Apparatus for orienting and maintaining a rod in any direction

Abstract

Apparatus for orienting and securing a rod in a spatially adjusted position comprising a U-shaped element having opposed parallel branches and a bottom portion connecting the branches. At least two superposed plates are disposed between the branches and the plates have mating faces with grooves therein cooperatively defining a hole receiving a rod. A flange is detachably secured to the branches of the U-shaped element to hold the plates and rod between the branches. The top plate is connected to the flange for rotation about an axis parallel to the branches and the bottom plate is rotatable with respect to the U-shaped element about the same axis. As a consequence, the rod can be angularly rotated with the plates in a plane perpendicular to the branches. A support bar extends longitudinally through the U-shaped element in a direction perpendicular to the above mentioned axis and the plate and rod can be locked in the U-shaped element while the U-shaped element is itself locked on the support bar when the rod is to be immobilized in position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.