Extendable Baton With Locking Mechanism

Abstract

An extendable baton includes first and second telescoping tube sections, the first tube section having two inner circumferential grooves near one end. A cam assembly is carried by the second tube section for selectively locking the first and second tube sections to each other. The cam assembly includes two radially movable cams each having two lands and a groove therebetween. The two cams are movable radially relative to each other between a locked position in which the lands on the two cams are engaged in the grooves in the tube section, and an unlocked position in which the lands on the two cams are displaced radially inward from the grooves on the tube to enable relative axial movement of the first and second tube sections.

1 . An extendable baton comprising:
 first and second telescoping tube sections, the first tube section having two inner circumferential grooves near one end, spaced apart from each other by a first distance and having an inner circumferential rib between them; and   a cam assembly carried by the second tube section for selectively locking the first and second tube sections to each other;   the cam assembly comprising two radially movable cams each having two lands and a groove therebetween;   the first and second cams being movable radially relative to each other between a locked position in which the lands on the two cams are engaged in the grooves in the tube section, and an unlocked position in which the lands on the two cams are displaced radially inward from the grooves on the tube to enable relative axial movement of the first and second tube sections.   
     
     
         2 . A baton as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the second cam has a cam portion and an insert portion, the cam portion of the second cam including the lands on the second cam, and the insert portion of the second cam slidably engaging in an opening of the first cam to provide relative sliding movement of the two cams in a radial direction between the locked position and the unlocked position. 
     
     
         3 . A baton as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the insert portion of the second cam has an oval shaped external configuration that is received in an oval-shaped opening of the first cam thereby to interlock the first and second cams and block relative axial or tipping movement. 
     
     
         4 . A baton as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the tube section includes an elongate cylindrical tube and the locking grooves are formed on the tube. 
     
     
         5 . A baton as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the tube section includes an elongate cylindrical tube with a separate cap and the locking grooves are formed on the cap. 
     
     
         6 . An extendable baton comprising:
 first and second telescoping tube sections, the first tube section having two inner circumferential grooves near one end, spaced apart from each other by a first distance and having an inner circumferential rib between them; and   a cam assembly carried by the second tube section, the cam assembly for selectively locking the first and second tube sections to each other;   the cam assembly comprising two cams having alignment holes located therein;   the first cam having a radially outer surface with two arcuate lands and a groove therebetween;   the second cam having a radially outer surface with two arcuate lands and a groove therebetween;   the locking lands on the second cam being spaced apart by the same distance as the locking lands on the first cam, which is equal to the first distance between the tube section grooves;   the first and second cams being movable radially relative to each other between:
 a locked position in which the lands on the two cams are engaged in the grooves in the tube section, and the rib on the tube is in the grooves on the cams, blocking relative axial movement of the first and second tube sections, and 
 an unlocked position in which the lands on the two cams are displaced radially inward from the grooves on the tube to enable relative axial movement of the first and second tube sections. 
   
     
     
         7 . A baton as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the second cam has a cam portion and an insert portion, the cam portion of the second cam including the lands on the second cam, and the insert portion of the second cam slidably engaging in an opening of the first cam to provide relative sliding movement of the two cams in a radial direction between the locked position and the unlocked position. 
     
     
         8 . A baton as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the insert portion of the second cam has an oval shaped external configuration that is received in an oval-shaped opening of the first cam thereby to interlock the first and second cams and block relative axial or tipping movement. 
     
     
         9 . A baton as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the tube section includes an elongate cylindrical tube and the locking grooves are formed on the tube. 
     
     
         10 . A baton as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the tube section includes an elongate cylindrical tube with a separate cap and the locking grooves are formed on the cap.