Patent ID: 8060987

Claim:
An extension pole apparatus, comprising, an extension pole; a tool attachment apparatus on a distal end of the extension pole; a pole actuator on the extension pole toward a pole proximal end from the pole distal end; and a tool mountable on the extension pole and functional in one or both of two operating modes, comprising (1) a first mode in which the tool is made to move directly 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 end by action of the pole actuator, configured such that the tool functionally operates through movement of the pole actuator, the tool including a latch rod that is functionally connectible to the pole actuator, such that movement of the latch rod implements the tool, the latch rod extends slidably within a tool base, the tool base being mounted approximately axially to the extension pole distal end as the latch rod functionally connects to the pole actuator internal to the connected tool base and extension pole distal end such that the latch rod is protected from access outside of the connected tool base and extension pole distal end, wherein the latch rod is within the tool base such that operation of the tool in the first mode does not cause the latch rod to move external to the base.