Supports – Resilient support – Including spring zone understructure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-13
2001-11-06
King, Anita (Department: 3632)
Supports
Resilient support
Including spring zone understructure
C248S581000, C248S613000, C248S611000, C248S632000, C248S634000, C248S621000, C267S136000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311945
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to laboratory instruments and, more particularly, is concerned with a passive vibration isolation device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various instruments are employed in laboratory settings and the like. These instruments are often set on the top surfaces of work benches and desks, on floors or in similar locations. Work benches, desks and floors may vibrate for any number of reasons. Certain instruments, such as those used in taking measurements, are sensitive to vibrations. It is well-known to provide means for the isolation of vibrations in conjunction with sensitive instruments. Prior art vibration isolation means include passive devices. Various passive vibration isolation devices have been developed over the years.
Representative examples of prior art passive vibration isolation devices and the like are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,735,952 to Platus et al., 4,683,520 to Grassens et al., 4,713,714 to Gatti et al., 4,871,142 to deMey, II, 5,087,491 to Barrett, 5,178,357 to Platus, 5,197,707 to Kohan, 5,240,222 to Seeley et al., 5,390,892 to Platus, 5,595,430 to Weyeneth and 5,645,262 to Hamlin. While these prior art passive vibration isolation devices appear to be satisfactory for the specific purposes for which they were designed, none of them seem to provide an optimum degree of vibration isolation without adding significant height to the sensitive instrument, associated high costs and sophisticated components.
Consequently, a need remains for a passive vibration isolation device which overcomes the aforementioned problems of the prior art designs without introducing any new problems in place thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a passive vibration isolation device designed to satisfy the aforementioned need. The passive vibration isolation device of the present invention is for bench and desk top applications and the like. It provides an optimum degree of vibration isolation without adding significant height to any sensitive instrument placed thereon and without associated high costs and sophisticated components of the prior art devices. Such capability solves the aforementioned problems of the prior art designs.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a passive vibration isolation device which comprises: (a) a support frame adapted to rest on a support surface; (b) an instrument support platform adapted to support an instrument thereon; and (c) a plurality of vibration isolators spaced apart from one another and disposed between and interconnecting the support frame and the instrument support platform such that the instrument support platform is suspended by the vibration isolators in a position spaced from the support frame and above the support surface.
More particularly, the support frame includes a pair of opposite end members each having a pair of opposite lower vertical portions and an upper horizontal portion extending between and rigidly connected with upper ends of the lower vertical portions so as to provide each opposite end member with an inverted generally U-shaped configuration, the lower vertical portions of each opposite end member at lower ends being adapted to rest on the support surface such that the upper horizontal portions of the opposite end members are spaced above the support surface. The support frame also includes a pair of opposite side members each extending between and rigidly connected at opposite ends to the lower ends of corresponding ones of the lower vertical portions of the opposite end members of the support frame such that the opposite side members are adapted to rest on the support surface adjacent to the lower ends of the lower vertical portions of the opposite end members.
Also, each vibration isolator has an outer tubular sleeve comprised of a yieldable compressible elastomeric material and a pair of internally threaded inner inserts at opposite ends of the outer tubular sleeve adapting the vibration isolators to receive screws in the inner inserts for fastening the instrument support platform to lower ends of the vibration isolators and the vibration isolators, in turn, to the support frame which allows the instrument support platform to float freely below and in equilibrium from the support frame. The vibration isolators may number four.
Further, the instrument support platform has a substantially flat configuration and a pair of opposite end edges, a pair of opposite side edges and spaced upper and lower surfaces. The instrument support platform has a width extending between the opposite side edges thereof being less than the distance extending between the lower vertical portions of each of the opposite end members of the support frame and a length extending between the opposite end edges thereof being greater than the length of one opposite side member of the support frame and a thickness extending between the upper and lower surfaces thereof being less than the height of each of the upper horizontal portions of the opposite end members of the support frame above the support surface such that the instrument support platform is of a size relative to the support frame allowing the instrument support platform to be suspended by the vibration isolators in a position spaced above the support surface with the opposite side edges of the instrument support platform disposed adjacent to and inwardly from the opposite side members of the support frame and the opposite end edges of the instrument support platform disposed between the lower vertical portions and under the upper horizontal portions of the opposite end members of the support frame. The vibration isolators are disposed adjacent to and inwardly from the lower vertical portions of the opposite end members of the support frame and between the opposite end edges of the instrument support platform and the upper horizontal portions of the opposite end members of the support frame.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 600471 (1898-02-01), Yingst
patent: 804884 (1905-11-01), Rutan
patent: 1763682 (1930-06-01), Wallace
patent: 1795313 (1931-02-01), Nies
patent: 1943189 (1934-01-01), Rubel
patent: 2014581 (1935-09-01), Norton
patent: 2064751 (1936-12-01), Hussman
patent: 3735952 (1973-05-01), Platus et al.
patent: 4683520 (1987-07-01), Grassens et al.
patent: 4713714 (1987-12-01), Gatti et al.
patent: 4754827 (1988-07-01), Hirabayashi
patent: 4871142 (1989-10-01), deMay, II
patent: 5087491 (1992-02-01), Barrett
patent: 5178357 (1993-01-01), Platus
patent: 5197707 (1993-03-01), Kohan
patent: 5240222 (1993-08-01), Seeley et al.
patent: 5390892 (1995-02-01), Platus
patent: 5595430 (1997-01-01), Weyeneth
patent: 5645262 (1997-07-01), Hamlin
patent: 0322338 (1929-12-01), None
Flanagan John K.
Flanagan John R.
Flanagan & Flanagan
King Anita
Ted Pella, Inc.
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