Abstract: In a combination stand and rack releasably secured atop the stand, the stand is convertible between an extended use position and a collapsed storage position. The rack includes a hollow spine for storage of the stand in the collapsed storage position. The stand comprises a main telescopic post and a plurality of support legs all of which are secured to a common housing. The main post extends upwardly from the housing and the legs are attached to the housing by connectors which are bendable through an angle of more than 90.degree. such that the legs fold upwardly beside the main post in the storage position and unfold downwardly from the housing to the use position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable distance measuring device having a housing, a thread measuring member mounted to the housing and a spool of filament in the form of a thread or a thin metal wire which is pulled out of the housing and operates the thread measuring member to provide accurately measured distances. The filament is wound for low resistance unwinding from the spool which is itself fixed against rotation to prevent spool inertia breakage of the filament.