Patent · US Expired

Instrument support device

US5178352A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
10References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 16, 1988
Grant dateJan 12, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 16, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16M2200/022
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An instrument support device for adjustably receiving a member of a support plate having an outer spherical surface wherein the socket, formed integrally, is an outer and upper ring portion connected to an inner and lower ring portion by intercrossed ribs with upper surfaces of the ring portions and ribs defining segments of a conical surface capable of cooperating with spherical surfaces of differing radii. The lower surface of the socket forms a substantially spherical clamping surface, such that a locking knob can draw a range of spherical surfaces into a clamped relation with the conical support surface. The socket forms a tripod head by having lugs on the upper ring portion that extend out and embrace the elements of the tripod legs so that the tripod legs are mounted from the outside of their respective elements.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.