Abstract:
A multiple section telescoping police baton is disclosed. The baton has a locking mechanism which is activated upon twisting of one section relative to the other in order to prevent sliding motion of one section relative to the other.

Description:
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/230,399 filed on Apr. 20, 1994, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The use of expandable police baton e.g. constructed of metal and plastic have found wide acceptance. 
     Such police batons are e.g. shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,140 and U.S. application Ser. No. 08/016,680 filed Feb. 11, 1993 (issue fee paid). 
     U.S. application Ser. No. 08/016,680 discloses a police baton sold in the USA more than one year prior to this application. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is directed to a new and improved expandable police baton (club) of e.g. three sections, each successive one being narrower diameter than the other and which includes in each successively narrower in diameter section, there is connected for rotary motion an off center axis mounted locking member to prevent the narrower in diameter section from collapsing into the larger diameter section until released by the user. 
     The baton sections in effect move from a telescoped relationship to an expanded relationship when in use and can be locked in place to form the police baton. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view partially in section of the baton of this application in an expanded state; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the baton of this application in a telescoped state; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a view taken along line  4 — 4  in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion FIG. 1 showing one baton section locked in place to the section into which it telescopes; and 
     FIG. 6 is a view taken along line  6 — 6  in FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference should now be had to FIGS. 1-6 which show a three section police baton at  20 . 
     The baton  20  comprises a first section  20 - 1 , a second section  20 - 2  and a third section  20 - 3 , each section progressively smaller in diameter. The first and second sections are at least partially hollow. The third section while shown hollow need not be hollow since it slides i.e. telescopes into the second section. 
     There is provided a threaded plug  21  connected to the first section and over which there is provided a rubber O-ring  22 . The first section  20 - 1  is also provided with a threaded ring  23  which acts as a stop to the second section  20 - 2 . 
     The second section  20 - 2  is provided with a threaded plug  24  with a rubber O-ring  25  positioned between a shoulder of the plug  24  and the second section  20 - 2 . Attached to plug  24  is an offset mounted cam  26  of brake pad like composition (e.g. a polyurethane shore  90  hardness is suitable) fastened for rotation to the plug  24  by a threaded bolt  27 . 
     The third section  20 - 3  also is provided with a locking mechanism including a plug  30 , O-ring  31 , an offset mounted cam  32  and a bolt  33 . The cam  32  is also of the same brake pad like material. 
     When the second section  20 - 2  is rotated (twisted) relative to the first section  20 - 1 , the sections  20 - 2  and  20 - 1  lock together and prevent horizontal telescoping movement. FIG. 3 particularly shows e.g. the locking cam  26  in the position which permits horizontal (back and forth) motion of section  20 - 2  relative to section  20 - 1 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the cam  26  engaging the inner hollow wall of the section  20 - 1  after section  20 - 2  was twisted (rotated) relative to section  20 - 1  to cause the plug to rotate and cause the cam to move towards and press against the inner wall of the section  20 - 1 . The cam  32  also operates in the same manner as the cam  26  when the section  20 - 3  is rotated relative to the section  20 - 2 . At  37  there is provided a threaded ball tip which is larger in diameter than the section  20 - 3 . 
     In putting the baton together, each section is successively slid into one another with the end cap  21  at one end and the ball tip  37  at the other end. Each of the plugs  24  and  30  are larger in diameter than the section  20 - 2  and  20 - 3  to which they are respectively coupled. 
     When the baton is in the extended position, the O-rings  25  and  31  and the respective sections  20 - 2  and  20 - 3  engage threaded rings  23  and  35  respectively to retain the sections at least partially within the supporting section as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     To lock the baton in place, the first and third sections  20 - 1  and  20 - 3  respectively are counter rotated quickly in either direction. 
     This engages the cam&#39;s, pressing them tightly against the inside wall of the previous section. 
     Centrifugal force causes the off center mounted cams to be thrown outwardly and catch on the inside surface of the respective section. 
     To release the baton thereby positioning the sections as in FIG. 2, counter rotate the first and third sections opposite the way it was locked until the cams  26  and  32  release. Then the baton sections can be moved to the closed position as in FIG.  1 . To keep the baton in the closed position, gently rotate the third section  20 - 3  until pressure is felt to keep the baton in the closed position.