US Patent 9543634 Telescoping strut with fixed rail feature

Various embodiments provide a telescoping strut with a fixed rail feature. The telescoping strut includes an outer tube having slits and holes, an inner tube having rail slots and an insert guide, a threaded insert, and bolts. The threaded insert is positioned in the insert guide of the inner tube, which is inserted in the outer tube. The threaded insert, positioned in the insert guide, is aligned with the holes of the outer tube and the rail slots of the inner tube. The bolts are inserted in to the holes and the rail slots, and are threadably attached to the threaded insert. The insert guide and the rail slots allow the threaded insert and the bolts to slide freely with respect to the inner tube. As a result, the inner tube slides freely within the outer tube until the threaded insert and the bolts are tightened. When a desired length of the telescoping strut is obtained, the bolts and the threaded insert are tightened causing the slits of the outer tube to deform around the inner tube.