Patent ID: 8192107

Claim:
A locking assembly, comprising: a first telescopic member having an opening, a first end and a second open end; a second telescopic member having a first end slidable within said open end of said first telescopic member and a distal end; and a locking means for releasably locking said first and second telescopic members in an extended position, said locking means including a movable member comprising a plurality of rotatable elements adapted to extend between and contact said first and second telescopic members to maintain said first and second telescopic members in a locked relationship, and a release means mounted on one of said telescopic members to move said movable member out of contact with said first and second telescopic members to permit slidable movement between said first and second telescopic members, wherein said release means includes a holder mounted on said first telescopic member and said plurality of rotatable elements are rotatably mounted on said holder for selected movement into and out of said opening in said first telescopic member to lock and release said first and second telescopic members relative to each other, wherein said rotatable elements extend substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said first and second telescopic members when in said opening, and wherein said release means is configured such that rotation of said rotatable elements causes said rotatable elements to roll out of said opening and out of engagement with both said first and second telescopic members to release said first and second telescopic members, and a release bar pivotally mounted on said first telescopic member having a first end disposed between said rotatable element and said holder, and directly engaging said rotatable elements operable within a range of motion to urge said rotatable elements into contact with said first and said second telescopic members in said locked relationship, and to urge said holder to remove said rotatable elements from said locked relationship, wherein said release bar includes a spacer disposed between and engaging said release bar first end and said holder to provide a reduced spacing between said holder and said rotatable element when the release bar is inserted therebetween.