Extendable/Retractable Support Column

A method of forming an extendable/retractable tower comprising the steps of:

• providing three linked sections and a drive mechanism, each linked section including a plurality of pivotally connected vertically adjacent individual sections, each individual section having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side, each individual section of each linked section being pivotally connected in an end-to-end relationship with respect to each vertically adjacent individual section, each individual section having a series of drive openings, a connection tab proximate the first end and a tab receiving recess proximate the second end;
• the drive mechanism including a power screw;
• wherein the drive mechanism can engage drive openings in individual sections of each of the three linked sections when the power screw rotates, so that connection tabs of individual sections of each of the three linked sections can engage tab receiving recesses of individual sections in laterally adjacent linked sections so as to connect such individual sections and connect the respective laterally adjacent linked sections;
• and
• rotating the power screw in a first direction so that the drive mechanism engages drive openings in individual sections so that the connection tabs of individual sections of each of the three linked sections engage the tab receiving recesses of individual sections of the other laterally adjacent linked sections so as to connect such individual sections and connect the respective laterally adjacent linked sections as the linked sections are extended.