Collapsible tripod support

Claim 1

A support structure comprising: a. a member having a central hub, a plurality of radially disposed U-shaped channels extending horizontally from said central hub and a recess located in said central hub, said Ushaped channels opening downwardly in operating condition; b. an extendible section fitting into said centrally disposed recess; c. a plurality of flexible cables depending from the upper portion of said extendible section; d. connecting means fixedly secured to said extendible section fastening said flexible cables to the upper portion of said extendible section, said connecting means having a first internal circular recess with a plurality of vertically disposed slots communicating with a second internal circular recess of greater diameter than said first recess, said slots receiving said cables and said second recess receiving said cable ends, said cable ends being larger in diameter than said cables and said slots; and e. a plurality of legs, each of said legs fitting into one of said U-shaped channels, means for rotatably securing said legs to said channels and means for connecting said cables to said legs, whereby when said extendible section is extended said cable ends are held in a fixed position against the smaller diameter slots and said cables are placed in tension and draw said Legs into a substantially horizontal operating position such that said legs are in contact with the bight of said Ushaped channels, which act as a stop.