Mount for an optical structure having a flanged protruding member and method of mounting an optical structure using such mount
First Claim
1. A mount assembly for an optical structure, comprising:
- an optical structure comprising at least one mirror panel, the mirror panel comprising a reflective surface and a back surface substantially opposite the reflective surface;
a protruding member extending from the back surface of the optical structure, comprising two portions, a first portion having a first shape having a first area and a second portion having a second shape having a second area, wherein the first portion is located between the second portion and the back surface of the optical structure and wherein the first area is larger than the second area; and
a base, comprising a mounting element and an upper element extending from the mounting element, the upper element having a cavity for receipt therein of at least a portion of the second portion of the protruding member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved mount for, and method of mounting an, optical structure is provided. The mount has an optical structure comprising at least one mirror panel, the mirror panel comprising a reflective surface and a back surface substantially opposite the reflective surface, a protruding member extending from the back surface of the optical structure, the protruding member having a shape and the shape having an outside surface there-around, a base comprising a mounting element and an upper element extending from the mounting element, the upper element having a cavity for secured receipt therein of at least a portion of the protruding member, wherein the receiving cavity of the upper element has a shape identical to that of the shape of the protruding member, but where the shape of the protruding member is ten thousandths ( 1/10,000) of an inch smaller than the shape of the receiving cavity so that the outside surface of the protruding member is ten thousandths ( 1/10,000) of an inch away from the corresponding parts of the receiving cavity when the protruding member is secured within the cavity.
3 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A mount assembly for an optical structure, comprising:
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an optical structure comprising at least one mirror panel, the mirror panel comprising a reflective surface and a back surface substantially opposite the reflective surface; a protruding member extending from the back surface of the optical structure, comprising two portions, a first portion having a first shape having a first area and a second portion having a second shape having a second area, wherein the first portion is located between the second portion and the back surface of the optical structure and wherein the first area is larger than the second area; and a base, comprising a mounting element and an upper element extending from the mounting element, the upper element having a cavity for receipt therein of at least a portion of the second portion of the protruding member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A mount assembly for an optical structure, comprising:
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an optical structure comprising at least one mirror panel, the mirror panel comprising a reflective surface and a back surface substantially opposite the reflective surface; a protruding member extending from the back surface of the optical structure; a base, comprising a mounting element and an upper element extending from the mounting element, the upper element having a cavity for receipt therein of at least a portion of protruding member; and at least two openings through the upper element into the cavity and a mounting pin adhered within and through each opening of the at least two of openings, each mounting pin in contact with and which acting together center and hold the second portion of the protruding member in the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A mount assembly for an optical structure, comprising:
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an optical structure comprising at least one mirror panel, the mirror panel comprising a reflective surface and a back surface substantially opposite the reflective surface; a protruding member extending from the back surface of the optical structure; a base comprising a mounting element and an upper element extending from the mounting element, the upper element having a cavity for receipt therein of at least a portion of the protruding member; and the mounting element comprising three openings therethrough wherein each of the openings receives therethrough means for securing the mount assembly to another structure, each of the three openings having an imaginary center line running therethrough wherein an imaginary apex of the retroreflector is kinematically centered between the three imaginary center lines of the openings.
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17. A method of mounting an optical structure, comprising the steps of:
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adhering a protruding member having a shape and an outside surface around the shape, to a back surface of the optical structure; applying a bonding material over the outside surface of the shape of the protruding member; and inserting at least a portion of the protruding member into a cavity located within a base of a mounting assembly.
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18. For an optical structure comprising at least one mirror panel, the mirror panel comprising a reflective surface and a back surface substantially opposite the reflective surface, and a protruding member extending from the back surface of the optical structure, a method of mounting the optical structure to a base used to mount the optical structure and base to another structure, comprising the steps of:
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forming at least two openings through a portion of the base; inserting at least a portion of the protruding member into a cavity in the base meant to receive the at least a portion of the protruding member; inserting a pin into each of the at least two openings so that an end of each pin touches the protruding member in the cavity; centering the protruding member in the cavity through adjustments made in the positioning of the pins; and securing the pins with an adhesive in their positions in the openings of holding the protruding member centered in the cavity.
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Specification