Patent ID: 8454604

Claim:
A telescopically adjustable strut having a first end and a second end and further comprising: an elongate shaft defining a hollow axial center; a lead screw, including external threads, disposed within the hollow axial center of the elongate shaft; an adjustable knob rotatably attached to one end of the elongate shaft, the adjustable knob provided with an axially-oriented opening through which the lead screw extends and threadably engaging the external threads on the lead screw; and a ball detent mechanism disposed within a first recess defined by a release button that is disposed within a cavity defined by the adjustment knob and is configured to engage the external threads of the lead screw when the release button is in an engaged position, the ball detent mechanism being biased by a spring disposed within the first recess such that the ball detent is received within a second recess defined by the adjustable knob when the first and second recess are aligned with one another to maintain the release button in a default position, wherein the threads on the lead screw and the adjustment knob are pitched such that one or more complete revolution of the adjustment knob about the axis of the shaft causes the lead screw to axially translate a known incremental distance relative to the shaft.