Abstract:
A specimen stand includes a base, a support, an “L”-shaped arm, and a specimen-holding portion. The specimen-holding portion is rotatable relative to the “L”-shaped arm. The “L” support arm is rotatable relative to the support and the base. The specimen stand has a swappable plate having distinct colors to allow specimens to be positioned over different colors for examination. The specimen stand has a magnet on the base to assist in positioning the base.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application 62/080,306 which was filed on Nov. 15, 2014 and which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a specimen stand, in particular a specimen stand for entomology for positioning the insect for use with other devices such as a microscope. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Entomology is the study of insects. The study of entomology includes many pursuits including insect biology in both basic and applied contexts. This can include examination using lenses. The majority of Entomological Microscopy is performed using low power (typically stereo zoom or digital) microscopes. Most entomologists also wish to capture high resolution images of their specimens. 
         [0004]    It has been recognized that it is desired to study the insect without having to touch the specimen. There are specimen stands that allow a pinned specimen to be rotated on two independent axes, while maintaining a relatively accurate focus under a microscope. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    It has been recognized that a background of different colors is desired dependent on the item to be examined. In addition, it is recognized that it is desired to have a magnet in the base for securing the stand. 
         [0006]    In an embodiment, a specimen stand includes a base, a support, an “L”-shaped arm, and a specimen-holding portion. The base has an upper surface and lower surface. The support projects upward from the upper surface of the base. The arm is pivotably mounted to the support. The specimen-holding portion is carried by the arm. The specimen stand has a magnetic sheet carried by the base for securing the stand to a surface such as a table. 
         [0007]    In an embodiment, the specimen stand has a swappable plate having a first color on one side and a second color on a second side. The swappable plate is carried by the upper surface of the base. In an embodiment, the upper surface of the base of the specimen stand is a different color than the first color and the second color of the swappable plate. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, the upper surface of the base has a pair of “L”-shaped projections defining a pair of grooves for retaining the swappable plate to the upper surface of the base. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment, the base has a storage area for receiving for the swappable plate. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment, the lower surface of the base has a rectangular recess for receiving the magnetic sheet. 
         [0011]    It is to be understood that the features of the various embodiments described herein are not mutually exclusive and may exist in various combinations and permutations. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a specimen stand according to the invention: 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the specimen stand; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the specimen stand; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the specimen stand; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the specimen stand; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is another perspective view of the specimen stand; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an insect on the specimen stand and a lens of a camera. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    A specimen stand provides multiple swappable plates for background options to allow the user to examine and photograph a specimen. The specimen stand allows the user to move a specimen without having to touch the specimen. The specimen stand has a weighted magnetic base. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a specimen stand  10  is shown. The specimen stand  10  has a base  12  and a “L”-shaped arm  14 . The base  12  has an upper surface  22 , a lower surface  24 , as seen in  FIG. 4 , and a plurality of side walls  26 ,  28 ,  30 , and  32 . To assist in describing the specimen stand  10 , two of the side walls  28  and  32  are also referred as a front wall  28  and a rear wall  32 . 
         [0022]    The specimen stand  10  has a support  16  that projects upward from the upper surface  22  of the base  12 . The “L”-shaped arm  14  has a first end  36  that is pivotably mounted to the support  16  by a fastener  42 . The “L”-shaped arm  14  has a second end  38 . The specimen stand  10  has a specimen-rotating portion  46  that is rotatably connected to the “L”-shaped arm  14  at the second end  38 . 
         [0023]    The specimen stand  10  has a swappable plate  18  that is received on the upper surface  22  of the base  12 . The base  12  has a pair of “L”-shaped projections  54  that extend upward and inward to each define a groove  56 . The groove  56  extends from the front wall  28  to the rear wall  32 . Each groove  56  receives one of a pair of edges of the swappable plate  18  to retain the swappable plate  18 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a sectional view of the specimen stand  10  is shown. The support  16  has a hole  62  through which a shaft  64  of the fastener  42  extends from the first end  36  of the “L”-shaped arm  14 . The shaft  64  of the fastener  42  ends in a knurled knob  68 . 
         [0025]    The specimen-rotating portion  46  has a base  76  with a groove (dimple)  78  to receive plastine  80  into which a pin or wire  82  containing the insect can be secured. The second end  38  of the “L”-shaped arm  14  has a hole  88  through which a shaft  90  of the specimen-rotating portion  46  extends. An annular ring  92  receives the other end of the shaft  90  of the specimen-rotating portion  46 . 
         [0026]    The swappable plate  18  is shown on the upper surface  22 . The base  10  has a slot  48  that opens onto the rear wall  32  and is a storage area for the swappable plate  18 . The specimen stand  10  has a magnetic plate  20  which is received in a groove or rectangular recess  96  on the lower surface  24 . The magnetic plate  20  in one embodiment is secured by epoxy to the rectangular recess. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a front view of the specimen stand  10  is shown. The support  16  projects from the upper surface  22  of the base  12  of the specimen stand. The first end  36  of the “L”-shaped arm  14  has a hole  102  that receives the shaft  64  of the fastener  42 . The knurled knob  68  is seen behind the support  16 . 
         [0028]    The specimen-rotating portion  46  is rotatably mounted to the second end  38  of the “L”-shaped arm  14 . The swappable plate  18  of the specimen stand  10  is received on the upper surface  22  of the base  12 . The pair of “L”-shaped projections  54  of the base  12  extend upward and inward to each define a groove  56 . The groove  56  extends from the front wall  28  to the rear wall  32 . Each groove  56  receives one of a pair of edges of the swappable plate  18  to retain the swappable plate  18 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a bottom view of the specimen stand  10  is shown. The magnetic plate  20  of the specimen stand  10  is received in the groove or rectangular recess  96  on the lower surface  24 . The magnetic plate  20  in one embodiment is secured by epoxy to the rectangular recess  96 . The magnetic plate is not a strong magnet but strong enough to keep the specimen stand  10  in place. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , an exploded view of the main components of the specimen stand  10  is shown. The support  16  is shown projecting upward from the base  12  of the specimen stand  10 . The “L”-shaped arm  14  is shown spaced from the support  16  with the fastener  42  with the knurled knob  68 . 
         [0031]    The “L”-shaped arm  14  has a second end  38 . The specimen-rotating portion  46  of the specimen stand  10  is shown about the second end  38  of the “L”-shaped arm  14 . The annular ring  92  which receives the shaft  90  of the specimen-rotating portion  46  is shown below the second end  38 . 
         [0032]    The specimen stand  10  has a swappable plate  18  that is received on the upper surface  22  of the base  12 . While the swappable plate  18  is shown on the left of the the base  12  in  FIG. 5 , the swappable plate  18  is received on the upper surface  22  of the base  12  and in the grooves  56  formed by the “L”-shaped projection  54  from the right side; the swappable plate  18  is received by the slot  48  of the base  12  from the left in the FIG. 
         [0033]    In an embodiment, the specimen stand  10  including the base  12 , the “L”-shaped arm  14 , the support  16 , and the specimen-rotating portion  46  is formed using a 3D printing process. The components are printed using a fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , another perspective view of the specimen stand  10  is shown. The specimen stand  10  has a pair of brass tubing  110  and  112 : one brass tube  110  in the hole  62  of the support  16  and the second one  112  in the hole at the second of the “L”-shaped arm  14 . The brass tubing  110 , shown in hidden line, and  112  is to make for smoother rotation of the “L”-shaped arm  14  and the specimen-rotating portion  46 . In addition to the brass tubing, the specimen stand  10  has several washers including a plurality of nylon washers  116 . Interposed between the knurled knob  68  and the support  16  is a series of washers, including a pair of nylon washers  118 , and an interposed wavy spring washer  120 . The knurled knob  68  is press-fit into the L-shaped arm  14  and glued with epoxy. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a perspective view of an insect  150  on the specimen stand  10  and a lens  154  of a camera  156  is shown. The specimen stand  10  has the base  12  and the “L”-shaped arm  14 . The support  16  of the specimen stand  10  projects upward from the upper surface  22  of the base  12 . The “L”-shaped arm  14  has a first end  36  that is pivotably mounted to the support  16  by a fastener  42 . The “L”-shaped arm  14  has a second end  38 . The specimen stand  10  has a specimen-rotating portion  46  that is rotatably connected to the “L”-shaped arm  14  at the second end  38 . 
         [0036]    The swappable plate  18  of the specimen stand  10  is received on the upper surface  22  of the base  12 . 
         [0037]    While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0038]    It is recognized that in an alternative embodiment, the magnetic plate  20  is replaced by a non-skid surface.