Patent ID: 7716790

Claim:
An extended reach apparatus, said apparatus comprising: a first elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end; a second elongated member having a proximal end and distal end, said first and second elongated members being slidably telescopically interconnected; a locking assembly coupled to the first and second elongated members, said locking assembly being selectively actuatable to restrain relative sliding of the first and second elongated members relative to one another and lock the first and second elongated members into variable operating positions, said first and second elongated members cooperatively presenting an operating length in each of the operating positions that is longer than the individual length of either of said first and second elongated members; a tool-holding assembly releasably coupled to the distal end of the second elongated member; and a catch assembly including a releasable catch that is associated with one of said second elongated member and tool-holding assembly, and that removably couples the tool-holding assembly to the second elongated member, said catch being releasable from a locking condition, in which the catch securely locks the tool-holding assembly to the second elongated member, such that decoupling of the tool-holding assembly from the second elongated member is restrained until the catch is released, said first and second elongated members being slidable relative to one another into a tool disconnect condition, in which the first elongated member is moved into contact with the catch assembly to automatically release the catch from the locking condition and thereby decouple the tool-holding assembly from the second elongated member.