Patent Publication Number: US-2011075816-A1

Title: Film support

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     This application relates generally to devices for holding film in a desired position. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is occasionally necessary to determine location of inclusions within concrete structures, such as locating inclusions within a concrete column or slab. This situation may arise for example when contemplating core drilling or cutting through the concrete structure. It is highly desirable to avoid impinging upon inclusions, such as reinforcement bars (e.g., rebar), conduits, post tensioning cables, and the like. It may also be desirable to discriminate among inclusions, where several inclusions are in relatively close proximity to one another. 
     One method for locating inclusions within such structures involves X-raying the target structure. This typically involves positioning an X-ray machine atop the target structure and X-ray film against the underside of the target structure. While highly effective, positioning the film against the underside of the target structure may expose a user to potentially harmful X-rays. Therefore there exists a significant need for an improved means for supporting film against the underside of the target structure. 
     In particular, this application discloses a film support comprising: a plate for supporting a film member against an underside of a target structure; and a shaft for supporting the plate, the shaft having a first end and a second end, the shaft first end rotatably coupled to the plate and the shaft second end configured to engage a supporting surface below the plate such that the plate is capable of being releasably positioned between the target structure underside and the shaft such that the film member is supported against the target structure underside. 
     This application also discloses a film support comprising: a plate for supporting a film member against an underside of a target structure; a bracket member rotatably coupled to the plate; and a shaft having a first end and a second end, the shaft first end coupled to the bracket and the shaft second end configured to engage a supporting surface below the plate such that the plate is capable of being releasably positioned below structure underside such that the film member is supported against the target structure underside. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings, when considered in connection with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of an illustrative film support; 
         FIG. 2A  is a partial side view of an illustrative film support showing the plate in the first plate position; 
         FIG. 2B  is a partial side view of an illustrative film support showing the plate in the second plate position; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of an illustrative film support; and 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of an alternative illustrative film support. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , an illustrative film support  100  is shown. The film support  100  generally includes a plate  102  and a shaft  104 . The plate  102  is configured to support a film member  106  against an underside of a target structure. The plate  102  may be formed from any suitable material, including, but not limited to, metal, polymer, composite, etc. The plate  102  may include any suitable device for releasably securing the film member  106  thereto. In the illustrative embodiment, one or more elastic bands  108  are employed to releasably secure the film member  106  to the plate  102 . However, it will be appreciated that any suitable device(s) or means, or any combination thereof, may be employed for releasably securing the film member  106  to the plate  102 . For example, and without limitation, suitable device(s) may include Velcro®, magnets, straps, belts, hook-and-loop fasteners, snap fasteners, or any other suitable device(s) or means, or any combination thereof, for releasably securing the film member  106  to the plate  102 . Also, while the illustrative film member  106  is shown as an X-ray cartridge typically employed with concrete, or structural, X-ray, it will be appreciated that any suitable film device may be employed and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The shaft  104  includes a first end  110  and a second end  112 . The shaft first end  110  is rotatably coupled to the plate  102 . In one embodiment, a bracket member  114  is coupled to the shaft first end  110  and rotatably coupled to the underside of the plate  102 . It will be appreciated that the shaft first end  110  and/or bracket member  114  may be rotatably coupled to the plate  102  via any suitable means or device(s), or any suitable combination thereof, that permits the plate  102  to rotate relative to the shaft  104  and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, as shown in the illustrative embodiment, one or more braces  111  are employed for rotatably coupling the plate  102  to the bracket member  114 . Alternatively, and without limitation, the shaft first end  110  and/or bracket members  114  may be coupled to the plate  102  via one or more hinges, etc. In one embodiment, as will be discussed further below, the bracket member  114  includes one or more arms  116  for supporting the plate  102  in the plate first position. 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the plate  102  is rotatable between a first position (e.g.,  FIG. 2A ) and a second position (e.g.  FIG. 2B ). In one embodiment, the plate  102  is generally perpendicular to the shaft  104  in the first position (i.e., 90°+/−45° and the angle between the plate  102  and the shaft  104  is smaller in the second plate position than in the first plate position. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the shaft  104  is coupled to the plate  102  such that the shaft  104  is offset from the center of gravity  122  of the plate  102 . In this embodiment, the supporting arms  116  on the bracket member  114  may support the plate  102  in the plate first position. The shaft  104  may then be axially rotated approximately 180 degrees whereby gravity may act on the plate  102  to rotate the plate  102  to the plate second position. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the shaft  102  may be coupled to the plate  102  such that shaft  104  is offset from the center of gravity  122  of the plate  102  and such that the bracket member  114  angled relative to the edges of the plate  102  (e.g., angle α). The bracket member supporting arms  116  may support the plate  102  in the plate first position and the shaft  104  may be axially rotated approximately 180 degrees whereby gravity may act on the plate  102  to rotate the plate  102  to the second position. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1-3 , the shaft  104  second end  112  is configured to engage a supporting surface below the plate  102  such that the plate  102  may be releasably positioned, or otherwise wedged, between the target structure underside and the shaft  104  such that the film member  106  is supported against the underside of the target structure and capable of receiving electromagnetic radiation passing through the target structure. For example, and without limitation, the shaft second end  112  may include a boot, a friction surface for frictionally engaging the supporting surface, etc. 
     In one embodiment, the shaft  104  may include a first portion  118  and a second portion  120  wherein the first portion  118  telescopically engages the second portion  120  such that the length of the shaft  104  may be selectively adjusted. The shaft  104  may include a locking member  124  for releasably securing the second portion  120  in position relative to the first portion  118 . Moreover, the support  100  may include a resilient member  126  for absorbing, or at least partially absorbing, shock or vibration that may be introduced to, or near, the support  100 . The resilient member  126  may be positioned near the shaft first end  110 , shaft second end  112  or at any suitable position between the shaft ends  110 ,  112 . In one embodiment, the resilient member  126  may also bias the plate  102  towards the underside of the target structure when the plate  102  is in the plate first position. The resilient member  126  may be any suitable device, including, but not limited to, a spring, a shock absorber, or any other suitable device. 
     While the present disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.