Adjustable support or stand for an optical observation instrument

• US 3,891,301 A
• Filed: 09/09/1974
• Issued: 06/24/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rudolf Heller
• Original Assignee: Rudolf Heller
• Inventors: Heller, Rudolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Rubin, David H.
• Application Number:
  US05/504,539
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 350/82-85 354/81
• US Class Current: 359/384
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/20 Surgical microscopes characterised by non-optical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/25 Supports therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2035 in more than one direction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/027 Ceiling supports
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/041 for balancing rotational movement of the head
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/001 Counterbalanced structures, e.g. surgical microscopes

Abstract

An adjustable support for an optical observation instrument, especially a binocular microscope, the position and/or orientation of which can be freely adjusted and fixed within a spatial area, comprising an elongated balance beam supported at its fulcrum on a stationary support by means of two blockable bearings having respective vertical and horizontal converging axes, one arm of the balance beam being equipped with an adjustable compensation weight, an elongated intermediate member supported at its fulcrum on the other arm of the balance beam by means of two blockable bearings having respective axes converging and perpendicular to each other, one axis being horizontal and the other being oriented substantially lengthwise to the intermediate member, one arm of the intermediate member being equipped with an adjustable weight while the instrument carrier is supported on the other arm of the intermediate member by means of an articulated rod arrangement. The blockable bearings may be actuated from a switch means affixed to a handgrip. The articulated rod arrangement may be a parallel motion rod arrangement having at least one blockable bearing and to which the observation instrument is affixed by means of an instrument carrier and a further blockable bearing, the axis of which lies in the parallel motion plane.

Claims

1. Adjustable stand for an optical observation instrument, the position and orientation of which can be freely adjusted and fixed in a spatial area, comprising an observation instrument, an instrument carrier for having the observation instrument affixed thereto, a stationary support, an elongated balance beam having a fulcrum defining two arms and supported at its fulcrum on the stationary support by means of two first blockable bearings having respective vertical and horizontal converging axial directions, one arm of the balance beam being equipped with a first adjustable compensation weight, an elongated intermediate member having a fulcrum defining two arms and supported at its fulcrum on the other arm of the balance beam by means of two second blockable bearings having respective axial directions converging and oriented transversely to each other, one axial direction being horizontal and the other being oriented substantially lengthwise to the intermediate member, one arm of the intermediate member being equipped with a second adjustable compensation weight while the instrument carrier is supported on the other arm of the intermediate member by means of an articulated rod arrangement.

2. The adjustable stand as defined in claim 1, wherein the articulated rod arrangement is a parallel motion rod arrangement defining a motion planE and comprising a rod having a terminal piece whereon the instrument carrier is supported by means of a third blockable bearing, the axial direction of which is substantially lying in the motion plane of the rod arrangement, wherein further the rod arrangement is articulatively supported on the intermediate member and is equipped for parallel motion with fourth bearings having respective axes parallel to each other and perpendicular to the motion plane and of which at least one is blockable, the rod arrangement comprising at least two elongated members substantially oriented lengthwise parallel to each other and to the intermediate member.

3. The adjustable stand as defined in claim 1, further comprising a handgrip having switch means for actuating the first and second blockable bearings.

4. The adjustable stand as defined in claim 2, further comprising a handgrip having switch means for actuating the first, second, third and fourth blockable bearings.