Patent ID: 7207533

Claim:
A tripod stabilizer for improving the stability of a tripod having three legs, comprising: (a) a center member; (b) three perimeter assemblies attached to an outside of said center member and separated by approximately 120 degrees of arc; (c) three leg members that are each adapted to cooperate with one of said perimeter assemblies whereby each of said leg members is adapted to prevent each leg of said tripod from being urged away from a center longitudinal axis of said tripod; and (d) means for urging said each leg of said tripod outward and away from said center longitudinal axis, said means for urging attached to said tripod stabilizer and wherein said means for urging is adapted to supply a force to at least a portion of said each leg of a tripod in a direction away from said center longitudinal axis and wherein said means for urging is adapted to supply said force independent of said leg members; and wherein said perimeter assembly includes means for retaining said leg member sufficient to prevent said leg member from being displaced away from said center longitudinal axis; and wherein said means for urging said leg away from said center longitudinal axis includes means for raising said center member with respect to said center longitudinal axis sufficient to cause a portion of said center member to make contact with a portion of said leg on a side of said leg that is disposed closest toward said center longitudinal axis; and wherein said means for raising includes suspending a portion of said perimeter assembly under said center member along a suspension axis and wherein said portion of said perimeter assembly is adapted to pivot about said suspension axis and including a threaded member that is adapted to be displaced generally up and down with respect to said center member and wherein when said threaded member is displaced in an upward direction sufficient to contact said center member, said perimeter assembly is adapted to pivot about said suspension axis as said center member is urged upward along said center longitudinal axis and away from said portion of said perimeter assembly.