Abstract:
An extension pole having a tool-actuating connection between a lever on the pole handle end and a tool on the pole distal end that remains operational by action of a lever on the pole proximal end through pole adjustment. A quick release mechanism on the pole distal end receives a tool matching that mechanism through which the movement of the lever is communicated to the tool causing the tool to operate in its normal function.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to extension poles for tools with an adjustable connection between a pole handle end and an opposite pole accessory end to actuate a tool by action of a trigger pole actuator on the handle end and, more specifically, to an extension pole with a means to receive a selective tool on its distal end that cooperates with a lever on the pole proximal end to actuate the tool. 
     2. Prior Art 
     It has long been recognized that extending a user&#39;s reach through an extension pole is advantageous. A paint roller mounted on a pole allows one to work beyond one&#39;s natural reach. A tree branch cutter or saw on an extension pole allows one to access tree tops otherwise difficult to reach. For tools that require an actuating movement, for example, to squeeze a handle of a cutter to trim a branch, a connection between the pole tool end and the pole handle end is required to communicate movement of a pole actuator on the handle end to the tool on the pole tool end. 
     In extending one&#39;s reach with an extension pole the difficulty introduced is in maintaining the operation of the connection between the pole actuator on the pole handle end and the tool on the pole end to effect the desired function of the tool mounted to the tool end of the pole. Painting tools are fairly common, but the issue goes beyond painting. For example, if plant and shrub shears were mounted to the pole end, the grip of the shears would need to be squeezed together as in a normal operation of shears. In general, the extension pole requires a connection between a lever as a pole actuator on the pole handle end and the tool on the pole tool end to effect a normal operation of the tool, such as squeezing together handles of a pruner or shears. 
     Because there are a number of tools that could benefit from an extension pole, it would be advantageous to have a pole with a standard quick-release connection for receiving a tool. To be effective the tool would need to have a provision for exercising the tool in its normal manner of operation, such as squeezing together handles, by pulling a component in the tool. The connection then would need to communicate movement of the pole lever to that tool component to achieve remote functioning of the tool. 
     The primary object of the present invention then is to provide an extension pole having a tool-actuating connection between a lever on the pole handle end and a tool on the pole end. Another object is to provide a quick release mechanism on the pole end for receiving a tool matching that mechanism and through which the movement of the lever is communicated to the tool. It is another object that the mechanism be protected from damage by containing the mechanism internal to the pole. 
     SUMMARY 
     This object is achieved in an extension pole with a connection running between a pole accessory end where a selective tool such as shears or a pruner is releasably mounted and a pole handle end where a pole lever is located such that movement of the lever is communicated to the tool through the connection to effect a normal function of the tool. A pole attachment mechanism is provided internal to the pole for releasably receiving the selective tool while protecting the attachment from damage and the tool is provided with a tool attachment mechanism matching the pole attachment mechanism. The selective tool also is provided with internal mechanics such that exercise of the pole lever exercises the selective tool in its normal function. For all purposes herein, use of the term “lever” is deemed to include all movement of a pole actuator on the pole that effects movement to a tool attached to the pole. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side cut-away view of the tool extension pole showing a tool attachment member closed. 
         FIG. 2  is perspective view of the tool end of the pole of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side cut-away view of the pole of  FIG. 1  showing a tool aligned for engagement with the extension pole. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the tool end of the pole and tool of  FIG. 3 , shown with the tool engaged in the pole end. 
         FIG. 5  is a side cut-away view of the tool extension pole of the present invention showing a tool attachment member open. 
         FIG. 6  is perspective view of the tool end of the pole as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a typical tool attachable to the pole of the present invention, shown as a pruner with a cylindrical handle configured to mount to the pole tool and with a latch rod within configured to interface with the tool attachment member of the pole. 
         FIGS. 8 and 11  are a perspective view of the selective tool, a pruner, viewed from a first side. 
         FIGS. 9 and 12  are a perspective view pruner of  FIG. 8 , viewed from a second side. 
         FIGS. 10 and 13  are a cut-away side view of the pruner of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The extension pole  10  of the present invention includes a tubular member  12  comprising a lower portion  14  and an upper portion  16  with a passageway longitudinal therethrough, with a distal, or tool end  18  and a proximal, or handle end  20 . The pole  10  further comprises a lever as a pole actuator  22  pivotably mounted on the handle end  20  at the pole handle end  20 , spring-biased to a rest position  24 . 
     A tool attachment member  26  at and internal to the pole tool end  18  includes a quick release attachment apparatus  28  adapted to releasably secure a selective tool  100  to the pole tool end  18 . The selective tool  100  for which the pole  10  and quick release attachment apparatus  28  is provided includes a latch rod  102  adapted to actuate the tool  100  in its normal operational function when pulled. Typically the selective tool  100  is selectable from a set of available tools, which gives versatility to the pole  10 . 
     The selective tool  100  is mountable on the extension pole  10  and functions in one or both of two operating modes. In a first mode the tool  100  is made to move directly by a user independent of the pole  10 , which movement implements a normal functional operation of the tool, such as a user squeezing a pruner lever as a first member to a pruner handle as a second member pivotably on a pivot pin on overlapping proximal ends to make pruner blades come together to cut something between the blades. In a second mode the tool  100  is made to function indirectly, that is, in the example of the pruner, the blades are made to come together, by a user operating the lever, or pole actuator  22  from the pole handle, or distal end. The tool  100  includes a latch rod  102  functionally connectible to the pole actuator  22 , movement of which latch rod  102  implements the tool function, such as moving pruner blades together. 
     The latch rod  102  slidably extends axially within a tubular tool base that mounts approximately axially to the extension pole distal end. Upon connection of the tool base to the extension pole distal end, the tool base and the latch rod within extend into the extension pole distal end where they functionally connect to the pole actuator through the tool attachment member  26 . The latch rod  102  is thus protected from access outside of the connected tool base and extension pole distal end which could otherwise damage the latch rod  102 . When the tool is operated in its first mode the latch rod  102  within the tool base does not cause the latch rod to move external to the base, also protecting the latch rod  102  from damage. In fact, operation of the tool  100  in the first mode typically does not cause the latch rod  102  to move. 
     The tool attachment member  26  comprises a tool latch housing  64  secured to the pole tool end  18  and a carrier  66  slidable in the tool latch housing  64  and functionally connected to the pole actuator  22  such that the pole actuator  22  and the carrier  66  move in concert. 
     A tool latch  68  is pivotably mounted to the carrier  66 , biased upward by a latch spring  70  to receive the tool latch rod  102 . An opening  72  at a tool latch forward end  74  is adapted to receive a selective said tool  100  therein. A latch pin  76  is transverse across the opening  72  to secure the tool latch rod  102  in the tool attachment member  26 . The tool latch rod  102  has a notch  104  that releasably receives the latch pin  76  to secure the tool latch rod  102  in the tool latch  68 . Thus, the tool latch  68  pivots upward to receive the tool latch rod  102  into the tool latch  68  and downward to secure the tool latch rod  102  in the tool latch  68  with the latch pin  76  engaging the notch  104 . The tool latch  68  similarly pivots upward to release the latch pin  76  from the notch  104  to disengage the tool  100  from the tool latch  68 . A latch lock  78  includes a latch lock piston  80  that moves downward against the tool latch  68  urging the tool latch  68  downward against the bias of the latch lock spring  70  and upward in allowing the tool latch  68  to move upward under its spring bias. 
     The tool latch housing  64  is axially within but spaced apart from the lower portion  14  at the pole tool end  20  forming a cylindrical channel  82  between them for receiving a tubular tool handle end, or tubular base  106  as the tool latch rod  102  within the base  106  is received into the tool latch  68 . 
     The latch lock piston  80  intersects the channel  82  as it moves downward. The latch lock piston  80  moves out of intersection with the channel  82  when it moves upward. Thus, as the latch lock piston  80  moves upward the tool tubular base, or handle end  106  is receivable in the channel  82  past the piston  80 . With the tool handle end, or base  106  is in the channel  82  the piston  80  is movable downward through a tool handle hole  108  thus securing the tool  100  in the pole tool end  20  as the tool latch rod  102  connects to the tool latch  68  and thus to the pole actuator  22 . 
     A latch lock handle  84  pivots on a latch lock pivot pin  86  that is secured to the lower portion  14 . The latch lock piston  80  similarly pivots on the latch lock handle  84  on a piston pivot pin  88  in a latch lock handle first end  90 . A latch lock handle second end  92  extends from the latch lock pivot pin  86  opposite the piston pivot pin  88  as a lever such that as the latch lock handle second end  92  is urged downward about the latch lock pivot pin  86 , the latch lock handle first end  90  is lifted with the piston  80  connected thereto on the piston pivot pin  88 , therein lifting the piston  80 . 
     With the tool thus secured in the pole distal end and the tool latch rod  102  secured to the carrier  66 , moving the pole actuator  22  moves the carrier in the pole attachment apparatus  28  which then moves the tool latch rod  102  in the tool  100 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, instead of or in combination with the latch lock  78 , a tool handle end, or base  106  is received in tool latch  68  against bias of a carrier spring  89  that urges the tool handle end, or base  106  out of the tool latch  68  until the tool handle end  106  is fully loaded in the tool latch  68 , which is when a tool latch ball  91  is urged under ball spring bias into a recess  93  in the tool handle end  106  as a first securement of the tool in the tool latch  68 . The latch lock may then more positively lock the tool into the latch lock. However, until the tool is secured by the tool latch ball  91 , the tool ‘pops’ out, or at least forward out of the tool latch  68  so a user will recognize that the tool is not fully secured in the tool latch  68  prior to attempted use. 
     Illustrative of the set of selective tools that may be used with the pole having the tool attachment member  26 , a pruner  100  and its functional operation is described. As illustrated in  FIGS. 7-13 , latch rod  102  is axially within tubular base  106  such that as the tubular base  106  inserts into cylindrical channel  82  in the pole end, the latch rod  102  also enters the tool latch housing  64  where it connects to the carrier  66 . 
     The latch rod  102  and tubular base  106  are located in first tool member  112 . In the first tool member  112 , the latch rod  102  connects to cable  118 , which wraps to second tool member  110  where the cable  118  connects to a slidable ball  116 . The cable  118  extends from the latch rod  102  intermediate the first tool member  112  to connection with the ball  116  intermediate the second tool member  110 . The ball  116  moves in channel  114  in second tool member  110  with the cable  118  passing through slot  120  in the channel  114 . The tool  100  is exercised by bringing the first tool member  112  toward the second tool member  110 . When the tool  100  is directly exercised by hand in its normal functional operation, that is a user directly squeezes the first and second tool members  106 ,  110  together in the user&#39;s hand, which might be the case when the tool is not attached to the extension pole, the ball  116  passes in the channel  114  from the slot  114  such that the direct operation does not move the latch rod  102 . However, when the latch rod  102  is pulled, such as when it is connected to the carrier  66  of the attachment apparatus  28 , the ball  116  against the channel top end  122  is pulled by the cable  118  connected to the latch rod  102 , causing the second tool member  110  to move toward the first tool member  112 . In the illustrative example of the pruner, the first and second tool members  106 ,  110  are handles of the pruner. Pulling the latch rod  102  thus exercises the tool  100  by pivoting the first tool member  112  toward the second tool member  110 . When the handles move together the blades  124  of the pruner close together, cutting what might be between them.