초록 ▼

An articulating joint for supporting a medical or dental light having a first mounting post rotatably couples the light to a support structure having a second mounting post. The articulating joint includes a joint body having first and second terminal ends. A first bearing and a first brake are loca

An articulating joint for supporting a medical or dental light having a first mounting post rotatably couples the light to a support structure having a second mounting post. The articulating joint includes a joint body having first and second terminal ends. A first bearing and a first brake are located proximate the first end for receiving and frictionally engaging the first mounting post. The joint body may further include a second bearing and a second brake proximate the second end for receiving and frictionally engaging the second mounting post. The articulating joint further includes a cover that is removably coupled to the joint body over at least the first bearing and the first brake.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An illumination apparatus, comprising: a medical light having a first mounting post; andan articulating joint for coupling said medical light to a support structure having a second mounting post, said articulating joint comprising:a joint body having first and second terminal ends;a first bearing

1. An illumination apparatus, comprising: a medical light having a first mounting post; andan articulating joint for coupling said medical light to a support structure having a second mounting post, said articulating joint comprising:a joint body having first and second terminal ends;a first bearing proximate said first terminal end, said first bearing having an inner surface, said first mounting post received in said first bearing along said inner surface;a second bearing proximate said first terminal end and spaced apart from said first bearing, said second bearing coaxially aligned with said first bearing and having an inner surface adapted to receive said first mounting post therealong;at least one first brake disposed between said first bearing and said second bearing and adjustably coupled to said joint body by at least one first fastener, said first brake having a first engagement surface for engaging said first mounting post;at least one spring reacting against at least a portion of said first fastener and said first brake, said spring resiliently biasing said first brake in a direction such that said first engagement surface frictionally engages said first mounting post received in said first bearing and said second bearing,a third bearing proximate said second terminal end, said third bearing having an inner surface and being adapted to receive the second mounting post along said inner surface;a fourth bearing proximate said second terminal end and spaced apart from said third bearing, said fourth bearing coaxially aligned with said third bearing and having an inner surface adapted to receive the second mounting post therealong; andat least one second brake disposed between said third bearing and said fourth bearing and adjustably coupled to said joint body by at least one second fastener, said second brake having a second engagement surface for engaging said second mounting post;at least one spring reacting against at least a portion of said second fastener and said second brake, said spring resiliently biasing said second brake in a direction such that said second engagement surface frictionally engages the second mounting post received in said third bearing and said fourth bearing. 2. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: support structure for supporting said medical light, said support structure including a second mounting post. 3. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: at least one bearing sleeve disposed between said first mounting post and said inner surface of at least one of said first or second bearings. 4. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: at least one bearing sleeve disposed between said second mounting post and said inner surface of at least one of said third or fourth bearings. 5. The articulating joint of claim 1 further comprising a cover removably coupled to said joint body over at least one of said first bearing, said second bearing, said third bearing, said fourth bearing, said first brake, and said second brake. 6. An articulating joint for coupling a medical light having a first mounting post to a support structure having a second mounting post, said articulating joint comprising: a joint body having first and second terminal ends;a first bearing proximate said first terminal end, said first bearing having an inner surface and being adapted to receive a first mounting post along said inner surface;a second bearing proximate said first terminal end of said joint body and spaced apart from said first bearing, said second bearing coaxially aligned with said first bearing and having an inner surface adapted to receive the first mounting post therealong;at least one first brake disposed between said first bearing and said second bearing and adjustably coupled to said joint body by at least one first fastener, said first brake having a first engagement surface for engaging said first mounting post;at least one spring reacting against at least a portion of said first fastener and said first brake, said spring resiliently biasing said first brake in a direction such that said first engagement surface frictionally engages the first mounting post received in said first bearing and said second bearing;a third bearing proximate said second terminal end, said third bearing having an inner surface and being adapted to receive the second mounting post along said inner surface;a fourth bearing proximate said second terminal end and spaced apart from said third bearing, said fourth bearing coaxially aligned with third bearing and having an inner surface adapted to receive the second mounting post therealong; andat least one second brake disposed between said third bearing and said fourth bearing and adjustably coupled to said joint body by at least one second fastener, said second brake having a second engagement surface for engaging said second mounting post;at least one spring reacting against at least a portion of said second fastener and said second brake, said spring resiliently biasing said second brake in a direction such that said second engagement surface frictionally engages the second mounting post received in said third bearing and said fourth bearing. 7. The articulating joint of claim 6 wherein the first and second bearings are not coaxially aligned with the third and fourth bearings. 8. The articulating joint of claim 6 further comprising a cover removably coupled to said joint body over at least one of said first bearing, said second bearing, said third bearing, said fourth bearing, said first brake, and said second brake. 9. An articulating joint for coupling a medical light having a first mounting post to a support structure having a second mounting post, said articulating joint comprising: a joint body having first and second terminal ends;first and second coaxially aligned bearings proximate said first terminal end and adapted to receive the first mounting post along a common axis thereof;a first brake disposed between said first and second bearings, said first brake movable in a radial direction with respect to said common axis of said first and second bearings, said first brake having a first engagement surface for engaging said first mounting post;a first structure coupled to the joint body;at least one spring reacting against said first structure and biasing said first brake for movement in said radial direction for frictional engagement with the first mounting post when the first mounting post is received in said first and second bearings;third and fourth coaxially aligned bearings proximate said second terminal end and adapted to receive the second mounting post along a common axis thereof;a second brake disposed between said third and fourth bearings, said second brake movable in a radial direction with respect to said common axis of said third and fourth bearings, said second brake having a second engagement surface for engaging said second mounting post;a second structure coupled to the joint body;at least one spring reacting against said second structure and biasing said second brake for movement in said radial direction for frictional engagement between the second engagement surface and the second mounting post when the second mounting post is received in said third and fourth bearings. 10. The articulating joint of claim 9 wherein the first and second coaxially aligned bearings are not coaxially aligned with the third and fourth coaxially aligned bearings. 11. The articulating joint of claim 9 further comprising a cover removably coupled to said joint body over at least one of said first bearing, said second bearing, said third bearing, said fourth bearing, said first brake, and said second brake.