Telescoping support stand apparatus

1. A telescoping support stand comprising:

a first tube partially defining a first enclosed area;

a second tube partially defining a second enclosed area, a first end of the second tube being telescopically slidable within the first tube;

a first locking mechanism attached to the second tube, the first locking mechanism releasably securing the first tube to the second tube to prevent longitudinal movement of the first tube relative to the second tube;

a first air exchange aperture dimensioned to allow air to flow between the first and second enclosed areas;

a handle attached to a second end of the second tube;

a trigger attached to the handle and movable to control the first locking mechanism, the trigger being dimensioned to allow a user to place a portion of a hand between the handle and the trigger when grasping the handle.

2. The telescoping support stand of claim 1 , wherein the first air exchange aperture comprises an opening in the first locking mechanism.

3. The telescoping support stand of claim 1 , wherein the first air exchange aperture comprises a gap between the first locking mechanism and the first tube.

4. The telescoping support stand of claim 1 , wherein the first air exchange aperture comprises a notch in the first locking mechanism.

5. The telescoping support stand of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second air exchange aperture dimensioned to allow air to exit the second tube.

6. The telescoping support stand of claim 5 , wherein the second air exchange aperture comprises an opening in the second tube.

7. The telescoping support stand of claim 5 , further comprising:

a head attached to a second end of the first tube, wherein the second air exchange aperture allows air to flow from the second tube into the head;

a third air exchange aperture dimensioned to allow air to exit the head.

8. The telescoping support stand of claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism comprises:

a truncated-cone member attached to the first end of the second tube;

a bearing assembly comprising a bearing retainer and a plurality of bearings, the bearing retainer comprising an opening for receiving the truncated-cone member;

wherein the bearing assembly is movable between first and second positions relative to the truncated cone member, the truncated-cone member being dimensioned to press the bearings against an interior surface of the first tube when the bearing assembly is in the first position, the truncated-cone member being dimension to allow the bearings to move away from the interior surface of the first tube when the bearing assembly is in the second position.

9. The telescoping support stand of claim 8 , wherein the truncated-cone member partially defines the first air exchange aperture.

10. The telescoping support stand of claim 8 , wherein the bearing assembly at least partially defines the first air exchange aperture.

11. The telescoping support stand of claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism partially defines each of the first and second enclosed areas.

12. The telescoping support stand of claim 1 , further comprising a release mechanism attached to the second end of the second tube, the release mechanism being movable to release the first locking mechanism to allow longitudinal movement of the first tube relative to the second tube.

13. The telescoping support stand of claim 12 , wherein the release mechanism comprises:

the handle, the handle comprising an outside surface;

the trigger, the trigger comprising an inside surface positioned opposite the outside surface of the handle, the trigger being dimensioned to allow a user to hold the handle by placing a portion of a hand between the outside surface of the handle and the inside surface of the trigger, the trigger being movable to release the first locking mechanism to allow longitudinal movement of the first tube relative to the second tube.

14. The telescoping support stand of claim 1 , further comprising:

a release rod attached to the first locking mechanism, wherein the first air exchange aperture comprises an opening in the release rod;

a release mechanism movable to cause the release rod to release the first locking mechanism and allow longitudinal movement of the first tube relative to the second tube.

15. The telescoping support stand of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third tube partially defining a third enclosed area, a first end of the third tube being telescopically slidable within the second tube;

a second locking mechanism attached to the third tube, the second locking mechanism releasably securing the second tube to the third tube to prevent longitudinal movement of the second tube relative to the third tube;

a second air exchange aperture dimensioned to allow air to flow between the second and third enclosed areas.

16. The telescoping support stand of claim 1 , further comprising:

a head attached to the first tube, the head being adapted to attach to at least one of:

a microphone clip;

a camera;

a telescope;

a binocular spotting scope;

a pair of binoculars;

a surveyor level;

a gun rest.

17. The telescoping support stand of claim 1 , further comprising a gun rest attached to a second end of the second tube.

18. The telescoping support stand of claim 1 , wherein the first air exchange aperture extends between the first and second enclosed areas.

19. The telescoping support stand of claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism may be released by pulling the first tube away from the second tube.

20. A telescoping support stand comprising:

a first tube partially defining a first enclosed area;

a second tube partially defining a second enclosed area, a first end of the second tube being telescopically slidable within the first tube;

a first air exchange aperture dimensioned to allow air to exit the second tube;

a locking mechanism attached to the second tube, the locking mechanism releasably securing the first tube to the second tube to prevent longitudinal movement of the first tube relative to the second tube;

a second air exchange aperture dimensioned to allow air to flow between the first and second enclosed areas;

a release rod attached to the locking mechanism, wherein moving the release rod operates the locking mechanism;

a release mechanism operable to move the release rod;

an attachment member connecting the release rod to the release mechanism;

wherein at least one of the first and second air exchange apertures is defined by at least one of the release rod and the attachment member.

21. The telescoping support stand of claim 20 , wherein

the second tube at least partially defines the first air exchange aperture.

22. The telescoping support stand of claim 21 , wherein the second air exchange aperture comprises at least one of:

an opening in the locking mechanism;

a notch in the locking mechanism;

a gap between the locking mechanism and an interior surface of the first tube;

a gap between the locking mechanism and a release rod.

23. The telescoping support stand of claim 20 , further comprising:

the second aperture comprises an opening in the release rod;

the release mechanism is in contact with the release rod, the release mechanism being movable to cause the release rod to release the locking mechanism and allow longitudinal movement of the first tube relative to the second tube;

the attachment member connects the release rod to the release mechanism, wherein the first aperture comprises an opening in the attachment member.

24. The telescoping support stand of claim 20 , wherein the locking mechanism is adapted to releasably secure the first tube to the second tube by pressing against an inside surface of the first tube.

25. The telescoping support stand of claim 24 , further comprising:

an end cap attached to the first tube, wherein the end cap, the first tube, and the locking mechanism define the first enclosed area;

a head attached to the second tube, wherein the head, the second tube, and the locking mechanism define the second enclosed area.

26. An telescoping support stand comprising:

a leg comprising first and second tubes;

a locking mechanism adapted to prevent longitudinal movement of the first tube relative to the second tube;

a handle attached to the leg, the handle comprising an outside surface;

a trigger attached to the handle and comprising an inside surface positioned opposite the outside surface of the handle, the trigger being dimensioned to allow a user to hold the handle by placing a portion of a hand between the outside surface of the handle and the inside surface of the trigger, the trigger being movable to release the locking mechanism to allow longitudinal movement of the first tube relative to the second tube; and

wherein a first end of the second tube is telescopically slidable within the first tube and the handle is attached to a second end of the second tube;

a first air exchange aperture dimensioned for air flow between the first and second tubes.

27. The telescoping support stand of claim 26 , further comprising:

a locking mechanism attached to the second tube, the locking mechanism being responsive to the trigger to releasably secure the first tube to the second tube to prevent longitudinal movement of the first tube relative to the second tube, wherein the locking mechanism, the second tube, and the handle define a first enclosed area;

an end cap attached to the first tube, wherein the end cap, the first tube, and the locking mechanism define a second enclosed area;

the first air exchange aperture dimensioned to allow air to flow between the first and second enclosed areas.

28. The telescoping support stand of claim 27 , further comprising:

a second air exchange aperture dimensioned to allow air flow from the first enclosed area to the handle;

a third air exchange aperture dimensioned to allow air to exit the handle.

29. The telescoping support stand of claim 26 , further comprising a gun rest attached to the handle.

30. A method of assembling a telescoping support stand comprising:

providing a first tube, the first tube partially defining a first enclosed area;

providing a second tube comprising first and second ends, the first end of the second tube being telescopically slidable within the first tube, the second tube partially defining a second enclosed area;

providing a locking mechanism dimensioned to allow air to flow between the first and second enclosed areas;

attaching the locking mechanism to the second tube at the first end, the locking mechanism being adapted to releasably secure the first tube to the second tube to prevent longitudinal movement of the first tube relative to the second tube;

attaching a handle to the second tube at the second end;

attaching a trigger to the handle, the trigger being operable to release the locking mechanism, the trigger being structured to permit a user to place a portion of a hand between the handle and the trigger when grasping the handle;

sliding the second tube into the first tube.

31. A telescoping support stand comprising:

a first tube;

a second tube comprising a first end, the first end of the second tube being telescopically slidable within the first tube;

a truncated cone extending from the first end of the second tube, a top portion of the truncated cone having a larger diameter than a bottom portion of the truncated cone;

a bearing assembly comprising bearings, the bearing assembly being disposed around at least a portion of the truncated cone such that the bearing assembly is movable between first and second positions relative to the truncated cone, the top portion of the truncated cone pushing the bearings against an inside surface of the first tube when the bearing assembly is in the first position, the bottom portion of the truncated cone allowing the bearings to move away from the interior surface of the first tube when the bearing assembly is in the second position;

a handle attached to a second end of the second tube;

a trigger attached to the handle and movable to move the bearing assembly relative to the truncated cone, the trigger being dimensioned to allow a user to place a portion of a hand between the handle and the trigger when grasping the handle.

32. A telescoping support stand comprising:

a first tube partially defining a first enclosed area;

a second tube partially defining a second enclosed area, a first end of the first tube being telescopically slidable within the second tube;

a third tube partially defining a third enclosed area, a first end of the second tube being telescopically slidable within the third tube;

a first locking mechanism attached to the first tube, the first locking mechanism releasably securing the first tube to the second tube to prevent longitudinal movement of the second tube relative to the first tube;

a second locking mechanism attached to the second tube, the second locking mechanism releasably securing the first tube to the second tube to prevent the second tube from collapsing into the third tube, the second locking mechanism allowing the second tube to be pulled to an expanded position relative to the third tube;

a first air exchange aperture dimensioned to allow air to flow between the first and second enclosed areas;

a second air exchange aperture dimensioned to allow air to flow between the second and third enclosed areas.

33. The telescoping support stand of claim 32 , further comprising a release rod attached to the first locking mechanism, the release rod being movable to release the first locking mechanism.

34. The telescoping support stand of claim 33 , wherein a bottom portion of the first locking mechanism is dimensioned to release the second locking mechanism.