Patent ID: 7708136

Claim:
A carrier puck for receiving and supporting an article of a wide range of heights, shapes and sizes and allowing the quick switching from an article of a first shape and/or size to an article of a second shape and/or size, said carrier puck comprising, a base piece, at least two holding pieces, each having an opening on a first side, wherein said opening has a generally V-shape for accommodating articles of different sizes and shapes, wherein at least one of said holding pieces is placed on top of said base piece in a first stack by overlaying said holding pieces on top of one another and at least one of said holding pieces is placed on top of said base piece in a second stack by overlaying said holding pieces on top of one another, and wherein said opening of each of said holding pieces in said first stack is aligned forming a first void in said first stack, said opening of each of said holding pieces in said second stack is aligned forming a second void in said second stack, and said first void and said second void face each other combining to form a third void for accommodating said article when said article is present, a first stack-securing means for securing said first stack of said holding pieces on top of said base piece, a second stack-securing means for securing said second stack of said holding pieces on top of said base piece, wherein both first and second stack-securing means ensure that all said holding pieces in a stack move in a synchronized manner on top of said base piece, and a means for adjusting the distance between said first stack of said holding pieces and said second stack of said holding pieces, wherein said means for adjusting distance and a corresponding end of said stack-securing means are interlocked so that rotary movement of said adjusting means about an axis parallel to a longitudinal direction of adjustment is permitted without significant impediment from said stack-securing means and whereby longitudinal movement of said adjusting means along said longitudinal direction of adjustment is coupled to said longitudinal movement of said stack-securing means.