Abstract:
A device for attaching a retaining member ( 1 ) for an optical apparatus ( 2 ) to a support ( 3 ) includes a screw ( 11 ) for securing the retaining member ( 1 ) to the support ( 3 ) and having a conical head ( 13 ) countersunk in the retaining part of retaining member, and a key connection ( 12 ) for aligning the retaining member ( 1 ) with the support ( 3 ) and secured in place by the screw ( 11 ).

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/420,290 filed Oct. 18, 1999, now abandoned. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to device for attaching a retaining to a support and including a threaded connection between the retaining member and the support. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   In known arrangements of this kind, the retaining member is secured to the support by means of a screw connection which contains three fixing screws or, in another embodiment, two screws and a centering pin. The known arrangements each require a careful handling during assembly and positioning of the parts to be connected, as well as a corresponding expenditure of time during the insertion and release of the two or three fixing screws. 
   The invention is based on the object of providing a further developed arrangement of the initially named kind which is in particular improved in this respect. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This object is satisfied in accordance with the invention that provides a threaded connection which contains a fixing screw with a screw head countersunk in the retaining member, and by additionally coupling the retaining member with the support by a key connection. 
   The embodiment in accordance with the invention results in an arrangement in a robust construction substantially simplified in comparison to previous embodiments, with components which can be manufactured at favorable cost and which ensure a simple and reliable handling of the arrangement, which can be achieved with an advantageously low working effort. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be explained in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show: 
       FIG. 1  a side view of an embodiment of device in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 1   a  a side view similar to that of  FIG. 1  but showing, in cross-section, the area through which the fixing screw extends 
       FIG. 2  a side view with a partial section of a device in accordance with the invention and in accordance with another embodiment. 
       FIG. 3  a view in the direction of arrows III—III in  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 4  a view in the direction of arrows IV—IV in  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The arrangement of  FIG. 1  serves for the attachment of retaining member  1  for an optical apparatus indicated in chain-dotted lines to a support  3  which is formed, in accordance with the illustration, by a spherical head  4  with a cylindrical projection  5 . The spherical head  4  can be secured in a non-illustrated holder of a stand or the like. In accordance with  FIG. 1 , the retaining member  1  is formed as a device for the fixing of a guide rail  6  which can be coupled by means of a screw  10  to the optical apparatus  2 . The retaining member  1  comprises a first holder part  7  which can be mounted on the support  3  and a second holder part  8  which is movably connected to the latter and which can be clamped via non-illustrated clamping means in the direction of the arrow  9  against the guide rail  6  which is attached to the first holder part  7  and displaceable perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, so that the guide rail is adjustably and fixedly held. 
   The retaining member  1  and support  3  can be coupled to one another by a screw  11  and a key connection  12 . The screw  11  which is formed as a fixing screw has a conical screw head  13  which can be inserted in countersunk manner into a receiving conical bore of the first holder part  7 . The screw  11  extends through a smooth bore formed in the holder part  7  and is screwed into a threaded bore formed in of the support  3 . The retaining member  1  has a support surface  14  extending transversely to the fixing screw  11  and mountable on a complementary support surface  15  formed on the support  3 . The screw head  13  provides for centering of the holder part  7  and, thus, of the retaining member  1 , with respect to the support  3  upon the screw  11  being screwed into the threaded bore of the support  3 . 
   The key connection  12  contains a guide groove  16  arranged in one of the support surfaces, in accordance with the disclosed embodiment, in the support surface  14  of the holder member  7 , transverse to the axis of the receiving bore, and a strip portion  17  formed on the other complementary support surface  15 , which can be brought together with the guide groove  16  in a form-locking manner. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3–4 , the fixing screw  11  extends through the key connection  12 , fixing the key connection  12  in place. Fixing of the key connection  12  with the fixing screw  11  permits to increase tolerances of the key connection  12 , which substantially facilitates mounting of the retaining member on the support  3 . 
   The arrangement of  FIG. 2  corresponds in important parts to that of  FIG. 1  with the retaining member  1  in this arrangement being a support part  21  which can be directly coupled to the optical apparatus  2  and which is executed in accordance with the illustration with a plate-like mounting portion. The support part  21  can be provided with a layer  22  of a rubber-like material for the reception of the apparatus  2 . As can be seen further from  FIG. 2 , the screw connection  11  contains a single fixing screw  23  with a screw head, which is of square shape in the illustration, which can be inserted in countersunk manner into the support part  21 , which is intended for assembly using a socket wrench and which is provided with a threaded spigot  24  projecting beyond the support part  21 . The support part  21  coupled to the support  3  can thus be fixedly screwed to the apparatus  2  via the threaded spigot  24 . 
   In the above described arrangement the retaining member  1  provided with the guide groove  16  will in each case be mounted on the support  3  provided with the strip portion  17  and thus pre-centered. The arrangements of the strip portion  17  and thus pre-centered. The arrangements of the invention thus permit an accurate and reliable positioning of the respective retaining member  1  on the support  3  in a simple manner and ensures simultaneously a coupling or decoupling of the relevant parts which can be obtained with a minimal expenditure of effort and skill.