Abstract: A telescoping support has at its actuating head at which a roller engages a bar which emerges from the outer tube, a sleeve-like extension provided with a pawl which can engage the bar in a sleeve-locking manner under load to prevent spontaneous contraction of the support upon rupture of the roller.

Abstract: An elongatable support has a lever actuating a fork for displacing a roller out of wedging engagement between an inclined surface of a head on a tube from which a bar can telescopingly extend, and a surface of this bar. To prevent inadvertent actuation of the lever, an abutment is interposed between the lever and the tube and can be withdrawn manually against gravitational and/or spring force to allow actuation of the lever.