Abstract: A high strength, engineered collapsible support has separate shear bearing surfaces and pivot elements which permit efficient manufacture and higher strength. Unitary brace attachment is achieved with designs which can be molded and yet both efficiently manufactured and made acceptably strong such that heavy items such as performance or commercial speakers can be mounted stably. An extendible sleeve permits adjustment; a semiautomatic as well as manual clutch assembly permits quick securement of the top mast to the tripod; compression rings allow a secure fitting to be established between various pieces; leg upper end caps allow the legs of the tripod to be coupled to the main mast of the tripod; an end plug can serve to reduce the number of parts necessary to couple the various leg braces to the bottom of the main mast. Strength is achieved through multiple shear surfaces located at a distance from a pivot retention element and with parallel braces.

Abstract: An instrument support system having positive locking mechanisms to substantially fix the position of articulated members. One embodiment of the invention uses radially opposed force receiving surfaces to lock pivot members and to distribute the inherent and operational forces transmitted to the radially opposed force receiving surfaces to multiple vectors. Another embodiment of the invention juxtaposes antagonist locking surfaces to hold dual position support members in a storage position. A restraining collar is also disclosed having operation position and storage position locking detents and a releasably coupled collar closure.