Abstract:
A telescoping self-aligning tube having an inner tube dimensioned and configured to fit within an outer tube which is equipped with a guide slot for receiving a snap button, thereby preventing rotation of the inner tube relative to the outer tube. The guide slot allows the telescoping tube to self-align such that the user does not have to twist and maneuver the inner and outer tubes when changing the tube length in order to align a detent button with its detent hole. Embodiments include detent holes located both within and radially opposite with respect to the guide slot. A Foam insert may be located on both ends of the inner tube allow the telescoping tube to be buoyant. A special layer of rubberized or polymer coating protects the cleaned surface from abrasions due to contact with the telescoping tube.

Description:
Continuation-in-Part of co-pending U.S. Pat. No. 08/969,413 filed on Oct. 21, 1997. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to telescoping poles, and more specifically, to a telescoping pole having a tubular outer pole, having a keying guide running the length of its inner surface and penetrated by a series of locking holes, and an inner pole having a spring biased button protruding from the outer surface which button tracks the keying guide, thereby preventing the telescoping inner pole from rotating within the outer pole and simultaneously maintaining padial alignment of the button with each locking hole for ease of securing a telescoped configuration. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Extension poles are useful in numerous applications. One such application involves cleaning devices, such as mops or the like. In marine applications, for instance to clean boat hulls, the poles (normally stainless steel, aluminum or other metals) are not buoyant, and thus will sink when dropped in the water. Poles are thus frequently lost and can negatively effect worker productivity. Moreover, the most commonly used and available telescoping poles are circular in cross section, which lock at a desired telescoped extension length by means of a spring biased locking button which passes through a hole formed in the outer cylindrical pole. When the hole and the button engage, the pole is mechanically locked into position and can be released by manual pressure on the button. However, another frustrating and time consuming problem becomes evident in marine applications, particularly when quickly retrieving lines by means of hooks attached to, a telescoping pole. When a user tries to expand or retract the pole, the inner pole with the snap button fastener often rotates, thus mis-aligning the button with the corresponding hole in the outer pole, thus preventing engagement of the hole and button. To remedy the situation, the user generally twists and turns the poles relative to each other in what sometimes seems a futile attempt to align the snap button with the corresponding hole until the snap button engages. 
     Finally, another problem associated with using telescoping poles in marine environments is the marring of finishes or surfaces, due to inadvertent contact of the bottom portion of most poles with, such surfaces. Such contact can leave unsightly marks or nicks on the surfaces of boats and other smoothly finished products. 
     Of course, numerous other applications can be envisioned other than marine applications in which such problems can be a nuisance. Therefore, a telescoping cleaning pole that is lightweight, buoyant, incorporates a guide member to ensure that the inner and outer poles stay radially and axially aligned with each other, and has a protective coating to prevent nicks or marks on the cleaned surface would be highly desirable to anyone. who has occasion to. use telescoping poles. There is, therefore, a need for a lightweight, buoyant, telescoping cleaning pole that automatically keeps the inner and outer pole in perfect alignment to each other and greatly reduces the possibility of nicks or marks on a finished surface due to inadvertent contact with the telescoping pole. The present invention provides such a device. 
     Telescoping poles have been described in the patent literature; however, none address the above mentioned problems or needs. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,594,824 issued to ZIEGLER et al. on Jun. 17, 1986, U.S. Pat. No 4,932,176 issued to ROBERTS et al. on Jun. 12, 1990, U.S. Pat. No 5,271,682 issued to REALDON on Dec. U.S. Pat. No 21, 1993, and U.S. Pat. No 5,333,422 issued to WARREN et al. on Aug. 2, 1994, all describe extendable telescoping pole-like structures but fail to disclose a buoyant lightweight pole having a self-aligning spring biased snap button assembly. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,989 issued to APPLE on Aug. 16, 1994, British Pat. No. 524,030 issued on July 1940, and German Pat. No. 548,005 issued on May 1931 describe extendable poles but fail to disclose a telescoping lightweight buoyant pole having a self-aligning spring biased snap button assembly. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,012 issued to NEWVILLE on Aug. 9, 1994, discloses a telescoping washing and scrubbing brush handle that provides a leakage free connection between the inner and outer pole. However, the NEWVILLE patent does not disclose a buoyant telescoping pole having a self-aligning spring biased snap button in addition to a protective coating to reduce the likelihood of scratching the cleaned surface. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Moreover, a need is shown for a telescoping pole which, regardless of application, is able to solve the aforementioned problems related to marring, buoyancy and misalignment of telescoping components. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a telescoping pole that is both lightweight and buoyant. It is another object of the invention to provide a telescopic pole that has a self aligning spring biased snap button. It is a further object of the invention to provide a telescoping pole having a coating to prevent or reduce the occurrence of nicks or marks on the cleaned surface. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a telescoping pole having a self aligning snap button to receive a cleaning implement. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     The present invention accomplishes these objectives by providing a telescoping self aligning pole having an inner pole dimensioned and configured to fit within an outer pole which is equipped with a guide for receiving a snap button, thereby preventing rotation of the inner pole relative to the outer pole. The guide allows the telescoping pole to self-align such that the user does not have to twist and maneuver the inner and outer poles when changing the pole length. 
     Located on the front of the inner pole is a snap button which fits within the guide of the outer pole and is thereby guided along a straight path towards a plurality of holes located along the outer pole in communication with and axially aligned with the guide. Once the snap button is positioned under a corresponding hole, the force of a spring member attached to the snap button forces the snap button into the hole. This snap action causes the inner and outer poles to become locked without need for rotation of the poles relative to one another. 
     Foam inserts located on both ends of the inner pole allow the telescoping pole to be buoyant. A special layer of rubberized or polymer coating protects the cleaned surface from abrasions due to contact with the telescoping pole. 
    
    
     The above noted and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Objects and features of the invention will become apparent from a reading of a detailed description in conjunction with the drawing, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the Present invention with a cleaning attachment included; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmented, perspective view showing the preferred embodiment of the outer telescoping pole; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmented, perspective button assembly disposed within the inner pole which in turn is disposed within the outer pole; 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of the present invention as shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view wherein the snap button is shown in the popped out position passing through an aperture of the outer pole; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional telescoping cleaning pole as known in the prior art; 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of an additional embodiment where the guide slot is located oppositely to the detent apertures and where the guide slot operates with a locating button separate and apart from the detent button; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line  8 — 8  of FIG.  7  and illustrating the separately located guide slot apart from a detent aperture; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along line  9 — 9  of FIG.  7  and illustrating the separately located guide button within the guide slot; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along line  10 — 10  of FIG.  7  and illustrating the separately located detent button apart from and oppositely oriented with respect to the guide slot; 
     FIG. 11 is a side view of the rear end portion of the pole of the invention and illustrating the separately located guide button within the guide slot with respect to the oppositely located detent apertures; and 
     FIG. 12 is a side view of the front end portion of the pole of the invention and illustrating the separately located detent button within the inner tube, as well as a detent button located within an accessory tube engaged with the inner tube and having a threaded member at the end of the accessory tube. 
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As a matter of background, FIG. 6 of the drawings shows a conventional telescoping pole  10  as known in the prior art having a cylindrical inner pole  12  and a cylindrical outer pole  14 . The inner pole  12  telescopes from within the outer pole  14  and includes means for locking the poles in an extended, telescoped position via a conventional snap button (not shown) The snap button has a head which is dimensioned and configured to protrude through both a first aperture in the inner pole and an aperture of the outer pole when brought into registry with the first aperture. Furthermore, the snap button is biased by a biasing means disposed within the inner pole  12 . Thus, when the head of the snap button is manually depressed and by axially extending the inner pole relative to the outer pole, the snap button head can be made to pass within the cavity of the cylinder of the outer pole  14  until it reaches and passes through one of a plurality of holes  18  of the outer pole  14 . 
     The terminal end  16  of the outer pole provides a representative profile of the cross-section of the inner surface of the outer pole  14 . The profile shows that conventional poles are not equipped to guide the inner pole  12  along any one orientational path, nor prevent either inner pole  12  and its attached cleaning attachment, having cylindrical adapter  15 , from rotating out of alignment with rotation of either outer pole  14  or inner pole  12  while being extended. Thus, the cleaning attachment  17  can easily come out of alignment with the hole for receiving the snap button provided in inner pole  12  and likewise, the inner pole snap button can become radially misaligned from the hole  30  of outer pole  14 . Moreover, the inner pole  12  of telescoping pole  10  is not equipped with a foam core to add buoyancy. 
     Turning now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the telescoping pole  20  is shown, equipped with an inner pole  22  dimensioned and configured to fit in a sliding relationship with an outer pole  24 . As shown in FIG. 1, both inner and outer poles  24 ,  22  have a cylindrical outer surface and an internal cavity, defined by a generally cylindrical interior surface except as later described. The distal end  25  of the outer pole  24  provides a representative profile of the cross-section of the inner surface of the outer pole  24 . However, any cross-sectional configuration of a tube may be used, such as oval, teardrop, flattened teardrop, triangular, square or rectangular so long as the outer diameter of the tube comprising the inner pole  22  is slightly less than the inner diameter of the tube comprising the outer pole  24 , so that the inner pole  22  telescopingly mates within outer pole  24 . 
     Likewise, an adapter  32  attached to a cleaning element  38  is dimensioned and configured to be received by a distal end  35  of inner pole  24  and, as shown in FIG. 1, is provided with a cylindrical outer surface permitting insertion within the generally cylindrical cavity of inner pole  24 . 
     Each of the outer and inner poles have an interior surface which is modified to form a guide  26 . FIG. 2 shows an enlarged and detailed view of the guide  26  formed on the inner surface of the outer pole  24 . Guide  26  could be provided in the form of a formed inner groove into the inner surface of an insert into the outer pole  24 . The expanded frictional contact area would stabilize the insert with respect to the outer pole  24 , but other stabilizing structures could be used. The guide  26  follows a straight path along the longitudinal axis defined between each end of one of the poles  22 ,  24 . The guide  26  is a groove dimensioned and configured to receive a conventional snap button  28  which, as shown in FIG. 3, is attached to a U-shaped spring member  44 , which assembly is nested in a biased position within inner pole  24 . Snap button  28  can alternatively be any sort of screw, pin, dowel, or insertable and removable structure. FIG. 2 also shows an alternative configuration of the outer surface of outer pole  24 , wherein the guide  26  is substantially deeper than the thickness of the wall forming outer pole  24 , thereby resulting in a teardrop-like bulge of the cylinder. 
     The outer pole  24  is further provided with a plurality of holes  30  serially positioned in axial alignment with the guide  26 , each hole  30  dimensioned to receive and thereby allow the snap, button  28  to engage the wall of the outer Pole  24 . Regardless of the shape of the mating cross-sectional shape of the poles  22 ,  24  chosen, when inner pole  22  is pushed a sufficient distance into outer pole  24  while the snap button  28  is engaged so as to rest in guide  26 , as shown in FIG. 4, the snap button  28  thereby prevents rotation of the inner pole  22  relative to the outer pole  24 , resulting in a keying effect. 
     Again referring to FIG. 2, when the inner pole  22  is extended, the snap button  28  follows the axial path of the guide  26  and eliminates time delay otherwise caused by inadvertent rotation of the inner pole  22  by a user. However, when the snap button  28  approaches a hole  30  of the outer pole  24 , the spring member  44  (being biased inward by virtue of contact with the interior surface of the outer pole  24 ) causes the snap button  28  to pop through hole  30 , thereby engaging the inner and outer poles  22 ,  24  so as to become secured in a locked position, as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     Inner pole  24  may be likewise provided with an inner guide  34  which, in the same manner as described above, permits snap button  36  of adapter  32  (FIG. 1) to pop up through a corresponding hole (not shown) and lock adapter  32  of cleaning element  38  within inner pole  22 . Although not shown, snap button  36  is substantially similar to, and has the same type of associated spring member as, snap button  28 . Thus, outer guide  26  and inner guide  34  ensure that a user can easily and quickly change the telescoped length of the poles or the accessory (i.e. change cleaning elements) without wasting precious time trying to adjust the alignment between adapter  32 , inner pole  22  or outer pole  24 . 
     Outer guide  26  and inner guide  34  and associated poles  24 ,  22  may be formed by any method of manufacture, including but not, limited to pinching, welding or stamping of suitable materials. The pole materials may be made from aluminum, iron, steel, stainless steel, fiberglass, plastic or other appropriate materials. Typically, such materials can be extruded, rolled molded, drawn or otherwise fabricated to incorporate a groove or any number of guides in accordance with the disclosure of the present invention. 
     Moreover, the device used to lock the poles together is not limited to the use of a snap button  28 , but could include any type of mechanism that would enable the component to travel within the guide  26  and lock with a positive action within a hole  30 . This would include springs, ball detent assemblies, screws, pins, dowels or any appropriate item that would provide a similar temporary locking action. Furthermore, the applications of such the present invention are not limited to cleaning applications, but may include such devices as flagpoles, tent or camper poles, rigging poles, and scaffolding and tower supports. 
     However, when used in cleaning applications, to prevent marring or damage by direct or indirect contact of telescoping pole  20  with a cleaned surface of the various materials and finishes found on boats, automobiles aircraft or any other finish, the pole is coated with a rubberized or polymer coating to provide a barrier between the pole and cleaned surface. This coating may be provided on each of the outer pole  24 , inner pole  22  and adapter  32 . A rubberized or polymer coating which establishes a barrier between said telescoping pole and the cleaned surface may be used, as chosen from the prior art. 
     Finally, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, a buoyant foam core  42  is provided within inner pole  22 . Buoyant foam  42  is intended to provide enough buoyancy of telescoping pole  20  to make it float in water, and can be introduced into the pole cavity by any means of method suitable or known in the art. 
     Referring to FIG. 7 a further embodiment is seen as a pole  101 . From the end held by the user, it includes a relatively larger telescoping tube  103  having a handle  105  and detent engagement apertures  107 . A relatively smaller telescoping tube  109  fits within the tube  103 . The tube  103  is preferably tear drop shaped both to provide enhanced strength as well as to accommodate a separate groove guide. A detent locking button  111  is seen as engaging the tube  109  with respect to the tube  103 . A detent locking button  113  is seen securing an adapter tube  115  into the tube  109 . The adapter tube  115  is threadably inserted into a fitting  117 . The fitting  117  is operably connected to a universal joint  119 . The universal joint  119  attaches the fitting  117  to a flat member  121 . Flat member  121  supports a sponge underneath its extent. An enveloping fleece material member secures the flat member  121  and underlying sponge material  125  to form a cleaning member  127  which can be positioned from a distance to a wide variety of orientations for providing surface cleaning. The tear drop shape of the tube  103  enables cleaning with greater force from a greater distance for a given tube  103  and  109  size. 
     Referring to FIG. 8, a view taken along line  8 — 8  illustrates the overall configuration of pole  101  as including an outer tube  103  having a tear drop shape including a predominantly circular section and the portion which is not circular angles to a sharply rounded or smaller radiused edge  131 . Within the tube  103  adjacent the smaller radiused edge  131  is a guide slot  135 . The guide slot  135  is about the same size and shape as a button which fits within it. At the opposite side of the tube  103  is a detent aperture  137  which interfits with a button  111  which will be seen in FIG. 9, and which will be oppositely oriented with respect to the guide slot  135 . 
     Referring to FIG. 9, a view taken along line  9 — 9  of FIG. 7 is taken through a button  111  which is a detent button  111  mounted atop a spring  141  within tube  103 . The detent button  111  and spring  141  assembly operates singly to provide locking of tube  103  with respect to tube  109 , and is oppositely oriented with respect to the guide slot  135 . 
     Referring to FIG. 10, a view taken along line  10 — 10  of FIG. 7 illustrates the structure and operation of rotational stabilization which cannot be seen from FIG. 7. A guide button assembly includes a guide button  151  and its operating spring  153  which are also within tube  103 , but located rearwardly along tube  101 , closest to handle  105 . Guide button  151  rides within the guide slot  135 . When tube  103  is inserted within tube operation of a guide slot  131  and may exert some force against the inside of the guide slot  135 , but since there is so little contact area and so little force along the axis of the button  151 , this is negligible. 
     When the tube  103  is to be first inserted in the tube  105 , the button  151  is depressed against the spring  153  enough to enable button  151  to fit within the slot  135 . The button  151  need not be positioned in radial alignment with the slot  135  if the button  151  is depressed even with the outside of the tube  103 . In this case, the tube  109  is simply turned about its axis after insertion in order for the alignment button  151  to “find” the slot  135  and expand into it to radially lock tube  109  with respect to tube  103 , but still allow tube  109  to axially slide with respect to tube  103 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a side sectional view of the pole  101  of the invention illustrates a clearer view of the structures already discussed. The springs  153  and  141  can be seen. In addition, the button  113  can be seen extending through a detent aperture  161  in the tube  109 . Button  113  can be seen connected to a spring  163 . The adapter tube  115  includes a threaded member  165  having a threaded end  167  and a plug end  169 . A lateral aperture  171  may contain a rivet or screw to attach the threaded member  165  within the adapter  115 . 
     The threaded end  167  attaches into the fitting  117  seen in FIG.  7 . 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 
     While the present invention has been described in terms of a pole for imparting rotational stability when used in conjunction with a cleaning tool, one skilled in the art will realize that the structure and techniques of the present invention can be applied to many similar appliances. The present invention may be applied in any situation where radial stability between two axially sliding members can be achieved with either a common groove for guiding and permitting access to locking detents or with separate guiding and locking detents to provide radial stability and quick make up of the pole structure. 
     Although the invention has been derived with reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, included with the patent warranted hereon are all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of this contribution to the art.