Abstract:
A motorized extension pole including a first hollow pole member having a second pole member telescopically mounted in said first pole member. The second pole member is selectively moved between extended and retracted positions with respect to said first pole member by a battery powered drive motor. The drive motor is mounted within a handle attached to the inner end of the first pole member. A coupling mechanism interconnects the handle to the first pole member which permits the first pole member to be selectively rotated without rotating the handle so that the control switch on the handle is always located in a convenient position. The pole also includes limit switches for controlling the retraction and extension of the second pole member.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 13/564,833, filed Aug. 2, 2012, entitled MOTORIZED EXTENSION POLE. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a length-adjustable extension pole and more particularly to a length-adjustable extension pole including a battery powered, variable speed, reversible motor which extends and retracts the inner pole member with respect to the outer pole member of the extension pole. Even more particularly, this invention relates to a length-adjustable extension pole wherein the inner and outer pole members may be selectively rotated with respect to the handle of the pole so that the control switch on the handle is always in a convenient location. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Extension poles have been available for many years to enable a person to clean windows which are located above the person&#39;s normal reach. Extension poles are also used to paint areas of buildings which are located above the person&#39;s normal reach. Extension poles may also be used to string lights and ornaments on trees during the holiday season. 
     Most extension poles include an elongated outer pole member, having first and second ends, which telescopically receives an elongated inner pole member having first and second ends. The inner pole member is longitudinally adjustable with respect to the outer pole member and is usually held in place by a threaded collet at the second end of the outer pole member to clamp the pole members together. 
     When it is necessary to adjust the length of the extension pole, the collet is loosened to permit the inner pole member to be slidably adjusted with respect to the outer pole member. When the adjustment has been made, the collet is again tightened. The adjustment process described above may be awkward since the extension pole must be lowered to enable the person using the pole to loosen the collet, adjust the length of the pole, and then tighten the collet. The adjustment is made even more inconvenient since there will be a paint roller, window cleaning attachment, chain saw, hedge trimmer, gutter cleaner or other object secured to the upper end of the inner pole member. 
     The extension pole of the co-pending application identified above represents a significant advance in the art. However, it has been found that if the extension pole must be rotated so that the object on the outer end is in a desired attitude, the switch on the handle is sometimes inconveniently positioned since the handle rotates with the pole members. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     A motorized extension pole is provided which includes a first elongated, hollow pole member having first and second ends. A second elongated hollow pole member, having first and second ends, is telescopically mounted in the first pole member. The second end of the second pole member protrudes from the second end of the first pole member. The second pole member is telescopically movable between retracted and extended positions with respect to the first pole member. 
     A battery powered, variable speed drive motor is secured to the first end of the first pole member with the drive motor being selectively reversible. The drive motor includes a rotatable driven member. An elongated externally threaded screw or bolt member, having first and second ends, has its first end thereof coupled to the driven member for rotation therewith in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction. The screw member is threadably coupled to the second pole member whereby rotation of the screw member in the first direction by the drive motor causes the second pole member to move from its retracted position towards its extended position. The rotation of the screw member in the second direction by the drive motor causes the second pole member to move from its extended position towards its retracted position. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the extension pole of this invention includes structure which prevents the second pole member from rotating, with respect to the first pole member, as it moves between its retracted and extended positions and which prevents the second pole member from rotating with respect to the first pole member, as it moves between its extended and retracted positions. 
     In the instant invention, an indexing means is provided which enables the pole members to be rotated without rotating the handle so that the switch on the handle remains in a conventional position for actuation by the user. 
     It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved extension pole. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a motorized extension pole. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an extension pole wherein the inner pole member of the extension pole is telescopically moved with respect to the outer pole member by means of a battery powered motor. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an extension pole wherein the pole members may be rotated with respect to the handle of the pole so that the switch on the handle remains in a convenient position. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the extension pole of this invention being utilized to roll paint onto a wall or the like; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the extension pole of this invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial sectional view of the handle portion of the extension pole of this invention with the indexing means being in its locked position; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view similar to  FIG. 3  except that the indexing means has been separated to enable the pole members to be rotated with respect to the handle of the pole; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial exploded perspective view of the extension pole of this invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view illustrating the cover of the handle being removed to expose the components within the handle; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the handle may be rotated with respect to the pole members of the pole of this invention or vice versa; 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the invention illustrating the lower limit switch in its normal open position; 
         FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 8  except that the lower limit switch has been closed by the lower end of the lower pole member; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view illustrating the upper limit switch in its closed position; 
         FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 10  except that the upper limit switch has been opened; and 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the handle of this invention and associated structure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The motorized extension pole of this invention is referred to by the reference numeral  10 . Extension pole  10  includes an elongated hollow outer pole member  12  having a first end  14  and a second end  16 . An elongated inner pole member  18 , having a first end  20  and a second end  22 , is telescopically slidably received within pole member  12 . Pole member  18  may have a hexagonal, octagonal or a cylindrical cross-section. If the pole member  18  has a hexagonal or octagonal cross-section as seen in the drawings, a fitting  24  is mounted on the end  16  of pole member  12  to prevent rotation of pole member  18  with respect to pole member  12 . In the conventional extension pole, some means is provided to retain the pole member  18  in its various longitudinal positions with respect to pole member  12 . If pole member  18  has a cylindrical cross-section, a conventional collet will be mounted on the second end of the pole member  12  to clamp pole member  18  in its various selective positions with respect to pole member  12  in conventional fashion. In the instant invention, there is no need to provide such a collet or other structure to clamp the pole member  12  to the pole member  18 . 
     Regardless of whether the pole member  18  has a hexagonal, octagonal or cylindrical cross-section, the second end of the pole member  18  will have a threaded stud  26  at the outer end thereof to which objects such as a paint roller  28  may be attached. A chain saw, hedge trimmer, window cleaner or gutter cleaner could also be attached to the threaded stud  26 . 
     The inner end  14  of pole member  12  has a hollow hub  29  secured thereto which has a ring-shaped portion  30  having a plurality of generally U-shaped notches  32  formed therein. Hub  29  also includes an annular recessed portion  34 . The inner end of hub  29  has a flange  36  provided thereon. An electrical collector ring  38  is secured to the inner side of flange  36  by screws  40 . A helical spring  42  embraces recessed portion  34  of hub  28  between flange  36  and the ring-shaped portion  30 . 
     The numeral  44  refers to a generally cylindrical handle having an inner end  46  and an outer end  48 . Handle  44  has a battery compartment  50  formed therein at its inner end  46  which is selectively closed by a cap or cover  52 . Rechargeable batteries  54  and  56  are positioned in battery compartment  50 . Batteries  54  and  56  are electrically connected to an external switch  58  mounted on handle  44  in conventional fashion. Switch  58  is electrically connected to a reversible DC motor  60  in conventional fashion by leads as seen in  FIG. 5 . The motor  60  may be a variable speed motor. Motor  60  is positioned in compartment  66  of handle  44  as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and includes an anti-rotation sprocket  62  which is received in an annular gear  64  to prevent the rotation of motor  60 . The power shaft  68  of motor  60  is configured to slidably receive one end of a drive shaft  70  having one end thereof connected to an elongated threaded screw member  72 . 
     The motor compartment  66  is selectively closed by a cover  74 . The inside surface of cover  74  has a semi-circular channel  76  which is configured to receive a portion of member  62  when cover  74  is in its closed position. The inside surface of cover  74  has a plurality of spaced-apart teeth  78  projecting inwardly therefrom which are configured to mesh with the notches  32  as will be described hereinafter. The inner surface of motor compartment  66  also has a plurality of spaced-apart teeth  78  formed therein which are a continuation of the teeth  78  in cover  74 . 
     The inner surface of cover  74  is also provided with a semi-circular channel  80  formed therein which is designed to receive the periphery of an electrical collector ring  82  which is fixedly received in a semi-circular groove or channel  84  formed in the inside surface of handle  44 . 
     Controller switch  58  is electrically connected to collector ring  82  by leads  86 ,  88 ,  90  and  92 . When collector ring  82  is in engagement with collector ring  38 , electrical power is supplied to the limit switches  94  and  96  by leads  98 ,  100 ,  102  and  104  which extend from collector ring  38  through hub  28  and into the interior of pole member  12 . Leads  98  and  100  are electrically connected to normally open limit switch  94  which is positioned in pole member  12  near the inner end thereof ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ). Leads  102  and  104  are electrically connected to the normally closed limit switch  96  which is positioned in the interior of pole member  12  near the outer end thereof ( FIGS. 10-11 ). 
     The elongated screw member  72  is positioned in the interior of pole member  18 . Screw member  72  will be described as having a first end  106  and a second end  108 . The drive shaft  70  is secured to the first end  106  of screw member  72  and a fitting  110  is secured to the second end  108  of screw member  72 . Fitting  110  rotatably receives the end  108  of screw member  72 . Fitting  110  is held in place by screw  112 . Collar  114  is secured to pole member  18  at end  20  by screw  116 . An internally threaded nut  118  is fixed to collar  114  by any convenient means such as adhesive, press-fit, etc. 
     The rotation of screw member  72  in one direction by motor  60  causes pole member  18  to be moved outwardly with respect to pole member  12  to increase the length of the extension pole  10 . The rotation of screw member  72  in the opposite direction by motor  60  causes pole member  18  to be moved inwardly with respect to pole member  12  thereby decreasing the length of the extension pole  10 . The extension and retraction of pole member  18  with respect to pole member  12  is accomplished without rotation of pole member  18  since nut  118  is fixed to collar  114  which is fixed to pole member  18  which is fixed against rotation with respect to pole member  12  by fitting  24 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 8 , the limit switch  94  is normally closed so that motor  60  may continue to move the pole member  18  inwardly with respect to pole member  12 . When the inner end of pole member  18  engages and opens limit switch  94  ( FIG. 9 ), the motor  60  will be deactivated. 
     As seen in  FIG. 10 , the limit switch  96  will be closed during normal extension of pole member  18  from pole member  12 . When the inner end of pole member  18  disengages from limit switch  96 , switch  96  opens to deactivate motor  60  thereby limiting the outward movement of pole member  18  with respect to pole member  12 . 
     In normal use, as depicted in  FIG. 3 , the U-shaped notches  32  of hub  29  receive the teeth  78  of handle  44  and cover  74  with the teeth  78  being held therein by spring  42 . 
     In that same position, the collector rings  36  and  84  are in electrical contact with one another so that electrical power is supplied to limit switches  94  and  96 . In that position, the pole members  12  and  18  cannot be rotated with respect to handle  44  and vice versa. In that position, switch  58  is in a convenient position for the user of the pole  10 . 
     If the user desires to rotate the paint roller  28  into a different position or attitude, the user grasps the hub  29  and/or pole member  12  with one hand and grasps the handle  44  with his/her other hand. The user then pulls the handle  44  away from the hub  29 , or vice versa, which causes the separation of the teeth  78  from the notches  32 . The hub  29 , with the pole member  12  attached thereto, is then rotated or indexed to the desired position with respect to the handle  44 . When that position has been reached, the hub  29  and handle  44  are moved toward one another until the teeth  78  and notches  32  are again engaged. The paint roller  28 , or other tool, on the end of pole member  18  is then in the proper position and the switch  58  is still in its original position so that it is still in a convenient location for the user. 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes all of its stated objectives. 
     Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.