Support arm for surgical light apparatus

• US 6,328,458 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2000
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Bell, William R., Peterson, Thomas M., Coon, Dennis C.
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US09/480,640
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 362/33, 362/287-289, 362/418, 362/419, 362/401, 362/402, 362/422, 362/427, 362/428, 362/804, 248/280.11, 248/292.11, 248/292.13, 248/292.14, 248/325, 248/585, 248/586, 403/65, 403/112, 403/116, 403/117, 403/150, 403/154, 403/156, 403/157
• US Class Current: 362/371
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/004 mounted on the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/107 Supply appliances supply appliances for dental machines A61C1/0007
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2064 for tilting and panning F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/027 Ceiling supports
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/024 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/26 Pivoted arms
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/205 for operating theatres
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/804 Surgical or dental spotlight
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32591 Opposed stops on one member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32861 T-pivot, e.g., wrist pin, etc.

Abstract

An arm assembly for supporting a surgical lighthead of a surgical light apparatus. The arm assembly includes a first arm and a second arm pivotally coupled to the first arm about a main pivot axis. A rod extends within an interior region of the second arm. A link is coupled to the rod to the first arm for pivoting movement about a link pivot axis that is spaced apart from the main pivot axis. A spring extends within the interior region of the second arm. The spring exerts a force on the rod and the link to counterbalance the surgical lighthead. A space filler includes an outer cover coupled to the first arm and formed to include a first slot and an inner cover nested within the outer cover and formed to include a second slot.

Claims

1. An arm assembly for supporting a surgical lighthead of a surgical light apparatus, the arm assembly comprising:

a first arm,

a first clevis appended to the first arm and having a pair of first flanges that are separated to define a first space therebetween,

a second arm;

a structure coupling the surgical lighthead to the second arm,

a second clevis appended to the second arm and having a pair of second flanges that are separated to define a second space therebetween, at least a portion of the pair of first flanges being positioned to lie in the second space such that each first flange is adjacent to a respective one of the second flanges, the second flanges being pivotably coupled to respective first flanges so that the second arm and second clevis are pivotable about a main pivot axis relative to the first arm and first clevis, and

a space filler including an outer cover rigidly coupled to the first clevis, the outer cover being formed to include an elongated arcuate slot configured to receive a member coupled to the second arm therethrough, the space filler also including an inner cover located in the first space, the inner cover being configured to move freely relative to the first clevis, the second clevis and the outer cover as the first and second arms move relative to each other.

2. The arm assembly of claim 1, wherein the second arm is formed to include an interior region, and further comprising a rod extending within the interior region of the second arm, a link coupled to the rod and having a portion positioned to lie in the first space and pivotably coupled to the first clevis for pivoting movement about a link pivot axis that is spaced apart from the main pivot axis, and a spring extending within the interior region of the second arm, the spring exerting a force on the rod and the link to counterbalance the surgical lighthead.

3. The arm assembly of claim 2, wherein the link is the member which extends through the elongated slot formed in the outer cover so that an end of the link is located in the first space.

4. The arm assembly of claim 3, wherein the inner cover is also formed to include a slot configured to receive the link therethrough.

5. The arm assembly of claim 4, wherein the inner cover is a ring having a first portion and a second portion narrower than the first portion, the slot being formed in the first portion of the inner cover.

6. The arm assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner cover is a ring having a first portion and a second portion narrower than the first portion.

7. The arm assembly of claim 6, wherein the first portion of the inner cover has a width substantially equal to a width of the second space.

8. The arm assembly of claim 6, wherein the second portion of the inner cover has a width substantially equal to a width of the first space.

18. The arm assembly of claim 5, wherein the rod-engaging portion of the adjuster includes a first cylindrical outer surface having a first diameter and the spring-engaging portion of the adjuster includes a second cylindrical outer surface having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter.

19. The arm assembly of claim 18, wherein the second outer surface is formed to include a plurality of radially extending holes and the second arm is formed to include a window through which the holes are accessed with an adjustment tool to adjust the position of the adjuster relative to the rod between the first and second positions.

9. An arm assembly for supporting a surgical lighthead of a surgical light apparatus, the arm assembly comprising

a first arm including a first stop surface and a second stop surface,

a second arm formed to include an interior region, the surgical lighthead being supported by the second arm, the second arm including a third stop surface and a fourth stop surface, the second arm being pivotally coupled to the first arm about a main pivot axis,

a rod extending within the interior region of the second arm,

a link coupled to the rod and pivotably coupled to the first arm for pivoting movement about a link pivot axis that is spaced apart from the main pivot axis,

a spring extending within the interior region of the second arm, the spring exerting a force on the rod and the link to counterbalance the surgical lighthead, and

wherein the second arm is pivotable about the main pivot axis relative to the first arm between a first position in which the third stop surface engages the first stop surface to limit pivoting movement of the second arm in a first direction and a second position in which the fourth stop surface engages the second stop surface to limit pivoting movement of the second arm in a second direction.

10. The arm assembly of claim 9, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth stop surfaces are configured so that the second arm pivots through an angle of at least one-hundred-eighty degrees about the main pivot axis relative to the first arm during movement of the second arm between the first and second positions.

11. The arm assembly of claim 9, wherein the link pivot axis is vertically above the main pivot axis.

12. The arm assembly of claim 9, wherein the first arm, the second arm, the link, and the rod are substantially vertically aligned with one another when the second arm is in the second position.

13. The arm assembly of claim 9, wherein the first and third stop surfaces are configured so that the second arm and the first arm define an acute included angle therebetween when the second arm is in the first position, and the second and fourth stop surfaces are configured so that the second arm and first arm define an angle of about one-hundred-eighty degrees therebetween when the second arm is in the second position.

14. The arm assembly of claim 13, wherein the first arm, the second arm, the link, and the rod are substantially vertically aligned with one another when the second arm is in the second position.

15. An arm assembly for supporting a surgical lighthead of a surgical light apparatus, the arm assembly comprising

a first arm,

a second arm formed to include an interior region, the surgical lighthead being supported by the second arm, the second arm being pivotally coupled to the first arm about a main pivot axis,

a rod extending within the interior region of the second arm and having spaced apart first and second ends,

a link pivotably coupled to the rod adjacent to the first end thereof, the link having a portion pivotably coupled to the first arm for pivoting movement about a link pivot axis that is spaced apart from the main pivot axis,

a spring extending within the interior region of the second arm, and

an adjuster movably coupled to the rod, the adjuster including a rod-engaging portion and a spring-engaging portion, the spring being compressed between the spring-engaging portion and a portion of the second arm so as to exert a force on the rod and the link to counterbalance the surgical lighthead, the rod-engaging portion having a first end face facing toward said portion of the second arm, the spring-engaging portion having a second end face facing away from said portion of the second arm, the adjuster being movable relative to the rod between first and second positions to adjust compression of the spring, and the second end of the rod being positioned to lie between the first and second end faces of the adjuster when the adjuster is in any position between the first and second positions.

16. The arm assembly of claim 15, wherein the rod-engaging portion of the adjuster is somewhat cylindrical and the spring-engaging portion extends radially outwardly from the rod-engaging portion.

17. The arm assembly of claim 15, wherein the spring is a coil spring having an interior region, the rod extends within the interior region of the coil spring, and the rod-engaging portion of the adjuster is positioned to lie within the interior region of the coil spring.

20. An arm assembly for supporting a surgical lighthead of a surgical light apparatus, the arm assembly comprising

a first arm having a pair of first flanges that arc separated to define a first space therebetween,

a second arm formed to include an interior region and coupled to the surgical lighthead, the second arm having a pair of second flanges that are separated to define a second space therebetween, at least a portion of the pair of first flanges being positioned to lie in the second space such that each first flange is adjacent to a respective one of the second flanges, the second flanges being pivotably coupled to respective first flanges so that the second arm is pivotable about a main pivot axis relative to the first arm,

a rod extending within the interior region of the second arm,

a link coupled to the rod and having a portion positioned to lie in the first space and pivotably coupled to the first arm for pivoting movement about a link pivot axis that is spaced apart from the main pivot axis,

a spring extending within the interior region of the second arm, the spring exerting a force on the rod and the link to counterbalance the surgical lighthead, and

a space filler positioned to lie in the first space, each first flange having a first edge, each second flange having a second edge, and the space filler having a third edge, the third edge substantially spanning the first space between the first flanges, and the third edge cooperating with the first edges to substantially span the second space between the second flanges.

21. The arm assembly of claim 20, wherein the first, second, and third edges are substantially concentric with the main pivot axis and have substantially equivalent diameters.

22. The arm assembly of claim 20, wherein the space filler includes a rim providing the third edge, the space filler includes a thin wall appended to the rim.

23. The arm assembly of claim 22, wherein the thin wall is formed to include an arcuate slot, and further comprising a link pin pivotably coupling the link to at least one of the first flanges, the link pin being received in the arcuate slot.

24. The arm assembly of claim 23, wherein the thin wall is formed to include a central aperture, and one of a pair of pivot pins coupling a respective one of the first flanges with a respective one of the second flanges is received in the central aperture so that the space filler is supported for pivoting movement about the main pivot axis relative to the first flanges.

25. The arm assembly of claim 20, wherein the third edge is formed to include a link-receiving gap and the link extends through the link-receiving gap.

26. An arm assembly for supporting a surgical lighthead of a surgical light apparatus, the arm assembly comprising

a first arm,

a second arm formed to include an interior region and coupled to the surgical lighthead, the second arm being pivotally coupled to the first arm about a main pivot axis,

a rod extending within the interior region of the second arm,

a link coupled to the rod and pivotably coupled to the first arm for pivoting movement about a link pivot axis that is spaced apart from the main pivot axis,

a spring extending within the interior region of the second arm, the spring exerting a force on the rod and the link to counterbalance the surgical lighthead, and

a space filler including an outer cover coupled to the first arm and formed to include a first slot and an inner cover nested within the outer cover and formed to include a second slot, the link extending through the first and second slots, the link being configured to move about the link pivot axis in response to movement of the second arm about the main pivot axis to cause the inner cover to rotate about an axis of rotation.

31. The arm assembly of claim 26, wherein the inner cover is spaced apart from the rod.

32. The arm assembly of claim 26, wherein the first arm includes a pair of first flanges that are separated to define a first space therebetween, the second arm includes a pair of second flanges that arc separated to define a second space therebetween, at least a portion of the pair of first flanges is positioned to lie in the second space, each of the second flanges is pivotably coupled to one of the first flanges so that the second arm is pivotable about the main pivot axis, and at least a portion of the inner cover is positioned to lie in the first space.

33. The arm assembly of claim 32, wherein at least a portion of the outer cover and at least a portion of the inner cover are positioned to lie in the second space.

34. The arm assembly of claim 32, wherein the outer cover contacts the inner cover.

35. The arm assembly of claim 32, wherein the inner cover includes a first portion having a first width and a second portion that is coupled to the first portion and has a second width that is less than the first width, the first portion is positioned to lie outside of the first space, and the second portion is positioned to lie in the first space.

36. The arm assembly of claim 26, wherein the inner cover includes a continuous ring formed to include the second slot.

37. The arm assembly of claim 36, wherein the ring includes a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width that is less than the first width and the first portion is formed to include the second slot.

38. The arm assembly of claim 36, wherein the outer cover includes an arcuate body portion formed to include the first slot and the ring contacts the arcuate body portion.

39. The arm assembly of claim 26, wherein the axis of rotation of the inner cover is coincident with the main pivot axis so that the inner cover is configured to rotate about the main pivot axis.

27. An arm assembly for supporting a surgical lighthead of a surgical light apparatus, the arm assembly comprising

a first arm having a pair of first flanges that arc separated to define a first space therebetween,

a second arm coupled to the surgical lighthead, the second arm having a pair of second flanges that are separated to define a second space therebetween, at least a portion of the pair of first flanges being positioned to lie in the second space such that each first flange is adjacent to a respective one of the second flanges, the second flanges being pivotably coupled to respective first flanges so that the second arm is pivotable about a main pivot axis relative to the first arm,

a counterbalancing device positioned to lie in the first space, and

a space filler positioned to lie in the first space, each first flange having a first edge, each second flange having a second edge, and the space filler having a third edge, the third edge substantially spanning the first space between the first flanges, and the third edge cooperating with the first edges to substantially span the second space between the second flanges.

28. The arm assembly of claim 27, wherein the second arm includes an interior region, and wherein the counterbalancing device includes a rod extending within the interior region of the second arm, a link coupled to the rod and having a portion positioned to lie in the first space and pivotably coupled to the first arm for pivoting movement about a link pivot axis that is spaced apart from the main pivot axis, and a spring extending within the interior region of the second arm to exert a force on the rod and the link to counterbalance the surgical lighthead.

29. An arm assembly for supporting a surgical lighthead of a surgical light apparatus, the arm assembly comprising:

a first arm having a pair of first flanges that are separated to define a first space therebetween,

a second arm coupled to the surgical lighthead, the second arm having a pair of second flanges that are separated to define a second space therebetween, at least a portion of the pair of first flanges being positioned to lie in the second space such that each first flange is adjacent to a respective one of the second flanges, the second flanges being pivotably coupled to respective first flanges so that the second arm is pivotable about a main pivot axis relative to the first arm, and

a space filler including an outer cover rigidly coupled to the first arm and located in the first space, the outer cover being formed to include an elongated arcuate slot configured to receive a member coupled to the second arm, the space filler also including an inner cover located in the first space, the inner cover being configured to move freely relative to the first arm, the second clevis and the outer cover as the first and second arms move relative to each other.

30. An arm assembly for supporting a surgical lighthead of a surgical light apparatus, the arm assembly comprising

a first arm having a pair of first flanges that are separated to define a first space therebetween,

a second arm formed to include an interior region and coupled to the surgical lighthead, the second arm having a pair of second flanges that are separated to define a second space therebetween, at least a portion of the pair of first flanges being positioned to lie in the second space such that each first flange is adjacent to a respective one of the second flanges, the second flanges being pivotably coupled to respective first flanges so that the second arm is pivotable about a main pivot axis relative to the first arm,

a rod extending within the interior region of the second arm,

a link coupled to the rod and having a portion positioned to lie in the first space and pivotably coupled to the first arm for pivoting movement about a link pivot axis that is spaced apart from the main pivot axis,

a spring extending within the interior region of the second arm, the spring exerting a force on the rod and the link to counterbalance the surgical lighthead, and

a space filler including an outer cover rigidly coupled to the first arm and located in the first space, the outer cover being formed to include an elongated arcuate slot configured to receive the rod coupled to the second arm, the space filler also including an inner cover located in the first place, the inner cover being configured to move freely relative to the first arm, the second arm and the outer as the first and second arms move relative to the first arm, the second arm and the outer cover as the first and second arms move relative to each other.