Transilluminator

• US 5,327,195 A
• Filed: 03/31/1993
• Issued: 07/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fotodyne Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fotodyne Incorporated
• Inventors: Ehr, Timothy G. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WINTERCORN, RICHARD
• Application Number:
  US08/040,530
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 355/113, 355/114, 355/116, 355/118, 355/120
• US Class Current: 355/113
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44721 by optical means

Abstract

A transilluminator including a housing with a top wall having a UV-transmissible window and an upwardly extending projection. A UV light source is supported within the housing for transmitting UV light through the window and a UV-blocking cover with a hinge assembly is provided for movement of the cover between a blocking position and a non-blocking position. The hinge assembly has an undercut, and the protector plate includes a rearward portion which extends into the undercut when the plate is positioned over the window. The plate also includes a forward portion having an aperture through which the projection extends when the plate is positioned over the window. The plate is secured to the top wall by sliding the rearward portion of the plate into the undercut and then lowering the forward portion of the plate so that the projection extends into the aperture. The plate is removed by raising the forward portion of the plate so that the projection is removed from the aperture and then sliding the rearward portion of the plate out of the undercut.

Claims

1. A transilluminator comprising

a housing having therein a UV-transmissible window,

a UV light source supported within said housing for transmitting UV light through said window,

a protector plate overlying said window,

means for securing said plate to said housing such that said plate is manually removable from said housing without tools, and

selectively engageable means for preventing removal of said plate from said housing without tools.

2. A transilluminator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said securing means includes restraining means for allowing movement of said plate relative to said housing in only one direction.

3. A transilluminator as set forth in claim 2 wherein said restraining means allows movement of said plate relative to said housing in said one direction only after movement of said plate relative to said housing in a second direction transverse to said one direction.

4. A transilluminator as set forth in claim 2 wherein said securing means also includes selectively disengageable means for preventing movement of said plate relative to said housing in said one direction.

5. A transilluminator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said protector plate has therethrough an aperture having an inner diameter, wherein said securing means includes a projection which extends from said housing and through said aperture, which has a head, and which has an outer diameter less than said inner diameter of said aperture, and wherein said selectively disengageable means includes a washer having an outer diameter greater than said inner diameter of said aperture, said washer surrounding said projection between said head and said protector plate so as to prevent movement of said protector plate relative to said housing, and said washer being removable from said projection so as to allow movement of said protector plate relative to said housing.

6. A transilluminator comprising

a housing having therein a UV-transmissible window,

a UV light source supported within said housing for transmitting UV light through said window,

a UV-blocking cover,

a hinge assembly pivotally connecting said cover to said housing for movement between a blocking position and a non-blocking position,

a protector plate overlying said window, and

means for securing said plate to said housing such that said plate is removable from said housing without removing said hinge assembly from said housing.

7. A transilluminator as set forth in claim 6 wherein said housing has an upper surface having therein said window, wherein said hinge assembly is secured to said upper surface, and wherein said securing means secures said plate to said upper surface.

8. A transilluminator as set forth in claim 7 wherein said securing means includes inter-engaging means on said hinge assembly and on said plate.

9. A transilluminator as set forth in claim 8 wherein said inter-engaging means includes restraining means for allowing movement of said plate relative to said housing in only one direction.

10. A transilluminator as set forth in claim 9 wherein said restraining means allows movement of said plate relative to said housing in said one direction only after movement of said plate relative to said housing in a second direction transverse to said one direction.

11. A transilluminator as set forth in claim 9 wherein said securing means also includes selectively disengageable means for preventing movement of said plate relative to said housing in said one direction.

12. A transilluminator as set forth in claim 8 wherein said hinge assembly includes a hinge block mounted on said upper surface, said hinge block having a generally horizontal lower surface engaging said upper surface, a generally horizontal upper surface, and a pair of opposed side surfaces connecting said upper and lower hinge block surfaces and tapering outwardly from said lower hinge block surface to said upper hinge block surface, wherein said hinge pivotally connects said cover to said upper hinge block surface, wherein said protector plate has a generally horizontal lower surface, a generally horizontal upper surface and an endless side wall connecting said upper and lower protector plate surfaces, said side wall including opposed surfaces defining a notch receiving said hinge block, said opposed side wall surfaces tapering outwardly from said lower protector plate surface to said upper protector plate, said side wall surfaces and said hinge block side surfaces mating in complementary fashion so as to prevent relative upward movement of said protector plate relative to said housing.

13. A transilluminator as set forth in claim 12 wherein said protector plate has therethrough an aperture extending from said protector plate upper surface to said protector plate lower surface, said aperture having an inner diameter and being spaced from said notch, and wherein said securing means also includes a projection which extends upwardly from said upper surface of said housing and through said aperture and which has an outer diameter less than said inner diameter of said aperture.

14. A transilluminator as set forth in claim 13 wherein said projection is a screw having a head, and wherein said transilluminator also comprises a washer having an outer diameter greater than said inner diameter of said aperture, said washer surrounding said screw between said head and said protector plate upper surface so as to prevent upward movement of said protector plate relative to said top wall of said housing, and said washer being removable from said screw so as to allow upward movement of said protector plate relative to said top wall of said housing, thereby permitting lateral movement of said protector plate relative to said top wall to remove said hinge block from said notch and allow removal of said protector plate from said housing.

15. A transilluminator comprising

a housing including a top wall having therein a UV-transmissible window and having thereon an upwardly extending projection,

a UV light source supported within said housing for transmitting UV light through said window,

a UV-blocking cover,

a hinge assembly pivotally connecting said cover to said top wall for movement between a blocking position and a non-blocking position, said hinge assembly having therein an undercut, and

a protector plate including a rearward portion which extends into said undercut when said plate is positioned over said window, and said plate also including a forward portion having therethrough an aperture through which said projection extends when said plate is positioned over said window,

such that said plate is secured to said top wall by sliding said rearward portion of said plate into said undercut and then lowering said forward portion of said plate so that said projection extends into said aperture, and such that said plate is removed from said top wall by raising said forward portion of said plate so that said projection is removed from said aperture and then sliding said rearward portion of said plate out of said undercut.

16. A transilluminator as set forth in claim 15 wherein said plate has an upper surface, wherein said aperture has an inner diameter, wherein said projection is a screw having a head, and wherein said transilluminator further comprises a washer having an outer diameter greater than said inner diameter of said aperture, said washer surrounding said screw between said head and said plate upper surface so as to prevent upward movement of said plate relative to said top wall of said housing, and said washer being removable from said screw so as to allow upward movement of said plate relative to said top wall of said housing.

17. A transilluminator comprising

a housing including a top wall having a generally horizontal upper surface and having therein a UV-transmissible window,

a UV light source supported within said housing and beneath said window,

a hinge block mounted on said upper surface, said hinge block having a generally horizontal lower surface engaging said upper surface of said top wall, a generally horizontal upper surface, and a pair of opposed side surfaces connecting said upper and lower hinge block surfaces and tapering outwardly from said lower hinge block surface to said upper hinge block surface,

a UV-blocking cover,

a hinge pivotally connecting said cover to said upper hinge block surface for movement between a blocking position and a non-blocking position,

a protector plate overlying said top wall upper surface and having a generally horizontal lower surface, a generally horizontal upper surface and an endless side wall connecting said upper and lower protector plate surfaces, said side wall including opposed surfaces defining a notch receiving said hinge block, said opposed side wall surfaces tapering outwardly from said lower protector plate surface to said upper protector plate, said side wall surfaces and said hinge block side surfaces mating in complementary fashion so as to prevent relative upward movement of said protector plate relative to said top wall of said housing, and said protector plate having therethrough an aperture extending from said protector plate upper surface to said protector plate lower surface, said aperture having an inner diameter and being spaced from said notch,

a screw which extends through said aperture and which is threaded into said top wall, said screw having a head with an outer diameter less than said inner diameter of said aperture, and

a washer having an outer diameter greater than said inner diameter of said aperture, said washer surrounding said screw between said head and said protector plate upper surface so as to prevent upward movement of said protector plate relative to said top wall of said housing, and said washer being removable from said screw so as to allow upward movement of said protector plate relative to said top wall of said housing, thereby permitting lateral movement of said protector plate relative to said top wall to remove said hinge block from said notch and allow removal of said protector plate from said housing.