Supports – Brackets – Adjustable
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-22
2001-12-11
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Adjustable
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328269
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an orientation device. In particular, the invention relates to improvements in adjustable, clampable, orientation devices for mounting equipment including, particularly but not exclusively, speakers, microphone stands, slide projectors and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Problems arise when using slide projectors, and similar equipment, to project images onto screens in large halls, such as university lecture theatres and the like. In large halls, the slide projectors are generally located a considerable distance from the screen, so that small adjustments to the alignment of the slide projector are magnified and translate into much larger movements of the projected image on the screen. To align the image properly, requires careful adjustment and aiming which is done by rotating, tilting and yawing the slide projector. Most projectors have adjustable legs for that purpose but they are crude and wobbly and cannot prevent misalignment when the projector gets bumped or nudged.
In order to solve the above problem, the inventors of the invention to be described hereinafter, looked at various existing devices which provide swivel links/orientation devices which they believed might be suitable for use in orienting and aligning slide projectors and the like. However, while many of the devices which provided swivelling with clamping/locking had good locking capabilities, they could not be finely adjusted while being partially clamped. In other devices with good adjusting properties the locking was insufficiently strong and reliable. Many of the existing devices were also over-complicated and in some cases correspondingly expensive due to their providing movement and clamping about three orthogonal axes.
A typical swivel mechanism utilises one axle per axis, requiring one locking mechanism per axis such as in a typical camera tripod, and while this system is functional, it requires adjustment of three different clamps for adjustment in three different axes.
Another prior art device is a theatre light mounting. That device comprises a spherical member coated with a deformable soft plastic. The member is fitted into a concave mating socket which has truncated spikes protruding inwards. When the device is clamped, the spikes are pressed into the plastic. This device holds its orientation well. However, the plastic retains the spike depressions for a long time and this makes the device unsuitable for quick re-alignment. Also, it is difficult to make slight adjustments with this device.
Similar problems exist with stands and mounts for mounting large speakers.
It is an object of the present invention to alleviate the problems of the existing orientation devices described above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided an adjustable orientation device including:
a first part including a rigid part-spherical bearing surface;
a second part including a sleeve made of a hard, non-visco-elastic material, the sleeve defining an inner surface which is part-spherical and is configured to receive the part-spherical bearing surface, having substantially the same radius of curvature as the part-spherical bearing surface, the sleeve defining at least one gap; and
adjustment means for adjusting the size of that gap, the arrangement being such that when the gap is relatively wide the sleeve can be moved freely over the spherical surface, the gap being arranged to be narrowed by the adjustment means characterised in that as the adjustment means is progressively tightened resistance to relative movement of the sleeve over the surface is also progressively increased allowing smooth controlled movement of the parts at different levels of friction providing clamping ranges from light locking to rigid locking when frictional engagement between the sleeve and the bearing surface retain the sleeve and surface in a fixed orientation and wherein the engaging surfaces of the bearing surface and sleeve are resistant to galling.
The preferred bearing surface is defined by a sphere with a large central bore extending from one pole of the sphere to the opposite pole to define a cylindrical bore suitable for receiving a shank.
A particularly simple method of manufacturing an orientation device embodying the present invention is by customising an existing spherical bushing. Spherical bushings are made be a number of manufacturers including IKO Nippon Thomson Co., Ltd of Japan. Typically such a bushing consists of two parts: a ball with a large hole through it for a shank, sitting in a sleeve which is machined to the contour of the ball. The sleeve has an axial split, to enable the ball to be inserted in the sleeve which is closed in use when the bushing is assembled. If material around the split is removed to widen the split to define a gap, the sleeve can be compressed until the ball cannot be moved any more.
Thus the present invention provides, an adjustable link, or orientation device, which, when fitted to a support, allows adjustment of the orientation of the equipment mounted to it. One element, say the spherical surface is connected directly or indirectly to the equipment, the other element being the sleeve is attached to the surface or object to which the equipment is to be mounted. This link has associated with it methods of clamping so that the equipment may be held at any orientation within the scope of operation of the support. Clamping may be of varying degrees to provide effects which range from light holding to rigid locking. In the case of equipment which is re-orientated often by hand, by careful adjustment, it is possible to provide just enough resistance to hold the equipment at a suitable orientation and also readily allow movement when subjected to any additional force. Thus, the orientation device can be adjusted under light resistance and then tightened and importantly, when tightening, the device will not slip. The relative orientation of the components stays the same.
In one aspect of the invention clamping is obtained hydraulically by means of cylindrical bore having a groove or channel extending around the inner circumference of the bore and a sleeve or the like covering the channel/groove such that application of pressure to a hydraulic medium in the groove causes the sleeve to bow inwards to clamp a cylindrical object, such as the sleeve or possibly an axle, in the bore.
Typical uses for the present invention include mounting speakers, in boom microphones, and slide projectors; mounting overhead, video and film projectors; mounting lights, video, still and film cameras; mounting optical, electro magnetic and acoustic transmitters and receivers; mounting viewing equipment such as magnifiers, binoculars, telescopes; mounting display equipment such as placard, card and label holders; signs, mirrors, and in tool holding and work holding equipment e.g. swivel vices.
When the device is to be used for mounting slide projectors and lenses there is a need to prevent unauthorised people from removing the projector or lens from the hall or the like where the projector is fitted. Thus in a preferred embodiment the invention provides a plate to which the projector can be secured, a lens retention device, such as a ring extending around the lens, the ring being secured to the plate, and an orientation device of the present invention, one element of which is secured to the plate and the other element being securable to a table bench, ceiling or other surface on or to which the projector is to be mounted
Normally the slide projectors are mounted in a room at the back of a lecture theatre where the projector projects through a window to the screen at the front of the theatre. The projection lamps sometimes need to be replaced during a slide show and are therefore in many projectors hold replacement lamps in a drawer like cartridge which pulls out from the back of the projector. When the projector is mounted against the back wall of a classroom or lecture theatre, access to this module requires turning the projector and t
Klein & Szekeres LLP
Ramirez Ramon O.
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