder with a longitudinal interior center void110defined by a smooth interior210wall, the free floating friction piece31having a flat end90on a first end and on a second end, having a slant section60angled in the range of 40 to 50 degrees;

c) a threaded base piece30having a shape of a cylinder with a longitudinal interior center void defined by internal treads, the threaded base piece30having a flat end220on a first end and a second end defined by two slant surfaces61, the slant surfaces having an angle in the range of 40 to 50 degrees, the threaded base piece30having an outside diameter section150defined by the area between the flat end220and a point of transition230between the outside diameter section150and the start of the slant surface61of the threaded base piece30;

d) a base screw32having a head section240, an adjoining a flat screw head section225, and a threaded shaft section250, the treaded shaft section having threads compatible with:

i) the internal threads of the threaded base piece30; and

ii) the internal threads62of the base rod33; and

e) a hollow friction rod34having a shape of a cylinder with a longitudinal interior center void130defined by an interior wall210, the interior wall having sufficient diameter to accept the head section240of the base screw, the threaded base piece30and the free floating friction piece31.