Lock mechanism for tripod legs

Abstract

A tripod is provided having three pairs of adjacent telescoping legs and a lock mechanism for locking the adjacent legs in a desired position. The lock mechanism comprises a lever connecting a pair of lock assemblies associated with each adjacent leg for movement between an unlocked position wherein the legs may be telescopingly adjusted and a locked position wherein the lock assembly exerts a clamping force on its respective leg for locking the leg in a desired position. Each lock assembly comprises a clamp member for receiving a telescoping leg and a threaded hole adapted to receive a threaded end of a lock screw. A lock screw clamp attached to the head end of the lock screw controls the rotation of the lock screw into and out of the hole. To insure that the legs are properly locked, the attached lock screw clamp and lock screw are pivotable between a locked position wherein the lock screw exerts a compression or clamping force on the legs to prevent telescoping movement of the legs and to lock the legs in the desired position and an unlocked position wherein the lock screw permits sliding movement between the legs. The clamp member has top and bottom stops which limit the rotation of the lock screw clamp between the locked and unlocked positions.