Adjustable stand for an optical viewing apparatus

An adjustable stand for an optical viewing apparatus such as a surgical microscope pivotable about at least one pivot axis, the adjustable stand being attachable to a desired location on a pedestal, an additional stand, ceiling or wall, the adjustable stand and the optical viewing apparatus conjointly defining a center of gravity which can shift to produce an unwanted unbalancing torque when accessories are added to the microscope and/or when there is angular movement about said axis, the viewing apparatus also being tiltable about a tilt axis about which said unwanted unbalancing torque can also be produced because of said shift, the adjustable stand comprising:

• a mounting bracket for attaching the stand at the desired location;
• a pivot shaft defining said pivot axis;
• a carrier operatively connected to said mounting bracket and holding said pivot shaft;
• elastically deformable energy storage means mounted on said shaft for releasing stored torque energy in response to said shift to balance said unwanted unbalancing torque;
• adjusting means for loading said storage means with a predetermined torque;
• said energy storage means including a spiral flat spring having a flat characteristic;
• a tilt shaft defining said tilt axis;
• said carrier interconnecting said tilt and pivot shafts;
• and, said elastically deformable energy storage means being mounted on at least one of said shafts for releasing said stored torque energy in response to said shift to balance said unwanted unbalancing torque;
• said energy storage means including:
• a spring housing mounted in said carrier;
• a spring core mounted on said shaft;
• and, said spiral flat spring being disposed in said spring housing and connected between said spring housing and said spring core for storing said torque energy;
• said adjusting means including said spring housing and said spring core as being mounted so as to be rotatable relative to each other for loading said predetermined torque into said spring;
• and,
• said spiral flat spring being a first spring and said energy storage means further including a second spiral flat spring likewise disposed in said spring housing and connected between said spring housing and said spring core so as to act parallel to said first spring.

An adjustable stand for an optical viewing apparatus such as a surgical microscope pivotable about at least one pivot axis, the adjustable stand being attachable to a desired location on a pedestal, an additional stand, ceiling or wall, the adjustable stand and the optical viewing apparatus conjointly defining a center of gravity which can shift to produce an unwanted unbalancing torque when accessories are added to the microscope and/or when there is angular movement about said axis, the viewing apparatus being also tiltable about a tilt axis about which said unwanted unbalancing torque can also be produced because of said shift, the adjustable stand comprising:

• a mounting bracket for attaching the stand at the desired location;
• a pivot shaft defining said pivot axis;
• a carrier operatively connected to said mounting bracket and holding said pivot shaft;
• elastically deformable energy storage means mounted on said shaft for releasing stored torque energy in response to said shift to balance said unwanted unbalancing torque;
• adjusting means for loading said storage means with a predetermined torque;
• a tilt shaft defining said tilt axis;
• said carrier interconnecting said tilt and pivot shafts;
• said elastically deformable energy storage means being mounted on at least one of said shafts for releasing said stored torque energy in response to said shift to balance said unwanted unbalancing torque;
• said energy storage means including:
• a spring housing mounted in said carrier;
• a spring core mounted on said shaft;
• and, a spiral flat spring disposed in said spring housing and connected between said spring housing and said spring core for storing said torque energy;
• said adjusting means including said spring housing and said spring core as being mounted so as to be rotatable relative to each other for loading said predetermined torque into said spring;
• and,
• said adjusting means further including holding means fixedly arranged on said carrier;
• and, a worm gear threadably mounted in said holding means for engaging and rotating said spring core relative to said spring housing.

An adjustable stand for an optical viewing apparatus such as a surgical microscope pivotable about at least one pivot axis, the adjustable stand being attachable to a desired location on a pedestal, an additional stand, ceiling or wall, the adjustable stand and the optical viewing apparatus conjointly defining a center of gravity which can shift to produce an unwanted unbalancing torque when accessories are added to the microscope and/or when there is angular movement about said axis, the adjustable stand comprising:

• a mounting bracket for attaching the stand at the desired location;
• a pivot shaft defining said pivot axis;
• a carrier operatively connected to said mounting bracket and holding said pivot shaft;
• said carrier including a housing;
• elastically deformable energy storage means mounted on said shaft and in said housing for releasing stored torque energy in response to said shift to balance said unwanted unbalancing torque;
• adjusting means for biasing said storage means with a predetermined torque;
• and, friction setting means for adjusting a predetermined friction between said housing and said energy storage means for the rotational/pivot movement about said pivot axis.

An adjustable stand for an optical viewing apparatus such as a surgical microscope pivotable about at least one pivot axis, the adjustable stand being attachable to a desired location on a pedestal, an additional stand, ceiling or wall, the adjustable stand and the optical viewing apparatus conjointly defining a center of gravity which can shift to produce an unwanted unbalancing torque when accessories are added to the microscope and/or when there is angular movement about said axis, the viewing apparatus also being tiltable about a tilt axis about which said unwanted unbalancing torque can also be produced because of said shift, the adjustable stand comprising:

• a mounting bracket for attaching the stand at the desired location;
• a pivot shaft defining said pivot axis;
• a carrier operatively connected to said mounting bracket and holding said pivot shaft;
• elastically deformable energy storage means mounted on said shaft for releasing stored torque energy in response to said shift to balance said unwanted unbalancing torque;
• adjusting means for biasing said storage means with a predetermined torque and for adjusting a predetermined friction for the rotational/pivot movement about said pivot axis;
• a tilt shaft defining said tilt axis;
• said carrier interconnecting said tilt and pivot shafts;
• and, said elastically deformable energy storage means being mounted on at least one of said shafts for releasing said stored torque energy in response to said shift to balance said unwanted unbalancing torque;
• said energy storage means including:
• a spring housing mounted in said carrier;
• a spring core mounted on said shaft;
• a spiral flat spring disposed in said spring housing and connected between said spring housing and said spring core for storing said torque energy;
• said adjusting means including said spring housing and said spring core as being mounted so as to be rotatable relative to each other for loading said predetermined torque into said spring;
• and
• said spiral flat spring being a first spring and said energy storage means further including a second spiral flat spring likewise disposed in said spring housing and connected between said spring housing and said spring core so as to act parallel to said first spring.

An adjustable stand for an optical viewing apparatus such as a surgical microscope pivotable about at least one pivot axis, the adjustable stand being attachable to a desired location on a pedestal, an additional stand, ceiling or wall, the adjustable stand and the optical viewing apparatus conjointly defining a center of gravity which can shift to produce an unwanted unbalancing torque when accessories are added to the microscope and/or when there is angular movement about said axis, the adjustable stand comprising:

• a mounting bracket for attaching the stand at the desired location;
• a pivot shaft defining said pivot axis;
• a carrier operatively connected to said mounting bracket and holding said pivot shaft;
• means for pivoting said surgical microscope about said pivot axis to any desired angular base position;
• elastically deformable energy storage means mounted on said shaft for releasing stored torque energy in response to said shift to balance said unwanted unbalancing torque;
• and,
• adjusting means for biasing said storage means with a predetermined compensating torque about said pivot axis separately and entirely independently of said pivoting means after said surgical microscope is in said angular base position.