Instrument support system
AssigneeUltimate Support Systems, Inc.
InventorsDonald H. Eason, Robin R. Slaton, Douglas A. Kempel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An instrument support system having positive locking mechanisms to substantially fix the position of articulated members. One embodiment of the invention uses radially opposed force receiving surfaces to lock pivot members and to distribute the inherent and operational forces transmitted to the radially opposed force receiving surfaces to multiple vectors. Another embodiment of the invention juxtaposes antagonist locking surfaces to hold dual position support members in a storage position. A restraining collar is also disclosed having operation position and storage position locking detents and a releasably coupled collar closure.
Claims74
An instrument support, comprising:
- a. a mast having a first mast end and a second mast end;
- b. a collapse element fixed to said second mast end of said mast further comprising:
- i. an exterior surface;
- ii. an interior cylindrical surface;
- iii. at least three by-pass slots which communicate with said exterior surface and with said interior cylindrical surface;
- and
- iv. at least three pivot elements coupled to said exterior surface wherein said at least three pivot elements align with said at least three by-pass slots;
- c. at least three pivot members each having a first pivot member end and a second pivot member end wherein said first pivot member ends are rotatably coupled to said at least three pivot elements;
- d. at least three force transmission surfaces responsive to said first pivot member ends;
- e. at least three radially opposed force receiving surfaces rotatably engaged to said interior cylindrical surface of said collapse element, wherein forces transmitted from said force transmission surfaces to said radially opposed force receiving surfaces are directed substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of said radially opposed force receiving surfaces when said pivot members are in the operational position;
- and
- f. a position selector coupled to said at least three radially opposed force receiving surfaces.
A method to support an instrument, which comprises the steps of:
- a. providing a mast with a first mast end and a second mast end;
- b. fixing a collapse element having an exterior surface and an interior cylindrical surface which communicate through at least three by-pass slots to said second end of said mast;
- c. aligning a pivot element having a pivot axis with each of said by-pass slots;
- d. coupling a pivot member having a first pivot member end and a second pivot member end to each said pivot element by said first pivot member end;
- e. providing a force transmission surface at each said first pivot member end;
- and
- f. engaging at least three radially opposed force receiving surfaces having a rotation axis with said interior cylindrical surface of said collapse element, wherein forces transmitted from each said force transmission surface to said radially opposed force receiving surfaces are directed substantially perpendicular to said rotation axis of said radially opposed force receiving surfaces when said pivot member is in the operational position.
A method to support an instrument, comprising the steps of:
- a. rotating at least three radially opposed force receiving surfaces to a first position whereby said at least three radially opposed force receiving surface are not aligned with at least three by-pass slots;
- b. pivoting at least one force transmission surface through a corresponding one of said three longitudinal by-pass slots;
- c. rotating said at least three radially opposed force receiving surfaces to a second position wherein said at least three radially opposed force receiving surfaces are aligned with said at least three by-pass slots;
- and
- d. engaging said at least one force transmission surface with a corresponding one of said radially opposed force receiving surfaces, wherein forces transmitted from said at least one force transmission surface to said corresponding one of said radially opposed force receiving surfaces are directed substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of said radially opposed force receiving surface when a corresponding pivot member is in the operational position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.