Is it a tripod that turns into a fast-action swiveled-monopod in zero seconds?
  Is it a monopod that turns into a stabilized-tripod in zero seconds?
  Is it safe and no-tipover sturdy to protect my expensive stuff from people in the dark?
  The answer is yes, yes, and yes... you'll have to decide which mode... because now you can!
  What would we want for FAST, TALL AND COMPACT mounts that hold our binoculars, cameras, or scope-mounts up to 50 Lbs without the usual penalties in cost, weight, or size?
  What  do you do with a monopod when you need two hands? ... PARK IT.
  Our engineers came up with something...  something unique!  Its called the "Tech2000 MonoTripod™".  Quite radical, you'll really have to pay attention to understand this.

  Monopod just means one adustable-height pole (mono meaning ONE, and pod meaning FOOT). Monopods originally became useful to point and hold a camera still for a good steady shot instead of requiring a camera tripod. Extra-portable and cheaper. Then people began to sit binoculars on them to relax the strain on their arms. Then binoculars got bigger, the poles got bigger, and so did giant camera lenses and professional video gear. People always had to go with a more robust tripod and take their lumps on the bulk, erecting time, and of course the COST!  But we are going to change that thought pattern now... BECAUSE WE CAN!
  A monopod does not require a mounting head added on top of it to point an instrument (although those can be added), since it can just swivel and tilt for aiming at the whim of the user.
  The problem with mono pods is "what do you do to stop?". You must lay it down, or lean it against something. We solved that with 'outriggers'. Now we just lean-back the pole and let go (PARK-IT).
  The problem with tripods is "the legs are in my way--worse when up high and the legs are spread wide". You must point only in directions between the legs or change your body positions to odd angles and hope that others observing don't harm your stuff. We solved that by using the same 'outriggers' with press-in anchor stakes so that we can use our MonoTripods without any concern for tripod legs in the way and no concern of someone toppling our expensive stuff in a dark place or kids running loose.
  The old tripod problem was "it weighs too much and costs to much"... well we solved that too.
  These are great for holding Bino's etc., but not only the little things that make arms weak in 2 minutes, we mean the 38-Lb giants too--you can drop a giant Oberwerke 4" bino, with its mount, on this in 3-seconds flat!  Small-to-large bino/cam/vid/giant zoom lenses, and many many telescopes.
  The MonoTripod™ really does set up in a few seconds - and stowes just as fast.

  Quick-Chucks: These feature a very fast 1-second "drop-in" chucking method for MonoTripod™ mounts. Solid aluminum machined and clear-coated, cork  platform top (remove if desired). Variable height thread. Long stem increases strength and coupling rigidity. Stem O-rings press into pole for perfect no-wobble. Stem unscrews & stores flat. Fits all common equipment and most telescope/optic mount bases.

FAQ & ENGINEERING DESIGN NOTES:

Q:  Why is this any different than a regular tripod, or a monopod for that matter?
A:  Since the mono-pole leg portion extends well above the 'out-rigger' legs, using it in a tripod mode means the 'lean-back' resting angle of your main equipment support monopole is quite small--to get the load centered over the tripod footprint... that means the main pole your instrument sits on will always remain very-near a vertical position regardless of whether you use it as a monopod or as a tripod.

Q:  How do you figure this 4-Lb object carries 50 pounds?
A:  Since the prime-load pole is always near vertical, it carries the bulk of weight so is designed in steel with the superior strength for that, and the much lighter aluminum outriggers do nothing more than stabilizers on an outrigger boat (on those you don't sit on the outriggers--you only sit in the boat). The Polynesians crossed awesome stretches of ocean based on such ancient principles of weight-vs-capacity. Today we engineers don't even use the word 'physics' much anymore for analysis of that... its now 'kinematics' to indicate the dynamical view rather than the older static-state view.

Q:  Why does this "Lean-Back" monopole work as a tripod?
A:  Same as FAQ's above, but in our case the tripod footprint is less than you are used to--and people can now approach your instument without stumbling on the mounting feet--a bastion of a problem before.

Q:  I get concerned with real-tall tripod mounting heights, I put some costly stuff up there. Could be easily toppled in the dark or even daytime with the kids running soccer or frisbees.
A:  The aspect ratio of height-to-tripod-footprint gets un-acceptable for tall and expensive tripods. But just use the lower aspect ratio of our MonoTripod™ on Earth surfaces instead of pavement for the really tall erections--and press in the thick steel stakes we provided to obtain confidence. These have a real large head diameter so easily press-in with your foot and that also makes it real easy to pull out again with no hammer or such tool (Death Valley dessert hardpan though you might indeed want to use the hammer you use for your tent pegs). It takes a 7th-grade fullback with a good safe helmet and serious intention to topple our setup after you did that, similar to what we did with some Lockheed-Martin custom field-tripods where we began realizing the awesome benefits of a clever 8-ounces used in the right way.

Designers' Notes...
  The tripod mode can never collapse--there are no leg-extension clamps to fail. Protects valuable instruments.
  Designed for "Payload is always over footprint center zone", so is always self-stable when released for other "hands-free" things you want to do.
  If you walk away for awhile, push in the steel leg stakes we provide, that way it can not topple from wind gust or people stumbling upon it in the dark.
  When I first described this concept to Paul, the Tech2000 master machinist, he said "That's thinking outside the box".  But then he paused awhile and spoke again... "No--that's more like viewing the outside of a three-dimensional Isosceles Triangle in hyperspace!".
  Out-rigger legs are high-visibility-at night clear coat aluminum with Tech2000 'Orbit' finish.
  Use the carton it comes in to transport and store, no need for a carry-bag. Or beat it to death, throw it in the back of a pickup, you can't hurt it anyway.

Load Rating:  50 Lb.
Adjustable Height Range:  50-70 Inch.
Stowed length:  54 Inch
Materials:  Steel, aircraft aluminum, stainless-steel, pvc.
Finish:  Black Enamel, Clear-Coats on aluminum parts.
Device Weight w/o Specific Equipment Chuck:  4 Lbs. (1.8kg)
Ship Criteria (with a chuck):  4x4x60" 6 Lb Postal/International.

• No individual carried object weighs more than you will complain over 100 meters (a football field two-way traverse to deploy and takedown).


• No object size requires special consideration or custom handling/racking in a vehicle or by hand. Including storage considerations.


• No object requires more than one handler.


• No separate sub-component takes more than 60 seconds to assemble or erect, regardless of total time applied to completion.


• No level required (aside from distinct hilly slopes or emergency terrain).


• No polar, North finding, nor star align required, rapid-ready in day or storm (i.e.- astro bulletins, journalists, defense, or fast weather-spotting on the chase).


• No object requires a "pre-warm" or "calibration-stabilize" settling procedure longer than the 60 seconds described above for sub-components.


• A single field-operator must be able to deploy all from a single vehicle, house, or apartment, and engage the sky in 10 minutes or less.  (Assume 'under-fire' in defense, meteor/weather storm alerts, or rare wildlife observation opportunity).


• If any of these criteria can not be met, then you are not in the Tech2000 Grab-N-Go class. We DO like real big Dobs too -- oh yeah -- just can't call it G&G.