Patent Publication Number: US-9403268-B1

Title: Retaining mechanism for telescopic shaft

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention pertains to a telescopic shaft for a golf ball retriever. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a telescopic shaft for a golf ball retriever including shims positioned between the tubes to add rigidity to the telescopically-extended golf ball retriever. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Golf ball retrievers having a telescopically-extendable handle is well-known in the art. These telescopically-extendable handles include a plurality of hollow tubular members which are nested within each other. In order to allow the tubes to be extended and retracted with ease, a slight gap must be provided between each pair of concentrically-positioned adjacent tubes. However, the gaps between each pair of adjacent tubes allows the entire handle to flex under its own weight while in a fully-extended position. More specifically, the adjacent tubes flex primarily at the joints between each pair of adjacent tubes due to the gap between the tubes that is inherently required to allow the tubes to be slidingly-engaged with each other. This flex makes the golf ball retriever more difficult to manipulate and use. Thus, the objective is to provide a golf ball retriever which is light yet rigid, and is also easily extendable. 
     One attempt in the prior art to overcome this problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,228 to Light. Light provides a cap which is placed in the end of each telescopic tube. The cap is said to provide a high degree of stiffness to the handle. Consequently, this allows the handle to be made with shorter tubes yet achieve the same maximum extended length as a handle which does not include the caps. However, this solution requires additional parts by way of the caps and a C-clip necessary to lock each into cap into the end of each tube. These additional parts add to the overall weight of the handle and also inevitably make the handle more expensive due to the additional material costs and additional manufacturing time required to assemble these additional parts. 
     Thus, there remains a need for a telescoping handle for a golf ball retriever which is light, easy to manufacture, and requires few additional parts, yet which is structurally-reinforced so that it is sufficiently rigid while in an extended state. 
     The present invention, as detailed hereinbelow, seeks to fill this need by providing a telescopic shaft for a golf ball retriever including shims positioned between the tubes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a telescoping handle comprising: (a) a plurality of telescoping hollow tubes, each tube having a first end, a second end, and an outer circumferential surface, the telescoping hollow tubes being nested within each other and being dimensioned to provide a gap between each adjacent pair of nested tubes; (b) at least one shim secured to the outer circumferential surface of the first end of at least one of the tubes, the shim having a curvature to match the outer surface of the tube such that the shim and the outer surface are flush, and the shim has a thickness sufficient to fill the gap between the adjacent pair of tubes whereby the shim is flush against the inner surface of the adjacent hollow tube; (c) the second end of at least one of the tubes having a tapered portion, the tapered portion having an inner circumferential surface that is flush against the outer circumferential surface of the adjacent telescoping tube; and (d) whereby the first end of an inner tube in a pair of adjacent tubes cannot slide beyond the second end of the outer adjacent tube because the shim on the inner tube and the tapered portion on the outer tube abut each other in a fully telescopically-extended position. 
     Optionally, the tapered portion is at least 2 millimeters long and the shim is at least 5 millimeters long. Preferably the tapered portion is about 2-4 millimeters long and the shim is preferably about 5-15 millimeters long. 
     Optionally the telescoping handle has two shims secured to the first end of at least one of the telescoping tubes, and the shims are evenly spaced about the outer circumference of the telescoping tube. 
     Optionally, the telescoping handle includes at least three telescoping tubes, and the three telescoping tubes form two pairs of adjacent nested tubes. The outer-most tube and the medially-positioned tube form a first pair of adjacent nested tubes, and the inner-most tube and the medially-positioned tube form a second pair of adjacent nested tubes. 
     Optionally, the shim can have a cylindrical section that fully surrounds the outer circumference of the telescoping tube. 
     According to a second embodiment hereof, there is provided a telescoping handle comprising: (a) a plurality of telescoping hollow tubes, each tube having a first end, a second end, and an outer circumferential surface, the telescoping hollow tubes are nested within each other and are dimensioned to provide a gap between each adjacent pair of nested tubes; (b) at least one shim secured to the outer circumferential surface of the first end of at least one of the tubes, the shim having a curvature to match the outer surface of the tube such that the shim and the outer surface are flush, and the shim has a thickness sufficient to fill the gap between the adjacent pair of tubes whereby the shim is flush against the inner surface of the adjacent hollow tube; (c) the second end of at least one of the tubes has at least two inwardly-oriented beads, one of the inwardly-oriented beads is positioned at an end of the second end of the tube, and one of the inwardly-oriented beads is positioned on the second end of the tube but not on the end, the inwardly-oriented beads having an inner circumferential surface that is flush against the outer circumferential surface of the adjacent telescoping tube. 
     According to this embodiment, the shim is preferably at least 5 millimeters long, and even more preferably the shim is about 7-18 millimeters long. 
     Optionally, one of the inwardly-oriented beads is positioned about 5-15 millimeters from the end of the second end of the tube. 
     Optionally, the first end of at least one of the tubes includes an outwardly-oriented bead. The outwardly-oriented bead has an outer circumferential surface that is flush against the inner circumferential surface of the adjacent telescoping tube. 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front side view of a tube from the telescoping handle according to a first embodiment of the present invention hereof; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view showing the first end of the tube shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view showing the second end of the tube shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view showing four tube members, three of which are shown in a retracted position; 
         FIG. 5  is a front side view showing four tube members, three of which are shown in a retracted position; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing an inner tube and an outer tube from an adjacent pair of tubes, the inner and outer tubes being in an extended position; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view showing the second end of a tube according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the second end of a tube according to the second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged view showing a plurality of tube in a retracted position; 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged view showing a first end of a tube having an outwardly-oriented bead; and 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment hereof showing an inner tube and an outer tube from an adjacent pair of tubes, the inner and outer tubes being in an extended position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the present invention and as shown generally in  FIG. 1 , there is provided a telescoping handle  10  comprising: (a) a plurality of telescoping hollow tubes  12 ; (b) at least one shim  14  secured to the outer circumferential surface  16  of at least one of the tubes  12 ; (c) at least one of the tubes  12  has a tapered portion  18  which has an inner circumferential surface  20  that is flush against the outer circumferential surface  16  of the adjacent telescoping tube  12 ; and (d) whereby a first end  22  of an inner tube  12  in a pair of adjacent tubes  12  cannot slide beyond the second end  24  of the outer adjacent tube  12  because the shim  14  on the inner tube  12  and the tapered portion  18  on the outer tube  12  abut each other in a fully telescopically-extended position. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the telescoping handle  10  includes a plurality of telescoping hollow members, or tubes  12 . The hollow tubes  12  are nested within each other and are dimensioned to provide a gap between each adjacent pair of nested tubes  12 . The tubes  12  are formed from any suitable type of material that is well-known in the art for a telescoping handle  10  for a golf ball retriever. Preferably the tubes  12  are formed from metal, and even more preferably the tubes  12  are formed from aluminum, stainless steel, or any other type of metal that is corrosion-resistant in the presence of water. 
     Optionally, the telescoping handle  10  includes at least three telescoping tubes  12  in which the three telescoping tubes  12  form two pairs of adjacent nested tubes  12 . To illustrate this point, and shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the outer-most tube  12 A and the medially-positioned tube  12 B form a first pair of adjacent nested tubes  12 , and the inner-most tube  12 C and the medially-positioned tube  12 B form a second pair of adjacent nested tubes  12 . Any suitable number of tubes  12  may be provided to increase the length of the telescoping handle  10 . However, as discussed above, a finite limitation is approached as the number of tubes  12  continues to increase because the handle  10  will flex under its own weight which makes the golf ball retriever difficult (and eventually impossible) to use. Each of the tubes  12  has a first end  22 , a second end  24 , an outer circumferential surface  16 , and an inner circumferential surface  20 . 
     At least one shim  14  is secured to the outer circumferential surface  16  of the first end  22  of at least one of the tubes  12 . The shim  14  is a thin piece of material, such as a spacer, and the shim  14  is preferably generally rectangular in shape. The shim  14  is formed from any suitable type of material like metal or plastic. The shim  14  can be secured to the tube  12  using any suitable means, such as an adhesive or a mechanical connection. Preferably the shim  14  is formed from metal and secured to the tube  12  using a mechanical connection like a rivet or a crimp. 
     The shim  14  has a curvature to match the outer surface of the tube  12  so that the shim  14  and the outer surface of the tube  12  are flush with each other. The shim  14 , being curved and rectangular, preferably forms a partially-cylindrical surface. The shim  14  has a thickness sufficient to fill the gap between the adjacent pair of tubes  12  whereby the shim  14  is flush against the inner surface  20  of the adjacent hollow tube  12 . According to this embodiment, the shim  14  is preferably at least 5 millimeters long. And more preferably, the shim  14  is about 5-15 millimeters long. 
     Although the tube  12  and shim  14  have been described thus far as only a single shim  14  being used, preferably at least one of the tubes  12  has two shims  14  or more secured to the first end  22  thereof. Preferably the shims  14  are evenly spaced about the outer circumferential surface  16  of the telescoping tube  12 . Alternatively, and although not shown in the drawings, the shim  14  can be cylindrical in shape and have a cylindrical section that fully surrounds the outer circumference of the telescoping tube  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the second end  24  of at least one of the tubes  12  has a tapered portion  18  having a diameter that is narrower than the remaining portion of the tube  12 . The tapered portion  18  is formed using any suitable type of metal working technique or process that is well-known in the art. The tapered portion  18  has an inner circumferential surface  20  that is flush against and around the outer circumferential surface  16  of the adjacent telescoping tube  12 . In order to help add rigidity to the joint with the inner adjacent tube  12 , the tapered portion  18  is preferably at least 2 millimeters long. More preferably, the tapered portion  18  is about 2-4 millimeters long. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the first end  22  of an inner tube  12  in a pair of adjacent tubes  12  cannot slide beyond the second end  24  of the outer adjacent tube  12  because the shim  14  on the inner tube  12  and the tapered portion  18  on the outer tube  12  abut each other in a fully telescopically-extended position. Furthermore, the shim  14  and the tapered portion  18  each function to eliminate the gap between the adjacent tubes  12  in the manner described above. To that end, the tapered portion  18  and the shim  14  work in conjunction to provide a rigid joint between the adjacent pair of tubes  12  because both the shim  14  and the tapered portion  18  provide a flush mating surface (and without a gap) between the inner circumferential surface  20  of the outer tube  12  and the outer circumferential surface  16  of the inner tube  12  in a pair of adjacent tubes  12 . 
     According to a second embodiment, and as shown generally in  FIGS. 7-11 , there is provided a telescoping handle  10  comprising: a plurality of telescoping hollow tubes  12 ; at least one shim  14  secured to the outer circumferential surface  16  of the first end  22  of at least one of the tubes  12 ; and at least two inwardly-oriented beads  26 A, 26 B positioned on at least one of the tubes  12 . 
     As shown in the drawings, the second end  24  of at least one of the tubes  12  has at least two inwardly-oriented beads  26 A, 26 B. The beads  26 A, 26 B are a narrow ridge that is roll-formed around the circumference of the tube  12 . As understood by those having ordinary skill in the metalworking arts, the bead  26  may be oriented inwardly toward the center point of the circular cross-section of the tube  12 , or the bead  26  may be oriented outwardly away from the center point of the circular cross-section of the tube  12 . One of the inwardly-oriented beads  26 A is positioned at, or near, an end  28  of the second end  24  of the tube  12 . Another one of the inwardly-oriented beads  26 B is positioned on the second end  24  of the tube  12  but not on the end  28 . Preferably the inwardly-oriented bead  26 B is positioned at least 3 millimeters from the end  28  of the second end  24  of the tube  12 . Even more preferably, this inwardly-oriented bead  26 B is located about 5-15 millimeters from the end  28  of the second end  24  of the tube  12 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the inwardly-oriented beads  26 A, 26 B have an inner circumferential surface  20  that is flush against the outer circumferential surface  16  of the adjacent telescoping tube  12 . 
     According to this embodiment, the shim  14  is preferably at least 5 millimeters long, and even more preferably the shim  14  is about 7-18 millimeters long. 
     Optionally, and as shown in  FIG. 10 , the first end  22  of at least one of the tubes  12  includes an outwardly-oriented bead  30 . The outwardly-oriented bead  30  has an outer circumferential surface  16  that is preferably flush against the inner circumferential surface  20  of the adjacent telescoping tube  12 . 
     When the tubes  12  are telescopically expanded, the inwardly-oriented bead  26 B that is positioned away from the end  28  of the second end  24  of the tube  12  abuts the outwardly-oriented bead  30  on the first end  22  of the adjacent tube  12 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . This abutment keeps the inner tube  12  in the adjacent pair from sliding all the way out of the outer tube  12 . When the outwardly-oriented bead  30  is not provided, then the inwardly-oriented bead  26 B abuts the shim  14  to keep the adjacent pair of tubes  12  from sliding apart. 
     As described above, the shim  14  is flush against the inner circumferential surface  20  of the outer adjacent tube  12 , and the inwardly-oriented beads  26 A, 26 B are flush against the outer circumferential surface  16  of the inner adjacent tube  12 . These three points of contact provide a rigid joint between the adjacent tubes while the tubes  12  are telescopically extended. 
     Furthermore, the beading operations do not require any additional parts, they are quickly and easily added to the manufacturing process for each tube member, and they add no additional weight to the golf ball retriever. 
     As is apparent from the preceding, the present invention provides a telescoping handle for a golf ball retriever which is light, easy to manufacture, and requires few additional parts, yet which is structurally-reinforced so that it is sufficiently rigid while in an extended state.