Patent ID: 8814111

Claim:
A portable mast for supporting a payload on a surface of attachment comprising: a substantially tubular center column that supports a payload at its distal end, a proximal end of the tubular center column comprising a base that defines an opening into the tubular center column, the base having at least one point of contact for mating to the surface of attachment; a cable housed within the tubular center column with its first end emerging from the opening at the base and its second end emerging from an opening on the tubular center column away from the base, the first end of the cable terminated by a detachable fastener for securing the cable to the surface of attachment and the second end of the cable terminated by a stop that prevents the cable from being fully withdrawn into the tubular center column; a means for maintaining tension on the cable when the fastener is secured to the surface of attachment for the purpose of maintaining contact between the at least one point of contact and the surface of attachment, wherein the means for maintaining tension on the cable restricts at least a portion of the cable emerging from the opening on the tubular center column away from the base from being withdrawn into the tubular center column; and the tubular center column restricting the first end of the cable and its fastener from being fully withdrawn into its interior and removed through the opening on the tubular center column away from the base.