HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT LOCK SYSTEM
A height adjustment lock system is disclosed. The system allows one to easily adjust the length of a pole or a handle. Such adjustment is useful with cleaning and maintenance devices as well as with tools and other implements. The height adjustment lock system has a locking handle that is movably attached to a braking cylinder. A multi section pole or handle is engaged with the braking cylinder. Movement of the locking handle causes the braking cylinder to frictionally retain the sections in a selected position, and further movement of the locking handle in an opposing direction causes the braking cylinder to release the sections for further height or length adjustment.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to cleaning and maintenance devices, and more specifically to a height adjustment lock system for changing the length of a pole handle of a cleaning or maintenance device.
2. Description of Related Art
Many cleaning and maintenance devices are attached to handles or poles to facilitate the use and operation of the device. Oftentimes these poles or handles require length adjustment to best accommodate the user or a specific use of the device. While length adjustment can be accomplished by cutting the pole or handle to the desired length, this is not always practical as the device may be used by multiple people, all of whom may have a different length requirement. In addition, a given task may dictate a desired length, and it may be necessary to change the length of the pole or handle depending on the task that one is engaged in.
Devices that incorporate poles or handles can range from cleaning devices such as, but not limited to, brooms, mops, dusters, and squeegees to tools such as pruners, saws, light bulb changers, fish nets, and the like. Other devices such as ski poles, hiking poles, canes, and various other items could also benefit from an adjustable pole or handle.
What is needed is a device that, when used in conjunction with a pole or handle for a cleaning or maintenance device, allows one to easily adjust the height of the pole or handle to best fit the needs and size requirements of the user.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a height adjustment lock system.
These and other objects of the present invention are not to be considered comprehensive or exhaustive, but rather, exemplary of objects that may be ascertained after reading this specification and claims with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the present invention, there is provided a height adjustment lock system comprising a braking cylinder for receiving an upper pole section and a lower pole section; the braking cylinder having a brake shoe retainer for receiving a brake shoe; the lower pole section capable of being slidably engaged within the braking cylinder; the brake shoe having a shape conformal to a surface of the lower pole section and a frictional surface capable of engaging with and retaining the lower pole section; a locking handle hingably coupled to the braking cylinder where the locking handle comprises a brake shoe pusher capable of applying force to the brake shoe when the locking handle is moved and further comprising a retainer for retaining the locking handle to the braking cylinder.
The foregoing paragraph has been provided by way of introduction, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as described in this specification, claims and the attached drawings.
The invention will be described by reference to the following drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and in which:
The attached figures depict various views of the Height Adjustment Lock System in sufficient detail to allow one skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. These figures are exemplary, and depict a preferred embodiment; however, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention to the embodiment depicted herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by this specification, claims and drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSA Height Adjustment Lock System is described and depicted by way of this specification and the attached drawings and claims.
For a general understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate identical elements.
The height adjustment lock system has a locking handle that is movably attached to a braking cylinder. A multi section pole or handle is engaged with the braking cylinder. There may be two or more sections, with the slideable interaction of a pair of sections being capable of incorporating a height adjustment lock system of the present invention. Movement of the locking handle in a closed or engaged position causes the braking cylinder to frictionally retain the sections in a given position, and further movement of the locking handle in an opposite open or disengaged position causes the braking cylinder to release the sections for further height or length adjustment.
Referring to
The height adjustment lock system comprises a braking cylinder 101 for receiving an upper pole section 113 and a lower pole section 111. The braking cylinder 101 has at least one brake shoe retainer (not seen in
While
In use, the braking cylinder 101 is coupled to the locking handle 103 with hinge pins and related receivers.
For a complete understanding of the present invention, the brake shoe 105 will be further described by way of
The brake shoe 105 may have a recess or plurality of recesses 1701 that may be rectangular, square, circular, or the like. A step 1703 may be present on the outer surface of the brake shoe 105 to facilitate engagement with the brake shoe pusher of the locking handle and an edge 1705 may also be present. The overall shape of the brake shoe 105 may be, for example, rectangular or square in two dimensions and may have a curve that conforms to the curve of the lower pole section.
Lastly,
The stop plug 401 may be made from any suitable rigid or semi-rigid material, for example, a plastic. Examples of suitable plastics include acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, and the like. Bioplastics may also be used in some embodiments of the present invention. In addition, reinforced plastics, metals, wood, or other materials that may be suitably formed may also be used. The stop plug 401 may be made by injection molding, blow molding, machining, extruding, or the like.
Other configurations, orientations, arrangements, as well as various sizes and geometries are considered to be within the scope and content of the present invention.
Modifications, additions, or deletions may be made, and are considered to be within the spirit and broad scope of the present invention and the various embodiments described and envisioned herein.
It is, therefore, apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the various objects of the present invention, a height adjustment lock system. While the various objects of this invention have been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of this specification, claims and the attached drawings.
Claims
1. A height adjustment lock system comprising:
- a braking cylinder for receiving an upper pole section and a lower pole section;
- the braking cylinder having a brake shoe retainer for receiving a brake shoe;
- the lower pole section capable of being slidably engaged within the braking cylinder;
- the brake shoe having a shape conformal to a surface of the lower pole section and a frictional surface capable of engaging with and retaining the lower pole section;
- a locking handle hingably coupled to the braking cylinder where the locking handle comprises a brake shoe pusher capable of applying force to the brake shoe when the locking handle is moved and further comprising a retainer for retaining the locking handle to the braking cylinder.
2. The height adjustment lock system of claim 1, wherein the braking cylinder further comprises a second brake shoe retainer.
3. The height adjustment lock system of claim 2, further comprising a second brake shoe received by the second brake shoe retainer.
4. The height adjustment lock system of claim 1, wherein the braking cylinder further comprises a handle.
5. The height adjustment lock system of claim 1, wherein the braking cylinder further comprises a lock feature for engaging with and retaining the locking handle.
6. The height adjustment lock system of claim 5, wherein the braking cylinder further comprises a second lock feature for engaging with and retaining the locking handle.
7. The height adjustment lock system of claim 1, wherein the locking handle further comprises a second brake pad pusher.
8. The height adjustment lock system of claim 1, further comprising a stop plug capable of coupling to the lower pole section.
9. The height adjustment lock system of claim 1, wherein the braking cylinder further comprises a stop flange for halting the linear travel of the lower pole section into the braking cylinder.
10. The height adjustment lock system of claim 1, wherein the frictional surface of the brake shoe comprises a soft durometer material.
11. The height adjustment lock system of claim 8, wherein the stop plug is capable of being retained in the lower pole section by a pin.
12. A height adjustable cleaning device comprising:
- a pole comprising a lower pole section and an upper pole section;
- a cleaning head attached to the lower pole section;
- a braking cylinder for receiving the upper pole section and the lower pole section;
- the braking cylinder having a brake shoe retainer for receiving a brake shoe;
- the lower pole section slidably engaged within the braking cylinder;
- the brake shoe having a shape conformal to a surface of the lower pole section and a frictional surface to engage with and retain the lower pole section;
- a locking handle hingably coupled to the braking cylinder where the locking handle comprises a brake shoe pusher capable of applying force to the brake shoe when the locking handle is moved and further comprising a retainer for retaining the locking handle to the braking cylinder.
13. The height adjustable cleaning device of claim 12, wherein the braking cylinder further comprises a second brake shoe retainer.
14. The height adjustable cleaning device of claim 13, further comprising a second brake shoe received by the second brake shoe retainer.
15. The height adjustable cleaning device of claim 12, wherein the frictional surface of the brake shoe comprises a soft durometer material.
16. The height adjustable cleaning device of claim 12, wherein the braking cylinder further comprises a lock feature for engaging with and retaining the locking handle.
17. The height adjustable cleaning device of claim 16, wherein the braking cylinder further comprises a second lock feature for engaging with and retaining the locking handle.
18. The height adjustable cleaning device of claim 12 wherein the locking handle further comprises a second brake pad pusher.
19. The height adjustable cleaning device of claim 12, further comprising a stop plug coupled to the lower pole section.
20. The height adjustable cleaning device of claim 12, wherein the braking cylinder further comprises a stop flange for halting the linear travel of the lower pole section into the braking cylinder.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 17, 2015
Publication Date: Feb 15, 2018
Patent Grant number: 10052751
Inventor: Andre Sampaio (Valley Cottage, NY)
Application Number: 14/660,644