Patent ID: 7677140

Claim:
A tool having a telescoping handle comprising: a main shank including a distal operational end, a proximal end, and an outer circumferential surface along the shank between the distal and the proximal ends; an axial guide groove formed in the outer circumferential surface of the main shank and extending along a portion of the shank from the distal end towards the proximal end, the guide groove including at least one terminal guide stop at an end of the guide groove; at least one first locking structure formed in the circumferential surface of the main shank and a second locking structure formed in the distal end of the main shank; an outer sleeve mounted telescopically to the main shank, the sleeve defining distal and proximal ends, an outer circumferential surface, a bore defined by an inner circumferential surface sized and configured to matingly engage the outer circumferential surface of the main shank, a guide pin on the inner circumferential surface for engaging the guide groove, and at least one hole defined through the outer sleeve and positioned near the distal end and configured to engage the first locking structure; and a release mechanism carried by the proximal end of the outer sleeve and configured to engage the second locking structure.