Patent ID: 7971840

Claim:
An adjustable arm for supporting a device housing with respect to a base, the adjustable arm comprising: an arm first rigid segment that connects to the base and defines an arm first end, said arm first rigid segment having an arm first segment passage therethrough; an arm second rigid segment having an arm second segment first member and an arm second segment second member which is parallel to and affixed with respect to said arm second segment first member, each of said arm second segment members having an arm second segment passage therethrough; an arm third rigid segment having an arm third segment first member and an arm third segment second member which is parallel to and affixed with respect to said arm third segment first member, each of said arm third segment members having an arm third segment passage therethrough; an arm fourth rigid segment that connects to the device housing and defines an arm second end said arm fourth rigid segment having an arm fourth segment passage therethrough; a first pivot joint which connects said arm first rigid segment to said arm second rigid segment to allow relative pivotable motion therebetween and having a first joint passage that communicates with said arm first segment passage and both of said arm second segment passages; means for adjusting the torsional load supported by said first pivot joint; a second pivot joint which connects said arm second rigid segment to said arm third rigid segment to allow relative pivotable motion therebetween, said second pivot joint having, a second joint passage that communicates with both of said arm second segment passages and both of said arm third segment passages, and frictional elements incorporated into said second pivot joint and interposed between said arm second segment members and said arm third segment members; means for adjusting the torsional load supported by said second pivot joint by varying the force on said frictional elements; and a third pivot joint which connects said arm third rigid segment to said arm fourth rigid segment to allow relative pivotable motion therebetween and having a third joint passage that communicates with both of said arm third segment passages and said arm fourth segment passage.