A tripod combines a ball mount base with a tilt/pan head includes a ball stud that is attached to the center column of the tripod. A lockable ball mount is attached to the ball stud and a tilt/pan head is attached to the ball mount. The tilt/pan head thus can be leveled using the ball mount irrespective of the orientation of the tripod itself. The tripod may also have telescoping legs each with a friction lock. The friction locks have identical threads notwithstanding that each successive telescoping leg segment is smaller in diameter than the previous. A universal end cap can be attached to any one of the leg segments. Telescoping arms attached to the legs form a V-shaped cradle to support an item attached to the tripod head.

For screw release, an apparatus includes a boss, a screw secured to the boss, and a force release component connected to one of the boss and the screw. The force release component releases a portion of the screw from the boss in response to a specified force.

A tubular structure is described herein comprising an elongate tubular member extending between a first end and a second end, wherein the tubular member comprises an inwardly tapered portion adjacent said first end, the inwardly tapered portion narrowing the tubular member in a longitudinal direction towards said first end. A nut is also provided internally of said tubular member at said inwardly tapered portion, said nut having an outer surface that is in contact an inner surface of said tubular member. An annular member is also provided externally of said tubular member at said inwardly tapered portion, said annular member having an inner surface that is in contact with said outer surface of said tapered portion. The inner surface of said tubular member at said inwardly tapered portion is tapered so as to extend at an angle that compliments an angle of the outer surface of said nut.

A tubular structure is described herein comprising an elongate tubular member extending between a first end and a second end, wherein the tubular member comprises an inwardly tapered portion adjacent said first end, the inwardly tapered portion narrowing the tubular member in a longitudinal direction towards said first end. A nut is also provided internally of said tubular member at said inwardly tapered portion, said nut having an outer surface that is in contact an inner surface of said tubular member. An annular member is also provided externally of said tubular member at said inwardly tapered portion, said annular member having an inner surface that is in contact with said outer surface of said tapered portion. The inner surface of said tubular member at said inwardly tapered portion is tapered so as to extend at an angle that compliments an angle of the outer surface of said nut.

A modular floating platform connector includes a connecting unit with a hollow center chamber that has one or more inside diameters. The chamber may have wall surfaces to secure components to modular floating platforms. The connector may further incorporate one or more external features such as a collar and retaining ribs that engage with the connecting tabs on modular floating platform float modules to securely hold the float modules together and to retain attachment members of accessories, fixtures, structures and other components to modular floating platforms.

A modular floating platform connector includes a connecting unit with a hollow center chamber that has one or more inside diameters. The chamber may have wall surfaces to secure components to modular floating platforms. The connector may further incorporate one or more external features such as a collar and retaining ribs that engage with the connecting tabs on modular floating platform float modules to securely hold the float modules together and to retain attachment members of accessories, fixtures, structures and other components to modular floating platforms.

For screw release, an apparatus includes a boss, a screw secured to the boss, and a force release component connected to one of the boss and the screw. The force release component releases a portion of the screw from the boss in response to a specified force.

A bushing assembly for tubular structures is disclosed. The bushing assembly includes a body having a substantially flat configuration and defining a planar surface and an outer edge; and a plurality of projections extending from the outer edge and traverse to the planar surface, each projection defining a longitudinal axis, each projection including at least one ridge extending at least partially along a surface of the projection and along the longitudinal axis.

A carrying rack connecting device is provided, including: an insertion assembly, configured to be connected with a hitch; an urging mechanism, including a pin, a driving member and at least one urging member, the pin configured to pin the insertion assembly and the hitch, the driving member being connected to the insertion assembly and movable between a release position and an urging position, the driving member including an urging portion, the at least one urging member being swingably connected to the insertion assembly and including an urged portion, the urged portion and the urging portion partially overlapping, wherein when the driving member moves from the release position toward the urging position, the urging portion urges the urged portion to move the at least one urging member to swing outward so that the at least one urging member is urgingly abutted against the hitch.

A roller ball assembly that provides a safe, efficient, unobtrusive and easy to install load conveyance system to facilitate the travel of a watercraft on or off of a floating vessel platform with no or minimal potential of causing damage to the watercraft's hull or to the float modules. The roller ball assembly is comprised of a sphere rotatable with respect to a floating vessel platform. A number of roller ball assemblies can be mounted into a floating vessel platform in the junction areas of float modules.