US 11,871,862 B2
Anti-tearing retractable arm for a collection box
Joram Shenhar, Fairfax, VA (US); Joel Locknauth Dewnandan, Bladensburg, MD (US); and William Albert Tartal, Baltimore, MD (US)
Assigned to United States Postal Service, Washington, DC (US)
Filed by United States Postal Service, Washington, DC (US)
Filed on Mar. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/655,513.
Application 16/934,996 is a division of application No. 15/986,094, filed on May 22, 2018, granted, now 10,806,287, issued on Oct. 20, 2020.
Application 17/655,513 is a continuation of application No. 16/934,996, filed on Jul. 21, 2020, granted, now 11,337,538.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/510,622, filed on May 24, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0202223 A1, Jun. 30, 2022
Int. Cl. A47G 29/124 (2006.01); A47G 29/122 (2006.01); E05F 1/10 (2006.01); A47G 29/12 (2006.01); E05G 7/00 (2006.01); A47G 29/22 (2006.01); E05F 5/08 (2006.01)
CPC A47G 29/1251 (2017.08) [A47G 29/122 (2013.01); A47G 29/1207 (2013.01); A47G 29/22 (2013.01); E05F 1/1008 (2013.01); E05G 7/001 (2013.01); E05F 5/08 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/224 (2013.01); E05Y 2800/122 (2013.01); E05Y 2800/41 (2013.01); E05Y 2800/75 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A retractable arm comprising
an outer tube comprising:
a channel extending therethrough;
a first opening formed in a surface of the outer tube proximate a first end of the outer tube; and
a second opening formed in the surface of the outer tube proximate a second end of the outer tube; and
an inner tube slidably disposed at least partially within the channel of the outer tube; and
a pawl pivotably attached to the inner tube, the pawl comprising a curved surface and a planar surface, the pawl configured to protrude at least partially from the first opening when the inner tube is at a first position within the channel, and configured to protrude at least partially from the second opening when the inner tube is at a second position within the channel,
wherein a portion of the planar surface of the pawl is in contact with an inner surface of the outer tube when the inner tube is in transition from the first position to the second position, and a portion of the curved surface is in contact with the inner surface of the outer tube when the inner tube is in transition from the second position to the first position.