Claims
- 1. A baton expandable between a retracted position and an extended position, comprising:
- a gripping tube having an outer diameter and an axial bore formed therein, the gripping tube extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end, the first end having a support portion extending from a decreasing diameter tapered portion, the support portion having a generally constant inner diameter;
- a center tube telescopingly slidable within the gripping tube, the center tube extending between a first end and a second end, the first end having a first support portion extending from a decreasing diameter tapered portion, the first support portion having a generally constant inner diameter, the second end of the center tube having a second support portion extending from an increasing diameter tapered portion, the second support portion having a generally constant inner diameter; and
- a striking tube telescopingly slidable within the center tube, the striking tube including a first end and a second end, the second end having an increasing diameter tapered portion.
- 2. The baton of claim 1 wherein the decreasing diameter tapered portion and support portion of the gripping tube frictionally engage the increasing diameter tapered portion and second support portion of the center tube when the center tube is fully extended.
- 3. The baton of claim 2 wherein the first support portion and decreasing diameter tapered portion on the first end of the center tube engage the increasing diameter tapered portion of the striking tube when the baton is in the extended position.
- 4. The baton of claim 1 further comprising an end cap attached to the first end of the striking tube, the end cap having an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the support portion formed on the first end of the gripping tube.
- 5. The baton of claim 4 wherein the end cap includes a striking portion and a nesting portion, the striking portion having an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the support portion formed on the first end of the gripping tube.
- 6. The baton of claim 5 wherein the nesting portion of the end cap includes a nesting surface having an outer diameter generally equal to the inner diameter of the support portion formed on the first end of the gripping tube, such, that the nesting surface is received within the support portion formed on the first end of the gripping tube when the baton is in the retracted position.
- 7. The baton of claim 1 wherein the striking tube is machined.
- 8. A baton expandable between a retracted position and an extended position, comprising:
- a gripping tube having an outer diameter and an axial bore formed therein, the gripping tube extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end, the first end having a support portion extending from a decreasing diameter tapered portion, the support portion having a generally constant inner diameter;
- a center tube telescopingly slidable within the gripping tube, the center tube extending between a first end and a second end, the first end having a first support portion extending from a decreasing diameter tapered portion, the first support portion having a generally constant inner diameter, the second end of the center tube having a second support portion extending from an increasing diameter tapered portion, the second support portion having a generally constant inner diameter;
- a striking tube telescopingly slidable within the center tube, the striking tube including a first end and a second end, the second end having an increasing diameter tapered portion; and
- an end cap attached to the first end of the striking tube, the end cap including a striking portion and a nesting portion, the striking portion having an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the support portion formed on the first end of the gripping tube, the nesting portion including a nesting surface having an outer diameter generally equal to the inner diameter of the support portion formed on the first end of the grouping tube; and
- an angled surface joined to the nesting surface, the angled surface decreasing in diameter from the nesting surface, such that the nesting surface is received within the support portion formed on the first end of the gripping tube when the baton is in the retracted position.
- 9. The baton of claim 8 wherein the angled surface extends between the nesting surface and a stop surface, the stop surface contacting the first support portion of the center tube when the expandable baton is in its retracted position.
- 10. A baton expandable between a retracted position and an extended position, the baton comprising:
- a gripping tube having an outer wall defining an axial bore extending between a first end and a second end, the first end of the gripping tube having an inner diameter and an outer diameter;
- a striking tube telescopingly slidable into and out of the axial bore formed in the gripping tube, the striking tube having a first end and a second end; and
- an end cap attached to the first end of the striking tube, the end cap including a striking portion and a nesting portion, the outer diameter of the striking portion being greater than the inner diameter of the first end of the gripping tube, the nesting portion including a nesting surface having an outer diameter generally equal to the inner diameter of the first end of the gripping tube such that the nesting surface is received within the first end of the gripping tube and engages the outer wall of the first end of the gripping tube when the baton is in the retracted position.
- 11. The baton of claim 10 wherein the first end of the gripping tube section includes a tapered portion and a generally constant diameter support portion, wherein the inner diameter of the support portion is less than the outer diameter of the end cap.
- 12. The baton of claim 10 wherein the outer diameter of the end cap is at least 1.0 inches.
- 13. The baton of claim 10 wherein the end cap is threadedly attached to the first end of the striking tube.
- 14. A baton expandable between a retracted position and an extended position, the baton comprising:
- a gripping tube having an outer wall defining an axial bore extending between a first end and a second end, the first end of the gripping tube having an inner diameter and an outer diameter;
- a striking tube telescopingly slidable into and out of the axial bore formed in the gripping tube, the striking tube having a first end and a second end; and
- an end cap attached to the first end of the striking tube, the end cap including a striking portion and a nesting portion, the outer diameter of the striking portion being greater than the inner diameter of the first end of the gripping tube, the nesting portion including a nesting surface having an outer diameter generally equal to the inner diameter of the first end of the gripping tube such that the nesting surface engages the outer wall of the gripping tube when the baton is in the retracted position, the nesting portion further including an angled surface, the angled surface decreasing in diameter from the nesting surface to a stop surface, wherein the angled surface guides the first end of the gripping tube onto the nesting surface when the baton is moved into the retracted position.
- 15. The baton of claim 14 further comprising a center tube interposed between the gripping tube and the striking tube, the center tube having a first end and a second end, the first end of the center tube having an inner diameter less than the diameter of the stop surface of the end cap, such that the first end of the center tube contacts the stop surface on the end cap when the baton is in the retracted position.
- 16. A baton expandable between a retracted position and an extended position, the baton comprising:
- a gripping tube having a first end and a second end, the first end including a decreasing diameter tapered portion and an extended support portion having an inner diameter;
- a center tube telescopingly slidable within the gripping tube and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the center tube including a decreasing diameter tapered portion and an extended support portion, the second end of the center tube including an increasing diameter tapered portion and an extended support portion;
- a striking tube telescopingly slidable within the center tube and having a first end and a second end, the second end of the striking tube including an increasing diameter tapered portion; and
- an end cap attached to the first end of the striking tube, the end cap including a striking portion and a nesting portion, the outer diameter of the striking portion being greater than the inner diameter of the extended support portion on the first end of the gripping tube, the nesting portion including a nesting surface having an outer diameter generally equal to the inner diameter of the extended support portion on the first end of the gripping tube such that the nesting surface is received within and engages the extended support portion formed on the first end of the gripping tube when the baton is in the retracted position.
- 17. The baton of claim 16 wherein the extended support portions formed on the gripping tube and the center tube each have a generally constant inner diameter.
- 18. A baton expandable between a retracted position and an extended position, the baton comprising:
- a gripping tube having a first end and a second end, the first end including a decreasing diameter tapered portion and an extended support portion having an inner diameter;
- a center tube telescopingly slidable within the gripping tube and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the center tube including a decreasing diameter tapered portion and an extended support portion, the second end of the center tube including an increasing diameter tapered portion and an extended support portion;
- a striking tube telescopingly slidable within the center tube and having a first end and a second end, the second end of the striking tube including an increasing diameter tapered portion; and
- an end cap attached to the first end of the striking tube, the end cap including a striking portion and a nesting portion, the outer diameter of the striking portion being greater than the inner diameter of the extended support portion of the first end of the gripping tube, the nesting portion including a nesting surface having an outer diameter generally equal to the inner diameter of the extended support portion of the first end of the gripping tube such that the nesting surface is received within and engages the extended support portion formed on the first end of the gripping tube when the baton is in the retracted position, the nesting portion further including an angled surface, the angled surface decreasing in diameter from the nesting surface to a stop surface, such that the angled surface guides the first end of the gripping tube onto the nesting surface when the baton is moved into the retracted position.
- 19. A baton expandable between a retracted position and an extended position, the baton comprising:
- a gripping tube having a first end and a second end, the first end including a decreasing diameter tapered portion and an extended support portion having an inner diameter;
- a center tube telescopingly slidable within the gripping tube and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the center tube including a decreasing diameter tapered portion and an extended support portion, the second end of the center tube including an increasing diameter tapered portion and an extended support portion;
- a striking tube telescopingly slidable within the center tube and having a first end and a second end, the second end of the striking tube including an increasing diameter tapered portion;
- an end cap attached to the first end of the striking tube, the end cap having an outer diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the extended support portion formed on the first end of the gripping tube; and
- a closure cap attached to the second end of the gripping tube, the closure cap including a well sized to receive the second end of the striking tube when the baton is in the retracted position.
- 20. The baton of claim 19 wherein the well formed in the closure cap is defined by a tapered inner wall such that the diameter of the well decreases from an outer lip to an end wall, such that the tapered inner wall guides the second end of the striking tube into the well.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is based on and claims priority from provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/069,624 filed on Dec. 15, 1997.
US Referenced Citations (18)