US2510624A - Unit stand for ophthalmic instruments - Google Patents

Description

June 6, 1950 E. A. FORSHEY ETAL UNIT STAND FOR OPHTHALMIC INSTRUMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26. 1947 INVENTOR. ELMOIZE A. FO/ESHEY P 8527 A- COPELAND June 1950 I E. A. FORSHEY ETAL 2,510,624

'UNIT STAND FOR OPHTHALMIC INSTRUMENTS Filed March 26, 1947 2 Sheets-Shet z 372 INV R ELMO/2E A. F0125 ROBERT A- COPEL ATTORNE Patented June 6, 1950 UNIT STAND FOR OPHTHALMIC INSTRUMENTS Elmore A. Forshey,

Southbridge,

Mass., and

Robert A. Copeland, Rochester, N. Y., assignors to American Optical Company, Southbridge, Mass., a voluntary association of Massachusetts Application March 26, 1947, Serial No. 737,397

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in stands for diagnostic instruments and relates particularly to a novel base for such stands.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a base for an instrument stand having a compartment embodying receptacles for diagnostic instruments and embodying means for electrical connection with said instruments, means for controlling and determining the amount of electrical energy directed to said instruments, means for closing the compartment and means associated with said closure means for energizing and de-energizing the means for directing the electrical energy to the instruments at different positions of adjustment of the closure means.

Another object is to provide a novel arrangement for providing extension cords for the means for supplying electrical energy to the instruments with means for taking up the slack of the extension cords when not in use.

Another object is to provide a novel switch arrangement adapted to be operated by the position of adjustment of the cover for the compartment referred to above.

Another object is to provide closure means for the compartment which will function as an instrument supporting shelf when in open position.

Another object is to provide a device of the above nature wherein the various parts are in compact relation with each other.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and it is apparent that many changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction and arrangement of parts shown and described as the preferred form only has been given by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the base of the instrument stand embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a slightly enlarged sectional view taken as on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and showing the door in closed position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken as on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

4 is a sectional view taken as on line -4 2 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken as on line 55 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken as on line 66 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of the electrical circuit of the device.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the various views, the device embodying the invention comprises a base 8 having a lower flanged portion 9, a hollow intermediate upright portion I0 and an angularly disposed compartment Il adjacent the upper end thereof. The upper end of the upright portion ID has a vertical bore l2 therein having an inwardly disposed shouldered portion l3 adjacent its lower end and a threaded portion l4 adjacent its upper end. Internally of the vertical bore [2 and resting upon the shouldered portion I3 is a bearing I5 held in place by means of a ring nut or the like It threadedly connected with the threaded portion l4. Internally of the bearing [5 there is slidably supported a bar-like shaft or standard I! of the conventional type and to which a plurality of brackets is connected for supporting various instruments not shown in the conventional manner. The standard I! is adapted to be raised or lowered to difierent adjusted positions by means of a hydraulic or pneumatic lift l8 of the standard conventional type op-' erated either through a hand or foot lever and release.

The compartment H which is formed integral with the intermediate upright portion Ill, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, has a front wall portion or panel l9 secured thereto by screws or the like 20. The panel is provided with spaced openings 2| and 22 which have cylindrical or tubular members 23 supported in alignment therewith by a bracket 24 carried by the pane1 I9. The cylindrical or tubular members 23 have an inner closed member 23' and are adapted to form receptacles in which instruments commercially known in the ophthalmic art such as retinoscopes and ophthalmoscopes may be positioned. Such instruments embody a self-contained source of nected with the instrument. such instruments are used either independently of or in combination with other instruments carried by the main shaft. or standard l1. It is particularly pointed out that the electrical or tubular member are angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft or standard I! with the closed end thereof beingiinclined{downwardly so as to cause the instruments to be seated innermost of the tubular members 23 under the action of gravity, that is, by merely placing the instruments inter.- nally of the receptacles through the openings 2! and 22, they will slide inwardly thereof under the action of gravity to the innermost position. This angling of the tubular ;mcmbersr23 also enables the panel to be positionedadjacentithevtop of the intermediate portion H3 and allows "the front of tne compartment to be formed-closer to the side wall of the upright andrenablesetheparte to be more compactly related by affording sufficient length to the tubular members to --encase the entire instrument and yet enables the tubular memherszto zspantthethydraulicsor pneumatic liit without requiring such width as to render the inst uments as desired .andzto enableifreemanip lation ;of :the instruments throughout :a relatively wide :ran e.

'iBhe .spools 26 are :preferably :formed of nonmetallic materiaksuchiastBakelite or other similar. insulation material and;are :each 'rotata'bly supported :by means of la rshaft -29 ehavins e scnaredc d :30 fitted within a similarly shaped op nin 23%| :formed in the adjacent side bracket 1 The sq ar deend 530 flocks the said shaft .29 againstrotation. llheishaft-zii has .a sleeve 2-32 r tatablv supported @thereon, which sleeve :has :a IBQQSS Q flanged end :33 thereon ,i-forming a "housu f3! {fora spiral spring r35, The spring =35 is ecured adjacent dime end thereof to the inner shaft 29 b 'mea'ns of arscrew or the like-135 and adjacent "the opposed end thereof :to the flangelike housing bymeans of za screw :orthelike 35!. -;'Ihe flange-like housing .33 lies within a recess $8 in ;the adja-cent side or the spool. The opposed :side =;of 17116510001 is also provided with a recess ,39 in which :a spiral .spring rill similar to the spiral spring 35 is positioned. Thespring l -is sec'ured adjacent one end thereof to the spool 26 by :means I of a :screw :or the ":like A I and is @secured at its opposite .end to the sleeve :32 bymeansrof a screw or "the like 42. A disc 4.3 is adapted :to form a cover member for said spiral spring All and is provided with a central opening .44 [of a diameter greater .than1the diameter of :the sl ve :3

end plate 145 preferably of -non--metallic insulation material ais-secured to the adjacent end ofthe spcol 26 by means of screws or the like 456. "I the outer surface of the end plat 45 there is secured a metallic disc 4] 'having a central opening 48 of a diameter considerably larger than the diameter 0f the ,shaft '33, see Figs. .3 and 5. Thisis to provide suificient clearance to avoid electrical ontactof theshait 29 with the disc 41. The said disc 1.4.! .connected to the spool 26 by means of a headed pin or the like 49 having electrical connection with the end 50 of one of the wires of the cable 21. The adjacent side bracket 25, as shown best in Figs. 3 and 4, has a bifurcated member 54 secured thereto by pinsorthedikebZ. Theimember iii is provided with spaced resilient branches at having ends 55 in frictional engagement with the side surface of the disc 45 forming an electrical contact therewith. The branches 53 of the member 5! straddle the shaft =29 so as to avoid electrical contact therewith. The said bifurcated member Si is connected through the pin 52 to one pole of a lsourceof electrical energy through the lead wire .55.

The opposed side of the spool 26 is provided .withanend plate 56 of non-metallic insulation material similar to the end plate 35 which in turn hasza metallic disc 51 secured thereto by a pin 58. The pin 58 forms an electrical connection with the-other iWiT "59 of the cable .it'l. :The :adiacentbraclcet v25 is provided with-ra bifurcated member 50 having an electrical connection through pin$l-with the otherrlead .wire 62 connected with the main source "of electricalenergy; This latter bifurcated member has spaced branches formed of resilient material and adapted to have "frictional electrical contact with the -plateifi'l in amanner similarto-the first mentioned plate 4-! and bifurcated member 5|, thereby directing electrical energy through the cord .21. Each-of thecords 21 has apl-ug .28 on the free sendthereof which may be attached to theeimmed-iate instrument to be used and which is znormally supported in the casing 23.

The construction of the spool 29 is such as to enable a substantial amount of the cord to be drawn therefrom and functions in'the following manner:

W:hen .the'cord :is being drawn from the spool 26 the spring 40 initially winds up to its fullest extent -.w h.ere upon .the spring 35 connected with the bearing 32 throughhousing :33 and with the central shaft 29 will be caused to be wound thereby permitting further rotation of thespool 26. When the'cable 2? is released .-the;spring 35 will initially function to rewind the spool until the :Tfunction of :the spring 35 is spent and the spring All willthentake up the rear function until the cord is drawn inwardly of the opening .in the plate l9 an amount suflicient to draw the plug .28 ,into intimate engagement with :the plate.

As shown particularly in Figs. 1, 3 and ;5, a braking device is provided 'for retaining the spool .25 in any given adjusted position which braking device may .be manually manipulated to release the spool to enable the springs 48 and 35 to impart the desired rewinding of the cord 2'1. This ibraking device comprises -a roller member 53 pivotally connected to a support 64 carried by a .barfifi. The bar 65 is slidably supported in spaced bearing members 66 and 61 connected with the adjacent bracket by means of screws or the like $8. The bar .65 is .provided adjacent one end with aicoil spring 59positioned intermediate the bearing member 66 and the support 64 and normally tends to urge the roller member .63 in a direction toward the peripheral ,edge 10 of the spool 26, as shown best in Figs. ,2 and 5. The

roller members 63 engages the upper surface H of plate 12 secured to the bases of the bracket '25 by :means of screws or the like 13 and has a wedg- I ingaction between said surface I! and the peripheral edge Hi of the spool, thereby function-- ingaszbrake for locking the spool-in adjusted posltion, particularly when the cord is pulled in a direction outwardly of the panel IS. The bar 65, adjacent the outer end thereof, is provided with a push button 14 which extends through an aligned opening in the panel IS an amount sufficient to be manually engaged by the operator.

It is particularly pointed out that the roller 63 will permit the cord 2'! to be relatively freely drawn from the spool 26. This is due to the fact that the said spool, when the cord 21 is being drawn therefrom will rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 15 normally tend to urge the brake roller 63 in a direction resisting the tension of the coil spring 69. When the pull on the cord 21 however is released the wedging action of the roller 63 between the surface H and periphery ll] of the spool under the tension of the spring 69 will immediately lock the spool against countermovement and thereby retain it in any adjusted position. When it is desired to rewind the cord 21 on the spool all that is required is to apply manual pressure upon the push button 14 thereby releasing the braking action of the roller 53 and allowing the spiral springs 40 and 35 respectively to function to move the spool 26 in a direction for rewinding the cord 21.

To the front of the compartment H, there is pivotally connected a cover member 16 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. The pivotal connection is shown at 11 and is to the lower end of the panel 19. The said lower end of the panel is provided with a recess !8 through which a latch member 19 extends. The said latch member 19 is pivotally connected with the cover 16 as illustrated at 80 and has an end portion 8| adapted to engage and latch with the panel I9 adjacent the upper end of the recess 18 as shown at 82 when the cover 16 is in its lower most position as shown best in Fig. 1. The member 19 therefore enables the cover member Hi to be positioned in superimposed relation with the panel H! or to be opened outwardly and retained in a subsequently horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1. When in this latter position the cover member 16 functions as a shelf upon which the instruments may be rested when not in use.

When the cover is closed or in superimposed relation with the panel la the member 19 functions as engagement means with a spring lever 83 carried by a main switch 84 supported internally of the compartment II.

By reference to Fig. 7 wherein a schematic wiring diagram of the device is shown the main switch 8 is illustrated as being directly in the incoming circuit through the plug connection 85 with the main electrical supply wires 86. The incoming circuit is connected to a transformer 81 for reducing the main line voltage to the voltage required for the instruments. This voltage may be varied in the circuits leading to the respective plugs 53 by means of the rheostats 89. The exact line voltage is determined by the voltmeter ell. Suitable jacks 9! are provided in the plug circuits to provide electrical connection for other instruments as desired. A telltale light 93 is provided in the plug circuits. Adjacent the top of the upright I! there is supported a source of illumination, not shown. This source of illumination is indicated at 94 in the wiring diagram of Fig. 7 and is illustrated as having a plug connection 95 with the main incoming source of electric energy. A suitable switch 96 is provided for independent control of the source of illumination 94 and there is also provided a rheostat 91 by means of which the voltage supply may be varied.

By referring back to Fig. 6, and as shown by the dash lines, the member 19 pivotally connected with the cover 16, when said cover is in closed position, is adapted to engage and depress the spring lever 83 which in turn depresses the plunger 98 of said switch thereby opening the circuit to the transformer 8'! and disconnecting the main line electrical energizer therefrom. When the cover is opened the resiliency of the lever 83 causes said lever to move outwardly, due to its tendency to return to its initial setting and thereby trips the switch 34 and automatically energizes the circuit to the plugs and jacks.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that simple and economical means have been provided for accomplishing all of the objects and advantages of the invention.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. An instrument stand of the character described comprising a hollow upright provided with a bearing adjacent its upper end in which an instrument supporting shaft is mountable for slidable movement in the direction of the vertical axis of upright and having control means for moving said shaft in the bearing, said hollow upright having a substantially plane panel portion extending outwardly from one side thereof adjacent the bearing, said panel portion being inclined at approximately sixty degrees to the vertical axis of the upright and to intersect said axis substantially above the upper end of the upright, and having sidewalls extending inwardly to merge with the hollow upright and form an enclosed compartment, said panel portion having openings formed therein and supporting at least one cylindrical member in alignment with one of said openings, said cylindrical member being disposed in the compartment in substantially normal relation to the panel portion with its sidewalls substantially coinciding with the periphery of said opening and having a closed inner end, the dimensions of said cylindrical member and aligned opening being such as to permit the cylindrical member to receive and substantially encase conventional type electrically operated manual instruments, compartment having a rotatable spool mounted therein about which an electrical cord is wound, said cord havin one end extending through an opening in the panel portion and adapted to be connected with said manual instrum nts, the opposed end of the cord. being connectable to a source of electrical energy, and spring actuated means for rotating the spool to permit a winding and unwinding of the electrical cord.

2. An instrument stand of the character described comprising a hollow upright provided with a bearing adiacent its upper end in which an instrument supporting shaft is mountable for slidahle movement in the direction of the vertical axis of the upright and having control means for moving said shaft in the bearing, said hollow upright having a substantially plane panel portion extending outwardly from one side thereof adjacent the bearing, said panel portion being inclined at approximately sixty degrees to the vertical axis of the upright and to intersect said axis substantially above the upper end of the upright, and having sidewalls extending inwardly to merge with the hollow upright and form an enclosed compartment, said panel portion having openings formed therein and supporting at least one cylindrical member arranged with one of said openings,v said cylindrical member being dish posed in the compartment in substantially normal relation to the panel portion and having alclosed inner end, with the dimensions of said cylindrical; member and arranged opening being such as to permit. the cylindrical member to receive and substantially encase conventional type electrically operated manual instruments, said compartment. having, a rotatable spool mounted therein about which an electrical cord is wound, said cord having one end extending through an open-- ingin the panel portion and adapted to be connected with; said manual instruments, the opposed end of the cord being connectable to a source of electrical energy, and a cover portion hingedly connected adjacent the lower portion of the panel portion, said cover portion comprising a. substantially flat portion having inturned sidewalls and being shaped and of a size to substantially' completely cover the panel portion wheninclosed position, and stop means for maintaining said cover portion in a substantially horizontal plane as a tray when in open position.

3. Aninstrument stand of the character described comprising a hollow upright provided with a bearing adjacent its upper end in whichan instrument supporting shaft is mountable for slid'able movement in the direction of the vertical axis of the upright and having control means for moving said shaft in the bearing, said hollow upright having a substantially plane panel portion: extending outwardly from one side thereof adjacent the bearing, said panel portion being inclined to intersect the vertical axis of the upright substantially above the upper end of said upright, and having sidewalls extending inward- 1y to merge with the walls of the hollow upright and. form an enclosed compartment, said panel portion having openings formed therein and supporting at least one cylindrical member arranged with one of said openings, said cylindrical member being disposed in the compartment in substantially normal relation to the panel portion and having a closed inner end, with the dimensions of said cylinder member and arranged opening being such as to permit the cylindrical member to receive and substantially encase conventional type electrically operated manual instruments, said compartment having a rotatable spool mounted therein about which an electrical cord is wound, said cord having one end extending through anopening in the panel portion and adapted to be connected with said manual instruments, the opposed end. of the cord being connected to a switch member having a lever for operating the switch member, said switch member being connectable to a source of electrical energy to provide an electrical circuit to the cord, and a cover member hingedly connected to the lower part of the panel portion, said cover memher having a latch extending through an opening in said panel portion, said latch being adapted to engage the rear surface of the panel portion when the cover member is pivoted to a substantially horizontal plane so as to support the cover member as a tray in said position, and being adapted to engage the lever on said switch member when the cover member is in closedposi-tion so as to cause the switch member tobreak the electrical circuit to said cord.

a. An instrument stand of the character described having its component parts arranged in compact relation with each other, said stand comprising a hollow upright having a bearing portion in the top end wall thereof, with the major part of said bearing extending downward ly and: inwardly of the upright, an instrument supporting shaft mounted in said bearing for rotatable and slidable movement in a direction Iongitudinally of the bearing and having control means inwardlythereof for moving said shaft in the bearing, said hollow upright having an enlarged compartment portion projecting outwardly from adjacent the top end wall thereof, said, compartment portion having a relatively narrow upper wall portion adjacent the top end wall of the upright lying in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of said top end wall of the upright, a bottom wall portion angled out.- wardly and upwardly with respect to the adjaa cent side wall of the upright and having its side walls substantially flush with the side walls of the upright, said compartment having a substantially plane front wallportion inclined downwardly and outwardly with respect to the top wall portion of said compartment and having a plurality of openings therein, and tubular members supported in said compartment portion and in alignment with said openings, said tubular members-extending inwardly substantially parallel with the plane of the bottom wall of the com.- partment and lying between said wall and inner end of the bearing in adjacent relation therewith, and said tubular members having inner closed ends straddling the control means in said upright.

5. An instrument stand of the character described having its component parts arranged in compact relation with each other, said stand comprising a hollow upright having a bearing portion in the top end wall thereof, with the major part of said bearing extending downwardly and inwardly of the upright, an instrument supporting shaft mounted in said bearing for rotatable and slidable movement in a direction longitudinally of the bearing and having control means inwardly thereof for moving said shaft in the bearing, said hollow upright having an enlarged compartment portion projecting outward- 1y from adjacent the top end wall thereof, said compartment. portion having a relatively narrow upper wall portion adjacent the top end wall of the upright lying in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of said top end wall of the upright, a bottom wall portion angled outwardly and upwardly with respect to the adjacent side wall of the upright and having its side walls substantially flush with the side walls of the upright, said compartment having a front wall portion inclined downwardly and outwardly with respect to the substantially plane top wall, portion of said compartment and having a pair of spaced openings adjacent the bottom portion. thereof, and a tubular member supported in said compartment portion and in alignment with each of said openings, said tubular members each extending inwardly substantially parallel with the plane of the bottom wall of the compartment and lying between said wall and the inner end of the bearing in adjacent relation therewith, said tubular members having inner closed ends straddling the control means in said upright, and with the front, upper and side wall portions of the compartment, the adjacent sides of the tubular members and bearing portion forming an open area therebetween, said front wall having an apertured portion communicating with said open area, and a rotatable spool mounted in said area, electrical cord means adapted to be wound about said spool, having REFERENCES CITED The following references are or record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Pieper Jan; 9, 1917 Crane et a1. Jan. 30, 1917 Scheidt July 10, 1917 Russell Feb. 26, 1918 Pieper Apr. 26, 1921 Pieper July 24, 1923 Hanberg July 22, 1924 Russell et a1. May 12, 1925 Bunch Jan. 7, 1941 Pieper Oct. 28, 1941

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