Patent ID: 7222827
Filing Date: 2007-05-29
Classification: F16B,F16M,G01C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A leg for use in supporting geomatic equipment comprising a first leg section and a second leg section, the first leg section being telescopingly received into an interior of the second leg section for selective extension from and retraction into the second leg section to lengthen and shorten the leg, and a locking device including an actuator and an engagement portion positioned to act on the interior of the second leg section to lock the first and second leg sections relative to each other to fix a length of the leg, the locking device being operable in a lock position in which the engagement portion of the locking device bears against the second leg section on the interior thereof with a force selected to lock the first and second leg sections, and an unlock position in which the engagement portion is spaced from the second leg section such that the leg sections are free to move in telescoping relation to change the length of the leg, the actuator being operable by action of a thumb to move the locking device between the lock and unlock positions, the actuator being biased to the lock position and capable of releasably retaining itself in the unlock position, wherein the actuator comprises an actuator rod and a button capable of being depressed for moving the rod lengthwise of the leg to the unlock position, and wherein the button has a first connector element thereon and the first leg section has a second connector element releasably engagable with the first connector element by thumb manipulation of the button to retain the actuator in the unlock position of the locking device and to release the actuator to return to the lock position.