Telescopic Support Leg Locking for Single-Twist Height Adjustment

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing telescopic support legs in photographic equipment, such as tripods and monopods, suffer from complicated operation and slow adjustment due to the need for multi-point independent adjustments of support legs.

Innovation Solution

A telescopic support leg design featuring axially telescopic top, middle, and bottom tubes, with a locking control member and locking components that allow simultaneous locking and unlocking of the tubes using a rotating rod, enabling quick and simple adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multi-point independent adjustment is used to adjust support legs section by section, then the support leg can be adjusted to different heights, but the operation becomes more complicated and the adjustment is slow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of support leg heightVSAvoidoperation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple independent locking mechanisms into a single integrated locking system. The locking component includes a locking block that can simultaneously engage with multiple locking grooves on different leg sections, allowing all sections to be locked or unlocked with a single operation rather than requiring separate adjustments for each section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking component is designed with multi-functionality to handle both locking and unlocking operations for multiple leg sections simultaneously. The locking block can interact with multiple locking grooves positioned at different locations, enabling a single component to control the position of multiple telescopic sections in unison.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multi-point independent adjustment is used to adjust support legs section by section, then the support leg can be adjusted to different heights, but the adjustment speed becomes slow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of support leg heightVSAvoidadjustment speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple independent locking mechanisms into a single integrated locking system. The locking component includes a locking block that can simultaneously engage with multiple locking grooves on different leg sections, allowing all sections to be locked or unlocked with a single operation rather than requiring separate adjustments for each section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking grooves are pre-positioned at specific locations on the leg sections, and the locking block is designed to simultaneously engage with multiple grooves. This preliminary arrangement of locking features allows for rapid engagement and disengagement of multiple sections without requiring sequential adjustment steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional support tripod with multiple joints is used, then the support leg can be adjusted, but multiple joints need to be locked step by step making operation complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of support legVSAvoidnumber of locking joints

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple independent locking mechanisms into a single integrated locking system. The locking component includes a locking block that can simultaneously engage with multiple locking grooves on different leg sections, allowing all sections to be locked or unlocked with a single operation rather than requiring separate adjustments for each section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking component is divided into functional segments including the locking block, spring mechanism, and engagement features. These segmented components work together as an integrated system where the locking block can engage multiple locking grooves simultaneously, reducing the perceived complexity by providing unified control over multiple joint sections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4443039B1An extendable support leg

Publication Date: 2025.12.31 GUANGDONG SIRUI OPTICAL CO LTD

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AI summary

Aspects of the invention disclose a telescopic support leg, which includes a top leg tube, a middle leg tube and an end leg tube that are arranged sequentially from outside to inside and are axially telescopic. A first locking member includes a movable tube and a limiting plate, with a middle inner brace and an outer brace. By rotating the rotating rod, the inner brace moves up and down relative to the outer brace so that the brace tightens the inner wall of the top leg tube under the action of the inner brace to lock the middle leg tube or separate from the inner wall of the top leg tube to loosen the middle leg tube. A second locking member includes an inner tube and an elastic sleeve. The middle leg tube is secured to the inner support and can move up and down relative to the inner tube, thereby allowing the elastic sleeve to function as the inner tube lock the outer wall of the end leg tube or loosen the elastic sleeve and the inner tube of the end leg tube.