Telescopic waterproof tube structure

Abstract

A telescopic waterproof tube structure includes at least two connection tubes nested with each other, and a locking structure for locking two adjacent connection tubes that are made of an inner tube sleeved inside an outer tube. The locking structure includes an inner reducing sleeve fixed on an end of the outer tube, an outer reducing sleeve adjustably connected to the inner reducing sleeve, and a locking assembly provided between the inner reducing sleeve and the end to be connected of the inner tube. The locking assembly moves axially towards the inner reducing sleeve under the action of the outer reducing sleeve to clamp the inner tube on said inner reducing sleeve. A first sealing structure is provided between the inner and outer reducing sleeves. An activity seal slot surrounding the inner tube forms between the outer reducing sleeve and the locking assembly and accommodates a second sealing structure therein.

Claims

1. A telescopic waterproof tube structure, comprising: at least two connection tubes, with one said tube sleeved on the other; and a locking structure, provided between two adjacent connection tubes, for locking the two adjacent connection tubes into an integral piece, wherein the two adjacent connection tubes comprise: an outer tube (1), and an inner tube (2), sleeved by said outer tube (1) in a telescopic manner, wherein said locking structure comprises: an inner reducing sleeve (3), fixed on one end of said outer tube (1), an outer reducing sleeve (4), connected with said inner reducing sleeve (3) in an axially adjustable manner, and a locking assembly, provided between said inner reducing sleeve (3) and a connection end of said inner tube (2) and adapted to move axially towards said inner reducing sleeve (3) under an action of said outer reducing sleeve (4), so as to clamp and lock said inner tube (2) on said inner reducing sleeve (3); a first sealing structure (5), provided between said inner reducing sleeve (3) and said outer reducing sleeve (4), wherein a slot for providing an adjustable sealing, provided surrounding said inner tube (2), is formed between said outer reducing sleeve (4) and said locking assembly, a second sealing structure (6) is provided in the slot, wherein the second sealing structure (6) is a compressible and deformable sealing structure that undergoes elastic deformation when being compressed, two opposite slot walls of the slot are respectively formed by a first end face (7) formed on said outer reducing sleeve (4) and a second end face (8) formed on said locking assembly, and when said outer reducing sleeve (4) moves relative to said locking assembly axially towards the end where said outer tube (1) is located, the distance between said first end face (7) and said second end face (8) is adapted for being shortened, and said second sealing structure (6) is axially compressed to become elastically deformed, so as to provide the adjustable sealing, said outer reducing sleeve (4) comprises: an outer reducing tube (9), and a first base plate with a central hole, provided on one end of said outer reducing tube (9); an inner side of said first base plate forms said first end face (7); said locking assembly comprises: a locking member, and a second base plate, connected to an end of said locking assembly and arranged towards said first end face (7), an outer side of said second base plate forms said second end face (8); and an inner wall of said outer reducing tube (9) between said first end face (7) and said second end face (8) forms a slot bottom of the slot.

2. The telescopic waterproof tube structure of claim 1, wherein an end of said inner reducing sleeve (3) arranged towards said locking member forms an inner conical surface, said locking member is in the form of a locking ring (10) with an outer conical surface, said locking ring (10) clamps said inner tube (2) under the constraint of said inner conical surface.

3. The telescopic waterproof tube structure of claim 2, wherein a cover (11), in the form of a snap ring, is provided at an end of said locking ring (10); said second base plate is formed by a base plate of said cover (11); a groove is formed on an outer surface of a circumferential side wall of said locking ring (10); a bulge, adapted for being inserted into said groove, is formed radially on an inner wall of a circumferential side wall of said cover (11), said cover (11) connects to said locking ring (10) by said bulge inserted into said groove.

4. The telescopic waterproof tube structure of claim 2, wherein an outer reducing rubber sleeve (14) is provided on said outer reducing sleeve (4).

5. The telescopic waterproof tube structure of claim 3, wherein a step (12) provided opposite said first end face (7) is formed on an inner wall of said outer reducing tube (9), said cover is provided between said step (12) and said first end face (7).

6. The telescopic waterproof tube structure of claim 3, wherein an outer reducing rubber sleeve (14) is provided on said outer reducing sleeve (4).

7. The telescopic waterproof tube structure of claim 5, wherein said first base plate is an end cover (13) connected to one end of said outer reducing tube (9), and a sealing is provided at a joint of said end cover (13) and said outer reducing tube (9).

8. The telescopic waterproof tube structure of claim 5, wherein an outer reducing rubber sleeve (14) is provided on said outer reducing sleeve (4).

9. The telescopic waterproof tube structure of claim 7, wherein said end cover (13) is connected to an end of said outer reducing tube (9) by a thread, and a sealing is provided at the position where the thread is formed.

10. The telescopic waterproof tube structure of claim 7, wherein an outer reducing rubber sleeve (14) is provided on said outer reducing sleeve (4).

11. The telescopic waterproof tube structure of claim 9, wherein an outer reducing rubber sleeve (14) is provided on said outer reducing sleeve (4).

12. The telescopic waterproof tube structure of claim 1, wherein an outer reducing rubber sleeve (14) is provided on said outer reducing sleeve (4).

13. The telescopic waterproof tube structure of claim 1, wherein said inner reducing sleeve (3) is connected to one end of said outer tube (1) by a thread, and a sealing is provided at the position where the thread is formed.

14. The telescopic waterproof tube structure of claim 13, wherein an external thread is provided on said inner reducing sleeve (3), an internal thread is provided on said outer reducing sleeve (4), said outer reducing sleeve (4) is connected to said inner reducing sleeve (3) by a thread.

15. The telescopic waterproof tube structure of claim 1, wherein said first sealing structure (5) and said second sealing structure (6) are in the form of a seal ring.

16. The telescopic waterproof tube structure of claim 1, wherein a foot nail (15) is provided on said inner tube (2) or outer tube (1) on one end of the telescopic waterproof tube structure, and a sealing is provided at a joint of said foot nail (15) and said inner tube (2) or outer tube (1).

17. The telescopic waterproof tube structure of claim 16, wherein said foot nail (15) is connected to said inner tube (2) or outer tube (1) arranged on one end by a foot tube joint (16), a first internal thread is provided on one end of said inner tube (2) or outer tube (1) arranged on the end, a first external thread, fitting the first internal thread, is provided on one end of said foot tube joint (16); a blind hole (17) is formed on the other end of said foot tube joint (16), a second internal thread is formed in said blind hole (17), the foot nail (15) has a second external thread formed thereon, which fits said second internal thread, said foot nail (15) is connected to said foot tube joint (16) by thread, and a sealing is provided at a joint of said first internal thread and said first external thread.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order to make the invention easier to be clearly understood, the invention will be described in greater detail with references to the embodiments and the appended drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is an explosive view of the telescopic waterproof tube structure of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the telescopic waterproof tube structure of the present invention in the unlocked state;

(4) FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the telescopic waterproof tube structure of the present invention in a locked state;

(5) FIG. 4 is a structure schematic view of the telescopic waterproof tube structure of the present invention when disposed on one foot tube of a tripod;

(6) FIG. 5 is a structure schematic view of the foot tube in FIG. 4 mounted on the tripod;

(7) FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 5.

(8) Wherein, 1outer tube, 2inner tube, 3inner reducing sleeve, 4outer reducing sleeve, 5first sealing structure, 6second sealing structure, 7first end face, 8second end face, 9outer reducing tube, 10locking ring, 11cover, 12step, 13end cover, 14outer reducing rubber sleeve, 15foot nail, 16foot tube joint, 17blind hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) The present invention will be described in greater detail with references to the appended drawings.

Embodiment 1

(10) As shown in FIG. 1-3, the telescopic waterproof tube structure of the present embodiment comprises an outer tube 1 and an inner tube 2 sleeved by said outer tube 1 in a telescopic manner, a locking structure for locking two adjacent connection tubes into an integral piece, the locking structure comprises an inner reducing sleeve 3 fixed on one end of the outer tube 1, an outer reducing sleeve 4 connected with said inner reducing sleeve 3 in an axially adjustable manner, a locking assembly provided between the inner reducing sleeve 3 and a connection end of the inner tube 2 and adapted for moving axially towards said inner reducing sleeve 3 under the action of said outer reducing sleeve 4, so as to clamp and lock said inner tube 2 on said inner reducing sleeve 3, a first sealing structure 5 provided between said inner reducing sleeve 3 and said outer reducing sleeve 4; a slot for providing a slidable sealing, provided surrounding said inner tube 2, is formed between said outer reducing sleeve 4 and said locking assembly, a second sealing structure 6 is provided in the slot; two opposite slot walls of the slot are respectively formed by a first end face 7 formed on said outer reducing sleeve 4 and a second end face 8 formed on said locking assembly, and when said outer reducing sleeve 4 moves relative to said locking assembly axially towards the end where said out outer tube 1 is located, the distance between said first end face 7 and said second end face 8 is adapted for being shortened, and said second sealing structure 6 is squeezed, so as to provide a sealing.

(11) In the above embodiment, the waterproof and dustproof at the upper end and lower end of the connection part of the telescopic tube structure is achieved by the first sealing structure 5 provided between the inner reducing sleeve 3 and the outer reducing sleeve 4, and the second sealing structure 6 provided between the outer reducing sleeve 4 and the inner tube. Since the slot for providing a slidable sealing, which is for mounting the second sealing structure 6, is formed between the outer reducing sleeve 4 and the locking assembly, thus, the second sealing structure 6 is completely locked in the locking structure, so that the damage from the outside can be prevented. The more important thing is that since the slot for mounting the second sealing structure is the one for providing a slidable sealing, the arrangement of the slot does not affect the pushing action to the locking assembly from the outer reducing sleeve, and the second sealing structure 6 may provide a sealing between the inner tube and the outer reducing sleeve 4 after it is compressed and deformed due to a narrowed space of the slot, when the locking assembly is in a locked state, thus, compared with a slot for providing a fixed sealing, the sealing effect of the slot for providing a slidable sealing is more reliable; when the locking assembly is in an unlocked state, the space of the slot for providing a slidable sealing is enlarged, and the second sealing structure may gradually recover from a compressed state to its original state, so that a gap may be formed between the second sealing structure 6 and the inner tube, and the second sealing structure and the inner tube may be separated, thus, when adjusting the length formed by the inner tube and the outer tube, the second sealing structure will not be abraded by the movement of the inner tube 2, which makes the adjustment of the inner tube more smoothly and saves labor. And because of the slot of the present invention, the installation of the sealing member can be very convenient.

(12) As a preferred embodiment, the first sealing structure 5 and the second sealing structure are in the form of a seal ring respectively, of course, in alternative embodiments, the first sealing structure 5 can be formed by two seal rings, or by one seal ring and one rubber ring, or a sealing structure that is able to provide a sealing between the inner reducing sleeve 3 and the outer reducing sleeve 4, but do not affect the axial movement of the outer reducing sleeve 4 along the inner reducing sleeve 3, the second sealing structure can also be two seal rings or other compressible and deformable sealing structure. An external thread is provided on the inner reducing sleeve 3, an internal thread is provided on the outer reducing sleeve 4, the outer reducing sleeve 4 is connected to the inner reducing sleeve 3 by thread, the reducing sleeve 4 can move axially forward or backward along the inner reducing sleeve 3 if it is rotated. The outer reducing sleeve 4 comprises a outer reducing tube 9, and a first base plate with a center hole provided on the end close to the outer reducing tube 9, the first end face 7 is formed at the inner side of the first base plate and said center hole is adapted for the inner tube to pass through; the locking assembly comprises a locking member, and a second base plate connected to an end of the locking assembly, which is arranged towards the first end face 7, the second end face 8 is formed at the outer side of the second base plate, the bottom of the slot for providing a slidable sealing is formed by the inner wall of the reducing tube 9 between the first end face 7 and the second end face 8.

(13) In order to obtain a simple structure of the telescopic waterproof tube structure of the present invention and a reliable locking effect, preferably, an end of the inner reducing sleeve 3, which is arranged towards the locking member, forms an inner conical surface, the locking member is in the form of a locking ring 10 with a conical opening, the locking ring 10 clamps the inner tube 2 under the constraint of the inner conical surface.

(14) A cover 11, in the form of a snap ring, is provided at an end of the locking ring 10, the second base plate is formed by a base plate of the cover 11, a groove is formed on an outer surface of a circumferential side wall of the locking ring 10, a bulge, adapted for being inserted into the groove is formed radially on an inner wall of a circumferential side wall of the cover 11, the cover 11 connects to the locking ring 10 by the bulge inserting into the groove. Preferably, the groove is a circular groove, and the bulge is a circular bulge, so that it is convenient to mount the cover 11 on the locking ring 10.

(15) In order to unlock the locking assembly from the inner conical surface conveniently, a step 12 provided opposite the first end face 7 is formed on the inner wall of the outer reducing tube 9, the cover is provided between the step 12 and the first end face 7. Thus, when the outer reducing tube 9 moves in the direction away from the inner reducing sleeve, the locking assembly can be pushed out from the inner conical surface by the step 12.

(16) In order to form the outer reducing sleeve 4 conveniently, the first base plate is an end cover 13 connected to one end of the outer reducing tube 9, the end cover 13 is connected to an end of the outer reducing tube 9 by thread, and a sealing is formed at the thread by glue.

(17) An outer reducing rubber sleeve 14 is provided on the outer reducing sleeve 4, in order to rotate the outer reducing sleeve conveniently and gain a high usability.

(18) The inner reducing sleeve can be formed on the outer tube, however, in order to facilitate the forming of the outer tube 1 and the inner reducing sleeve 3, the inner reducing sleeve 3 is connected to an end of the outer tube 1 by thread, and a sealing is provided at the thread by glue.

(19) When the telescopic waterproof tube structure of the present invention is used as a foot tube of a tripod, preferably, a foot nail 15 is provided on one end of the inner tube 2, which is not connected to the outer tube 1. The foot nail 15 is connected to the inner tube 2 through a foot tube joint 16, a first internal thread is provided on an end of the inner tube 2, and a first external thread, fitting the first internal thread, is provided on one end of the foot tube joint 16, while a blind hole 17 is formed on the other end of the foot tube joint 16, a second internal thread is formed in the blind hole 17, and a second external thread fitting the second internal thread, is provided on the foot nail 15, the foot nail 15 is connected to the foot tube joint 16 by thread, and a sealing is provided at the joint of the first internal thread and the first external thread by glue. Thus, the whole foot tube is sealed well from the top down, and when using in the water, the waterproof effect can be very good.

Embodiment 2

(20) As shown in FIG. 4-6, the difference between embodiment 2 and embodiment 1 is that the embodiment 2 comprises five connection tubes, four locking structures for respectively locking two adjacent connection tubes into an integral piece, wherein, one of the two adjacent connection tubes is an outer tube 1, and the other is an inner tube 2 elastically sleeved by the outer tube 1. Comprised with the embodiment 1, the design of the embodiment 2 can achieve multi layer extension. FIG. 5 is a structure schematic view of the foot tube in embodiment 2 mounted on the tripod, the foot nail 15 is provided on the end of the first connection tube with a minimum inner diameter, which allows a good waterproof effect of the whole foot tube, and the foot tube can be used in the water. The embodiment 2 is just an example, and the number of the connection tubes may vary according to the specific requirements, for example, three, four, six or more.

(21) The adjustment process of the telescopic waterproof tube structure in the present invention is provided as bellow:

(22) When there is a need of adjusting the length of the inner tube 2 and the outer tube 1 that is locked with the inner tube as an integral piece, the outer reducing sleeve 4 can be rotated reversely, the outer reducing sleeve is rotated to move backward in the axial direction of the inner reducing sleeve 3, the second sealing structure is released, after the outer reducing sleeve move backward for a certain distance, the step 12 on the outer reducing sleeve contacts with the cover, and draws the locking assembly out of the inner conical surface and unlocks the same by driving the cover, at this time, the length between the inner tube 2 and the outer tube 1 can be adjusted.

(23) When the length between inner tube 2 and the outer tube 1 is adjusted to the required length, the outer reducing sleeve 4 can be rotated forward, the outer reducing sleeve is rotated to move forward in the axial direction of the inner reducing sleeve 3, so as to push the second sealing structure to drive the locking assembly to move towards the inner conical surface until being inserted into the inner conical surface and locked, then the outer reducing sleeve 4 is rotated, the second sealing structure is compressed and deformed, so that the space between the outer reducing sleeve 4 and the inner tube 2 is reliably sealed.

(24) Obviously, the above mentioned embodiments are for clearly explaining the present invention, which do not constitute undue limitation of the present invention. It is obviously to the skilled person in the art that, various modifications could be derived without departing from the spirits and the effects of the invention. And there is no need to describe all the embodiments. Therefore, the modifications or alternations derived thereof are still included in the protection scope of the present invention.