Patent Publication Number: US-2022228836-A1

Title: Expandable baton

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to expandable baton and more particularly to an expandable baton having replaceable inner support tubes. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Expandable batons are widely used by law enforcement personnel or as a personal protection means. A conventional expandable baton comprises a plurality of telescopic tubes is shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The baton is expandable between an extended position and a retracted position (see  FIGS. 6 and 7 ). As shown, a smaller tube  60  is partially retracted into a larger tube  62 . At the extended position, the smaller tube  60  extends out of an end of the larger tube  62  and is locked. As an end, the baton is expanded. 
     However, an annular groove  64  is required to form on an inner surface of the larger tube  62  for locking the smaller tube  60  in the larger tube  62  and the larger tube  62  is required to have an increased wall thickness for the forming of the annular groove  64 . Thus, a sufficient space is provided for the forming of the annular groove  64 . Unfortunately, the greater wall thickness of the larger tube  62  can greatly increase its weight and make manufacturing more difficult. Further, a frequent retraction and extension of the smaller tube  60  relative to the larger tube  62  can greatly, quickly wear the inner surface of the larger tube  62 . The smaller tube  60  cannot be stably disposed in the worn larger tube  62 . 
     Thus, the need for improvement still exists. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore one object of the invention to provide an expandable baton comprising a first tube including internal threads on an inner surface of a second end; a second tube; a first inner support tube having a diameter less than that of the first tube, the first inner support tube including first external threads on an outer surface, the first external threads being secured to the internal threads of the first tube; a second inner support tube having a diameter less than that of the first tube, the second inner support tube including second external threads on an outer surface, the second external threads being secured to the internal threads of the first tube, the second inner support tube spaced from the first inner support tube with a first annular groove formed between them; a second lock mechanism disposed at one end of the second tube and including two second lock protuberances and a second externally threaded connection wherein the second externally threaded connection includes a second shoulder adjacent to the second lock protuberances, an inner diameter of the second inner support tube is less than an outer diameter of the second externally threaded connection, the outer diameter of the second externally threaded connection is less than an inner diameter of the first inner support tube so that the second externally threaded connection is disposed in a first end of the second tube and the second shoulder urges against the first end of the second tube, a distance between each of the second lock protuberances and the second shoulder is equal to a length of the first annular groove, the second lock mechanism is moveably secured to the first annular groove, and the second tube is moveably disposed in the first tube; a release mechanism including an axially moveable lock needle having a pointed second end and a pushbutton at a first end, the pushbutton projecting out of the first tube wherein a pressing of the pushbutton moves the lock needle to either insert into or disengage from the second lock mechanism, thereby retracting the second lock protuberances to an unlocked position or extending the second lock protuberances to a locked position; and a positioning member for limiting the release mechanism at a first end of the first tube. 
     Preferably, further comprises a first lock mechanism at the first end of the first tube, the first lock mechanism including two first lock protuberances and a first externally threaded connection, the first externally threaded connection including a first shoulder adjacent to the first lock protuberances, the first externally threaded connection being disposed in the first end of the first tube and the first shoulder urges against the first end of the first tube, and the first tube being moveably disposed in a third tube; and a second annular groove formed on an inner surface of the third tube wherein a distance between each of the first lock protuberances and the first shoulder is equal to a length of the second annular groove, and the first lock mechanism is moveably secured to the second annular groove. 
     Preferably, further comprises a first through hole axially disposed through the first lock mechanism and a second through hole axially disposed through the second lock mechanism wherein the lock needle is disposed through each of the first through hole and the second through hole to be locked or clears same to be unlocked. 
     Preferably, further comprises at least one first O-ring disposed on an outer of the first lock mechanism and at least one second O-ring disposed on an outer of the second lock mechanism. 
     Preferably, further comprises at least one first wear resistant ring disposed on an inner surface of the first tube. 
     Preferably, further comprises at least one second wear resistant ring disposed on an inner surface of the third tube. 
     Preferably, further comprises a plug threadedly secured to a second end of the second tube. 
     The invention has the following advantages and benefits in comparison with the conventional art: Easy forming. This is because after inner surfaces of both the first inner support tube and the second inner support tube are worn to a predetermined extent, both the first inner support tube and the second inner support tube can be pulled out of the first tube and replaced with new ones. The first annular groove can be formed by forming the internal threads and threadedly securing both the first inner support tube and the second inner support tube to the internal threads sequentially. Wall thickness of the first tube is decreased greatly. 
     Greatly decreased components replacement cost. This is because the second tube is moveably disposed in the first tube and components are subject to wear and therefore a frequent replacement is required Further, this can greatly decrease the difficulties of manufacturing the first tube. Because the first inner support tube and the second inner support tube are threadedly to inside of the first tube. Thus, only both the first inner support tube and the second inner support tube are required to replace rather than the first tube. In comparison with replacing the first tube, the cost of replacing both the first inner support tube and the second inner support tube is relatively small. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an expandable baton according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled expandable baton in an extended position; 
         FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2 , the assembled expandable baton being in a retracted position; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the central, right portion of  FIG. 2  showing the second tube partially extended out of the first tube; 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  showing the second tube partially retracted into the first tube; 
         FIG. 6  is a longitudinal sectional view showing a smaller tube secured to a larger tube by snapping according to the conventional art; and 
         FIG. 7  is a longitudinal sectional view of the larger tube according to the conventional art. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , an expandable baton in accordance with the invention comprises a first tube  10 , a first inner support tube  121 , a second inner support tube  122 , a second tube  20 , a release mechanism  30  and a positioning member  19  as discussed in detail below. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first inner support tube  121  and the second inner support tube  122  are taken as an embodiment. The first tube  10  includes internal threads  11 . A diameter of the first inner support tube  121  is less than that of the first tube  10 . First external threads  131  are disposed on an outer surface of the first inner support tube  121 . The first external threads  131  are secured to the internal threads  11  of the first tube  10 . A diameter of the second inner support tube  122  is less than that of the first tube  10 . Second external threads  132  are disposed on an outer surface of the second inner support tube  122 . The second external threads  132  are secured to the internal threads  11  of the first tube  10 . The second inner support tube  122  is spaced from the first inner support tube  121  with a first annular groove  14  formed between them. A second lock mechanism  21  is provided at a first end of the second tube  20  and includes two second lock protuberances  211  and a second externally threaded connection  22 . The second externally threaded connection  22  includes a second shoulder  221  adjacent to the second lock protuberances  211 . An inner diameter of the second inner support tube  122  is less than an outer diameter of the second externally threaded connection  22 . The outer diameter of the second externally threaded connection  22  is less than an inner diameter of the first inner support tube  121 . Thus, the second externally threaded connection  22  is disposed in the first end of the second tube  20  and the second shoulder  221  urges against the first end of the second tube  20 . A distance between each of the second lock protuberances  211  and the second shoulder  221  is equal to a length of the first annular groove  14 . The second lock mechanism  21  is moveably secured to the first annular groove  14 . The second tube  20  is moveably disposed in the first tube  10 . A plug  24  is threadedly secured to a second end of the second tube  20 . The release mechanism  30  includes an axially moveable lock needle  31  having a pointed second end and a pushbutton  32  at a first end, the pushbutton  32  projecting out of the first tube  10 . A pressing of the pushbutton  32  moves the lock needle  31  to either insert into or disengage from the second lock mechanism  21 . As a result, the second lock protuberances  211  retract to be unlocked or extend to be locked. The positioning member  19  is used to limit the release mechanism  30  at a first end of the first tube  10 . While the positioning member  19  is disposed at a first end of a third tube  40  for the purpose of increasing length of the expandable baton in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the third tube  40  can be eliminated to limit the release mechanism  30  at the first end of the first tube  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  in conjunction with  FIG. 2 , at the first end of the first tube  10  there is provided a first lock mechanism  15  including two first lock protuberances  151  and a first externally threaded connection  16 . The first externally threaded connection  16  includes a first shoulder  161  adjacent to the first lock protuberances  151 . The first externally threaded connection  16  is disposed in the first end of the first tube  10  and the first shoulder  161  urges against the first end of the first tube  10 . The first tube  10  is moveably disposed in the third tube  40 . A second annular groove  41  is formed on an inner surface of the third tube  40 . A distance between each of the first lock protuberances  151  and the first shoulder  161  is equal to a length of the second annular groove  41 . The first lock mechanism  15  is moveably secured to the second annular groove  41 . A first through hole  17  is axially provided through the first lock mechanism  15  and a second through hole  23  is axially provided through the second lock mechanism  21  respectively. The lock needle  31  may dispose through each of the first through hole  17  and the second through hole  23  to be locked or clear same to be unlocked. A t least one O-ring (two are shown)  50  is provided on an outer of the first lock mechanism  15  and at least one O-ring (two are shown)  51  is provided on an outer of the second lock mechanism  21  both for the purpose of increasing friction. Further, at least one wear resistant ring (one is shown)  18  is provided on an inner surface of each of the first tube  10  and the third tube  40  for the purpose of adding resistance to each of the first tube  10  and the third tube  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  specifically, it is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled expandable baton in an extended position. After the assembled baton has been extended, the second lock mechanism  21  is fastened at the first annular groove  14 , i.e., the second tube  20  being attached to the second end of the first tube  10 . As a result, the extended baton is fastened. For further expanding the baton, the third tube  40  can be attached to the first end of the first tube  10  rather than the second end of the tube  10  which is attached to the second tube  20 . With the first lock mechanism  15  fastened at the second annular groove  41 , the third tube  40  is attached to the first end of the first tube  10 . At this time, the release mechanism  30  is disposed at the first end of the third tube  40  (i.e., opposite to the first end of the first tube  10 ) with the lock needle  31  not passed through the first through hole  17 . As a result, both the first lock mechanism  15  and the second lock mechanism  21  are locked. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  in conjunction with  FIG. 2  specifically in which  FIG. 3  is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled expandable baton in a retracted position. The lock needle  31  of the release mechanism  30  passes through the first through hole  17  and the second through hole  23  sequentially to unlock both the first lock mechanism  15  and the second lock mechanism  21 . Thus, the first lock mechanism  15  clears the second annular groove  41 , the second lock mechanism  21  clears the first annular groove  14 , the second tube  20  is retracted into the first tube  10 , and the first tube  10  is retracted into the third tube  40  respectively. As an end, the expandable baton is retracted. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , it is an enlarged view of the central, right portion of  FIG. 2  showing the second tube  20  partially extended out of the first tube  10 . The elongated internal threads  11  are formed on the inner surface of the first tube  10  with both the first inner support tube  121  and the second inner support tube  122  threadedly fastened therein. A total length of the first inner support tube  121  and the second inner support tube  122  is less than a length of the internal threads  11 . Thus, the first annular groove  14  is formed among the first inner support tube  121 , the second inner support tube  122  and the internal threads  11 . The second lock mechanism  21  is locked by the first annular groove  14 . As a result, the second tube  20  is attached to a predetermined position in the first tube  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , it is an enlarged view of the central, right portion of  FIG. 2  showing the second tube  20  partially retracted into the first tube  10 . As indicated by arrow, the lock needle  31  passes through the second lock mechanism  21  to cause the second lock mechanism  21  to clear the first annular groove  14 . As a result, the second tube  20  is moveably disposed in the first tube  10 . 
     The invention has the following advantages and benefits in comparison with the conventional art: After inner surfaces of both the first inner support tube  121  and the second inner support tube  122  are worn to a predetermined extent, both the first inner support tube  121  and the second inner support tube  122  can be pulled out of the first tube  10  by rotation and replaced with new ones. Thus, only both the first inner support tube  121  and the second inner support tube  122  are replaced rather than the first tube  10 . This can greatly decrease the components replacement cost. Further, this can greatly decrease the difficulties of manufacturing the first tube  10 . The first annular groove  14  can be formed by forming the internal threads  11  and threadedly securing both the first inner support tube  121  and the second inner support tube  122  to the internal threads  11  sequentially. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.