US 5,852,519 A · Positionable multi-optic holder

Abstract

An optic mount for holding an optic element in a light path is provided. The optic mount includes a base and a holder. A base and a holder are pivotally connected. The holder includes an optic bore. The optic bore is dimensioned to contain an optical element. Arcuate movement of the holder with respect to the base allows an optic element to be moved from a first position, in which the light path passes through the optic bore to a second position in which the optic bore avoids the light path. In another embodiment of the invention, a modular configuration of optic mounts for holding a plurality of optic elements in a light path is provided. The modular configuration includes at least two base and holder pairs. Each base and holder are pivotally connected. Each holder includes an optic bore. The optic bores of both holders are dimensioned to hold an optical element. The first and second bases are aligned by complementary interlocking elements on the opposing faces of each of the base units. Arcuate movement of each holder with respect to its base allows optic elements to be moved individually from a first position in which the light path passes through the optic bore to a second position in which the optic bore avoids the light path. The optic bores can clamp thin optic elements axially and thick optic elements radially.

Claims24

Dependent claims

An optic mount for holding an optic element in a light path, said optic mount comprising:

a base including opposing first and second base faces, and said base defining a first pivot member;
a holder including an opposing first and second holder faces and said opposing first and second holder faces defining an optic bore extending from said first to said second holder face, and said optic bore dimensioned to contain an optical element, and said holder further defining a second pivot member, said second pivot member suitable for pivotally connecting to said first pivot member to provide for an arcuate movement of said holder with respect to said base from a first position in which the light path passes through the optic bore to a second position in which the optic bore avoids the light path.

A modular configuration of optic mounts for holding a plurality of optic elements in a light path;

said modular configuration comprising:
a. a first and a second base each including opposing first and second base faces, and said first and second base further define respectively a first and a second pivot member;
b. a first and a second holder each including opposing first and second holder faces and each of said first and said second holders define between corresponding first and second holder faces a first and a second optic bore, and the first and the second optic bore dimensioned to contain an optical element, and said first and said second holders further define respectively a third and a fourth pivot member, and the third pivot member suitable for pivotally connecting to the first pivot member and the fourth pivot member suitable for pivotally connecting to the second pivot member, to provide for individual arcuate movement of each of said first and said second holders with respect to respectively said first and said second bases, from a first position in which the light path passes through a corresponding optic bore to a second position in which the corresponding optic bore avoids the light path.

A dual bore mount for optical elements comprising:

a mounting block comprising first and second opposing faces;
a. said mounting block defines a bore and a counterbore and a shoulder, and the bore defined at a first diameter and extending from the first to the second opposing face, and the counterbore defined at a second diameter larger than the first diameter, and the counterbore extending from the first face to the shoulder, and the shoulder located between the first and the second face;
b. said mounting block further defines an arcuate segment of relief, the arcuate segment of relief extending from the first face toward the second face and enlarging an arcuate portion of the counterbore to provide at least two parallel lines of contact extending from said first toward said second face;
c. said mounting block further defines a radial fastening member disposed opposite said arcuate segment of relief and adapted to radially clamp a thick cylindrical optic element against the two parallel lines of contact within the counterbore;
and
a compressive fastening member adapted to compressively clamp a thin cylindrical optic element in the counterbore against the shoulder.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Positionable multi-optic holder

Life of this patent

Positionable multi-optic holder

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24