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  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/420,290 filed Oct. 18, 1999. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The invention relates to device for attaching a retaining to a support and including a threaded connection between the retaining member and the support.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    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.  
           [0006]    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  
         [0007]    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.  
           [0008]    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  
       [0009]    The invention will be explained in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 a side view of an embodiment of device in accordance with the invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]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  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 a side view with a partial section of a device in accordance with the invention and in accordance with another embodiment.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 a view in the direction of arrows III-III in FIG. 1; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 a view in the direction of arrows IV-IV in FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]    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.  
         [0016]    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 .  
         [0017]    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.  
         [0018]    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 .  
         [0019]    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 .  
         [0020]    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.