Pole support tube

Abstract

A pole support tube includes an inner tube having an outside diameter. The outside diameter has a textured surface finish. The pole support tube has an outer tube. A cam assembly is disposed on the outer pole and engages the textured surface finish of the inner tube. The cam assembly locks the inner tube in place with respect to the outer tube.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/667,621, filed on Apr. 1, 2005, entitled Pole Support Tube; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to a pole support tube which supports a canvas tarp or cover. More specifically, to a pole support tube that can support a tarp that has a load applied thereon.

2. Description of the Related Art

Pole support tubes are generally used in the rear of a boat. One or more of the pole support tubes may be used to support a canvas. The pole support tube(s) serve to support the canvas to prevent weather (snow, ice, water etc.) from puddling or pooling on the canvas (FIG. 4).

A pole support tube includes two sections; one section is an outer section and the other section is an inner section, such that the inner section telescopes within the outer section.

At the bottom of the pole support tube is a foot end of rubber material that fits snuggly over a base of the pole support tube. The top of the pole attaches to the canvas either with a universal snap or with a tent pole type end that fits within a grommeted hole formed in the canvas.

The support pole tubes are generally provided in collapsed lengths of 24 and 30 inches. The height of the pole support tube is adjusted to and held in place by either a locking pin, spring-loaded ball, a setscrew, or by a rotational movement between the inner and outer sections. The disadvantage of the locking pin and the spring-loaded ball is that the adjustment of the length of the pole support tube is limited to the locations where holes are provided. The disadvantages of a setscrew and the rotational movement between the tubes is the amount of time to tighten and set the length, it is also possible that the adjusted length will slip because of awkwardness of setting the screw with the weight of the tarp being supported, and it is possible to lose the setscrew.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a pole support tube which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and which provides a pole support tube that is more versatile and easier to use.

The pole support tube is adjustable to infinite extended positions by the cam assembly. The cam assembly includes a lever that allows for quick and easy settings of the length of the pole support tube. The present invention also has the advantage that the inner section has a snap on one end and a tent pole type end on the other end. This makes the inner section reversible and allows the pole support tube to accommodate tarps with either a snap or a grommet. The present invention includes a roughening or surface texturing of the outside diameter of the inner section to increase the holding force with respect to the cam assembly of the pole support tube. It is also possible to adjust the holding force of the pole support tube by changing the durometer of a pressure pad of the cam assembly.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, a pole support tube which includes an inner tube having an outside diameter. The outside diameter has a textured surface finish. The pole support tube has an outer tube. A cam assembly is disposed on the outer pole and engages the textured surface finish of the inner tube. The cam assembly locks the inner tube in place with respect to the outer tube

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the cam assembly has a lever and a pressure pad. The lever activates the pressure pad to engage the textured surface finish.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the inner tube has an end that is configured to engage a grommet of a tarp.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the inner tube has an end that is configured to engage a snap on a tarp.

In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, the second tube has a rubber foot.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the surface texture is rough enough to supporting a load in the range of 120-150 pounds.

In accordance with another mode of the invention, there is provided a pole support tube which includes an inner tube having an outer diameter. The pole support includes an outer tube. A cam assembly is disposed on the outer tube, the cam assembly has a pressure pad. The pressure pad engages the outer diameter for locking the inner tube in place with respect to the outer tube. The inner tube and the pressure pad have a coefficient of friction therebetween that is capable of supporting a load in the range of 120-150 pounds.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied as a pole support tube for supporting a tarp or cover, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the pole support tube according to the invention showing an inner section with a tent pole type end;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the pole support tube according to the invention showing an inner section with a snap end; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the pole support tube according to the invention showing an inner section with a snap end and a tent pole type end.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate a pole support tube having an inner section or inner tube 1 and an outer section or outer tube 2. Included on a free end of the outer section 2 is a rubber foot 3. The inner section includes either a universal snap end 4 (FIG. 2) or a tent pole type end 5 (FIG. 2), or as shown in FIG. 3 the inner section 1 can have both the universal snap 4 and the tent pole type end 5 on opposite ends thereof.

The pole support tube 10 can be adjusted to infinite extended lengths by a cam assembly 20. The cam assembly 20 is disposed on the outer section 2 at the outer diameter of the outer section 2. The cam assembly 20 includes a rotatable lever 21 that allows for a quick and easy setting of the length of the pole support tube. The lever 21 activates a pressure pad 23 that engages the outer diameter of the inner section 1 through a hole formed in the outer section. In the activated position of the pressure pad 23, i.e. when the pole support tube is ready to support a tarp, the pole support tube must be able to support a load in the range of 120-150 pounds. This can be achieved in several different ways, for example, by increasing the coefficient of friction of the outer diameter of the inner section 1 with an abrasive finish, a roughening, or with a texturing on the outer diameter of the inner section 1. In trials performed by applicant using an untextured or smooth inner section 1, the pole support tube was only capable of supporting a load of 60 pounds before slipping occurred. Alternatively, it is also possible to use a material on the surface of the pressure pad 23 that has a lower durometer, thereby increasing the coefficient of friction of the pressure pad 23. Any combinations for increasing the coefficient of friction of the pressure pad 23 and/or the coefficient of friction of the outer diameter of the inner section 1 is acceptable for achieving the desired holding forces.

Claims

1. A pole support tube comprising:

an inner tube having an outside diameter, said outside diameter having a textured surface finish;

an outer tube;

a cam assembly disposed on said outer pole and engaging said textured surface finish of said inner tube, said cam assembly locking said inner tube in place with respect to said outer tube.

2. The pole support tube according to claim 1, wherein said cam assembly has a lever and a pressure pad, said lever activates said pressure pad to engage said textured surface finish.

3. The pole support tube according to claim 2, wherein said inner tube has an end that is configured to engage a grommet of a tarp.

4. The pole support tube according to claim 2, wherein said inner tube has an end that is configured to engage a snap on a tarp.

5. The pole support tube according to claim 2, wherein said second tube has a rubber foot.

6. The pole support tube according to claim 1, wherein said surface texture is rough enough to supporting a load in the range of 120-150 pounds.

7. A pole support tube comprising:

an inner tube having an outer diameter;

an outer tube;

a cam assembly disposed on said outer tube, said cam assembly having a pressure pad, said pressure pad engaging said outer diameter for locking said inner tube in place with respect to said outer tube, said inner tube and said pressure pad having a coefficient of friction therebetween being capable of supporting a load in the range of 120-150 pounds.

8. The pole support tube according to claim 7, wherein said cam assembly has a lever to activate said pressure pad to engage said outer diameter.

9. The pole support tube according to claim 8, wherein said inner tube has an end that is configured to engage a grommet of a tarp.

10. The pole support tube according to claim 8, wherein said inner tube has an end that is configured to engage a snap on a tarp.

11. The pole support tube according to claim 8, wherein said second tube has a rubber foot.