Telescoping joint assembly and a method for making the same

Abstract

A telescoping joint assembly and a method for making a telescope joint assembly 10. The joint assembly 10 has a pair of members 12, 14 which are telescopically engaged. Assembly 10 further includes a resinous, plastic and/or polymer material 16 which shrinkably coats or lines the inner shaft 12 after the inner shaft 12 is heated and exposed to a substantially inert gas, thereby providing a relatively durable and substantially “low friction” bearing or surface 18 which is effective to promote and/or assist the telescopic sliding motion between the members 12, 14.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 ) A telescoping joint assembly comprising: 
 a first member having an inner cavity;    a second member which is selectively and movably disposed within the cavity and which cooperates with the first member to form a gap; and    a certain amount of thermoplastic material which is disposed within the gap and which selectively shrinks and solidifies, thereby bonding to the second member and allowing the second member to be slidably disposed within the cavity.    
     
     
         2 ) The telescoping joint assembly of  claim 1  wherein said cavity has an oblong shape.  
     
     
         3 ) The telescoping joint assembly of  claim 1  wherein said formation comprises a knurled portion.  
     
     
         4 ) The telescoping joint assembly of  claim 1  wherein said formation comprises an indentation.  
     
     
         5 ) The telescoping joint assembly of  claim 1  wherein said material comprises a polymeric material.  
     
     
         6 ) The telescoping joint assembly of  claim 5  wherein said polymeric material comprises 6:6 nylon, acetal, thermoplastic.  
     
     
         7 ) A telescoping joint comprising: 
 a first member having an inner cavity with a concave surface;    a second member having a convex surface which is disposed within said cavity and which is separated from said concave surface by a substantially uniform gap; and    an amount of a thermoplastic material disposed within said gap, said material solidifying in response to a decrease in temperature, said solidification of said material effective to bond said material to said convex surface and to shrink said material by a predetermined amount, thereby allowing said second member to be slidably movable within said cavity.    
     
     
         8 ) The telescoping joint assembly of  claim 7  wherein said convex surface includes a protuberance effective to further bond said material to said convex surface.  
     
     
         9 ) The telescoping joint assembly of  claim 7  wherein said convex surface includes an indentation effective to further bond said material to said convex surface.  
     
     
         10 ) The telescoping joint assembly of  claim 7  wherein said thermoplastic material comprises 6:6 nylon, acetal thermoplastic.  
     
     
         11 ) The telescoping joint assembly of  claim 7  wherein said first member and said second member concave surface are each oblong in shape.  
     
     
         12 ) A method for manufacturing a telescoping joint assembly, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first member having a cavity of a first shape;    providing a second member;    heating said first member;    placing an amount of liquefied thermosetting material within said cavity;    heating said second member;    inserting said heated second member within said cavity effective to cause said liquefied thermosetting material to be distributed within said cavity and around said second member; and    cooling said first member effective to solidify said material and to shrink said material, thereby bonding said material onto said second member.    
     
     
         13 ) The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of disposing a knurl upon said second member, said knurl being effective to secure said solidified material upon said second member.  
     
     
         14 ) The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of creating an indentation within said second member, said indentation being effective to secure said solidified material upon said second member.  
     
     
         15 ) The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of placing said first member, said second member, and said material within an environment containing inert gas.  
     
     
         16 ) The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of applying a lubricant to said solidified material.  
     
     
         17 ) The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of filling said cavity with an inert gas.  
     
     
         18 ) The method of  claim 12  wherein said inert gas comprises argon.