Abstract: A light weight surveying pole which is of robust and highly accurate construction. A lock for fixing telescoping sections of the pole provides fixed positioning without high initial clamping forces. An air cushion system inhibits damaging the pole sections when they are retracted, but the pole sections can be simply pulled apart without any other required disassembly for cleaning or repair. Fittings for use in screw-together pole sections are constructed to permit location within mating pole sections prior to application of adhesive for greater precision and maintenance of coincident axes of the pole sections when screwed together. Also, the end faces of the fittings are particularly formed to facilitate complete face-to-face contact and avoid misalignment when the fittings are attached. A cover can be attached over a point of the surveying pole when the point it not needed, and the cover can be stowed on the surveying pole when the point is used.

Abstract: An extensible and retractable rod including an outer section and an inner section telescopically received in the outer section for extension and retraction relative thereto. The outer section has an opening therein including an upper peripheral edge. A detent member associated with the inner section is spring biased to move laterally of the inner section to releasably lock the inner section in an extended position relative to the outer section. The detent member has an upper surface and a lower surface, each having a laterally outer edge, and a laterally outwardly facing surface extending between the laterally outer edges of the upper and lower surfaces. The laterally outwardly facing surface includes a camming surface which engages the outer section at the lower peripheral edge of the opening for pivoting the detent member so that the upper surface of the detent member projects into the opening in the outer section as the detent member begins to move into registration with the opening.

Abstract: An extensible and retractable rod comprising an outer tubular section and an inner section of substantially constant outside diameter telescopically received in the outer section for extension and retraction relative thereto. The outer section has a first internal shoulder spaced from but relatively close to one end of the section, and a second internal shoulder spaced substantially farther away from said one end, said outer section being dimensioned to have a first inside diameter between said one end of the section and the first shoulder, a second inside diameter greater than the first between the first and second shoulders, and a third inside diameter greater than the second between the second shoulder and the other end of the section. The first inside diameter of the outer section is dimensioned for a relatively close clearance fit between the sections, and the second inside diameter of the outer section is dimensioned for a relatively loose clearance fit between the sections.