Tip tool

• US 20050050707A1
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GE Inspection Technologies LP (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Inspection Technologies LP (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Roberts, Randy Howard, Scott, Joshua Lynn, Fish, Charles W. III
• Application Number:
  US10/656,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20050050707A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/426.500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00131 Accessories for endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 9/00 Hand-held gripping tools other than those covered by group B25B7/00 wrenches B25B13/00; specially adapted for watchmakers' or like use G04D
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 9/02 without sliding or pivotal connections, e.g. tweezers, onepiece tongs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49815 Disassembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49822 by applying force
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53683 Spreading parts apart or separating them from face to face engagement

Abstract

A tip tool, and methods for using the tip tool to either connect or disconnect a tip to/from an imaging apparatus, are provided. The tip tool includes a body sized to fit over at least a portion of the tip and a tip holding element disposed in contact with the tip tool body for releasably engaging the tip.

Claims

1. A tip tool for connecting or disconnecting a tip to an imaging apparatus, comprising:

a tip tool body sized to fit over at least a portion of the tip;

a tip holding element disposed in contact with the tip tool body for releasably engaging the tip.

2. The tip tool of claim 1, wherein the tip holding element is disposed within the tip tool body.

3. The tip tool of claim 1, wherein the tip holding element comprises an O-ring.

4. The tip tool of claim 3, wherein the O-ring is comprised of a polymer.

5. The tip tool of claim 4, wherein the polymer is buna-n.

6. The tip tool of claim 1, wherein the tip holding element comprises at least one compressible element.

7. The tip tool of claim 6, wherein the at least one compressible element comprises at least one arm cantilevered from the tip tool body.

8. The tip tool of claim 6, wherein the at least one compressible element comprises an O-ring.

9. The tip tool of claim 1, wherein the tip tool body is comprised of a polymer.

10. The tip tool of claim 9, wherein the polymer comprises Delrin®

.

11. The tip tool of claim 7, wherein the at least one arm is comprised of the same material as the tip tool body.

12. The tip tool of claim 1, further comprising a depth set mechanism sized to select the extent to which the tip tool body is fitted over the at least a portion of the tip.

13. The tip tool of claim 1, wherein the tip tool is capable of storing the tip when the tip is not connected to the imaging apparatus.

14. The tip tool of claim 1, further comprising identifying indicia disposed at a visible location on the tip tool body.

15. A tool for connecting or disconnecting an optical tip to one of a borescope or endoscope, comprising:

a cylindrical, hollow body sized to fit over the optical tip;

an O-ring disposed within the body; and

at least one compressible arm cantilevered from the body,

wherein the at least one compressible arm is located over the O-ring so that when compressed the arm compresses the O-ring.

16. The tool of claim 15, wherein the O-ring is made from buna-n, and the body and the at least one compressible arm are each made from Delrin®

.

17. A method for attaching a tip to an imaging apparatus, such as a borescope or endoscope, comprising the steps of:

grasping the tip with a tip tool;

manipulating the tip tool so as attach the tip to the imaging apparatus,

wherein the tip tool comprises a tip tool body and at least one tip holding element disposed in contact with the tip tool body for releasably engaging the tip.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of manipulating the tip tool comprises turning the tip tool in a direction selected from the set of directions consisting of:

clockwise and counterclockwise.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of manipulating the tip tool comprises pushing the tip tool toward the imaging apparatus.

20. A method for detaching a tip from an imaging apparatus, such as a borescope or endoscope, comprising the steps of:

grasping the tip with a tip tool;

manipulating the tip tool so as detach the tip from the imaging apparatus,

wherein the tip tool comprises a tip tool body and at least one tip holding element disposed in contact with the tip tool body for releasably engaging the tip.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of manipulating the tip tool comprises turning the tip tool in a direction selected from the set of directions consisting of:

clockwise and counterclockwise.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of manipulating the tip tool comprises pulling the tip tool away from the imaging apparatus.