Patent attributes
An extendable leg (11) for a tripod (10) (for supporting an optical apparatus such as a video camera), the leg being V-shaped and having telescopic side members (15,16) to enable the length of the leg to be varied with hinge means to connect the side members to each other at an apex of the V, means to connect the side members to a head (12) of the tripod which allow the angle of the V to vary with extension and retraction of the leg, and clamping means (50) to clamp the side members at a required length; wherein the leg has a mechanism for controlling the extension and retraction of the side members when the locking means is released whereby the apex of the leg is constrained to move generally linearly in the lengthwise direction of the leg.