Claims
- 1. An expandable self-locking frame comprising:
- a first elongated track and a second elongated track; and
- at least one longitudinally extensible strut, said longitudinally extensible strut having an elongated strut member, a longitudinal extension mechanism, and a locking mechanism;
- said elongated strut member having a longitudinally extending channel provided therein and further having a first end and a second end, said second end of said strut member connected to said second elongated track;
- said longitudinal extension mechanism including a longitudinal extension member slidably disposed in said longitudinally extending channel adjacent said first end of said elongated strut member and contacting said first elongated track, a stationary member fixedly disposed in said longitudinally extending channel between said first end and said second end of said elongated strut member, and an elongated connector member extending through said stationary member and having a first end fixedly attached to said longitudinal extension member;
- said locking mechanism mounted to said stationary member and engaging said elongated connector member;
- wherein said longitudinal extension member can be extended beyond said first end of said elongated strut member to increase the length of the frame by forcing said elongated connector member toward said first end, said locking mechanism preventing said longitudinal extension member from being retracted into said elongated strut member.
- 2. The expandable self-locking frame of claim 1, wherein said elongated connector member has a second end and said longitudinal extension mechanism further includes a longitudinal adjustment member connected to said second end of said elongated connector member, wherein said longitudinal adjustment member may be used to urge said elongated connector member toward said first end of said elongated strut member.
- 3. The expandable self-locking frame of claim 2, wherein said longitudinal extension mechanism further includes a clamping bracket mounted on said longitudinal extension member and clamping about said elongated strut member to retain said longitudinal extension member within said longitudinal extending channel.
- 4. The expandable self-locking frame of claim 2, wherein said stationary member is provided with an integral level device which indicates whether said longitudinally extensible strut is oriented in a level manner.
- 5. The expandable self-locking frame of claim 2, wherein said extension member is provided with an integral level device which indicates whether said longitudinally extensible strut is oriented in a level manner.
- 6. The expandable self-locking frame of claim 2, wherein said elongated connector member is a threaded push rod and said locking mechanism includes a locking nut disposed about said threaded push rod between said stationary member and said longitudinal extension member.
- 7. The expandable self-locking frame of claim 2, wherein said longitudinally extending channel of said elongated strut member is defined by inwardly extending flanged edges.
- 8. The expandable self-locking frame of claim 7, wherein said longitudinal extension member and said longitudinal adjustment member are each provided with guide slots, said inwardly extending flanged edges of said elongated strut member extending into said guide slots such that said longitudinal extension member and said longitudinal adjustment member may be slid along said longitudinally extending channel guided by said inwardly extending flanged edges.
- 9. The expandable self-locking frame of claim 2, wherein said elongated connector member is a threaded push rod and said locking mechanism includes a detent lever having an aperture provided therethrough, said threaded push rod extending through said aperture with said detent lever biased against said threaded push rod such that said detent lever permits travel of said threaded push rod in an extension direction and opposes travel of said threaded push rod in a retraction direction.
- 10. The expandable self-locking frame of claim 9, further comprising a spring disposed about said threaded push rod which biases said detent lever against said threaded push rod.
- 11. The expandable self-locking frame of claim 2, wherein said at least one extensible strut further includes a first lateral extension member extending laterally from said longitudinal extension member and slidably disposed in a longitudinally extending channel of said first elongated track, wherein said first lateral extension member may be slid along said longitudinally extending channel to adjust the width of a first end of said frame.
- 12. The expandable self-locking frame of claim 11, wherein said first lateral extension member is provided with an outwardly biased retainer and said first elongated track is provided with a plurality of detents spaced longitudinally therein and adapted to receive said outwardly biased retainer, wherein said first lateral extension block can be releasably retained in predetermined lateral positions corresponding to the lateral positions of said detents.
- 13. The expandable self-locking frame of claim 12, wherein said longitudinally extending channel of said first elongated track is defined by inwardly extending flanged edges which engage guide slots provided in said first lateral extension member.
- 14. The expandable self-locking frame of claim 11, wherein said at least one extensible strut further includes a second lateral extension member extending laterally from said second end of said elongated strut member and slidably disposed in a longitudinally extending channel of said second elongated track, wherein said second lateral extension member may be slid along said longitudinally extending channel to adjust the width of a second end of said frame.
- 15. The expandable self-locking frame of claim 14, wherein said second lateral extension member is provided with an outwardly biased retainer and said second elongated track is provided with a plurality of detents spaced longitudinally therein and adapted to receive said outwardly biased retainer, wherein said second lateral extension member can be releasably retained in predetermined lateral positions corresponding to the lateral positions of said detents.
- 16. The expandable self-locking frame of claim 15, wherein said longitudinally extending channel of said second elongated track is defined by inwardly extending flanged edges which engage guide slots provided in said second lateral extension member.
- 17. An expandable self-locking wall frame comprising:
- an upper elongated track;
- a lower elongated track; and
- at least one vertically extensible stud, said vertically extensible stud having an elongated stud member, a vertical extension mechanism, and a locking mechanism;
- said elongated stud member having a vertically extending channel provided therein, and further having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end of said stud member connected to said lower elongated track;
- said vertical extension mechanism including a vertical extension block slidably disposed in said vertically extending channel adjacent said upper end of said elongated stud member and contacting said upper elongated track, a vertical adjustment block slidably disposed in said vertically extending channel below said vertical extension block, and a stationary block fixedly disposed in said vertically extending channel between said vertical extension block and said vertical adjustment block, said vertical extension mechanism further including an elongated connector member having an upper end fixedly attached to said vertical extension block and a lower end fixedly attached to said vertical adjustment block;
- said locking mechanism mounted to said stationary block and engaging said elongated connector member;
- wherein said vertical extension block can be vertically extended along said vertically extending channel beyond said upper end of said elongated stud member with said elongated connector member to increase the height of the wall frame by sliding said vertical adjustment block toward said first end of said vertically extensible stud, said locking mechanism preventing retraction of said vertical extension block into said elongated stud member.
- 18. The expandable self-locking wall frame of claim 17, wherein said vertical extension mechanism further includes a clamping bracket mounted on said vertical extension block and clamping about said elongated stud member to maintain said vertical extension block within said vertically extending channel.
- 19. The expandable self-locking wall frame of claim 17, wherein said stationary block is provided with an integral level device which indicates whether said vertically extensible stud is oriented in a level manner.
- 20. The expandable self-locking wall frame of claim 17, wherein said vertical extension block is provided with an integral level device which indicates whether said vertically extensible stud is oriented in a level manner.
- 21. The expandable self-locking wall frame of claim 17, wherein said elongated connector member is a threaded push rod and said locking mechanism includes a locking nut disposed about said threaded push rod above said stationary block.
- 22. The expandable self-locking wall frame of claim 17, wherein said vertically extending channel of said elongated stud member is defined by inwardly extending flanged edges.
- 23. The expandable self-locking wall frame of claim 22, wherein said vertical extension block and said vertical adjustment block are each provided with guide slots, said inwardly extending flanged edges of said vertically extending channel extending into said guide slots such that said vertical extension block and said vertical adjustment block may be slid along said vertically extending channel guided by said inwardly extending flanged edges.
- 24. The expandable self-locking wall frame of claim 17, wherein said elongated connector member is a threaded push rod and said locking mechanism includes a detent lever having an aperture provided therethrough, said threaded push rod extending through said aperture with said detent lever biased against said threaded push rod such that said detent lever permits upward travel of said threaded push rod and opposes downward travel of said threaded push rod.
- 25. The expandable self-locking wall frame of claim 24, further comprising a spring disposed about said threaded push rod which biases said detent lever against said threaded push rod.
- 26. The expandable self-locking wall frame of claim 17, further including second and third vertically extensible studs having second and third elongated stud members respectively, said second and third vertically extensible studs extending from said upper elongated track to said lower elongated track, and an intermediate track portion extending horizontally between said second and third elongated stud members and provided between said upper and lower elongated tracks such that said second and third elongated stud members, said intermediate track, and a portion of said lower elongated track form a rectangular frame mounting section.
- 27. The expandable self-locking wall frame of claim 26, further including an intermediate stud member extending from a central portion of said intermediate track portion to said lower elongated track, said intermediate stud member having an integral level device provided therein.
- 28. The expandable self-locking wall frame of claim 17, wherein said at least one extensible stud further includes an upper horizontal extension block extending laterally from said vertical extension block and slidably disposed in a horizontally extending channel of said upper elongated track, wherein said upper horizontal extension block may be slid laterally along said horizontally extending channel to adjust the width of an upper portion of said wall frame.
- 29. The expandable self-locking wall frame of claim 28, wherein said upper horizontal extension block is provided with an outwardly biased retainer and said upper elongated track is provided with a plurality of detents spaced horizontally therein and adapted to receive said outwardly biased retainer, wherein said upper horizontal extension block can be releasably retained in predetermined lateral positions corresponding to the lateral positions of said detents.
- 30. The expandable self-locking wall frame of claim 29, wherein said horizontally extending channel of said upper elongated track is defined by inwardly extending flanged edges which engage guide slots provided in said upper horizontal extension block.
- 31. The expandable self-locking wall frame of claim 17, wherein said at least one extensible stud further includes a lower horizontal extension block extending laterally from said lower end of said elongated stud member and slidably disposed in a horizontally extending channel of said lower elongated track, wherein said lower horizontal extension block may be slid laterally along said horizontally extending channel to adjust the width of a lower portion of said wall frame.
- 32. The expandable self-locking wall frame of claim 31, wherein said lower horizontal extension block is provided with an outwardly biased retainer and said lower elongated track is provided with a plurality of detents spaced horizontally therein and adapted to receive said outwardly biased retainer, wherein said lower horizontal extension block can be releasably retained in predetermined lateral positions corresponding to the lateral positions of said detents.
- 33. The expandable self-locking wall frame of claim 32, wherein said horizontally extending channel of said lower elongated track is defined by inwardly extending flanged edges which engage guide slots provided in said lower horizontal extension block.
- 34. A longitudinally extensible strut comprising:
- an elongated strut member having an longitudinally extending channel provided therein, said elongated strut member further having a first end and a second end;
- a longitudinal extension mechanism including a longitudinal extension member slidably disposed in said longitudinally extending channel adjacent said first end of said elongated strut member, a stationary member fixedly disposed in said longitudinally extending channel between said first end and said second end of said elongated strut member, and an elongated connector member extending through said stationary member and having a first end fixedly attached to said longitudinal extension member;
- a locking mechanism mounted to said stationary member and engaging said elongated connector member;
- wherein said longitudinal extension member can be extended beyond said first end of said elongated strut member to increase the length of the longitudinally extensible strut by forcing said elongated connector member through said stationary member and toward said first end of said elongated strut member, said locking mechanism preventing said longitudinal extension member from being inadvertently retracted into said elongated strut member.
- 35. The longitudinally extensible strut of claim 34, wherein said elongated connector member has a second end and said longitudinal extension mechanism further includes a longitudinal adjustment member connected to said second end of said elongated connector member, wherein said longitudinal adjustment member may be used to urge said elongated connector member towards said first end of said elongated strut member.
- 36. The longitudinally extensible strut of claim 35, wherein said longitudinally extending channel of said elongated strut member is defined by inwardly extending flanged edges.
- 37. The longitudinally extensible strut of claim 36, wherein said longitudinal extension member and said longitudinal adjustment member are each provided with guide slots, said inwardly extending flanged edges of said elongated strut member extending into said guide slots such that said longitudinal extension member and said longitudinal adjustment member may be slid along said longitudinally extending channel guided by said inwardly extending flanged edges.
- 38. The longitudinally extensible strut of claim 35, wherein said longitudinal extension mechanism further includes a clamping bracket mounted on said longitudinal extension member and clamping about said elongated strut member to retain said longitudinal extension member within said longitudinal extending channel.
- 39. The longitudinally extensible strut of claim 35, wherein said stationary member is provided with an integral level device which indicates whether said longitudinally extensible strut is oriented in a level manner.
- 40. The longitudinally extensible strut of claim 35, wherein said extension member is provided with an integral level device which indicates whether said longitudinally extensible strut is oriented in a level manner.
- 41. The longitudinally extensible strut of claim 35, wherein said elongated connector member is a threaded push rod and said locking mechanism includes a detent lever having an aperture provided therethrough, said threaded push rod extending through said aperture with said detent lever biased against said threaded push rod such that said detent lever permits travel of said threaded push rod in an extension direction and opposes travel of said threaded push rod in a retraction direction.
- 42. The longitudinally extensible strut of claim 41, further comprising a spring disposed about said threaded push rod which biases said detent lever against said threaded push rod.
- 43. The longitudinally extensible strut of claim 35, wherein said elongated connector member is a threaded push rod and said locking mechanism includes a locking nut disposed about said threaded push rod between said stationary member and said longitudinal extension member.
- 44. A longitudinal extension mechanism for use in a longitudinally extensible strut having an elongated strut member provided with a longitudinally extending channel therein and having first and second ends, said longitudinal extension mechanism comprising:
- a longitudinal extension member adapted to be slidably disposed in the longitudinally extending channel adjacent the first end of the elongated strut member;
- a longitudinal adjustment member adapted to be slidably disposed in the longitudinally extending channel between the first and said second ends of the elongated strut member;
- a stationary member adapted to be fixedly disposed in the longitudinally extending channel between said longitudinal extension member and said longitudinal adjustment member;
- an elongated connector member having a first end fixedly attached to said longitudinal extension member and a second end fixedly attached to said longitudinal adjustment member; and
- a locking mechanism mounted to said stationary member and engaging said elongated connector member;
- wherein said extension member can be extended beyond the first end of the elongated strut member with said elongated connector member to increase the length of the longitudinally extensible strut by sliding said longitudinal adjustment member along the longitudinally extending channel toward the first end of the elongated strut member, said locking mechanism preventing said extension member from being inadvertently retracted into the elongated strut member.
- 45. The longitudinal extension mechanism of claim 44, wherein said longitudinal extension member and said longitudinal adjustment member are each provided with guide slots adapted to engage inwardly extending flanged edges of the elongated strut member such that said longitudinal extension member and said longitudinal adjustment member may be slid along the longitudinally extending channel guided by the inwardly extending flanged edges.
- 46. The longitudinal extension mechanism of claim 44, wherein said longitudinal extension mechanism further includes a clamping bracket mounted on said longitudinal extension member and adapted to clamp about the elongated strut member to retain said longitudinal extension member within the longitudinal extending channel.
- 47. The longitudinal extension mechanism of claim 44, wherein said stationary member is provided with an integral level device which indicates whether said longitudinal extension mechanism is oriented in a level manner.
- 48. The longitudinal extension mechanism of claim 44, wherein said extension member is provided with an integral level device which indicates whether said longitudinal extension mechanism is oriented in a level manner.
- 49. The longitudinal extension mechanism of claim 44, wherein said elongated connector member is a threaded push rod and said locking mechanism includes a detent lever having an aperture provided therethrough, said threaded push rod extending through said aperture with said detent lever biased against said threaded push rod such that said detent lever permits travel of said threaded push rod in an extension direction and opposes travel of said threaded push rod in a retraction direction.
- 50. The longitudinal extension mechanism of claim 49, further comprising a spring disposed about said threaded push rod which biases said detent lever against said threaded push rod.
- 51. The longitudinal extension mechanism of claim 44, wherein said elongated connector member is a threaded push rod and said locking mechanism includes a locking nut disposed about said threaded push rod between said stationary member and said longitudinal extension member.
- 52. A locking mechanism for use in a longitudinally extensible strut having a elongated strut member, said locking mechanism comprising:
- a stationary member adapted to be fixedly disposed in a channel of the elongated strut member;
- a detent lever having a proximal end, a distal end, and an aperture provided therebetween, said detent lever attached to said stationary member at said proximal end;
- an elongated connector member extending through said stationary member and through said aperture provided through said detent lever, said elongated connector member being provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth; and
- a biasing element disposed about said elongated connector member between said detent lever and said stationary member, said biasing element urging said detent lever against said ratchet such that said elongated connector member may be manually forced through said detent lever aperture in a first direction with said ratchet teeth successively momentarily displacing said detent lever against the force of said biasing element, and further may be retracted through said aperture in a second direction by manually depressing said distal end of said detent lever toward said stationary member and pulling said elongated connector member away from said stationary member.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/022,249, filed Jul. 22, 1996.
US Referenced Citations (13)