Patent ID: 8240008

Claim:
An extended reach apparatus, said apparatus comprising: a first elongated member; a second elongated member slidably intercoupled with the first elongated member; a working tool assembly releasably coupled to the second elongated member; a catch assembly including a releasable catch that is associated with one of said second elongated member and said working tool assembly, and that removably couples the working tool assembly to the second elongated member, said catch being releasable from a locking condition, in which the catch securely locks the working tool assembly to the second elongated member such that decoupling of the working tool 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, thereby causing the catch to be automatically released from the locking condition to thereby decouple the working tool assembly from the second elongated member; and a locking assembly disposed between the first and second elongated members, said locking assembly being selectively actuatable to restrain relative sliding of the first and second elongated members.