Tripod system

A tripod system comprising:

• a tripod having a center column, a plurality of legs coupled to the center column, a battery receptacle supported by the center column or one of the plurality of legs, and a head supported by the center column,
• a battery pack removably coupled to the battery receptacle;
• and
• an accessory device removably coupled to the head such that the accessory device is electrically powered by the battery pack through the tripod,
• wherein the accessory device is removable from the head and couplable mechanically and electrically directly to the battery pack,
• wherein the battery pack includes a first latch operable to releasably secure the battery pack to the battery receptacle and to releasably secure the battery pack to the accessory device.

A tripod system comprising:

• a tripod including
• a center column,
• a plurality of legs coupled to the center column, and
• a battery receptacle having a first receptacle interface and a second receptacle interface, the first receptacle interface configured to removably couple to a first battery pack having a first voltage, the second receptacle interface configured to removably couple to a second battery pack having a second voltage that is different than the first voltage, the battery receptacle configured to alternately receive the first battery pack and the second battery pack;
• and
• an accessory device supported by the center column, the accessory device configured to be powered by the first battery pack when the first battery pack is coupled to the battery receptacle and configured to be powered by the second battery pack when the second battery pack is coupled to the battery receptacle;
• wherein when the first receptacle interface receives the first battery pack, the second receptacle interface is at least partially blocked, and wherein when the second receptacle interface receives the second battery pack, the first receptacle interface is at least partially blocked.

A tripod for use with an accessory device and a battery pack, the tripod comprising:

• a main body including
• a center column having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the first end and the second end, and
• a plurality of legs coupled to the center column;
• a battery receptacle supported on the main body, the battery receptacle having a first interface configured to mechanically and electrically couple to the battery pack;
• and
• a head supported at the second end of the center column, the head having a second interface configured to concurrently mechanically and electrically couple to the accessory device,
• wherein the first interface has a complementary configuration to the second interface,
• wherein the battery pack is a first battery pack, and wherein the first interface is configured to alternately mechanically and electrically couple to a second battery pack having a different configuration than the first battery pack.

A tripod for use with an accessory device and a battery pack, the tripod comprising:

• a main body including
• a center column having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the first end and the second end, and
• a plurality of legs coupled to the center column;
• a battery receptacle supported on the main body, the battery receptacle having a first interface configured to mechanically and electrically couple to the battery pack;
• and
• a head supported at the second end of the center column, the head having a second interface configured to concurrently mechanically and electrically couple to the accessory device,
• wherein the first interface has a complementary configuration to the second interface,
• wherein the second interface includes a base and a stem extending from the base, and wherein the stem is configured to be inserted into the accessory device,
• wherein the second interface includes electrical contacts positioned on the stem and a latch positioned on the base, wherein the electrical contacts are configured to electrically couple to the accessory device, and wherein the latch is configured to releasably secure the accessory device to the head.