Abstract

A tripod having legs which automatically open and close when the device is placed on a support surface and removed from the support surface, respectively. The device includes a telescopic center post, a plurality of downwardly extending support legs, a plurality of coupling links pivotally attached at one end to a bottom end of the center post and pivotally attached at the other end to the bottom end of the support legs. The attachment of the coupling links to the support legs is linked at the bottom of the support legs so that the coupling serves as a foot on the support surface when extended. Hinge-type mechanisms between the coupling links and support legs allows the support legs to close to a vertical position parallel and adjacent to the center post while allowing the legs to automatically open when the tripod is placed on the support surface.