Extendable dual handle shaft

Abstract

A device that includes an elongated member, a first grasping handle associated therewith for holding or manipulation of the device, a second grasping handle and extension member that is operatively associated with the elongated member. The extension member is capable of adjustably and fixedly positioning the second grasping handle in any one of a number of fixed positions spaced a distance away from the first grasping handle, including an inoperative position and a number of operative positions. When the second grasping handle is in an operative position, a first user can grasp the first grasping handle and a second user can grasp the second grasping handle. The second grasping handle when in the inoperative position is temporarily attached to or located at least partially or fully within the first grasping handle such that no internal components of the handles are exposed and a continuous grasping surface is provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising an elongated member and a first grasping handle associated with the elongated member for holding or manipulation of the device, a second grasping handle; and an extension member that is operatively associated with the elongated member, wherein the extension member is capable of positioning the second grasping handle in any one of a number of positions spaced a distance away from the first grasping handle, including an inoperative position and a number of operative positions, wherein, when the second grasping handle is fixed in an operative position, a first user can grasp the first grasping handle and a second user can grasp the second grasping handle, and wherein the second grasping handle, when in the inoperative position, is either temporarily attached to the first grasping handle by attachment means, is located at least partially or fully retracted within the first grasping handle, or at least partially or fully receives the first grasping handle therein so as to in effect appear to form a single handle for grasping by the first user. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first grasping handle is affixed to the elongated member, the second grasping handle is affixed to the extension member, and the second grasping handle in the inoperative position is attached to the first grasping handle by the attachment means. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first or second grasping handles includes a snap locking recess and the other of the first or second grasping handles includes a protrusion that is received in the snap locking recess to attach the first or second grasping handles together in the inoperative position. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , which further comprises a releasing member to release the second handle for deployment when the second grasping handle is to be moved to an operative position; wherein the releasing member is operatively associated with a spring that provides sufficient force to disengage the protrusion from the snap locking recess when the releasing member is engaged. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second grasping handle in the inoperative position is located at least partially or fully within the first grasping handle, or the first grasping handle in the inoperative position is located at least partially or fully within the second grasping handle. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated member is a pole, pipe, tube, conduit or hollow rod member; and wherein the extension member is a pole, pipe, tube, conduit, bar or solid rod member that is configured to move with respect to the elongated member. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the elongated member, the extension member, or each have a telescopic construction and one member is received within the other to facilitate movement between them. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , which further comprises a distance limiting member operatively associated with the elongated member or the extension member or both to prevent the extension member from disassociating from the elongated member. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , which further comprises a biasing member which provides a force to urge the extension member towards an operative position, and a locking member that locks the biasing member in an inoperative position, and an engagement member that releases the locking member when the second grasping handle is to be moved to an operative position. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a cam-lock interlocking device that provides lockable positions along the shaft of the elongated member, the cam locking device comprising a cam or protuberance constructed in the inner surface of the interlocking device which is arranged to press against the extension member when the interlocking device is in a locked condition and not press against the extension member when the interlocking device is in an unlocked condition. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a twist locking mechanism for adjustably and fixedly positioning the second grasping handle on the extension member which mechanism is engaged by twisting the second grasping handle with respect to the elongated member. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the twist locking mechanism is engageable by twisting the second grasping handle at a position which correlates to a suitable height adjusted grasping position for the second user. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first grasping handle includes a generally cylindrical portion having a surface feature that facilitates grasping by the first user's hand and the second grasping handle includes a generally cylindrical portion having a surface feature that facilitates grasping by the second user's hand, wherein the surface features of the handles are arranged to appear to be continuous to facilitate gripping of the first grasping handle when the second grasping handle is in the inoperative position. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is an umbrella, a ceiling light bulb changing device, a squeegee, a painting tool, a cleaning implement, a wrench, or a surgical tool. 
     
     
         15 . An umbrella comprising a canopy, an elongated member and a first grasping handle associated therewith for holding or manipulation of the umbrella, and a second grasping handle and extension member that is operatively associated with the elongated member, with the extension member capable of adjustably and fixedly positioning the second grasping handle in any one of a number of positions spaced a distance away from the first grasping handle, including an inoperative position and a number of operative positions, wherein, when the second grasping handle is fixed in an operative position, a first user can grasp the first grasping handle and a second user can grasp the second grasping handle, and wherein the second grasping handle, when in the inoperative position, is either temporarily attached to the first grasping handle by attachment means, is located at least partially or fully retracted within the first grasping handle, or at least partially or fully receives the first grasping handle therein so as to in effect appear to form a single handle for grasping by the first user. 
     
     
         16 . The umbrella of  claim 15 , wherein the elongated member comprises a telescopic reach extender, the first grasping handle is affixed to the elongated member, the second grasping handle is affixed to the extension member, and the second grasping handle in the inoperative position is attached to the first grasping handle by the attachment means. 
     
     
         17 . The umbrella of  claim 15 , wherein in the inoperative position one of the first or second grasping handles is partially or fully retracted in the other handle. 
     
     
         18 . The umbrella of  claim 15 , wherein the second grasping handle is adjustably and fixedly positioned on the extension member by a twist locking mechanism which is engaged by twisting the second grasping handle with respect to the elongated member. 
     
     
         19 . The umbrella of  claim 15 , wherein the second grasping handle can be deployed from an end of the first grasping handle upon engagement of a button or dial located on either the first or second handle. 
     
     
         20 . The umbrella of  claim 15 , either in the form of a fixed shaft model or a compact telescopic model that is lightweight and relatively smaller in size than the fixed shaft model when the compact telescopic model is fully compressed and wherein the canopy is sufficiently large to accommodate two users thereunder.