Patent ID: 7445408

Claim:
A yieldable prop, comprising: a hollow first conduit having a first end and an opposite second end; a housing securely mounted on the outer surface of the first conduit at the first end of the first conduit, the housing having a conical-shaped interior surface, with interior diameter decreasing as distance from the first end of the first conduit increases, wherein the housing comprises a first end and an opposite second end, with the first and second ends of the housing in facing relationship to one another and joined together by a bolt and nut assembly; a second conduit slidably mounted in the first end of the hollow first conduit; at least two discrete engaging members in the first end of the housing, each of the at least two engaging members engaging the conical-shaped interior surface of the housing and the outer surface of the second conduit to prevent the second conduit from sliding into the hollow first conduit, while providing for movement of the first and second conduits away from one another, and a restraint arrangement comprising a ring on the outer surface of the second conduit and a handle having a first end portion secured to the ring and opposite second end portion secured to the outer surface of the hollow first conduit, wherein the at least two discrete engaging members are between the ring and the second end portion of the handle, and the restraint arrangement limits movement of the at least two discrete engaging members out of the conical-shaped interior surface of the hollow first conduit.