Abstract: The tripod (10) comprises an equipment support (12), three legs (14, 16) pivotally secured to the support, a center post (22) extending from the support and between the legs, and three stabilizer links (28) secured respectively between the legs and the center post. Gross adjustment is first made for each leg by adjusting the position of the end of its stabilizer link with respect to the leg. Thereafter, fine adjustments are made by rotating a turnbuckle (44) in the stabilizer link which lengthens or shortens the link to change the geometry of the triangle formed by the leg, the center post, and the stabilizer link. A slider bearing (54) is attached between each of the legs and its respective foot pad (56). Since the foot pads have previously been firmly set into the ground, when the geometry change occurs, the slider bearing permits relative sliding between the leg and the foot pad without causing physical movement of the foot pad.

Abstract: A visor-like, protective hood assembly consisting of a segmented shutter for covering an optical window and including three hemispherical shutter segments of increasing radii and pivoted about a common pivot for relocation between a retracted, open and nested relation and an extended, closed position. A drive motor, coupled with a Geneva mechanism, directly and intermittently drives the outermost shutter segment, and trailing edge lips on each segment engage with and respectively drive the intermediate and inner segments to their fully extended, closed positions in a protective relation over the window.