Abstract:
A telescopically extensible upstanding mast carries an upper mounting station near an upper end of the mast, a lower mounting station near the lower end of the mast, and an intermediate mounting station, located along the mast inbetween the lower and upper mounting stations, with each mounting station being independently lockable to releasably retain a separate costly equipment device. The upper mounting station has a threaded formation that is normally free-wheeling until a shrouded rotation control prevents the formation from turning so a costly equipment device can be threaded onto and off of the threaded formation. The intermediate and lower mounting stations each have removable and non-removable members that can be locked together to releasably retain costly equipment devices.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS AND APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of Utility application Ser. No. 14/544,686 filed Feb. 5, 2015 scheduled to issue Jan. 3, 2017 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,534,731 to Franklin B. White, which Utility Application claims the benefit of the filing date of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/965,784 filed Feb. 8, 2014. 
     Said Utility application Ser. No. 14/544,686 is a continuation-in-part of Design Application Serial No. 29/463,908 filed Apr. 2, 2014 which issued Jun. 16, 2015 as Design Pat. No. D-731,872 to Franklin B. White. 
     REFERENCE TO SUBJECT-MATTER-RELATED PATENT &amp; APPLICATION 
     Reference is made to Design Pat. No. D-701,107 issued Mar. 18, 2014 from Design Application Serial No. 29/395,835 filed Apr. 6, 2012 which issued Mar. 18, 2014 as Design Pat No. D-701,107 to Franklin B. White. 
     The disclosures of all of the above patents and applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to theft resistant, upstanding mounts for adjustably supporting costly devices at selected above-ground heights at temporary locations that often are left unattended even during work days. 
     Costly devices such as compact electronic devices that need to be supported at above-ground heights, often on a temporary basis, are made by many entities. Typical of such costly devices are compact electronic devices that monitor and at least partially control the operation of heavy duty excavation and earth moving equipment at large outdoor construction sites. 
     Many sizable outdoor construction projects no longer make labor intensive use of surveyors and others who aid in determining the elevations and present positions of soil, rock and other landmarks—or are used in determining what soil, rock and other material needs to be repositioned, added or hauled away. When sites for roadbeds, bridges, cloverleaf s, parking lots, new buildings and the like are to be cleared, excavated and otherwise prepared for construction work that is to follow, drones of ever-increasing sophistication often are being used to acquire job site data in a fraction of the time it took survey crews to collect and correlate site data only a few years ago. 
     By making use of drone-collected data, combined with other information, as inputs to computer-aided design (CAD) software, a three-dimensional (3D) model can be generated of a site. Such a 3D model can then be conveyed to a costly wireless electronic device positioned atop an upstanding support in a CAD file to enable that device to monitor and at least partially control large excavation equipment such as bulldozers and road graders to perform such work as needs to be carried out at the job site in preparation for construction work to follow. Large scale outdoor work that only a few years ago was still quite labor intensive is increasingly being automated. 
     The out-of-the-way locations where the costly wireless electronic devices need to be temporarily positioned (so the costly devices and their upstanding supports do not interfere with movements of excavation equipment) to communicate properly with such excavation equipment being controlled by the devices often are unattended much of each workday, and at other times. 
     By way of example, Thimble Navigation Limited of Subnormal, Calif., sells costly, compact, wireless electronic control units for monitoring and controlling large excavation equipment such as bulldozers and road graders. The Thimble units are variously known as “Universal Total Station systems,” or as “Robotic Total Stations” (often referred to hereinafter as “systems or units”). 
     Thimble Total Station systems or units are used quite widely by thousands of sizable excavation and construction companies to aid with the layout, progressive grading, and final grading of roadbeds, bridges, clover-leafs, parking lots, new building sites, and the like—sites where compact yet costly devices such as Thimble Total Station systems or units need to be temporarily, adjustably positioned atop some sort of upstanding mounts—typically mounts that have, in some way, been extended to selected above-ground heights. 
     A typical Thimble Total Station system or unit is a compact, smaller-than-briefcase-size, relatively lightweight, easy-to-carry electronic device that easily may cost $35,000 or more. In essence, a 3D model of an associated job or project is described in detail in a CAD file that is loaded into the system or unit. The CAD file is combined with other programming and information that also may be loaded into the system or unit to let the system or unit know precisely what must be done, and how it must be done, so the system or unit can accomplish the associated job or project—for example, by controlling excavation and construction equipment to remove or reposition or supplement existing soil, rock and other materials at, to or from specific locations. 
     In use, a Thimble Total Station system or unit is supported atop an upstanding mount at a suitable out-of-the-way outdoor location where the system or unit can wireless&#39;s transmit data and commands that enable the system or unit to monitor the work of, and to at least partially control the operation of an associated piece of construction and/or excavation equipment such as a road grader, a bulldozer, an excavator or the like. Each Total Station system or unit is said to be “married to” an associated piece of construction and/or excavation equipment—so that the equipment to which the system is married can perform such tasks as are needed to advance, and eventually to accomplish, the associated job or project. 
     Understandably, these compact but costly, lightweight and easy to carry Thimble systems or units (and other similar costly devices that may need to be supported at outdoor locations that often are left unattended even during busy workdays), have frequently become targets for theft by those who are inclined to stealthily grab one of these quite costly systems or units, and hustle away with it—so that it typically can be put to use at another job site—even a job site that may be fairly near to where the system or unit was stolen. 
     When one of the Total Station systems or units has suddenly “gone missing” at a job site, associated components of a Thimble controlled job site immediately become disabled and are nearly useless. Wireless receivers costing $55,000 or more carried on heavy construction and excavation equipment, to say nothing of the very costly construction and excavation equipment itself, are suddenly and unexpectedly rendered useless—until the stolen Total Station system or unit can be replaced and loaded with the appropriate 3D model so needed work can resume at the associated job site. 
     The problem of theft of costly equipment supported at elevated attitudes at unmanned, outdoor locations is very real. Indeed, the problem has become far more significant than one might think possible. There is hardly a sizable earthwork contractor in business today who has not had one or more of the costly Thimble Total Station systems or units stolen by snatch and grab thieves. One contractor in the Tampa area recently had 7 of his Thimble Total Station systems or units stolen during the same day—all at times while the systems or units were in operation monitoring and controlling associated construction and/or excavation equipment at active job sites. 
     Construction contractors have tried to use a variety of theft prevention measures to keep costly devices such as Thimble Total Station systems or units from being stolen. Typically, a Total Station system or unit is supported at a selected height and in a temporary, out-of-the-way location (where an unneeded vehicle can also be parked)—with the location being chosen to enable the system or unit to communicate adequately with and to control associated construction and/or excavation equipment that will be operating within a few miles of the system or unit which is tethered by a stout cable to the bumper of a vehicle parked at the chosen location. The often quiet, unattended and out-of-the-way outdoor locations chosen to temporarily position Total Station systems and units have been known to encourage would-be thieves who dash from a get-away vehicle waiting nearby with its engine running so they can use bolt cutters or battery-operated portable grinding equipment to quickly sever stout tether cables. Within a matter of a few seconds, a total station system or unit can be cut loose and spirited away by thieves who sometimes drop their bolt cutters or other cutting equipment as they focus on quickly grabbing an unlettered system or unit, and escape in their waiting get-away cars. 
     As the foregoing explains, there exists a need for a mount that can be moved from one temporary location to another, and that can provide superior theft resistant support for costly devices positioned atop the mount, especially when the temporary locations are left unattended. 
     Another problem with positioning costly devices at a sequence of temporary job sites has to do with the condition and character of the ground surfaces at these sites. The ground may have been recently cleared of trees and brush, and may be so disturbed that it is unstable, often is quite uneven, and may cause whatever is situated atop the ground surface to tilt—so that relatively tall, upstanding mounts of one kind or another that are temporarily positioned at such sites for supporting costly devices such as Thimble systems and units are forced (by underlying ground surfaces that are uneven, unstable and less than level) to extend upwardly along axes that deviate significantly from true vertical. Hence, a need exists for a secure upstanding mount that can be moved from place to place, and that often can overcome the problem of disturbed ground surfaces tending to cause instability at such sites as have been selected for temporary positioning of such costly devices. 
     Yet another problem encountered in positioning costly devices for operation at elevated heights and in a series of temporary locations is that the devices themselves need to be properly leveled where positioned for use. While some costly devices are provided with on-board leveling mechanisms that permit the nearly level attitudes of the costly devices to be fine-tuned, seldom, if ever, are such devices provided with leveling mechanisms that are capable of compensating for supports that mount the costly devices at attitudes significantly tilted from level. Hence, a need exists for a secure upstanding mount that can be moved from one desired temporary location to another, with the mount itself having an on-board mechanism that enables a costly device carried atop the mount to be supported in a level orientation even if the mount itself has an upstanding mast that deviates significantly from true vertical. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses the need to provide upstanding mounts for adjustably supporting, with good stability, costly devices at selected above ground heights, in a superior theft resistant manner, at temporary outdoor locations that often are left unattended. 
     In some embodiments, the mounts include telescopically extensible mast structures that extend upwardly to properly operationally support at appropriate above-ground heights, costly devices that are carried atop the mast structures. The considerable size and awkward-to-move configurations taken on by the mounts when the mast structures are extended and securely locked in position constitute significant deterrents to theft of costly devices locked atop the mast structures if would-be thieves approach the challenge of gaining possession of the costly devices by carting away the costly devices together with the unwieldily upstanding mounts to which the costly devices are securely connected. 
     In some embodiments, lockable connections of novel character are provided not only between adjacent components of the mounts, but also between the mounts and such costly devices as are carried atop the mounts—so that gaining possession of the costly devices by a disassembly attack on the any component of the apparatus that includes the mount and a costly device supported atop the mount is discouraged by the novel and locked nature of the connections that join components of the apparatus, and by the time, effort, and resources required to defeat the locked connections. 
     In some embodiments, upstanding mounts are provided with, or are securely connectable to, quite massive base structure components—so that the quite massive size and weight of apparatus that includes the massive base structures and the upstanding mounts attached thereto discourages attempts to gain possession of such costly devices as are locked in place atop the mounts if would-be thieves consider carting away the fully assembled mounts together with the costly devices securely locked in place atop the mounts. Moreover, the extraordinary weight of the massive base structures can also aid in enhancing the stability with which costly devices are supported—by serving to compact disturbed soil underlying the base structures. 
     In some embodiments, costly devices are coupled to upstanding mounts by secure swivel connections that permit the costly devices to be roughly leveled for proper operation even though the longitudinal axes of the upstanding mast assemblies of the mounts may deviate quite significantly from optimum, true vertical orientations. Once the costly devices have been roughly leveled through use of swivel connections that preferably include spherical bearings, the roughly level orientations provided by the swivel connections are retained while fine tuning, as a second step of the leveling process is can be attended to through use of leveling assemblies provided atop, and separate from, the spherical bearings. 
     In some embodiments, adjustable connections that would-be thieves are likely to attempt to disassemble (in the belief that all adjustable connections are vulnerable to attack by disassembly) are defeated by the adjustable connections that are, in fact, designed to provide strong points that strongly resist disassembly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of such upstanding mounts as are disclosed herein will become apparent from the description and claims that follow, taken together with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an apparatus that includes a preferred embodiment of upstanding mount having an example of a costly device locked atop the upstanding mount, beneath which are other securely connected components that include a leveling assembly in addition to a spherical bearing assembly, an extensible mast assembly, a battery pack, and a base assembly that includes, or can be securely lockably clamped onto, a massive concrete barrier segment such as is commonly called a “k-rail.” 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing most of the components of the upstanding mount assembled, but with an upper component of the mast assembly foreshortened and disassembled from a lower component of the mast assembly, and with other components of the mast assembly separated—including components of a commercially purchased locking hitch pin assembly and a pair of identical covers that are configured to shroud opposite end regions of the locking hitch pin assembly; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view mainly showing preferred components of the base assembly of the upstanding mount; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the costly device shown mounted atop a commercially purchased leveling assembly of the mount, beneath which is a generally cylindrical skirt assembly that surrounds and shrouds a spherical bearing situated above telescopically extensible sections of the mast assembly of the upstanding mount; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view similar to  FIG. 4 , but illustrating how the spherical bearing permits the generally cylindrical skirt assembly, the leveling assetboy, and the costly device to tilt relative to an upstanding, longitudinal axis of the telescopically extensible mast assembly; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view showing the generally cylindrical skirt assembly, the leveling assembly, and a cover plate that can receive a lockable cap screw and nut to enable the cover plate to clamp onto the leveling assembly situated above the generally cylindrical skirt assembly to shroud a control knob that could otherwise be used to release the costly device from the leveling assembly, with the cover plate, when locked in place, also serving to even more securely hold the leveling assembly in place atop the cylindrical skirt assembly; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view showing additional components of the upstanding mount that preferably are utilized to securely retain the leveling assembly in place atop the generally cylindrical skirt assembly; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the components of  FIGS. 6 and 7  assembled, and with a padlock extending through aligned holes formed through the lockable cap screw and nut to lock the cover plate in place on the upstanding mount; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of a part of the lower mast component, showing a battery pack padlocked to the mast, and showing one of two identical cover plates that reach around a perimeter of the lower mast component to shroud opposite end regions of the locking hitch pin assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of assembled components of the spherical bearing assembly; 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view showing components of the spherical bearing prior to assembly; 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view showing an exposed, tool-engageable fastener formation, and a pair of tubular, generally cylindrical collars that can be welded to opposite sides of a depicted support assembly of the base that is clampable to a massive concrete segment such as the k-rail shown best in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a view of assembled components of  FIG. 12  that are padlocked to obstruct tool access to the tool-engageable fastener formation; 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view showing another exposed, tool-engageable fastener formation and a pair of tubular collars having substantially square cross-sections that can be welded to opposite sides of a depicted portion of the mast of the upstanding mount; and, 
         FIG. 15  is an assembly view of the components of  FIG. 14  that are padlocked to obstruct tool access to the tool-engageable fastener formation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an upstanding mount that embodies features of a preferred practice of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral  100 . Shown in  FIG. 1  atop the upstanding mount  100  is a compact piece of electronic equipment, referred to hereinafter as a “costly device  1000 ,” which provides an example of such costly devices as are intended to be adjustably supported at selected above-ground levels by the upstanding mount  100  which can be moved (typically by gasoline or diesel powered equipment of the type commonly in use at excavation and construction sites) from one temporary location to another, and is intended to support the costly device  1000  in a theft resistant, disassembly resistant, tamper resistant, and relatively stable manner. 
     Thimble Navigation Limited of Subnormal, Calif., and other entities, offer for sale a variety of costly devices of the type that are desirably supported at above-ground heights at temporary locations that would be well served if supports such as the upstanding mount  100  were to be provided for these systems or units. In addition to the Total Station sold by Thimble that is depicted in  FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 , Robotic Leveling devices disclosed in Thimble U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,720,074 and 8,537,216 are examples of other such costly devices. These patents also disclose the use of leveling assemblies of the general type depicted herein and designated by the numeral  160 . Thimble and others skilled in the art often refer to leveling assemblies of the type indicated herein by the numeral  160  as “Tri-Bracket assemblies” which are bottom-threaded to receive cap screws that are typically about ⅝ inch in diameter and carry standard American threads—although similar Tri-Bracket assemblies apparently also are available that carry metric threads. 
     Taken together, the upstanding mount  100  and the costly device  1000  provide an apparatus  1010  of the type to which the present invention generally relates. As it is depicted in  FIG. 1 , the upstanding mount  100  includes the several components that are shown in greater detail in others of the accompanying drawings—except that  FIG. 1  shows only an upper portion of a massive concrete barrier segment (or “k-rail”)  111  that is depicted more completely in  FIG. 3 ; and,  FIG. 1  does not show a cylindrical skirt assembly  170  that is depicted in  FIGS. 2, 4-6 and 8 . 
     Some of the components of the upstanding mount  100  include: a base assembly  110  (preferred components of which are best shown in  FIG. 3 ); a telescopically extensible upstanding mast assembly  120  (components of which are best shown in  FIG. 2 ); a commercially purchased locking hitch pin assembly  130  which, together with a pair of covers  135  (all shown in  FIG. 2 ) maintain selected extensions of components of mast assembly  120 ); a commercially purchased battery pack  140  locked to the mast assembly  120  (as is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 9 ); a spherical bearing assembly  150  (components of which are best shown in  FIG. 10 ); a commercially purchased leveling assembly  160  (best shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) that is securely connected to the spherical bearing assembly  150  (by components best shown in  FIG. 7 ) and which has a control knob  185  (shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) that is shrouded by a protective cover  180  (shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 ); the previously mentioned cylindrical skirt assembly  170  (best shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 ); and tubular collars  190 ,  192  (shown in  FIGS. 12-13 and 14-15 , respectively) that preferably are used at various locations on the upstanding mount  100  to protectively shroud exposed fastener formations and the like to deter tool engagements with, and disassembly attacks on, the upstanding mount  100 . 
     As will be explained in the pages that follow: 1) the major components enumerated just above are assetbled to provide an upstanding mount  100  that is well suited to securely support the costly device  1000  or similar equipment; 2) the weight of the massive concrete barrier segment  111  (and the weight of heavy components of the upstanding mount  100 ) enhances stability by compacting disturbed soil at locations where the upstanding mount  100  is positioned temporarily, and combines with the unwieldily configuration of the extended, upstanding mast structure to effectively deter would-be “snatch and grab” thieves; 3) the many lock-together components of the base and mast assemblies  110 ,  120  combine with the other shrouded and/or lockable connections of the apparatus  1010  to deter disassembly attacks as an approach to acquiring possession of the costly device  1000  or other equipment supported atop the upstanding mount  100 ; 4) the novel configuration, secure construction and shrouding of components of the spherical bearing assembly  150  permits the costly device  1000  carried by the mount  100  to be tilted, swiveled, leveled and locked in desired orientations or attitudes even if a longitudinal axis of the upstanding mast assembly  120  deviates significantly from true vertical; and, 5) the many other security features of the upstanding mount  100  (including the generally cylindrical skirt assembly  170 , the protective cover  180  and such other shrouds, covers and lockable components as are disclosed herein) combine to enable the upstanding mount  100  to adjustably support the costly device  1000  at selected above ground heights, with good stability, and in a superior tamper-resistant, disassembly-resistant and theft-resistant manner, at temporary outdoor locations that often are left unguarded where upstanding mounts of the type disclosed herein are utilized to support a variety of costly devices. 
     Before turning to a more detailed description of components of the upstanding mount  100 , it merits mention that a few minor but deliberate inconsistencies exist insofar as what is shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 9 . To prevent a few of the mast-assembly-connected components that are shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 9  from blocking the depiction of others of the mast-assembly-connected components, a few of the mast-connected components are moved either up or down the mast assembly  120 , or are turned a quarter-turn about the upwardly extending longitudinal axis  125  of the mast assembly  120 . This minor repositioning of only a few of the mast-connected components in no way changes the configuration or function of the differently positioned components shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 9 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the base  110  is preferably assembled from components that include (or are connectable to) the relatively massive upstanding concrete barrier segment  111 , and a saddle-shaped support assembly  114 . The massive barrier segment (or k-rail)  111  is typically three feet or more in height, may be several feet in length, and preferably weighs at least nearly a thousand pounds—and, indeed, preferably weighs more. The heavy nature of the barrier segment  111  (together with other heavy components of the upstanding mount  100 ) enables the usually relatively flat bottom surface  109  of the barrier segment  111  to compress, and often to thereby stabilize, disturbed and perhaps stirred-up soil such as may underlie the massive barrier segment  111  where it is temporarily positioned to support the costly device  1000  at a sequence of typically out-of-the-way locations. 
     The massive concrete barrier segment  111  shown in  FIG. 3  (but only partially shown in  FIG. 1 ) is of a type that is commonly positioned end-to-end with other similarly configured concrete barrier segments of various lengths, and used throughout the United States for such purposes as providing divider walls that separate traffic lanes of interstate highways and other busily traveled roadways. The barrier segment  111  has a top wall  112 , and has opposed sidewalls  113  that incline away from each other as the sidewalls  113  depend progressively farther away from the top wall  112 . Flat portions of the barrier segment&#39;s sidewalls  113  located relatively near to the top wall  112  do not diverge (as they extend downwardly) nearly as much as do portions of the sidewalls  113  located farther from the top wall  112 . 
     Also shown in  FIG. 3  is an inverted-U shaped saddle-shaped support assembly  114  of a general type de-picked more completely in applicant&#39;s U.S. Design Pat. No. D-701,107 issued Mar. 18, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The saddle shape of the support assembly  114  enables it to be positioned atop an upper portion of the massive barrier segment  111 . 
     A top wall  115  of the saddle-shaped support assembly  114  is integrally connected to a pair of side members  116  or side assemblies  116  that depend in spaced relationship so as to extend along associated upper parts of the opposed sidewalls  113  of the barrier segment  111 . Each of the depending side assemblies  116  is provided with at least two threaded fasteners  117  that can be turned to move relatively movable components  118  of the depending side assemblies toward and away from associated ones of the opposed sidewalls  113  of the barrier segment  111 . 
     Also shown in  FIG. 3  is an inverted U-shaped vibration dampening member  119  that preferably is formed from relatively stiff but still resilient plastics material. The stiff but resilient member  119  can be positioned in a saddle-like manner to overlie an upper part of the barrier segment  111 ; and, the saddle-shaped support assembly  114  can then be positioned in a saddle-like manner atop the stiff but resilient member  119 . Thereafter, when the threaded fasteners  117  are turned to clamp the relatively movable components  118  toward each other, with adjacent parts of the stiff but resilient member  119  clamped tightly against the opposed sidewalls  113  of the concrete barrier segment  111 , the saddle-shaped support assembly  114  is quite securely clamped to the massive upstanding barrier segment  111 . 
     If it is desired to further enhance the secure manner in which the saddle-shaped support member  114  is fastened to the upstanding concrete barrier segment  111 , holes can be drilled through any of a variety of selected regions of the support member  114  (such as the holes  115   a  shown in  FIG. 2  that extend through the top wall  115 ). Holes (not shown) can also be drilled through portions of the resilient vibration dampening member  119  and into adjacent parts of the concrete barrier segment  111  to enable conventional concrete-connectable fasteners (not shown) to be installed to mechanically fasten the saddle-shaped support member  114  to the concrete barrier segment  111 . 
     The stiff but resilient nature of the inverted U-shaped member  119  advantageously serves to dampen vibrations of the concrete barrier segment  111  that may result from the nearby operation of bull dozers, road graders and the like, so the upstanding mount  100  is not shaken by the nearby operation of heavy, sizeable excavation equipment and the like—which enables the upstanding mount  100  to continue to provide stable support to the costly device  1000  carried atop the upstanding mount  100  despite the nearby operation of heavy, sizeable equipment. 
     Although the provision of stiff but resilient material extending between is shown in  FIG. 3  as being provided by a single inverted U-shaped member  119 , it also is possible to use smaller, typically rectangular, pieces of stiff but resilient material (not shown) that are approximately sized to be interposed between the movable components  118  and associated parts of the sidewalls  113  of the barrier segment  111 . Additionally, an appropriately configured piece or pieces (not shown) of stiff but resilient material can be interposed between other parts of the saddle-shaped support assembly  114  and adjacent portions of the concrete barrier segment  111  to further assist in dampening vibrations that might otherwise be transmitted from the barrier segment  111  to the saddle-shaped support assembly  114 . 
     Although the mast assembly  120  is preferably formed from pairs of elongate, tubular, square sections (such as the sections  121 ,  122  depicted in  FIG. 2 ) where the lower section  121  of two adjacent sections  121 ,  122  has a cross-section that is larger than the upper section  122 , the mast  120  may include one or more pairs of adjacent sections where the larger-smaller relationship of lower and upper sections is reversed—such as is shown in  FIGS. 12-15  where the upper section  122  of two adjacent and joined sections  121 ,  122  has a larger cross-section than the lower section  121 . 
     Although the telescopically extensible mast assembly  120  is preferably formed from pairs of adjacent, tubular, square sections that are sliceable one within another as depicted in  FIG. 2 , simply by removing and repositioning a locking hitch pin assembly  130  once the sections have been relatively repositioned. However, the mast assembly  120  may alternatively include pairs of adjacent joined sections that are not intended to be so easily moved relative to each other. In this regard, reference is made to  FIGS. 12-15  which show two adjacent mast sections  121 ,  122  that are joined in a fixed relationship by a cap screw (having an exposed, tool-engageable hex head  199 ) that extends through aligned holes (not shown) formed through the two adjacent telescopically joined mast sections  121 ,  122 . 
     Regardless of however many sections may form the mast assembly  110 , it is preferred that the mast assembly  110  be capable (when its sections all are fully extended) to support the costly device  1000  at a variety of selected heights, with the fully extended mast assembly  110  being capable of supporting the costly device  1000  at a height of preferably at least about 12 feet above ground when the ground engaging surface  109  ( FIG. 3 ) of the concrete barrier segment is in engagement with a ground surface. 
     There are likely to be many locations on the upstanding mount  100  where tool-engageable fastener formations (such as the cap screw heads  199  shown in  FIGS. 12 and 14 ) are exposed that might render the upstanding mount  100  susceptible to “attack by disassembly”—which refers to an attempt made by would-be thieves to quickly gain possession and control of the costly device  1000  by rapidly disassembling a portion of the upstanding mount  100  in the hope that a disassembled mount portion to which the costly device  1000  is directly attached is not so heavy or unwieldily as to prevent being carried away. Where such tool-engageable fastener formations are exposed in a way that renders the upstanding mount  100  subject to such a disassembly attack, it is desirable to shroud or otherwise restrict access to these and any other exposed tool-engageable fastener formations so they cannot be quickly or easily accessed as part of an “attack by disassembly.” 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 14 , the exposed fastener formation  199  can render the upstanding mount  100  a target for a disassembly attack. If the mast assembly  120  were to be disassembled by removing the cap screw that has the hex head  199 , a portion of the disassembled mast  120  having the costly device  1000  still attached thereto might be carried away by thieves intent on gaining possession of the costly device  1000 . 
     Likewise, referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the exposed fastener formations  117  (namely the hex heads of the threaded fasteners  117 ) also could conceivably be the subject of a disassembly attack on the upstanding mount  100 . If the exposed hex bolt heads of the threaded fasteners  117  were to be engaged by tools and turned to loosen the grip of the movable clamping members  118  on the massive barrier segment  111 , this might permit the saddle-shaped support structure  114  (and the accompanying mast structure  120 ) to be disconnected from the massive barrier segment  111 . The weight and configuration of the disconnected components of the upstanding mount  100  might be such that would-be thieves could carry away the disconnected components of the upstanding mount  100  together with the costly device  1000  that would still be connected thereto. 
     To deter and hopefully prevent such disassembly attacks, the present invention preferably makes generous use of padlockable tubular collars to shroud exposed formations of fastener that might be engaged by tools and loosened or removed as part of a disassembly attack. Such exposed fastener formations as are indicated in  FIGS. 2 and 3  by the numeral  117 , and in  FIGS. 12 and 13  by the numeral  199  are protectively shielded by installing tubular collars of either the generally cylindrical type indicated in  FIGS. 12 and 13  by the numeral  190 , or of a type having a more square cross-section, as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15  and indicated by the numeral  192 . 
     The collars  190 ,  192  are selected to have inside diameters or sizes that enable the collars  190 ,  192  to extend in spaced surrounding relationship to the exposed fastener formations  199  to thereby render the exposed fastener formations  199  engageable and turnable substantially only by such generally tubular tools as conventional sock-keys (not shown) that are of sufficiently small size and thin-walled construction as will permit their being inserted through open end regions  193 ,  195  of the collars  190 ,  192 , respectively, to deridingly engage the exposed fastener formations  199 . In preferred practice, the collars  190 ,  192  are welded to (or otherwise rigidly connected to) flat surfaces  191  against which the exposed fastener formations are tightened. 
     The collars  190 ,  192  are sufficiently lengthy to enable their open end regions  193 ,  195  to be situated far enough from the flat surfaces  191  so that transversely extending holes  196  can be provided through the sidewalls of the collars  190 ,  192  at locations relatively near to the open end regions  193 ,  195  of the collars  190 ,  192 , respectively—locations that are spaced forwardly from the exposed fastener formations  199 . To obstruct or deny tool access to the fastener formations  199 , shackles  197  of padlocks  198  are extended through the holes  197 , and the padlocks  198  are locked in place so that tools can not engage and turn the fastener formations  199  unless and until the shackles  197  of the padlocks  198  are withdrawn from the holes  197 . 
     In  FIG. 1 , lengthy tubular collars  190  (of the general type shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 ) are welded onto surfaces of the depending side assemblies  116  of the base assembly  110 . The shackles  197  of padlocks  198  are installed through holes in the collars  190  (in the manner shown in  FIG. 13 ) to deny tool access to the hex heads of the threaded fasteners  117 . The shrouding of the fasteners  117  by the collars  190 , and the presence of the padlocks  198  blocking tool access to the fasteners  117 , will deter a disassembly attack. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a bottom end region of the lower mast section  121  is securely attached (preferably by welding) to the top wall  115  of the saddle-shaped mounting bracket  114  of the base assembly  110 . As is best shown in  FIG. 2 , the mast sections  121 ,  122  extend along an upstanding longitudinal axis  125 , and have generally square cross-sections that prevent the mast sections  121 ,  122  from turning about the longitudinal axis  125  to any significant extent. Again, the mast sections  121 ,  122  have cross-sections that permit the smaller upper or uppermost component  122  to slide freely and smoothly downwardly into, and upwardly out of, the relatively larger lower or lowermost mast component  121 . 
     So that the telescopically extensible mast sections  121 ,  122  are not so loose as to rattle one within another, a threaded fastener that carries an enlarged and easily grasped knob  123  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is carried in threaded passage formed through a sidewall portion of the lower section  121 . The knob  123  can be turned to tighten the associated fastener into engagement with an outer surface of the upper section  122 . 
     So the telescopically extensible mast sections  121 ,  122  can be locked in a variety of relative positions that cause the costly device  1000  to be supported at various selected above ground heights, the lower mast section  121  is provided with a transversely extending passage  124  that (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) has its end regions shrouded by tubular collars  190  (of the type described previously). The upper mast section  122  is provided with a plurality of spaced, transversely extending passages  126  which can be selectively aligned, one at a time, with the passage  124  formed through the lower mast section  121 , by moving the upper mast section  122  relative to the lower section  121 . 
     A commercially purchased locking hitch pin assembly  130  of the general type shown in  FIG. 2  is used to retain the relatively movable mast sections  121 ,  122  at a selected height where the transversely extending passage  124  of the lower section  121  aligns with a selected one of the transversely extending passages  126  of the upper section  122 . If, as mentioned above, a plurality of pairs of inner and outer mast sections  121 ,  122  are employed to define the telescopically extensible mast assembly  120 , then a plurality of locking hitch pin assemblies  130  are used to connect the relatively movable inner and outer sections of each pair. The presence of the locking hitch pin assemblies  130  preferably is supplemented by use of collars  190  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) that shroud opposite end regions of the locking hitch pin assemblies  130 —and may be further supplemented by either the use of such padlocks  198  as are depicted in  FIGS. 13 and 15 , or by such covers  135  as are depicted in  FIG. 2 , as will be explained shortly. 
     Several entities offer locking hinge pin assemblies for sale. The locking hinge pin assembly  130  shown in  FIG. 2  is of a type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,619,078 and 6,813,981 issued Sep. 16, 2003 and Nov. 9, 2004, respectively, to Mark H. Reuse, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Locking hitch pins that embody other configurations and features also can be used to lockably connect the mast sections  121 ,  122 —and other pairs of relatively movable mast sections if the mast  120  includes additional sections—as those who are skilled in the are will readily understand. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the locking hitch pin assembly  130  includes a short, relatively large diameter cap component  131 , and a more lengthy pin component  132  that has an enlarged diameter head  134  of substantially the same diameter as the cap component  131 . A small diameter portion  133  of the lengthy pin component  132  is inserted through aligned ones of the transversely extending passages  124 ,  126  formed through the mast sections  121 ,  122 , respectively, whereafter the shorter cap component  131  is snapped onto (in locking engagement with) an end region of the small diameter portion  133  of the pin component  132 . When the cap component  131  is in locking engagement with the pin component  132 , a suitably configured key (not shown) must be inserted into the cap component  131 , and turned, to release the cap component  131  from the pin component  132 . 
     The collars  190  that shroud opposite end regions (e.g., the cap component  131  and the head  134 ) of the installed locking hitch pin assembly  130  have inner diameters that closely but loosely receive the cap component  131  and the head  134  of the pin component  132 . These collars  190  can be made only slightly longer than is needed to fully shroud from view end regions of the installed locking hitch pin assembly  130 . Alternatively, the collars  190  that shroud opposite end regions of the installed locking hitch pin assembly  130  can be made long enough so transversely extending holes  196  can be formed through the collars  190  to enable the shackles  197  of padlocks  198  to be installed therethrough, in a manner shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     If the collars  190  are made only long enough to shroud from view opposite end regions of a locking hitch pin assembly  130  installed to lock together the mast sections  121 ,  122 , it is preferred that protective covers  135  of the type shown in  FIG. 2  be installed that shroud and restrict access to the collars  190 —and that hide from view the locking hitch pin assembly  130 . Although the locking hitch pin assembly  130  is really quite adequate in and of itself to securely connect the lowermost mast component  121  to the uppermost mast component  122 , the covers  135  that shroud from view all portions of an installed locking hitch pin assembly  130  will provide an additional deterrent to would-be thieves if they mount a disassembly attack on the upstanding mount  100 . Thieves may perhaps expend rather a sizable amount of time attempting to remove the covers  135 —only to eventually discover, to their likely dismay, the presence of the locking hitch pin assembly  130  which continues to securely retain the mast components  121 ,  122  in tightly connected assembly. 
     The covers  135  shown in  FIG. 2  are identical one to another, and preferably formed quite rigidly from steel. A box-like main portion  136  of each of the covers  135  is sized and configured to closely fit onto, and to almost completely shroud from view the collars  190 . Each of the box-like main portions  136  has a pair of integrally formed extensions  137  that have integral wings  138  that are provided with holes  139  extending therethrough. When the covers  135  are installed to shroud the collars  190  shown in  FIG. 2 , the extensions  137  of one of the covers  135  reach toward the extensions  137  of the other of the covers  135 , and the wings  138  of one of the covers  135  engage and extend along the wings  138  of the other of the covers  135 , with the holes  139  defined by the wings  138  of one of the covers aligning with the holes  139  defined by the wings  138  of the other of the covers  135 . The shackle  197  of a padlock  198  can be inserted through one of the sets of aligned holes  139  is shown in  FIG. 9 —which is sufficient to keep both of the tight fitting covers  135  in place on the collars  190 . However, for good measure, a cap screw  188  shown in  FIG. 2  can be inserted through the other set of aligned holes  139  and secured by the depicted hex nut  189 . 
     The presence of the innocent-looking cap screw  188  and nut  189  installed on the mated covers  135  can help to encourage would-be thieves to spend their time trying to remove the covers  135  if they want to try a disassembly attack on the upstanding mount  100 . They will quickly find, however, that the tight-fitting covers  135  are really quite difficult to pry off of the collars  190  when even just one padlock  197  is in place—and, if, by a stroke of good luck, they are able to remove the covers  135 , they will find, to their dismay, that the telescopically extensible mast sections  121 ,  122  (and any other pairs of mast sections that may be similarly coupled) are still held in place by the presence of locking hitch pin assemblies  130 . 
     An advantage that can result from providing the mast assembly  120  with a plurality of somewhat lengthy telescopically extensible sections is the resulting capability to position the costly device  1000  at a relatively high above-ground levels so the costly device  1000  is hopefully held out of range of being clubbed by a ball bat swung with forceful frustration by an enraged would-be thief who may have invested more time than intended in a failed disassembly attack on the upstanding mount  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 9 , the battery pack  140  is a commercially purchased unit such as is sold by the aforementioned Thimble Navigation to provide power to such costly devices  1000  as a Thimble-supplied Total Station, which is depicted in  FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 , which can wireless&#39;s monitor and at least partially control bulldozers, road graders and other excavation and construction equipment that carry appropriate receivers. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 9 , the lower mast section  121  is provided with an upper bracket  141  of hoop-shaped configuration, and a lower bracket  142  of generally U-shaped configuration. The brackets  141 ,  142  are designed to permit the commercially available battery pack  140  (or a similar unit available from other entities) to be hung onto the lower mast section  121 . The lower bracket  142  also is configured so that a lower portion of the battery pack  140  can be padlocked to the lower mast section  121  as depicted in  FIG. 9 , by a padlock  198  having a shackle  197 . 
     The battery pack  140  is designed to receive a plurality of rechargeable lithium ion batteries  148 , or the like. Inasmuch as theft of the relatively expensive rechargeable batteries  148  has become a vexing problem, thought has been given to providing either the battery pack  140  and/or the batteries  148  with alarms that will sound loudly when a battery  148  is removed in an unauthorized manner. Likewise, the unnoticeable inclusion of alarms and/or tracking devices on or within the costly devices  1000  or even on or within items as small as the batteries  148  has been considered to aid efforts by authorities to intercept the efforts of thieves. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 10 and 11 , the spherical bearing assembly  150  includes a tubular housing  151  that mounts a commercially purchased spherical bearing  155  best shown in  FIG. 11 . As can be seen in  FIG. 11 , the tubular housing  151  includes a lower tubular component  152  and an upper annular component  153  that, as can be seen in  FIG. 10 , are rigidly connected (preferably by welding). As can also be seen in  FIG. 11 —and, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art—the conventional, commercially available spherical bearing  155  has an annular housing or exterior member  156  that surrounds and mounts a spherical interior member  157  so the interior member  157  can swivel freely within the confines of the annular housing  156 . The exterior surface of the annular housing  156  of the spherical bearing  155  is securely gripped by the tubular housing  151 , and does not turn or otherwise move relative to the tubular housing  151 . 
     A high strength cap screw  154  has a head that extends into and is welded in place within a passage  161  that extends centrally through the interior of the spherical interior member  157 . When the components just ensuerated are assembled in the manner shown in  FIG. 10 , the cap screw  154  will be seen to have an upstanding threaded region  158  to which other components of the upstanding mount  100  can be connected. Whatever may be connected to the upstanding threaded region  158  of the cap screw  154  will be permitted, by the spherical bearing assembly  150 , to swivel relative to the upstanding longitudinal axis  125  of the mast assembly  120 . 
     A significant advantage of the construction of the spherical bearing assembly  150  is that, when the spherical bearing assembly  150  is welded or otherwise securely and rigidly mounted atop the mast assembly  120 , the threaded region  158  of the cap screw  154  can not only swivel freely relative to the surrounding components of the spherical bearing assembly  150 , but also can tilt by as much as a full thirty degrees relative to the upstanding longitudinal axis  125  of the mast assembly  120 . This explains why the leveling assembly  160  (that is connected to the threaded region  158  of the cap screw  154  as will be explained), and the costly device  1000  (that is connected to the leveling assembly  160  as also will be explained) can swivel and tilt by as much as thirty degrees relative to the upstanding longitudinal axis  125  of the mast assembly  120 . 
     In essence, what the spherical bearing assembly  150  provides is a gamble assembly  150  that enables whatever is connected to the interior member  157  (which has a generally spherical outer surface) an opportunity to tilt and swivel—to gamble—about an imaginary center point of the interior member  157  which is located along the imaginary upstanding longitudinal axis  125 . The tilt capability just described that is provided by the spherical bearing assembly  150  is illustrated in  FIG. 5  where the leveling assembly  160  and the costly device  1000  are shown tilted significantly relative to the upstanding longitudinal axis  125  of the mast assembly  120 . In  FIG. 4 , these components are shown in an untitled attitude relative to the axis  125 —which means that these components extend in planes that are substantially perpendicular to the upwardly extending longitudinal axis  125 . 
     So that the leveling assembly  160  and the costly device  1000  can be retained in any orientation to which these connected components have been tilted relative to the longitudinal axis  125  of the mast assembly  120 , threaded fasteners such as set screws  159  or the like (shown in  FIGS. 1, 10 and 11 ) are provided to enable the interior member  157  of the spherical bearing to be retained—basically to be locked—in any of the orientations to which the interior member  157  and such components as are connected to the upstanding threaded region  158  of the cap screw  154 ) can be swiveled or tilted. 
     The set screws  159  are preferably at least three in number (only two can be seen in  FIGS. 1, 10 and 11 ), are preferably equally spaced, and preferably extend radially relative to the axis  125 . Referring to  FIG. 11 , the set screws  159  are threaded into threaded holes  159   a  defined by the lower tubular component  152 , and extend through holes  159   b  formed through the outer component  156  of the spherical bearing assembly  155 , and have inner end regions  171  ( FIG. 11 ) that can clamp against the spherical exterior surface of the interior component  157  of the spherical bearing  155 . The set screws  159  may carry jam nuts (not shown), and have heads that may be configured to receive Allen wrenches, or can have heads that require Tory wrenches or other so-called “security tools” to turn. 
     To shroud the heads of the set screws  159  from view, and to diminish the possibility that the set screws  159  will be loosened or otherwise tampered with by would-be thieves, the previously mentioned generally cylindrical depending skirt assembly  170  substantially surrounds the spherical bearing assembly  150  at a distance spaced radially outwardly therefrom. Holes  173  (shown in  FIGS. 4-6 and 8 ) are formed through the generally cylindrical depending wall  174  of the skirt to permit lengthy Allen wrenches or other appropriately lengthy tools to be extended therethrough to engage and turn receiving formations in the heads of the set screws  159 . 
     Though would-be thieves may attempt a disassembly attack on the upstanding mount  100  by removing the somewhat difficult to access set screws  159 , removing the set screws  159  will not result in any disassembly of other components of the spherical bearing assembly  150 . Removal of the set screws  159  will only serve to loosen the interior member  157  of the spherical bearing  155  to thereby permit the leveling assembly  160  and the costly device  1000  to swivel and tilt freely relative to the longitudinal axis  125  of the mast assembly  120 . As such, the provision of the set screws  159  is quite in line with how other elements of the upstanding mount  100  are deliberately constructed—with an eye to providing at least a few components of the upstanding mount  100  that may suggest they are open to attack, but which, in fact, may prove to be quite resistant to a disassembly attack. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the generally cylindrical skirt assembly  170  is a welded steel structure formed from the previously mentioned cylindrical depending skirt  174 , a round or circular top wall  175 , and a relatively thick steel bar  177  that extends radially relative to the axis  125  through a space between ends  176  of the curved sidewall member  174 . A hole  178  is formed through an outer end region of the thick steel bar  177 . The round or circular top wall  175  is welded to an upper end of the curved sidewall member  174 , and the steel bar  177  is welded to the underside of the top wall  175 . 
     Not shown in the drawings is a hole drilled centrally through the circular or round top wall  175  to receive the upstanding threaded region  158  ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ) of the cap screw  154 . Also not shown in the drawings is a hole drilled through an inner end region of the steel bar  177  in alignment with the hole drilled centrally through the top wall  176 . These aligned holes enable the welded skirt assembly  170  to be lowered onto the upstanding threaded region  158  of the cap screw  154  that projects upwardly from the spherical bearing assembly  150  to position the skirt assembly  170  to surround (in spaced relationship thereto) and to shroud the spherical bearing assembly  150 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6-8 , the commercially available leveling assembly  160 —also known as a Tri-Bracket assembly—will be recognized by those who are skilled in the art as typically having a base plate  161  and a top plate  162  that are connected by three upstanding post assemblies  163 . Each of the post assemblies  163  includes a grazeable knob  164  that can be turned to tilt by a few degrees (not a significant range of movement) the orientation of the top plate  162  relative to the orientation of the base plate  161 . A small window  165  in the top plate  162  permits a bubble of a conventional circular spirit level to be seen—so the orientation of the top plate  162  can be fine-tuned by only a few degrees to be precisely level regardless of whether the base plate  161  is oriented in a precisely level attitude by the mast assembly  120 . 
     The leveling assembly  160  is secured atop the welded cylindrical skirt assembly  170 . In this regard, the base plate  161  of the leveling assembly  160  will be understood to have a centrally located mounting hole (not shown) that is threaded. Although the centrally located, threaded mounting hole is not shown in the drawings, those who are skilled in the art will readily recognize and understand that the threaded, centrally located threaded mounting hole is substantially the same as such threaded mounting holes that are provided in the bottom walls of thousands if not millions of pieces of camera equipment—a threaded hole that can receive an a threaded portion of an upstanding threaded fastener such as the threaded portion  158  of the upstanding cap screw  154  that rigidly couples the leveling assembly  160  to the upstanding threaded region  158  of the cap screw  154  of the spherical bearing assembly  150 . 
     When the base plate  161  of the leveling assembly—or Tri-Bracket as it is often called—is tightened onto the upstanding cap screw  154  of the spherical bearing assembly  150 , the welded cylindrical skirt assembly  170  (which has already been lowered onto the upstanding cap screw  154 ) is clamped in place atop the spherical bearing assembly  150 . Thus, when the cap screw  154  of the spherical bearing assembly  150  swivels or tilts, the cylindrical skirt assembly  170 , the leveling assembly  160 , and the costly device mounted atop the leveling assembly  160  all swivel or tilt in unison. 
     The swivel-capable, tilt-capable mount that is provided by the spherical bearing assembly  150  provides a means by which the costly device  1000  carried atop the upstanding mount  100  can be brought quickly and easily to a roughly level orientation, and then can be held in this roughly level orientation (by tightening the set screws  159  against the spherical exterior surface of the interior component  157  of the spherical bearing assembly  150 ). After a roughly level orientation of the leveling assembly  160  has been achieved and this roughly level orientation is retained by the tightened set screws  159 , then the entirely separate conventional leveling assembly  160  is used to fine-tune and precisely level the top plate  162  of the leveling assembly  160 . 
     This use of a spherical bearing to accomplish the first step of a two-step leveling of the costly device  1000  is far easier to achieve, and far quicker to accomplish than was the previously used two-step or two-stage leveling technique that called for rough leveling of the leveling assembly  160  by fiddling with how an upstanding mount that supports the leveling assembly  160  is positioned atop often unstable soil, whereafter, the leveling assembly  160  usable to achieve fine tuning of the orientation of the costly device  1000 . It is far easier to tilt the upstanding threaded fastener  154  than it is to successively reposition and reset an upstanding mount that supports the leveling assembly  160 . 
     Being able to attend to any needed leveling of the costly device  1000  in two relatively steps that both cam be accomplished relatively quickly saves time, and provides an easier (than was available previously) set of tasks to perform in order to accomplish any needed leveling. Being able to quickly use the spherical bearing assembly  150  to roughly level the costly device  1000  often saves a great deal of time that might otherwise have had to be invested in trying to reposition (time and again) an upstanding mount so the upstanding mount  100  holds the costly device  1000  in a nearly level orientation that, only then, permits the leveling assembly  160  to do fine-tuning of the leveling of the costly device  1000 —it being remembered that the leveling capability of the leveling assembly  160  is limited to only a few degrees. Experienced personnel have found that sometimes, use of the spherical bearing assembly  150  to roughly level the costly device  1000  can be accomplished quite accurately with a minimum amount of effort—so that use of the leveling assembly  160  to perform fine-tuning to a more level orientation is not even needed. 
     Insofar as fastening the leveling assembly  160  in place is concerned, merely tightening the threaded base plate  161  in place atop the cylindrical skirt assembly  170  is not sufficient to properly deter a disassembly attack. More is needed to securely retain the leveling assembly  160  in place atop the upstanding mount  100 . In this regard, referring to  FIG. 7 , a jam nut  190  of hex configuration that has a transversely extending hole  191  formed therethrough is threaded onto the threaded region  158  of the cap screw  154  that extends upwardly from the spherical bearing assembly  150 . The jam nut  190  is tightened into engagement with the leveling assembly&#39;s base plate  161  (which has already been lowered onto the threaded region  158  of the cap screw  154 ). Once the jam nut  190  has been tightened into position, a transversely extending hole  193  ( FIG. 7 ) is drilled through the threaded region  158 , and a roll pin  194  shown in  FIG. 7  is driven through the newly drilled hole  193  and through the hole  191  that extends transversely through the jam nut  190 . 
     To ensure that the roll pin  194  is not driven out of the aligned holes  191 ,  193  by would-be thieves, a tubular member  1003  shown in  FIG. 7  is lowered into the center of the leveling assembly  160  to surround the jam nut  190 , and to hide from view not only the presence of the roll pin  194  but also the presence of the jam nut  190 . When the costly device  1000  is put in place atop the leveling assembly  160 , the presence of the costly device  1000  blocks removal of the tubular member  195  from within the leveling assembly  160 . 
     A feature of the leveling assembly  160  that is sold by the aforementioned entity Trimble Limited is the inclusion within the leveling assembly  160  of a mechanism for connecting and maintaining the connection of the leveling assembly  160  to the costly device  1000  positioned atop the leveling assembly  160 . The costly device  1000  has three depending formations (not shown) that extend into three equally spaced holes  196  (two of which are shown in  FIGS. 6-8 ) when the costly device  1000  is set in place atop the leveling assembly  160 . These three holes  196  are defined by the top plate  162  of the leveling assembly  160 . The previously mentioned control knob  185  (shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) can be turned between a retention position that is shown in  FIG. 6  and a release position shown in  FIG. 7  to move retention formations  1006  (shown only in  FIG. 6 ) into the regions of the holes  196 , as will now be explained. 
     When the control knob  185  is turned to the retention position of  FIG. 6 , this movement of the control knob  185  causes retention formations  1006  to move into the regions of the holes  196 —and, when the retention formations  1006  are moved into the regions of the holes  196  as shown in  FIG. 6 , the retention formations  1006  normally are received in notches that are provided in the three depending formation of the costly device  1000  (mentioned above but not shown)—by which arrangement the costly device  1000  is retained atop the leveling assembly  160 . 
     Since the costly device  1000  is not shown in  FIG. 6 , and since only two of the holes  196  are shown in  FIG. 6 , only two of the three retention formations  1006  can be seen in  FIG. 6 . If the costly device  1000  were to be added to what is shown in  FIG. 6 , neither the holes  196  nor the retention formations  1006  would block any view of the holes  196 . 
     When the control knob  185  is in the release position of  FIG. 7 , the retention formations  1006  no longer extend into the regions of the holes  196 , which permits the costly device  1000  to be lifted off of the leveling assembly  160 . This retention and release capability of the leveling assembly  160  that is controlled by the control knob  185  has, until now, been the only means by which the costly device  1000  has been securely retained atop the leveling assembly  160 . Since the control knob  185  has normally been exposed to view, the on-board retention mechanism of the leveling assembly  160  has proven to be far too easily used by thieves who quickly learn to take possession of the costly device  1000  simply by turning the control knob  185  which permits the costly device  1000  to be lifted off of the leveling assembly  160 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , to prevent access by would-be thieves to the control knob  185 , the cover  180  is provided which can be locked in place, as shown in  FIG. 8 , to completely shroud the control knob  185  from view and from being turned. The cover  180  has a box-like central formation  183  configured to fit closely to portions of the welded skirt assembly  150  and to portions of the leveling assembly  160 —thus the control knob  185  is completely enclosed. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , a pair of holes  187  defined by the cover  180  are configured to receive upper portions of two of the upper parts of the upstanding post assemblies  163 . As is best shown in  FIG. 6 , a projecting part  182  of the cover  180  is configured to overlie the thick steel bar member  177  of the cylindrical skirt assembly  170 . A hole  184  is formed through the projecting part  182  of the projecting part  182  that will align with the hole  178  through the thick steel bar member  177  when the cover  180  is installed (as shown in  FIG. 8 ) so the cover  180  cuts off access to the control knob  185 . 
     As can also be seen in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , a cap screw  1005  is provided to extend through the aligned holes  184 ,  178 . A nut  1006  is provided to thread onto the cap screw  1005 . The shackle  197  of a padlock  198  can be installed through a hole  1007  formed through the nut  1006 , and aligned hole  1008  formed through the cap screw  1005  to lock the cover  180  in place. 
     Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that the claims that follow address such patentable features as are disclosed herein.