Patent ID: 8595902

Claim:
An extension pole apparatus, comprising; an extension pole; a tool attachment apparatus coupled to a distal portion of the extension pole; a pole actuator coupled to a proximal portion of the extension pole opposite the distal portion; a tool mountable on the tool attachment apparatus, the tool being configurable into one of at least two operating modes: (1) a first mode in which the tool is manipulable by a user independent of the pole, which movement implements a normal functional operation of the tool, and (2) a second mode in which the tool is made to function indirectly by a user from the pole distal portion by action of the pole actuator, configured such that the tool functionally operates through movement of the pole actuator; the tool including a latch that is functionally coupleable to the pole actuator, movement of which latch implements the tool function; the latch extending slidably within a tool base, which tool base mounts approximately axially to the extension pole distal portion as the latch functionally connects to the pole actuator internal to the connected tool base and extension pole distal portion such that the latch is protected from access outside of the connected tool base and extension pole distal portion; and wherein the latch is at least substantially within said tool base such that operation of the tool in the first mode does not cause the latch to move external to the base.