Abstract: A deployable stand has two legs pivoted to a mounting block attached to the exterior of a golf bag. The legs pivot on axes tangential to the bag circumference between a retracted mutually parallel condition and a mutually divergent deployed condition. Each leg has an extension rising above the pivot point. A hand grip is supported between the upper ends of the extensions and contains a pair of coil springs which urge the extensions apart, consequently biasing the legs towards the retracted condition. The legs are easily deployed for setting down the bag simply be squeezing the grip against the rim of the bag with one hand. The stand can be supported to the bag by a strap or can be a permanent part of the bag.

Abstract: A panhead for a tripod has a panning base for rotation about a vertical axis, a tilting base hinged to the panning base for tilting in a vertical plane, a handle attached to the tilting base, and a camera mounting hinged to the tilting base for turning a camera between a landscape and a portrait position, the hinge of the camera mounting being situated so that the camera viewfinder remains on the right hand side of the panhead handle in either the portrait or landscape positions of the camera and the photographer is not forced to change grips on the handle between these positions.

Abstract: Smooth vertical movement of the center column of a tripod is assured by resilient sleeves fitted on the column and urged by a spring against stationary inclined inner surfaces which deflect end portions of the sleeves against the column to maintain continuous frictional resistance against movement of the column through the bore.

Abstract: A panning head for a photographic tripod has an improved horizontal pan adjustment for setting the force required to turn the pan head.

Abstract: A panning head for a photographic tripod or the like has a base and a panning body rotatable about a pan axis. A pivot shaft on the base extends into a cavity in the panning body, and a transverse forked retaining wedge captures the shaft to keep the base and panning body together, and includes an exteriorly accessible screw setting for adjusting the degree of friction between the two and consequently the effort required to turn the panning body on the base.

Abstract: An improved tripod includes a spike and pad structure for supporting the tripod on the ground. The spike is fixed to the bottom portion of the leg and at an angle with respect thereto and is threaded to receive a spherical ball. Gripping the ball is a pad element, the ball including a groove and the pad including a nubbin received in the groove. Thus, the pad is free to tilt arcuately with respect to the spike and when rotated, the pad also rotates the ball thus allowing the pad to extend beyond the spike or to position the spike within the pad.

Abstract: A leg locking device for a telescopically extensible leg of a tripod support which prevents deformation of an inner leg section so as to provide secure, long-lasting engagement of the locking device. Each telescopically extensible leg of the tripod supports includes at least one pair of outer and inner tubular leg sections telescopically slidable one within the other, wherein each tubular leg section has a six-sided polygonal cross-section. A leg locking device associated with each telescopically extensible leg has a locking lever mounted on the outer leg section for pivotal movement transverse to the longitudinal axis of the telescopically extensible leg.

Abstract: An improved panhead for a tripod and the like includes a tray and a releasable shoe. A quick release mechanism is provided to release the shoe from the tray. To prevent separation of the shoe from the tray, with the release mechanism in the release position, the tray is provided with side walls and a bottom surface and a rear wall, the latter inclined, the shoe including an inclined rear wall. The side walls of the tray are provided with flanges which are spaced from the bottom surface and which cooperate with the shoe to retain the shoe on the tray with the release of the shoe. In this way, even if released, the shoe will not separate as the panhead is tilted on any of its axes.

Abstract: A lock for a tubular telescoping support such as tripod leg includes a clamping lever for locking inner and outer members against telescoping displacement and load bearing portions interposed between the two members such that the locking force applied by the clamp is circumferentially distributed among the clamp and two load bearing portions to thereby prevent flattening of the inner tube under locking clamp force.

Abstract: The pan head consists of a single tube for supporting the tilt arm and the table in mutual rotatable relationship. A knob is attached to the rod for retaining the table and tilt arm against separation by withdrawal of the axis tube from its bore and also for urging the tapered pieces into the open end of the tube for interlocking the table and tilt arm.