DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional front view in detail of a component of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the component of FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention viewed from the back of a shoulder arthroscopy chair upper body support platform 10. A swivel joint 12, a ball joint for example, consisting of a socket and ball not shown in FIG. 1 but illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4 and disposed inside split plate 14 formed of sections 16 and 18, is attached to support 10 by screws 20 and 22.
Rail or bar 26 is connected to the ball by bridge plate 24 and is generally disposed in an upright or vertical position. Bar 26 is free to rotate about the pivot provided by the ball joint within the confines of the assembly and is locked in a desired position by rotatable handle clamp 28 which functions to squeeze the ball in the socket between plate sections 16 and 18.
A second split plate 30 is slideably mounted on bar 26 and consists of plate sections 32 and 34 joined by bolts 36. Plate 30 is free to move up and down bar 26 to adjust to a desired height and is secured in place by rotatable handle clamp 38.
Further illustrating the components of the invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in which like numbers refer to like components. A second swivel joint 40, also a ball joint to be illustrated in detail below, is disposed in split plate 42 consisting of sections 44 and 46. Joint 40 functions in the same manner as swivel joint 12 as described above and as will be further shown. This swivel joint is arranged to move about an axis generally perpendicular, i.e., in a horizontal attitude, in relation to the first swivel joint. Attached to joint 40 is head support 48 to which apparatus for securing a patient's head such as head enclosure 50 may be affixed.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate in detail a typical construction arrangement for the ball joints comprising the swivel joints 12 and 40 described above. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional front view of an arrangement in which ball 52 is disposed in socket 54 in split plate assembly 56 composed of sections 58 and 60, one-half of which is shown in the drawing. Extension 62 secured to ball 52 by bolt 64, not shown in FIG. 4 for purposes of clarity, extends above assembly 56 and is used to mount plate 24 or head support 48 as described above.
As further shown in FIG. 4, split plate components 58 and 60 are slightly separated by space 61 and joined by bolts 66, as well as by bolt 68 attached to handle 70 which is rotated to squeeze or release sections 58 and 60. Bolts 66 are tightened to provide ball 52 just sufficient space to rotate within socket 54 when bolt 68 is released by handle 70, the amount of rotation being limited by relief cone 72 provided in assembly 56 above ball 52.
In operation, the head support component to be positioned is therefore freed from restraint by rotation of handle 70, moved to the desired orientation, and then secured by the rotation of handle 70 in the opposite direction to clamp ball 52 in socket 54 within assembly 56.
As variations in the above described preferred embodiment will now become obvious to those skilled in the art, the invention is accordingly defined by the following claims.
Patent Application
20070272808
