Patent ID: 8408509

Claim:
A telescopic support with an internal brake, comprising: an outer tube; an inner tube having opposed upper and lower ends, the lower end being slidably received within the outer tube, at least one lower opening being formed through a sidewall of the inner tube adjacent the lower end thereof; a mounting plate secured within the inner tube adjacent the lower end thereof; at least one resilient element secured to said mounting plate, the at least one resilient element at least partially projecting through the at least one lower opening formed through the sidewall of the inner tube; at least one brake pad secured to the at least one resilient element, the at least one brake pad contacting an inner surface of the outer tube when the internal brake is in an engaged state; at least one cable having opposed upper and lower ends, the upper end thereof being secured to the at least one brake pad; and means for linearly translating the upper end of the at least one cable to selectively disengage the at least one brake pad from the inner surface of the outer tube, wherein said means for linearly translating the upper end of the at least one cable comprises: i) a fixed base secured to the outer tube adjacent the upper end thereof, a portion of the fixed base projecting through an upper opening formed through the outer tube adjacent the upper end thereof; and ii) a trigger plate slidably mounted within the outer tube adjacent the upper end thereof, a portion of the trigger plate projecting through the upper opening.