Patent ID: 8002491

Claim:
A system comprising: a first pole section; a second pole section coupled to the first pole section; a tubular female end portion on an end of the first pole section and including a pair of connecting slots; a male end portion on an end of the second pole section, the male end portion insertable into the female end portion and having a connecting pin extending therethrough, opposing ends of the connecting pin insertable into the connecting slots and radially transitionable to a hook section of the respective connecting slots; a locking nut threadingly engaged with the male end portion, the locking nut rotatable to longitudinally transition the locking nut into contact with the female end portion to retain the connecting pins in the hook section of the respective connecting slots to fixedly couple the male end portion with the female end portion; and a biased locking sleeve assembly slidably and rotatably mounted on a locking assembly portion of the second pole, the locking sleeve assembly including, a locking sleeve having a collar portion and neck portion; a plunger slidingly positioned within an interior of the collar portion; and a biasing device located within the interior of the collar portion, between the neck portion and the plunger, for forcing the plunger against the locking nut to prevent rotation thereof, the neck portion including at least one retraction slot selectively engageable with a locking sleeve retaining pin on the second pole section to place the locking sleeve in an unlocked position and allow rotation of the locking nut.