Patent ID: 6581889
Filing Date: 2003-06-24
Classification: A61B,F16M,F21V

Abstract:
A stabilizer arm assembly for forcibly holding an object against a surface, said assembly comprising:a mounting assembly comprising a mounting base and moveable mounting clamp for removably clamping the stabilizer arm assembly to a stationary fixture; a flexible arm attached to the mounting base, said flexible arm comprising multiple articulated elongate links with each link being rotatably joined to adjacent links, where said and link has have a substantially cylindrical segment with a knob attached at one end of the cylindrical segment and a socket at the other end of the cylindrical segment for receiving the knob of an adjacent link in the arm so as to rotatably join to the adjacent link; a joining piece comprising a plate with a many-sided, centrally located opening therein for forcibly receiving the knob of the proximal link; a turret joint comprising a freely rotatable socket attached to the distal link of the arm; a holding appendage fixedly joined to the turret joint for holding the object; and a tightening mechanism loosely attaching together the mounting base, the multiple links of the arm, and the freely rotatable socket of the turret joint; wherein the appendage flexes in a vertical plane as well as freely spins through 360Â° within the turret joint prior to actuation of the tightening mechanism, and wherein actuation of the tightening mechanism rigidly compresses together the turret joint, the links of the arm and the joining piece so as to hold the assembly in a fixed attitude while from about one to about twenty pounds of counter-pressure is applied against the holding appendage.