Abstract: An apparatus for increasing the stability of a tripod includes a centrally placed base member that includes three perimeter leg assemblies, each of which are adapted to cooperate with one of the legs of the tripod. Each of the leg assemblies includes a generally U-shaped member that surrounds a portion of each tripod leg and which cooperates with the base member so that when a portion of each respective leg assembly is tightened, an extension member is urged outward and into contact with an inside surface of one of the legs which, in turn, urges the leg outward until an outside of the leg bears tightly against an inside of the respective U-shaped member. Each tripod leg is accordingly placed under compression eliminating any possible movement thereby. The three forces that urge the legs outward are disposed radially around a center longitudinal axis, each force separated from both adjoining forces by 120 degrees of arc.

Abstract: A watchdog circuit for improving the possibility of recovery from failures, such as those caused by static discharge or RF interference, in a data processing system. A data processing system includes a main, multi-chip processor for handling the main computational burden and a single-chip processor for handling I/O functions. Additionally, the main processor periodically sends status to the single-chip processor. If the single-chip processor does not receive status within a predetermined period it generates a reset signal to the main processor. In response to the reset signal the main processor interrogates the single-chip processor to determine if the reset was caused by a failure or a power-on condition. Because of its self contained construction the single-chip processor is less susceptible to static induced failures and will improve the recovery capabilities of the system when used to monitor the main processor.

Abstract: An improved bird feeder utilizing a sectional roof assembly with an elastomeric material joining a fixed roof section to a second movable roof section. The elastomeric material serves as both an environmental seal and as a hinge to allow easy access to the seed storage area. A flow rate block intermediate the base and a movable wall of the feeder allows bird seed to flow from the interior of the feeder at a rate dependent on the position of the flow rate block.