Supports – Brackets – Adjustable
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-30
2001-11-13
King, Anita (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Adjustable
C248S278100, C403S113000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315259
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to articulating arms for moveably connecting a first body to a second body while maintaining the orientation of the first body with respect to the second body during movement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Articulating arms which extend between a first body member and a second body member whereby the orientation of the second body is maintained with respect to the first are well known in the art. One usage for such arms is to maintain the orientation of a moveable remote input/output station attached to a machine. An x-ray machine, for example, may have an output screen for providing information to the operator who must see the screen from a remote position where he or she is shielded from the effects of the rays. The orientation of the screen, therefore, must be maintained while it is moved both horizontally and vertically to a position where it can be viewed without being obstructed by other pieces of equipment in the room.
The arm has first and second attachment portions for attachment to the first and second body members, and first and second parallel arms extending between the first attachment member and the second attachment member. To maximize the aesthetic appearance, the first arm may be structured as a tubular member with the second arm moveable within the first arm. Such a structure is disclosed by Horgas, U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,100 issued Aug. 21, 1990.
The Horgas articulating arm provides the desired moveability of a first member with respect to a second member, however the Horgas arm is not available for all uses. It would, therefore, be desirable to provide an articulating arm for maintaining the orientation of a first member with respect to a second member while allowing horizontal and vertical movement of the first member with respect to the second member and for providing an aesthetic appearance for uses where the Horgas arm is not available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention is embodied in an articulating arm for maintaining the orientation of a first body with respect to a second body while allowing movement of the first body with respect to the second body. The arm includes a first connector for connecting to the first body, the first connector having a first central body portion and first and second spaced parallel plates extending from the central body portion with first and second pairs of aligned holes extending through the spaced parallel plates of the first connector. A second connector is provided for connecting to the second body, and the second connector has a second central body portion with first and second parallel spaced plates extending from the central portion and first and second pairs of aligned holes extending through the parallel plates of the second connector.
The arm further includes a first arm member having a first end and a second end with transverse holes in each of the ends. The first end of the first arm member is positioned between the parallel plates of the first connector and a pin extends through the first pair of aligned holes and the transverse hole of the first end of the first arm member. Similarly, the second end of the first arm member extends between the parallel plates of a second connector and is retained therein by a pin extending through the first pair of aligned holes thereof and the transverse hole of the second end of the first arm member. A second arm member also has a first end and a second end with transverse holes at each of the ends. Like the first arm member, the second arm member is positioned between the parallel plates of the first connector and is retained therein by a pin extending through the second pair of aligned holes and the transverse hole in the first end of the second arm member while the second end thereof is retained between the parallel plates of the second connector by a pin through the second pair of aligned holes and the transverse hole in the second end of the second arm member.
In accordance with the invention, the first arm member is tubular having a rectangular cross sectional exterior shape, and a rectangular cross sectional shape to the central opening therein. The second arm member is moveable within the first arm member, and the first arm member has an arcuate slot at each of the ends thereof through which extend the pins connecting the ends of the second arm member to the first and second connectors.
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King Anita
Marsh Robert L.
Sy Holly N.
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