Tray support arm assembly

• US 20080067302A1
• Filed: 09/18/2006
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Weston, David, Hahn, Andrew M., Olivera, Argelio
• Granted Patent: US 7,461,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/183.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2071 for panning and rolling F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2092 comprising means allowing depth adjustment, i.e. forward-backward translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/42 with arrangement for propelling the support stands on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/063 Parallelogram arms

Abstract

A tray support arm assembly provides for the positioning of a tray and an attached movable arm in a substantially horizontal orientation with respect to the console portion of a machine for use and a substantially vertical orientation with respect to the console portion of a machine for storage. The tray support arm assembly includes a lockable tray rotation joint, a lockable wrist joint, a lower arm assembly, a lockable elbow joint, an upper assembly and a lockable shoulder joint.

Claims

1. A tray support arm assembly comprising:

a tray assembly, said tray assembly including a lockable tray joint enabling the rotation of said tray assembly about a vertical axis;

a lockable wrist joint connected to said tray assembly enabling the rotation of said tray assembly about a horizontal axis;

a lower arm assembly connected to said lockable wrist joint;

a lockable elbow joint connected to said lower arm assembly enabling the rotation of said lower arm assembly about a vertical axis;

an upper arm assembly connected to said lockable elbow joint;

a lockable shoulder joint connected to said upper arm assembly enabling the rotation of said upper arm assembly about a vertical axis and a horizontal axis;

a locking handle attached to said tray for unlocking said lockable tray joint, said lockable elbow joint and said lockable shoulder joint;

a tray tilt control for unlocking said lockable wrist in said tray assembly;

whereby the tray assembly may be oriented in a substantially horizontal orientation for use and a substantially vertical orientation for storage.

2. The tray support arm assembly as defined in claim 1 further including a locking gas spring within said upper arm assembly which bears the weight of the tray support arm assembly.

3. The tray support arm assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper arm assembly further includes an upper link and a lower link which together with said lockable shoulder joint and said lockable elbow joint create a four bar linkage enabling vertical movement of said tray assembly and substantially horizontal positioning of said lower arm assembly.

4. The tray support arm assembly as defined in claim 1 further including a sprag locking system within said lockable tray joint.

5. The tray support arm assembly as defined in claim 1 further including a sprag locking assembly within said lockable elbow joint.

6. The tray support arm assembly as defined in claim 1 further including a sprag locking assembly within said lockable shoulder joint.

11. The tray support arm assembly as defined in claim 1 further including a sprag type locking assembly in said lockable elbow joint.

12. The tray support arm assembly as defined in claim 1 further including a sprag type locking assembly in said lockable tray rotation joint.

7. A tray support arm assembly for mounting to the console portion of a machine, said tray support arm assembly comprising:

a mounting arm assembly constructed for attachment to the console portion of a machine;

a lockable shoulder joint connected to said mounting arm assembly;

an upper arm assembly connected to said lockable shoulder joint;

a lockable elbow joint connected to said upper arm assembly;

a lower arm assembly connected to said lockable elbow joint;

a lockable wrist joint connected to said lower arm assembly;

a lockable tray rotation joint connected to said lockable wrist joint;

a tray assembly connected to said lockable tray rotation joint;

a mechanism passing through said lockable wrist joint, said lower arm assembly, said lockable elbow joint, said upper arm assembly, and said lockable shoulder joint to unlock said lockable tray rotation joint, said lockable elbow joint and said lockable shoulder joint to enable the positioning of said tray assembly in a plurality of substantially horizontal orientations with respect to the console portion of the machine.

8. The tray support arm assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said upper arm assembly includes a locking gas spring.

9. The tray support arm assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said upper arm assembly further includes an upper link and a lower link which together with said lockable shoulder joint and said lockable elbow joint create a four bar linkage enabling vertical movement of said tray assembly and substantially horizontal positioning of said lower arm assembly.

10. The tray support arm assembly as defined in claim 7 further including a sprag type locking mechanism in said lockable shoulder joint.

13. The tray support arm assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said mechanism together with a tray tilt control for unlocking said lockable wrist joint enables the positioning of the tray assembly in a substantially vertical orientation with respect to the console portion of the machine.

14. A method for adjustably positioning a tray support arm near the console of a machine, said method comprising the steps of:

mounting a support arm assembly to the console of the machine;

mounting a lockable shoulder joint to said support arm assembly, said lockable shoulder joint enabling rotation about a horizontal axis and a vertical axis;

mounting an upper arm assembly to said lockable shoulder joint;

mounting a lockable elbow joint to said upper arm assembly, said lockable elbow joint enabling rotation about a vertical axis;

mounting a lower arm assembly to said lockable elbow joint;

mounting a lockable tray assembly to said lower arm assembly, said lockable tray assembly enabling rotation about a vertical axis;

mounting a tray to said lockable tray assembly.

15. The method as defined in claim 14 wherein the weight of said tray, said lockable tray assembly, said lower arm assembly, said lockable elbow joint, and said upper arm assembly is supported in part by a locking gas cylinder within said upper arm assembly.

16. The method as defined in claim 14 further including the step of mounting a lockable wrist joint to said lockable tray assembly and said lower arm assembly, wherein a rotation of said lockable shoulder joint and said lockable wrist joint about a horizontal axis are used when placing said tray support arm in a storage position alongside the console of the machine.