Tripod-supporting device and supporting member for supporting a tripod

1. A tripod-supporting device for supporting a tripod which includes a table for supporting an instrument thereon, and three legs jointed to said table, comprising:

a support member attachable to the lower end of said leg so as to support said tripod; and

an attachment in the form of a hole or groove which is formed in one of said three legs or formed in a member attached to one of said three legs;

wherein said support member includes a fit-in portion to be fitted in said attaching means, so that said support member penetrates said member in a predetermined direction and an elongate portion provided extending from said fit-in portion in a predetermined direction;

the distal end of said elongate portion is placed on the ground by rotating said support member around the axis extending in said penetrating direction, with said fit-in portion fitted in said attachment; and

said elongate portion is so disposed as to extend in a direction from said fit-in portion to the ground, toward which direction the tripod is liable to overturn, when the distal end of said elongate portion is placed on the ground;

wherein said attachment is made of said groove;

said groove includes a bottom portion which receives said fit-in portion, and an inlet/outlet portion which communicates with an exterior space of said groove and an interior space of said bottom portion and has a width smaller than that of said bottom portion; and

said fit-in portion has such a shape that allows the fit-in portion to pass through said inlet/outlet portion only in a predetermined direction.

2. The tripod-supporting device of claim 1 , wherein

said bottom portion has a circular cross-section; and

a section of said fit-in portion has a shape of a rectangle which has shorter sides smaller than the width of said inlet/outlet portion, and longer sides larger than the width of said inlet/outlet portion and smaller than the diameter of said bottom portion.

3. A tripod-supporting device for supporting a tripod which includes a table for supporting an instrument thereon, and three legs jointed to said table, comprising:

a support member attachable to the lower end of said leg so as to support said tripod; and

an attachment in the form of a hole or groove which is formed in one of said three legs or formed in a member attached to one of said three legs;

wherein said support member includes a fit-in portion to be fitted in said attaching means, so that said support member penetrates said member in a predetermined direction and an elongate portion provided extending from said fit-in portion in a predetermined direction;

the distal end of said elongate portion is placed on the ground by rotating said support member around the axis extending in said penetrating direction, with said fit-in portion fitted in said attachment; and

said elongate portion is so disposed as to extend in a direction from said fit-in portion to the ground, toward which direction the tripod is liable to overturn, when the distal end of said elongate portion is placed on the ground;

wherein said support member includes a stop which inhibits moving of said fit-in portion within said attachment; and

wherein said attachment is composed of a groove;

said fit-in portion has a length equal to or slightly larger than the length of said groove; and

said stops are provided on both ends of said fit-in portion in the lengthwise direction of said fit-in portion.

4. A tripod-supporting device for supporting a tripod which includes a table for supporting an instrument thereon, and three legs jointed to said table, comprising:

a support member attachable to the lower end of said leg so as to support said tripod; and

an attachment in the form of a hole or groove which is formed in one of said three legs or formed in a member attached to one of said three legs;

wherein said support member includes a fit-in portion to be fitted in said attaching means, so that said support member penetrates said member in a predetermined direction and an elongate portion provided extending from said fit-in portion in a predetermined direction;

the distal end of said elongate portion is placed on the ground by rotating said support member around the axis extending in said penetrating direction, with said fit-in portion fitted in said attachment; and

said elongate portion is so disposed as to extend in a direction from said fit-in portion to the ground, toward which direction the tripod is liable to overturn, when the distal end of said elongate portion is placed on the ground;

wherein said leg includes a major leg part jointed to said table, and a foot secured to a lower end of the major leg part by a fixture;

said support member is attached to said leg via the member; and

said locking member is secured to said major leg part by a fixture, together with said foot.

5. A tripod-supporting device for supporting a tripod which includes a table for supporting an instrument thereon, and three legs jointed to said table, comprising:

a support member attachable to the lower end of said leg so as to support said tripod; and

an attachment in the form of a hole or groove which is formed in one of said three legs or formed in a member attached to one of said three legs;

wherein said support member includes a fit-in portion to be fitted in said attaching means, so that said support member penetrates said member in a predetermined direction and an elongate portion provided extending from said fit-in portion in a predetermined direction;

the distal end of said elongate portion is placed on the ground by rotating said support member around the axis extending in said penetrating direction, with said fit-in portion fitted in said attachment; and

said elongate portion is so disposed as to extend in a direction from said fit-in portion to the ground, toward which direction the tripod is liable to overturn, when the distal end of said elongate portion is placed on the ground;

wherein said support member includes only one elongate portion, and

said elongate portion is disposed at one of both sides of said leg when viewed from above.

6. A support member for supporting a tripod which includes a table for supporting an instrument thereon, and three legs jointed to said table, said support member comprising:

a fit-in portion to be fitted in a attachment composed of a hole or a groove formed in a leg or another member attached to said leg, so that said support member can penetrate said leg or said another member in a predetermined direction;

an elongate portion which has a distal end to be placed on the ground by rotating said support member around an axis of said penetrating direction, with said fit-in portion fitted in said attachment, and which is so disposed as to extend in a direction from said fit-in portion to the ground, toward which direction the tripod is liable to overturn, when said distal end of said elongate portion has been placed on the ground; and

wherein said supporting member has only one elongate portion that is disposed at one side of said leg when viewed from above.