Tripod
The present invention relates to an improved tripod ( 1 ) having three legs ( 2 ) substantially at 120° each other, said legs being coupled above by a connection element ( 3 ) for fixing a camera or television camera, each leg being provided with three stages ( 2′, 2″, 2′″ ), movable telescopically each other, respectively a first stage ( 2′ ) or upper stage, a second stage ( 2 ″) or central stage and a third stage ( 2′″ ) or lower stage, said first stage ( 2′ ) being fixed above to said connection element ( 3 ) for fixing camera or television camera, being it possible positioning said legs ( 2 ) grouped centrally or spread out, said two positions being obtainable both with stages of the legs ( 2 ) collected and totally or partially extended, said tripod ( 1 ) being characterised in that a blocking/release lever ( 4 ) is provided on each leg ( 2 ), said lever ( 4 ) being provided in correspondence of the upper portion of the second stage ( 2 ″), said lever ( 4 ) being operable according to a substantially vertical direction and acting on blocking/release means between the first stage ( 2′ ) and the second stage ( 2 ″) and on blocking/release means between the second stage ( 2 ″) and the third stage ( 2′″ ), being further provided tension rod means ( 8 ) between said lever ( 4 ) and said third stage ( 2′″ ), said tension rod means ( 8 ), actuated by said lever ( 4 ), interacting with said blocking/release means between the second stage ( 2 ″) and the third stage ( 2′″ ), sliding each other between second stage ( 2 ″) and third stage ( 2′″ ) occurring only after the full opening of the second stage ( 2 ″) with respect to the first stage ( 2′ ).
1. Improved tripod having three legs substantially at 120° each other, said legs being coupled above by a connection element for fixing a camera or television camera, each leg being provided with three stages, movable telescopically each other, respectively a first stage or upper stage, a second stage or central stage and a third stage or lower stage, said first stage being fixed above to said connection element for fixing a camera or television camera, being it possible positioning said legs grouped centrally or spread out, said two positions being obtainable both with stages of the legs collected and totally or partially extended, said tripod being characterised in that a blocking/release lever is provided on each leg, said lever being provided in correspondence of the upper portion of the second stage, said lever being operable according to a substantially vertical direction and acting on blocking/release means between the first stage and the second stage and on blocking/release means between the second stage and the third stage, being further provided tension rod means between said lever and said third stage, said tension rod means, actuated by said lever, interacting with said blocking/release means between the second stage and the third stage, sliding each other between second stage and third stage occurring only after the full opening of the second stage with respect to the first stage, wherein said blocking/release means between the first stage and the second stage comprise a wedge-shaped bracket, operably coupled with said actuation lever and acting by friction on the sliding elements of said second stage, wedge-shaped bracket being displaced by the action of said lever, removing friction coupling and releasing the second stage, thus freeing its sliding.
2. The tripod according to claim 1 , wherein a spring is provided between said lever and said wedge-shaped bracket, said spring keeping said wedge-shaped bracket normally pushing on said second stage.
3. The tripod according to claim 1 , wherein said blocking/release means between the second stage and the third stage provide a wedge element, between said second stage and said third stage, displaced downward by the action of said tension rod, said tension rod being displaced by the action of said lever, a pin being provided between said second stage and said third stage, releasing their sliding each other only abutting against an abutment element, at the end of the opening run of said second stage with respect to said first stage.
4. The tripod according to claim 1 , wherein said lever has a covering shape.