# US 2018/0023758 A1 · A counterbalance apparatus and/or method for supporting a load > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0023758 A1 - Document ID: US20180023758A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/543,448 - Filed: 2015-01-14 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-14 - Assignees: Centre for Imaging Technology Commercialization (CIMTEC); The University of Western Ontario - Applicants: Centre for Imaging Technology Commercialization (CIMTEC); The University of Western Ontario - Inventors: Jeffrey BAX; Dandan SHAN; Christopher WARING; Aaron FENSTER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023758A1 ## CPC - F16M 13/02: for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle - B66C 23/76: and movable to take account of variations of load or of variations of length of jib - F16M 11/046: {adapted to upward-downward translation movement} - F16M 11/048: {adapted to forward-backward translation movement} - F16M 11/10: around a horizontal axis {(F16M11/12 takes precedence)} - F16M 11/18: with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand - F16M 11/2092: {comprising means allowing depth adjustment, i.e. forward-backward translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage} - F16M 11/38: by folding {, e.g. pivoting or scissors tong mechanisms} - F16M 11/42: with arrangement for propelling the support {stands on wheels} - F16M 2200/047: for balancing translational movement of the head - F16M 2200/048: for balancing translational movement of the undercarriage - F16M 2200/061: Scissors arms - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - B66C: CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES ({specially adapted for lifting invalids A61G7/10;} rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms, braking or detent devices therefor B66D; specially adapted for nuclear reactors G21) ## Abstract A counterbalance apparatus for supporting a load includes a base, a load bearing arm, a toggle linkage, and first and second resilient members for applying a force to the load bearing arm. The load bearing arm has pivot points forming a parallelogram linkage, and is adapted to support the load at a distal end. The toggle linkage can include an adjustment member positioned to define a distance relative to the attachment point. The first resilient member is adapted to apply a force to the load bearing arm and may have a first end connected to a first portion of the parallelogram linkage and a second end connected to the adjustment member. Movement of the toggle linkage to the load bearing position engages the forces of the resilient members and movement of the adjustment member varies the distance to adjust a support vector adapted to counterbalance the load vector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A counterbalance apparatus configured to support a load having a load vector applied in a direction of the vector of gravity, comprising: a base; a load bearing arm with a plurality of pivot points forming a parallelogram linkage, the load bearing arm projecting from the base at an attachment point at a proximal end and adapted to support the load at a distal end; a toggle linkage pivotally connected to the base and movable between a non-load bearing position and a load bearing position and having an adjustment member, the adjustment member positioned to define a distance relative to the attachment point; a first resilient member configured to apply a force to the load bearing arm having a first end connected to a first portion of the parallelogram linkage and a second end connected to the adjustment member; and a second resilient member configured to apply a force to the load bearing arm having a first end connected to a second portion of the parallelogram linkage and a second end connected to the adjustment member; and wherein movement of the toggle linkage from the non-load bearing position to the load bearing position engages the forces of the first and second resilient members and movement of the adjustment member varies the distance to adjust a support vector to counterbalance the load vector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The counterbalance apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an engagement arm having a toggle pin, the engagement arm pivotally connected to the base and configured to engage the toggle linkage configured to pivot between the non-load bearing position and the load bearing position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The counterbalance apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a tuning member received by the engagement arm and threadably received by the toggle pin, configured to vary the distance 140 upon the rotation of the tuning member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The counterbalance apparatus of claim 1, in which the first and second resilient members are adapted to produce a linear extension force when the distance decreases. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The counterbalance apparatus of claim 1, in which the first and second resilient members are adapted to produce a linear compression force when the distance increases. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The counterbalance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second resilient members are each a pair of resilient members. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The counterbalance apparatus of claim 1, in which the parallelogram linkage comprises at least one parallelogram. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The counterbalance apparatus of claim 7, in which the parallelogram linkage comprises at least one compound parallelogram. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The counterbalance apparatus of claim 1, in which the load is reversibly coupled to a distal pivot point of the load bearing arm by a load release mechanism. ### Claim 10 (canceled) ### Claim 11 (canceled) ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The counterbalance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support vector counterbalances the load vector with at least two degrees of freedom. ### Claim 13 A method of supporting a load having a load vector applied in a direction of the vector of gravity using a counterbalance apparatus, the method comprising: attaching the load to a distal end of a load bearing arm projecting from a base at an attachment point at a proximal end, the load bearing arm with a plurality of pivot points forming a parallelogram linkage; positioning a toggle linkage having an adjustment member, the toggle linkage pivotally connected to the base and movable between a non-load bearing position and a load bearing position, to define a distance between the adjustment member and the attachment point; and configuring a first resilient member to apply a force to the load bearing arm by connecting a first end to a first portion of the parallelogram linkage and a second end to the adjustment member; and configuring a second resilient member to apply a force to the load bearing arm by connecting a first end to a second portion of the parallelogram linkage and a second end to the adjustment member; and whereby moving the toggle linkage from the non-load bearing position to the load bearing position engages the forces of the first and second resilient members and moving the adjustment member varies the distance to adjust a support vector to counterbalance the load vector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising the use of an engagement arm having a toggle pin, the engagement arm pivotally connected to the base to pivot the toggle linkage between the non-load bearing position and the load bearing position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising the use of a tuning member 136, received by the engagement arm and threadably received by the toggle pin to, upon the rotation of the tuning member, vary the distance. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, in which the first and second resilient members are used to produce a linear extension force when the distance decreases. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, in which the first and second resilient members are used to produce a linear compression force when the distance increases. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, in which the first and second resilient members are each a pair of resilient members. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, in which the parallelogram linkage comprises at least one parallelogram. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, in which the parallelogram linkage comprises at least one compound parallelogram. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising the use of a load release mechanism to reversibly couple the load to a distal pivot point of the load bearing arm. ### Claim 22 (canceled) ### Claim 23 (canceled) ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the support vector counterbalances the load vector with at least two degrees of freedom. ### Claim 25 A counterbalance apparatus for supporting a load having a load vector applied in a direction of the vector of gravity, comprising: a base movable between a load bearing and a non-loading position; a load bearing arm with a plurality of pivot points forming a parallelogram linkage, the load bearing arm projecting from the base at an attachment point at a proximal end and adapted to support the load at a distal end; a first resilient member for applying a force to the load bearing arm having a first end connected to a first portion of the parallelogram linkage and a second end connected to an attachment point of the base; and a second resilient member for applying a force to the load bearing arm having a first end connected to a second portion of the parallelogram linkage and a second end connected to the attachment point of the base; and wherein movement of the base from the non-load bearing position to the load bearing position engages the forces of the first and second resilient members to apply a support vector to counterbalance the load vector.