STEPPING STAFF

Abstract: A stepping staff (10) which comprises a plurality of sections (12, 14, 16) coupled together in telescoping manner. A sighting target (26) is arranged on the uppermost section (16). The sections (14, 16) have a plurality of sets of D dents (50A, 50B, 50C, 50D) with which collars (20, 24) are engaged. The collars (20, 24) enable the sections (14, 16) to be rotated relative to one another to bring a corresponding set of D dents (50A, 50B, 50C, 50D) on the sections (14, 16) into alignment with one another. The collars (20, 24) have engaging members (56, 74) which locate in D dents in the set of D dents (50A, 50B, 50C, 50D) and enable the sections (14, 16) to be moved relative to one another and to the section (12) by an integral number of distances corresponding to the spacing of the D dents in the set of D dents (50A, 50B, 50C, 50D) by locating the engaging member (56, 74) in appropriate D dents in the set of D dents (50A, 50B, 50C, 50D).

Description: STEPPING STAFF This invention relates to a stepping staff and in particular to a brick stepping course rod to enable height references for brick work to be made and to a surveying staff to enabling measurements to be taken in building work. Conventional surveying staffs commonly used to enable height reference to be taken during the formation of brick work or in other building work require a surveyor or other trained person to make an initial reading using an optical level and thereafter workmen are required to take measurements from the staff by inspecting gradations formed on the staff. Conventional surveying staffs therefore suffer from the problem that it is often necessary or untra ne people to read a staff which can result in errors in measurements being made. The object of this invention is to provide a stepping staff which can easily be used by untrained personnel and therefore result in a lower likelihood of errors being made whilst taking measurements. The invention may be said to reside in a stepping staff, said stepping staff having a plurality of sections coupled together for movement relative to one another, one of said sections having a sighting target, at least one of said plurality of said sections having a set of coupling means, and an adjacent one of the sections having engaging means for engaging with one of the coupling means in the set, each coupling means in the set of coupling means being spaced apart by a prescribed distance such that upon relative movement of the at least one section and adjacent section one coupling means on the at least one section can be coupled with the engaging means on the adjacent section. The invention also provides a stepping staff having a plurality of sections coupled together for telescopic movement relative to each other, a first section of said plurality of sections having a first collar mounted thereon, a second section of said plurality of sections having a plurality of sets of substantially vertically aligned engaging members spaced about said second section, said first collar supporting a coupling member which is engagable with an engaging member in anyone of said sets of engaging members, said second section being rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative co said first collar so that any one of the engaging members can be brought into engagement with said engaging member in one of the sets of engaging members, and said first and second sections can be telescopically moved relative to one another to locate the first coupling member in another of the engaging members in said one of said sets to adjust the height of the stepping staff by an incremental distance. Accordingly, relative measurements can be made with the stepping staff of this invention by simply moving one of the sections relative to the other of the sections so that a coupling means on one of the sections is coupled with an engaging means on the other of the sections. Since the coupling means are spaced bv a predetermined distance the coupling of one of the coupling means with the engaging means upon relative movement of the staff means that the height of the staff has been lte ed by the spacing between the coupling means or by a number of times that distance if the sections are moved relative to zhe other such that the engaging means on one of the sections moves over a number cf the coupling means on the other of the sections. Thus, measurements can be made by simply moving the sections relative to one another without th-i need to read graduations on the staff. Preferably, the coupling means comprises a plurality of D dents formed in each section which may comprise holes drilled in the sections an the engaging means is a collar which supports a loaded ball which g e with the D dents on the sections to couple the sections together. Each section may include a olu * "-iιty of sets of D dents spaced apart by different prescribe '. distances corresponding to course, heights in various type of brick work. Preferred jnbodiments of the invention will be described m more detail with reference " the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view of a steopini staff embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional τ 'iaw along the line 2-2 of figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line 3-3 of figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line 4-4 of figure 1; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line 5-5 of figure 2; embodiment of figure 1; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view along the line 7-7 of figure 5; Figure 8 is a drawn out view of part of the stepping staff of figure 1; and Figure 9 is a view of a second embodiment of the invention. With reference to figure 1 to 4 a stepping staff 10 is shown which comprises an outer hollow tubular member 12 which received an intermediate hollow tubular member 14 which in turn received an inner hollow tubular member 16. The tubular members 12, 14 and 16 can be telescoped together so that they can be extended outwardly or drawn inwardly in the direction of double headed arrow Λ. Mounted on the tubular section 12 is a collar 20 which is secured to the section 12 in a fixed relationship by a screw 22 which passes through an opening in the collar 20 and engages the outer wall of the section 12. The section 14 also has a collar 24. However, the collar 24 is adapted to be rotated about the section 14 in the manner to be described hereinafter. Λ sighting target 26 which has a stem 23 is received in the hollow section 15. The sighting target 25 may have holes and/or pins 30 together with a cross-hair 32 to facilitate laser sighting. The cross-section of the section 12 is circular as shown in figure 4. However, the outer surface of the section 12 includes a recessed portion 34 which received a measuring tape 36. The recess accommodates the measuring tape 36 so that the surface of the measuring tape 36 is flush with the remainder of the section 12 to provide a smooth finish. The cross-section of the sections 14, 16 and 23 is similar to the section 12 and further measuring tapes 3δa, 36b, and 36c are received in those recesses. The recess and the flush mounting of the tapes on the sections 14/ 16 and 23 enables the sections to smoothly slide together without catching or damaging the tapes . e sec ons an eac nc u e a p ura y o sets of recesses or D dents 50Λ, SOB, 50C, and 50D. Each D dent or recess in each set on a resoective section 14 or 15 is vertically aligned and in the embodiment shown in the drawings four sets of D dents are provided. The spacing between D dents in each set is different and corresponds to the course height in brick work or to other standard heights which need to be measured in building or excavation work or the like. In the embodiment shown in the drawings the four sets of D dents 50Λ, 503, 50C and 50D are soaced apart 90° around the circumference of the sections 14 and 16 as is best shewn in figures 2 and 3. Alternatively the four sets of D dents could be arranged at 30°, 150°, 210° and 330°. This allows two large spaces of 120° between D dents if it is desired to use a wider tape. Other convenient arrangements of the D dents could also be used. Figure 3 shows a drawn out view of part of the sections 14 and 16 in the vicinity of the collar 24. The view in figure 3 is an expanded out view as if the circular sections 14 and 16 were cut open and laid out flat so that the four sets of D dents 50Λ, 5012, 50C, and 50D can be clearly seen. This view clearly shows the different spacing between D dents in each sot. Figure 3 also clearly shows a groove 52 which joins the D dents in each set of D dents. It should be noted that the depth of the D ents in each set is somewhat deeper than the groove 52 which joins the D dents. It should also be noted that in olace of D dents which are a recess in the sections a hole v/hich passes right through the sections could be used. The collar 20 is provided with a threaded hole which receives an engaging member 56 which has a head 58 and a screw threaded shank 50. The screw threaded shank 50 is adapted to be screw threaded into the hole 54 and the shank 60 is hollow and receives a spring loaded ball 52 v/hich projects slightly outwardly of the end of the shank 60. The ball 62 may be held in place by a reduced diameter flange at the end of the shank 60 behind which the equator or widest diameter portion of the . :he shank anc for¬ces the ball outwardly also allows the ball :o b ' JeB ptushed back into the shank against the bias of th. spring The ;ollar 24 is similar to the eollar 20 but has two screw threaded holes 70 and 72 (see figure 5) . Two •engaging members 74 and 7G are received in the holes 70 and 72 in the same manner as the member 55 is received in the hole 54. Each of the members 74 and 76 has a spring loaded bail 73 and 30 respectively v/hich are mounted in the members 74 and 75 in the same manner as the bail 52 is mounted in the member 55. As is best seen in figure 5, the collar 24 is provided with a stepped bore 32 v/hich extended all the way through the collar. The stepped bore has a larger diameter portion 34 which receives the section 14 and a reduced diameter portion 35 v/hich receives the section 15. The on cortion of the section 14 i: with a circumfere a groove 90 and a D d nt 2 is provided on the groove co •mimi ea_ with each of the sets of D ents 5 A, 50?, 50C, and 50D rn the section 14. Once again the D der :s 9 o slichtly dseo-er than the grooves 90 and are also i- 1 diameter than the width o f '- h "* r r o ' ™ * v e -^ 0 :he "! -. ^ - i ba "1 1 80 in τror_ve 90 v/i l i^ n > 1 o. ~ r 2 , '" ^ ~ \ ~ v 3 _ ι τ> * ■ the collar 24 and Is .ocats in r. n u .-, , ^ « , « j -j • _ .J . ____; in ^ _n securing the -colil 1a =». ■ *- 4 Engaging member 76 is sere 72 which is located so that the ball 30 is received in the groove 90 and can therefore 92. The engaging member 74 passes throiπh the collar n Λ and the ball 73 can locate in any one of the ^ dents in any one of the sets 50A, SOB, 50C, -or 50D. The set of D dents 50A may be s aced anart by a distance of 05mm which represents the course height in clay brickwork. The D dents 50C may be spaced apart by a distance of 100mm v/hich represents the course height in masonry br ckwor . e ents may e space aoar y a s ance of 200mm which represents the course height in masonry block work. The D dents SOD may be spaced aoart by yet a further and greater distance which represents another standard 5 measurement or excavation work etc. In order to provide easy recognition of the sets of D dents the g oo es 52 may each be coloured a different colour to correspond to a p articular type of brick work and to allov/ easy alignment of the sets on one of the sections with the sets on another of the sections. 10 A sighting target 26 is best shown in figures 6 and 7 and comprises a sight area 25a coupled t~> a shaft 26b the target area 26a and shaft 26b may be coupled integrally and the upper portion of the shaft 26b has a eross-section v/hich as is shown in figure 7. The cross-section of the shaft 26b 15 includes a plurality of cut-out portions 26c and 25d on opposite sides of the shaft 26b. The uooor portion of the section 23 is provided with two internal lugs 29 which are shaped to correspon with the shaoe of the portions 26c and are spaced apart to correspond with the snαcinσ of the portion 20 26c. The sighting target 26 is therefor" Locked in the hollow section 2} by locating th lugs 29 in one :>f the pairs of recesses 25c on one side of the shaft 26b end then sliding the shaft 26b into the section 20. The recesses 26c and the lugs 23 provide a fricticnal fit of the shaft 26b in the section 28 25 which securely holds the sighting target 7 ~ in the section 23. The height of the sighting target can be adjuste relative to the section 23 by forcing the shaft 26b further into the section 23 or drawing it outwardly of the section 28 against the fricticnal fit- of the shaft 26b in the section 23. The 30 provision of recesses 26 on either side on the shaft 26b enables the sighting target to be rotated an amount of ISO" and. reinserted into the section 28 if desired. In order to -use the stepping staff shown in figure 1, the stepping staff is located in a trench or relative to a 35 course of bricks in brick work or the like by suitably supporting the staff. A surveyor or other trained workman can then use an optical sighting tcol to locate the sighting relative to the section 23 to suitable locate the sighting target 25. Once the height of the sighting target 25 has been set unskilled workman can si o y adjust the height of the :ing staff in increments corresponding to the course .-/o king or by ano her height corresponding to the spacing of D dents in one of the sets 50Λ to SOD. This is achieved by firstly gripping the section 12 with one hand and sliding the section 10 24 at least a short way out of the section 12 so that the section 14 can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the stepping staff 10 so that the engaging member 36 is engaged in any one of the D cents in the appropriate set of D dents corresponding to the measurement distance reriirad for the 15 relevant type of work. This is done by simply rotating the section 14 relative to the section 12 πnd collar 20 so that the engaging member 55 engages in one of the appropriate D dents v/hich is colour coded for easy recognition bv a workman. The set of 3 dents in. the section 15 u"--- then be aligned with -.U - ; ._. _) .ι l.i _: — *-_ ■ -__ -_. -- J-i - ___ __.. - - _ - ■ _ -. -1. ■-, . ' -r . -.lio 1.D done by h-c-ldinc the section 16 in -one hr d an' 1 rotatincr the collar 24 relative to the section 15 so hat the -engaginα t "t-_>-~i- -^ -4 is"•ntr^ - s f o th * 3 .-- 1 -t *- τ_~ --- ' - — * ^ — .3 " * oca-^d and is 25 to the set of D * r ,l* 5 i^h v/hich ^-h~ j ■~ ι e~" ~ *. * C -V ,, '. % '-^ 56 is engaged. dotation of the collar relati* * "-- ;c the section 16 will cause the section 14 and the sectio- 12 to also rotate i the section 16 because of the cc oiing of the he section 14 via the engaging member 76 and its 30 spring leaded ball 30 and the engagement of the section 14 to the section 12 via the engaging member 56 and its spring loaded bail 62. Once the engaging m ber 74 is located in the appropriate set of D dents the section 14 is then gripped with one hand and the collar 24 is rotate relative to the section 35 14 to bring the set of D dents with v/hich the member 74 is engaged into vertical alignment with the set of D dents with v/hich the member 56 is engaged. Since the section 14 is gr pp the D dent in v/hich it is located and ride in the groove 92 until it locates in the appropriate D dent. The engagement between the collar 24 and the section 16 by virtue of the engaging member 74 and the spring loaded bail 73 will result in the section 16 rotating with the collar 24 until the set of D dents with which the ball 73 is engaged is in vertical alignment with the set of D dents with which the en aging member 55 is engaged. Therefore the enαaging members 56 and 74 are engaged with a D dent in the same set of dents 50A, or SOB, or 50C or 50D. In order to increase or decrease the height of the sighting target by one or more courses of bricks or by any other measurement corresponding to the distance between the D dents in the appropriate set of D dents with which the members 74 and 56 are engaged the sections 12 and 14 and/or the sections 15 and 14 are moved relative to one another by appropriately moving the sections in th -1 vertical direction so that the ball 62 of the engaging member 56 leaves the D dent in which it is located and rides in the τroove 52 corresponding to that set of D dents until it locates in one of the other D dents in the set of D dents. The ball 78 in the engaging member 74 may ride in its groove 52 in the same manner when the sections 16 and 14 are moved relative to one another until it locates in another D dent in that set of D cents. By moving one of the sections relative to another of the section 16 an amount of one spacing between D dents (i.e. from one D dent to the next D dent) the sighting target has been raised or lowered by a distance of the spacing between D dents (i.e. 85mm in the case of the set of D dents 50A) . Since the location of the ball 78 or ball 62 in a D dent results when the ball moves from the groove 52 into the larger recess v/hich defines the D dent a distinct click is heard when the ball engages the D dent. By simply moving one section relative to another section by drawing them apart or pushing them together and counting the clicks a workman can decide how . . the signt parget b. For instance, if i! merely desired to increase the sighting target 26 by one course height then the sections are cio ed further apart until one click is heard. The workman then knov/s that the siσht 26 has been increased by one course height if it is desired to increase the course height by five or ten courses to allow for a 'window or the like in a building then the sections are mo e apart until five clicks are counted. The length of the shaft 26b is preferably about 250mm although other lengths could be used if desired. Λ length of 250mm provides sufficient adjustment of the sighting target 25 relative to the section 28 for the initial set up of the stepping staff since in most cases maximum course height will be 200mm and a movement of 100mm upwardly or downwardly is sufficient to locate the sighting target 25 at a course height. The lengths of th Ϊ section 12, 14 and 16 is preferably approximately 900mm but once egain other lengths n 23 can bo lock X2C . the section 16 by a collar 21 and D dent arrangement si ila: to the collar 20 or the collar 24 .ernat vej.y, ection 23 could, be done away with an the shaft 2-5b received, in the section 15. e. ' . oo -1 i t n a l n ve n 11 o n in w .rn-i i . .c-r n 1 l .-t; - r- y* ~i > f- -s described in conjunction -with h Tϊibodimonts of Fiαures 1 to In the embodiment of Figure 9 the engaging means is arranged so that the movement of the en-caging means radially outwardly with respect to the sections 12, 14 and 15 is limited so that the engaging means must locate in a circu ferer.tially extending groove in order to enable the sections to rotate relative to one another and must ride in the groove 52 when the height of the staff is being adjusted. This ensures that the sections can only be rotated when the engaging means is located in its circumferential U iJ' ii J a e s ar no a positioned relative to one another and must ride in the grooves 52 whan height adjustment takes place to prevent damage to the tape measure located on the sections or damage to any other markings on the sections. As shown in Figure 9, the collar 24 is provided with two blocks 101 and 102. In the embodiment shown in Figure 9 the blocks 101 and 102 are screw threaded into screw threaded holes 70 and 72. However, in other embodiments the blocks 101 and 102 could be smooth sided and merely forced into smooth sided holes to be retained by friction, welding or any other means. The blocks 101 and 102 have a recess 103 which receives a spring 104. Arranged at the other end of the springs 104 is a plate 105 and 105 'which have a hemispherical ball portions 106 and 106' respectively. The hemispherical ball portion 106 associated with block 101 is received in groove 90 and locatable in one of the holes 92 in the same manner as the ball described with reference to the earlier embodiment. The distance between the rear surface 107 of the plate 105 and the front surface 108 of the block 101 is such that the ball portion 106 can move in the direction of arrow D a distance which prevents complete removal from the D dent 92 but allows engagement in the groove 90. This limited movement of the ball portion 106 ensures that the ball portion 106 always remain within the groove 90 or a D dent 92 and therefore the ball portion 106 is not only guided within the groove 90 but also prevents vertical movement of the collar 24 and the ball portion 106 from riding on other portions of the section 14. The upper portion of the section 16 is provided with a groove 110 v/hich is similar to the groove 90. The groove 110 joins a plurality of D dents 112 v/hich are arranged at the top of the grooves 52 in each set of D dents 50A, 50B, 50C and 50D and which are deeper than the groove 110 and of larger diameter than the width of groove 110. Once again the distance between the rear surface 113 of the plate 105' associated with block 102 and the front surface 115 of block in the direction of arrow D enables the ball portion to be moved only a sufficient distance out of the D dent 112 so that it can locate in the groove 110 but not completely out of the groove 110. Therefore in this embodiment of the invention when it is desired to rotate the section 15 relative to the collar 24 and/or the section 14 it is nacessary to completely telescope the sections 14 and 16 together with the ball 105' riding in a groove 52 associated with one of the sets of D '' . n r ς ι i "l t" . η "- * ". .-» ' -i n l 1 l ζ ' i •=; 1 ■ ^.'- t t -* r 1 " 1 ."ι *T^ O ? *- "^ ~ (_! n tϊ Ξ 1 m * -~ l '-ι ^i — - '' r->' ' -| T - r_l - / *- ι -^ v-, 1 ι -i — * ■ ^ i . 1 ^ 1 ι >- η ιr ι t ^ ^ collar 24 and/or the section 14 by gripping the collar 24 and rotating the section 15 so that the ball 106' is forced out of the D dent 112 and into the groove 110. The section 15 can then be rotated until th J bail 1 ' is located in a D dent 112 v/hich is associated with the desire one of the sets of D dents 50A to 50D. The arra-.-rr^mant S IO'^T- L in Figure 9 therefore prevents the section 15 from being rotated until the ball 106' is located in one of the 3 dents 112. "ir.ee the section 15 can only be rotated when, th? staff is it this configuration, the rotation of the section 15 relative to the collar 24 does not cause the a?.ϊ 25b -on tht section 1 ~ to be scuffed or marked or any oth^r nar ir.cs on the section 16 to be scuffed or mn""" C-d --hich ou 1 d -th--'-^.'i c: e '-^-^ -he easa i^~ the sec ion 16 is allowed to rotate in n" rando posit" on of the section 16 relati'.'.e to the section 14. Since the di tan ^ eo b ^ '- e^n ^-ho "aa" ^ 1 113 of the plate 105' and the front wail 115 of the block 102 is selected to enable the ball portion 106' to move out of a dent 112 only a sufficient distance to locate in the croove 110, the bail 106' cannot be completely removed from one of the D dents in the sets 5QA tc SOD or the respective groove 52 and therefore the tape 36b and other markin g s or the section 16 are protected. The only time the ball 105' can leave one of the D dents in the sets of 3 cents 50A to 500 is when the sections 14 and 15 are teiascooically moved relative to one another so that the bail 105' can be removed from one of the D movement of the sections 14 and 16 or when the ball 106' is located in a too D dent 112. To further secure th collar 24 to the sections 14 screws (not shown) could pass through the collar 24 and locate in the groove 90 to further secure the collar 24 against vertical movement relative to the section 14. In the embodiment of Figure 0 a similar arrangement to that described above is provided to allow rotation of the collar 20 relative to the section 14. To achieve this the collar 20 includes a bore 54 and a screw threaded block 125 which is similar to the blocks 101 and 102. The block 125 has a spring 127 which biases a oiate 123 having a hemispherical ball portion 129. Cnce again an upper portion of the section 14 is provided with a groove 120 v/hich is located somewhat below th"> groove 90. The groov3 130 joins a series of D -"'cits 132 which are vertically align3d with each of the sets of D dents 50A to 50Ξ and which als^ communicate with the grooves 52 in the respective sets of 3 dents 50Λ to SOB. The collar 20 functions in a similar manr.tr to the Oliar 24 so that when it is desired to rotate the section 14 r 'lative to the section 12 it is necessary to talescooe the sections 14 and 12 together so that the collar 20 is arranged with the ball portion 129 located in one of the 3 dents 132 associated with groove 130. The spacing between the block 125 and the plate 123 is such that the ball portion 129 can be removed out of the 3 dent 132 only a distance sufficient to locate it in the groove 130 but not a distance sufficient to leave the groove 130. Therefore, the section 14 can only be rotated relative to the collar 20 and section 12 when the ball portion 129 is located in one of the 3 dents 132 so that tape 36a or any other marking on the sectio l 12 is not defaced by movement of the ball portion 129 over those markings or taoe. When the ball portion 129 is located in one of the 3 dents associated with the sets 50A to 503 below the 3 dents 132 rotation of the section 14 relative to the collar 20 and section 12 cannot sets 50A to 503 until the ball is located in one of the D dents 132. In other embodiments (not shown) the grooves 110 and 5 130 could be located at the bottom or an intermediate position of the sections 16 and 14 so that the staff must be fully or partly extended before rotation of the sections can take place. The distance between the blocks 101, 102 and 125 and the plates 105, 105' and 123 can be adjusted by screwing the 0 blocks into or out of their respective screw threaded holes. If the blocks are to be permanently retained in place by welding or the like and they must be accurately located before they are fastened in place. If desired the collar 20 could be arranged to rotate 5 relative to section 12 to facilitate alignment of the tape 36. To this end a groove (not shewn) could be provided in the section 12 for receiving the screw 22 (See Figure 3) so that the collar 20 can rotate but cannot move vertically relative to the section 12. 0 The preferred embodiments of this invention therefore provide a stepping staff which can be used as a brick stepping course rod to measure cr determine course heights for brick work and a surveying staff for general surveying purposes to measure relative heights without the 5 need for a workman to measure actual graduations on the staff once the sighting target on the staff has been set by a . surveying operation. Thus, all that is required with the present invention is for a skilled surveyor or the like to set the staff once by setting the sighting target relative to the rod 12 or 12Λ and then by simple movement of the rods relative to one another in view of the spacing of the D dents the height of the target can be adjusted by prescribed distances corresponding to brick course heights or other desired distances which can be incorporated into the staff to enable further relative measurements to be made by unskilled workers since it is not necessary for those skilled workers to make accurate measurement readings on the staff. All that is requ e relative to one another to maintain a count of a number of 3 dents which the engaging means moves o ^ by simply counting the number of clicks which are caused each time a 3 dent is engaged or passed during relative movement p the sections. The locking devices may be any of the devices shown or combinations thereof cr other suitable mechanisms. The stepping staff can also be used to set a gradient for plumbing or the like by setting a first level and the moving the staff to another leeatio*-', ^ example, 6 metres away and then ovinc the sections 12 and 14 or 14 and 16 relative to one another to set the αradient. One of the sets of 3 ents could be used to set a standard gradient so that "one click" reoresents a gradient of 1 unit in 6 metres, "two clicks" a gradient of 2 units in 6 metres and so on. Since modification within, the spirit and seooe of the invention may readily be effetted bv persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this indention is not limited to the particular embodiment d-^cribcd by way of example hereinabove.

Claims: _. 1. A stepping staff, said stepping staff having a plurality of sections coupled together for movement relative to one another, one of said sections having a sighting target, at least one of said plurality of said sections having a set of coupling means, and an adjacent one of the sections having engaging means for engaging with one of the coupling means in the set, each coupling means in the set of coupling means being spaced apart by a prescribed distance such that upon relative movement of the at least one section and adjacent section one coupling means on the at least one section can be coupled with the engaging means on the adjacent section. 2. The stepping staff of Claim 1, wherein the coupling means comprises a plurality of recesses formed in each section and the engaging means is a collar v/hich supports a loaded ball which engages with a recess on the sections to couple the sections together. 3. The stepping staff of Claim 2, wherein each section includes a plurality of sets of recesses spaced apart by different prescribed distance. 4. A stepping staff having a plurality of sections coupled together for telescopic movement relative to each other, a first section of said plurality of sections having a first collar mounted thereon, a second section of said plurality of sections having a plurality of sets of substantially vertically aligned e gaging members spaced about said second section, said first collar supporting a coupling member v/hich is engagable with an cr.cagi~. ~ f member in anyone of said sets of engaging members, said second section being rotatabie about its longitudinal axis relative to said first collar so that any one of the engaging members can be brought into engagement with said engaging member in one of the sets of engaging members, and said first and, second sections can be telescopically moved relative to one another to locate the first coupling member in another of the engaging members in said one of said sets to adjust the height of the steeping staff by an incremental distance. . ng s a acto , second section has a second collar mounted thereon, said second collar having lockinc means for locking said second collar to said second section so that the second collar can be either fixed relative to the second section or rotated about the axis of the second section relative to the second section, a third section of said plurality of sections being located adjacent to said second section, said third section also having said plurality of sets of engacing members, said second collar having a second co pling member for engaging any one of the engaging- members on the third section, and wherein said second cellar is rotatable with the first and the second sections relative to the third section to locate said second coupling member with the same set of engaαing members on the third section with which the first coupling member is engaged, and said second collar and the third section are rotatable relative to the first and s 2tend sections to bring the set of engaging members on the s e con section into alienment with those in the third section, said sr.toe' ■ end third section being telescopicaiiy rt cable to enga e the second coupling member in another engaginc .'.ri e; in th - set of ecaging members to further incrementally adjust :he height of the 5. The ~ Ooi-icr staff ae e^r ' itg t ~ > " _ aim 5, ''/herein said first and seco n d coupling "" 'b^rs -" * re strew threaded members received m screw threaded holes it the first and. second collars, said screw threaded members having a sprinσ loaded call and wherein sa;. 1 en aging fitmoors are recesses v/hich receive said balls. 7. The stepping staff of Claim 5, wherein said engaging member in each set are joined by a groove. 3. The stepping staff of Claim 5, wherein said second section has a groove about its periphery which is provided with locking recesses m alignment with each set of engaging members, the locking means having a spring loaded ball v/hich is locatable in one of the locking recesses to lock the second movable out of the locking recess in the said groove to allov/ the collar to rotate relative to the second section. 9. The stepping staff according to Claim 4, wherein one o__. saiP. -_. _, ϋ. * ._.-„ _l l-ιlL_.ι. y Ci.' .__ . 10. The stepping staff according to Claim 4, wherein each engaging member in each set of engaging members is joined by a groove and each groove is colour coded for easy recognition. 11. The stepping staff according to Claim 4, wherein, said coupling member is arranged for limited movement with respect to said sections such that said eouplieσ member cannot be completely disengaged from said engaging member, a retaining member joining an engaging member in each set of engaging members such that the coupling means must be located in ana of the engaging members v/hich are joined by the retaining member so that the limited outward movement of the coupling member is sufficient to allow the coupling member to enter -the retaining means so that said second section can be rotated relative to the first collar. 12. A stepping staff according to Claim 11, wherein said coupling member comprises a block and a hall member and the engaging member and retaining member ct -.arise a groove, v/hich is shallower than said recess, rcsoocti'-'olv, biasin-f meats disposed between the block an the bail member for forcir.-c said call portion into engagement with the groove and r e cess, the distance between said block and said ball member being such that said ball member is not able to be comple e ly wi hdrawn frc said recesses but can be withdrawn from said recesses a sufficient distance to enable th ball portion to locate in said croove.

Inventors: SCHAFER RICHARD J, SCHAFER, RICHARD, J.
Applicants: SCHAFER RICHARD J, SCHAFER, RICHARD, J.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: G01C15
IPC codes: G01C15