Couplings for water fed poles

Abstract

A coupling for joining a first pole section and a second pole section is provided. The coupling includes a male portion secured to the first pole section and a female portion secured to the second pole section. The male portion has a first male guide, a second male guide, and a first threaded section between the first and second male guides. The female portion has a first female guide, a second female guide, and a second threaded section between the first and second female guides. The guides are spaced from one another and from the first and second threaded sections so that the first male and female guides are engaged with one another and the second male and female guides are engaged with one another before the threaded sections engage with one another.

1 . A coupling for joining a first pole section and a second pole section, comprising:
 a male portion securable to the first pole section, said male portion having a first male guide, a second male guide, and a first threaded section between said first and second male guides; and   a female portion securable to the second pole section, said female portion having a first female guide, a second female guide, and a second threaded section between said first and second female guides,   wherein said first male and female guides are engagable with one another and said second male and female guides are engagable with one another before said first and second threaded sections engage with one another so that the guides ensure that said first and second threaded sections are aligned before threadably engaging one another.   
   
   
       2 . The coupling as in  claim 1 , wherein said first male guide has a smaller diameter than said first threaded section and said second male guide has a larger diameter than said first threaded section. 
   
   
       3 . The coupling as in  claim 1 , wherein said first female guide has a smaller diameter than said second threaded section and said second female guide has a larger diameter than said second threaded section. 
   
   
       4 . The coupling as in  claim 1 , wherein said first male guide corresponds in size to said first female guide so that said first male guide is received in said first female guide and said second male guide corresponds in size to said second female guide so that said second male guide is received in said second female guide. 
   
   
       5 . The coupling as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first sleeve extending from said male portion; and   a second sleeve extending from said female portion, said first sleeve being securable over an end of the first pole section and said second sleeve being securable over an end of the second pole section.   
   
   
       6 . The coupling as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first water tube secured to said male portion; and   a second water tube secured to said female portion, wherein said first and second water tubes are in fluid communication with one another when said first and second threaded portions are threadably engaged with one another.   
   
   
       7 . The coupling as in  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing member forming a water-tight seal between said male and female portions. 
   
   
       8 . A water fed pole comprising:
 a first pole section;   a second pole section;   a male coupling portion secured to a first end of said first pole section, said male portion having a first male guide, a second male guide, and a first threaded section between said first and second male guides; and   a female coupling portion secured to a second end of said second pole section, said female portion having a first female guide, a second female guide, and a second threaded section between said first and second female guides,   said first male and female guides being engaged with one another and said second male and female guides being engaged with one another before said first and second threaded sections engage with one another.   
   
   
       9 . The water fed pole as in  claim 8 , further comprising a cleaning implement. 
   
   
       10 . The water fed pole as in  claim 8 , further comprising a water tube within each of said first and second pole sections, said water tube being secured to said male and female coupling portions. 
   
   
       11 . The water fed pole as in  claim 10 , further comprising a water fed fitting having both said male coupling portion and said female coupling portion so that said water fed fitting is configured for connection between said first and second pole sections by being removably connected to said female coupling portion and said male coupling portion. 
   
   
       12 . The water fed pole as in  claim 11 , wherein said water fed fitting comprises a water port between said male and female coupling portions and a water diverter being between said male and female portions so that said water port is in fluid communication with either said male coupling portion or said female coupling portion. 
   
   
       13 . The water fed pole as in  claim 11 , further comprising a valve secured to said water port, said valve be configured to selectively place said male coupling portion or said female coupling portion in fluid communication with a water conduit when said valve is connected to the water conduit. 
   
   
       14 . The water fed pole as in  claim 13 , wherein said valve is configured to selectively drain water from said male coupling portion or said female coupling portion when said valve is not connected to the water conduit. 
   
   
       15 . The water fed pole as in  claim 13 , wherein the water conduit is maintained a predetermined distance from said water fed fitting. 
   
   
       16 . The water fed pole as in  claim 8 , wherein said first pole section comprises a hollow shell surrounding a water tube, said hollow shell comprising a core and an outer sheath, said outer sheath being made of electrically non-conductive fibers.