Patent ID: 7688530

Claim:
A mounting system for interchangeable optical components, the mounting system including: a. a base unit having: (1) a mounting face, the mounting face being affixable to an instrument wherein optical components are interchangeably received; (2) a receiving face including: (a) first, second, and third mounting nubs, the mounting nubs protruding above the area of the receiving face situated between the mounting nubs; (b) receiving magnets; b. a carrier unit having: (1) a component face adapted to bear an optical component; (2) an engaging face including: (a) an engaging face first depression, the engaging face first depression being elongated along a path whereby the first and second mounting nubs may be received therein when the engaging face of the carrier unit is situated adjacent the receiving face of the base unit; (b) an engaging face second depression, the engaging face second depression being situated whereby it may receive the third mounting nub therein when the first and second mounting nubs are received within the engaging face first depression; (c) engaging magnets, the engaging magnets being at least substantially aligned with the receiving magnets when the first and second mounting nubs are received within the engaging face first depression and the third mounting nub is received within the engaging face second depression.