Headband with adjustable device for positioning an optical device

• US 5,465,124 A
• Filed: 06/09/1994
• Issued: 11/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Propper Manufacturing Co. Inc.
• Original Assignee: Propper Manufacturing Co. Inc.
• Inventors: Nussenbaum, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US08/257,351
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 351/200, 351/245, 351/158, 351/140, 351/155, 351/205, 2/10, 2/452, 403/61, 403/91, 403/92, 403/95, 403/101, 403/117, 403/113, 359/409, 359/410, 359/411
• US Class Current: 351/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/12 for looking at the eye fundus, e.g. ophthalmoscopes A61B3/13 takes precedence

Abstract

A positioning device for an optical device is formed of two substantially parallel mounting plates which extend laterally outward from a headband. Each mounting plate has two vertically elongated slots cut in it. The slots closest to the headband (proximal) are in alignment with each other, as are the distal slots on the two mounting plates. Attached to the headband between the two mounting plates is an adjustable stop, such as a threaded rod and nut. The mounting plates and adjustable stop accept an optical device such as an ophthalmoscope having a mounting block affixed to a surface thereof. The mounting block is formed from a body having a hole extending therethrough for receiving a pivot pin. The hole is substantially parallel to the surface of the optical device to which the mounting block is affixed. The mounting block also has two spring loaded balls disposed partially within the body at opposing ends of a line through the body which is parallel to the hole in the body and located below the hole. The mounting block is inserted between the mounting plates, and the pivot pin is inserted through the proximal slot in the first mounting plate, the hole in the body of the mounting block and the proximal slot in the second mounting plate. When fixed to the mounting plates, the position of the mounting block relative to the elongated slots is fixed against unintentional movements by a friction washer or spring. The mounting block pivots into a position resting against the adjustable stop. This position can be changed to accommodate the wearer of the headband. To move the optical device out of the way, the device and mounting block are pivoted upward until the spring loaded balls engage with the distal slots in the mounting plates.

Claims

1. An apparatus for positioning an optical device comprising:

(a) a headband;

(b) first and second substantially parallel mounting plates extending laterally outward from a frontal location on the headband, said first and second mounting plates each having proximal and distal vertically elongated slots cut therethrough, said slots in the first mounting plate being in alignment with the slots in the second mounting plate; and

(c) adjustable stop means affixed to the headband between the first and second mounting plates.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second mounting plates are tangs of a U-shaped bracket.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable stop means comprises a threaded rod extending laterally from the headband, and a nut threaded on the rod.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the nut is a spherical tipped nut.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

(1) an optical device having a mounting block affixed to a surface thereof, wherein the mounting block comprises

a body having a hole extending therethrough for receiving a pivot pin, said hole being substantially parallel to the surface of the optical device to which the mounting block is affixed;

and

two spring loaded balls disposed partially within the body at opposing ends of a line through the body, said line being parallel to the hole in the body and located below the hole;

(2) a pivot pin, wherein the optical device is attached to the headband by placing the mounting block between the first and second mounting plates and inserting the pivot pin through the proximal slot in the first mounting plate, the hole in the body of the mounting block and proximal slot in the second mounting plate; and

(3) means for preventing unintentional sliding of the pivot pin within the proximal slots.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the optical device is an ophthalmoscope.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the means for preventing unintentional sliding of the pivot pin within the proximal slots is a friction washer.

8. An optical device for attachment to a headband, said optical device having affixed thereto a mounting block comprising:

(a) a body having a hole extending therethrough for receiving a pivot pin, said hole being substantially parallel to the surface of the optical device to which the mounting block is affixed; and

(b) two spring loaded balls disposed partially within the body at opposing ends of a line through the body, said line being parallel to the hole in the body and located below the hole.

9. An optical device according to claim 8, wherein the optical device is an ophthalmoscope.