Patent Publication Number: US-2012043446-A1

Title: Revolving and Translating Tool Base

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/374,611 filed Aug. 17, 2010 entitled Revolving and Translating Tool Base, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a rotating and translating tool base for movably supporting equipment and tools. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Diagnostic testing laboratories often have a large number and wide variety of high-cost, high-tech diagnostic equipment, which is used to streamline and automate standard testing procedures. In order to minimize the amount of expensive and valuable bench-top space occupied by such equipment, some testing equipment is tucked into tight areas. Because these areas provide little or no back and/or side access to the equipment, and because the equipment can be very heavy and difficult to move, service and routine maintenance of the equipment is inhibited and therefore often disregarded. Furthermore, movement of many types of delicate equipment should be minimized to avoid damage or calibration error to the equipment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a movable tool base on which a variety of laboratory equipment or tools can be supported or mounted. The tool base mounts securely to an existing work surface, such as a laboratory bench top, and allows the equipment piece to be translated linearly fore and aft and rotated clockwise and counter-clockwise relative to the work surface. This linear and rotational freedom of motion allows the equipment mounted thereon to be tucked into a tight area on the work surface during normal use, and then easily moved, by sliding and rotating, from the tight area for servicing or maintenance. The tool base is designed using industrial grade hardware and components to allow very heavy items (up to 1000 lbs.) to be mounted thereon and moved safely. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the tool base has a bottom base plate, middle plate, and upper mounting plate. Slides connect the middle plate to the bottom base plate and enable the middle plate to translate linearly relative to the bottom base plate. A turntable connects the upper mounting plate to the middle plate and enables the upper mounting plate to rotate about a central axis relative to the middle plate. The tool base has a first limit position in which each of the plates are aligned one on top of the other, a second limit position in which the center of the middle and upper plates is aligned with the front edge of the bottom base plate, and a third limit position in which the upper mounting plate is rotated about the central axis relative to the middle and bottom base plate. The plates can be arranged in a plurality of positions intermediate the first, second and third limit positions. 
     The middle plate includes a plurality of walls extending downwardly and enclosing the slides. Means, such as seismic straps, are provided for removably fastening the equipment piece to the upper mounting plate. An optional level is provided for leveling the tool base prior to fastening the tool base to the work surface. Preferably an anti-microbial finish covers each of the bottom, middle and upper plates. 
     Means are provided for preventing the middle plate from translating past the second limit position and for preventing the upper plate from rotating past the third limit position. In a preferred embodiment, rotation of the upper plate is limited to about 100 degrees in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. 
     The present invention also relates to a method of supporting and providing access to an equipment piece on a work surface by providing a rotating and translating tool base having a lower base plate and a plurality of upper plates that translate and/or rotate relative to the base plate. The tool base is initially positioned, leveled and then secured to the back of the work surface. The equipment piece is mounted to the tool base. When maintenance or service to the equipment is needed, the tool base and equipment are translated toward the front of the work surface and then rotated relative to the work surface to give easy access to the sides and back of the equipment. Forward translation is limited so that the center of gravity of the equipment does not cantilever out from the lower base plate. Rotation of the equipment is also limited to about 100 degrees in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to prevent severing or damage to power or data connections. Contamination of the tool base is prevented by coating the tool base with an anti-microbial finish. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a movable tool base in accordance with an embodiment of the invention shown in a first limit position; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the tool base of  FIG. 1  shown in a second limit position; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the tool base of  FIG. 1  shown in a second limit position with the upper plate also rotated; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective of the tool base shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is another exploded perspective of the tool base shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the movable tool base of  FIG. 1  in the second/open limit position and rotated with an equipment piece installed thereon; and, 
         FIG. 7  is fragmentary, enlarged perspective view of the seismic strap attachment nuts of  FIG. 6 . \ 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     For the purpose of illustration only, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown therein and described below. Throughout the specification, like reference numerals are used to designate like elements. Numerous changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein in their various grammatical forms have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. 
     A tool base in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-7  and is designated generally by reference numeral  10 . The tool base  10  of this embodiment is illustrated and described below with reference to supporting a piece of testing equipment “E”, such as a hematology analyzer, on a laboratory work bench “B” as shown in  FIG. 6 . However, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the tool base  10  can be used for mounting a wide variety of tools or equipment pieces in a variety of work settings. 
     The tool base  10  generally comprises a lower base plate  12 , a middle plate  14  and an upper mounting plate  16 . A pair of slides  18  connects the middle plate  14  to the bottom base plate  16  and enables the middle plate  14  to translate linearly relative to the bottom base plate  12 . A turntable  20  connects the upper mounting plate  16  to the middle plate  14  and enables the upper mounting plate  16  to rotate relative to the middle plate  14 . The base plate  12  rests on and is preferably fixed to a work surface such as, for example, a laboratory work bench or table top “B” best seen in  FIG. 6 . The upper mounting plate  16  supports, and is preferably fixed to, a piece of equipment “E” such as laboratory testing equipment. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , the tool base  12  has a generally rectangular shape and is large enough to support a variety of equipment or tools. In a preferred embodiment, the width “W” of the tool base may vary from about 30 inches to about 48 inches. The depth “D” of the tool base is preferably about 24 inches. The depth “D” of the tool base may also vary but is somewhat restricted due to the customary depth of the laboratory bench tops on which the tool base  12  may be mounted. In a preferred embodiment, the height (H) of the tool base  10  is minimized to about 5 inches so as not to excessively elevate the equipment piece “E”. 
     The tool base  12  has a front side  10   a,  back side  10   b,  left side  10   c  and right side  10   d.  Similarly, each base plate  12 ,  14 ,  16  has corresponding aligned front  12   a,    14   a,    16   a,  back  12   b,    14   b,    16   b,  left  12   c,    14   c,    16   c,  and right  12   d,    14   d,    16   d  sides, respectively, when the tool base  12  is configured in the first or closed limit position shown in  FIG. 1 . As best seen in  FIGS. 1-3 , the upper plate  12  and middle plate  14  have chamfered edges to reduce the risk of injury to the operator. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the lower base plate  12  and upper mounting plate  16  have a generally-rectangular, planar configuration. The lower plate  12  includes a plurality of apertures  22  through which fasteners can be inserted to affix the lower plate to a work surface. The upper plate  16  also includes a plurality of apertures  24  in which seismic strap attachment nuts  26  are fixed. In a preferred embodiment, the equipment piece “E” is attached to the upper mounting plate with seismic straps  28 , which fasten to the attachment nuts  26  as best seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
     In contrast with the lower  12  and upper  16  plates, the middle plate includes front  15   a,  left side  15   b  and right side  15   d  walls, which extend downwardly just short of contacting the lower base plate  12 . The side walls  15 , together with the middle plate  14 , form an enclosure that conceals the slides  18  and prevents foreign objects from interfering with movement of the slides  18 . The front wall  15   a  also provides a surface to which optional handles  30  may be mounted. All three side walls  15  also increase the rigidity of the middle plate. 
     The lower  12 , middle  14 , and upper  16  base plates may be made of any rigid material having sufficient strength to support the intended equipment pieces. Preferably, the material is one that can be easily cleaned and sterilized and which is resistant to bacterial growth. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , the plates are made from medium density fiberboard (“MDF”) having a powder coated finish with an antimicrobial additive such as sold by Protech Powder Inc. The coating should preferably resist heat, moisture, chemical attack. 
     The slides  18  allow the middle plate  14  to translate linearly relative to the lower base plate  12 . In a preferred embodiment, the middle plate  14  translates fore and aft in the direction shown by the direction arrow in  FIG. 2 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , each slide  18  comprises a linear rail  34  slidably mounted in a pair of spaced pillow blocks  36 . The rail  34  is fixed to the underside of the middle plate  14  and the pillow blocks  36  are fixed to the upper side of the lower base plate  12 . Alternatively, the slides  18  may comprise well-known, commercially-available roller rack assemblies. 
     Since the slides  18  will directly support the weight of the equipment piece, they should be heavy duty and precision to ensure smooth operation. The slides  18  should also preferably be made of a corrosion resistant material to withstand attack in a laboratory environment. In one preferred embodiment, the rails  34  comprise type WSS ½″ stainless steel rail with an aluminum base 12″ to 24″ in length. In one embodiment, the pillow blocks  36  comprise ½″ open type TWD. 
     First and second cooperating linear stops  32   a,    32   b  are fixed to the upper side of the lower base plate  12  and the underside of the upper plate  16 , respectively, as best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5  to limit the range of travel of the middle plate  14 . In this embodiment, the linear stops  32   a,    32   b  comprise “L” brackets that are positioned to abut one another when the middle plate  14  reaches the second limit position shown in  FIG. 2 . The transversely protruding portions of the “L” brackets abut one another when the middle plate  14  reaches the second limit position. In a preferred embodiment, the linear stops  32   a,    32   b  are positioned such that the center of the upper mounting plate  16  does not extend past or cantilever over the front edge  12   a  of the lower base plate  12 . Assuming the equipment piece “E” is centered on the upper mounting plate  16 , the linear stops  32   a,    32   b  prevent the center of gravity of the equipment piece “E” from extending beyond the front edge  12   a  of the lower base plate  12 , which would create a tipping force on the tool base  10 . 
     The turntable  20  enables the upper mounting plate  16  to rotate relative to the middle plate  14 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the upper mounting plate  16  revolves about an axis “A” that runs through the center “C” of the plate and is generally orthogonal to the plane of the upper mounting plate  16  (hereinafter its “central axis”). In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , the turntable comprises a commercially-available turntable such as sold by McMaster Carr Supply Company, Elmhurst, Ill. Since the turntable  20  will directly support the weight of the equipment piece “E”, it should preferably have heavy duty bearings to ensure smooth operation. The turntable  20  may also include integrated detents that bias the upper mounting plate  16  to predefined angular positions. The detents help maintain the equipment piece in place while it is being serviced. The turntable  20  should also preferably be made of a corrosion resistant material to withstand attack in a laboratory environment. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the tool base  10  also includes stops that limit the rotational travel path of the upper mounting plate  16 . As best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the tool base  10  includes a rotational stop pin  38  fixed to the underside of the upper mounting plate  16 . The stop pin  38  rides in an arcuate slot  40  formed in the middle plate  16 . The length (degrees of rotation) of the slot  40  is about 200 degrees in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-7  but may be shortened or lengthened to suit particular applications. The rotational stop will help prevent power plugs or data connections in the back of the equipment from being disconnected, damaged or severed. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the tool base  10  is mounted on a work bench in close proximity to other equipment or other tool bases  10 . This tight arrangement allows the operator to maximize the amount of equipment docked on the bench top. Under normal operating conditions, the tool base  10  will be configured in the closed or first limit position shown in  FIG. 1  with an equipment piece mounted thereon. If and when the equipment piece requires maintenance or service, the operator slides the equipment piece forward toward him/her until the tool base  10  reaches the open or second limit position shown in  FIG. 2 . In this position, the technician can easily access the sides and back of the equipment. To more easily access the back of the equipment, the equipment piece can also be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise to a third limit position such as shown in  FIG. 3 . The equipment piece “E” is preferably moved by grasping and manipulating the handles  30  of the tool base  10  even though the equipment piece is strapped to the top mounting surface  16 . Once the maintenance or service is complete, the equipment piece is returned to its original docking location by returning the tool base  10  to its closed position. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , the tool base  10  includes a built-in level to insure that the tool base is mounted in a level configuration to insure proper functioning. For example, the tool base  10  may unintentionally slide to the open limit position if the tool base is leaning forward, or may be excessively difficult to slide to the open position if the tool base is leaning backward. In a preferred embodiment, the level comprises a bulls-eye level  42  build into the base plate  12  as best seen in  FIG. 5 . 
     It is to be understood that the description, specific examples and data, while indicating exemplary embodiments, are given by way of illustration and are not intended to limit the present invention. Various changes and modifications within the present invention will become apparent to the skilled artisan from the discussion, disclosure and data contained herein, and thus are considered part of the invention. For example, it is possible to flip-flop the slides and the turn table so that the middle plate rotates relative to the base plate and the upper mounting plate linearly translates relative to the middle plate.