Patent ID: 7467810

Claim:
An apparatus for transporting a sensor having a sensing surface at an operational distance from a target surface, the apparatus comprising: a) an upper frame; b) a front strut defining an upper end and a lower end, the upper end of the front strut being pivotally connected to the upper frame, the lower end of the front strut being pivotally connected to the sensor; c) a rear strut defining an upper and a lower end, the rear strut being spaced apart from the front strut and substantially parallel thereto, the upper end of the rear strut being pivotally connected to the upper frame, the lower end of the rear strut being pivotally connected to the sensor; and d) a deflector connected to one of the front strut, the rear strut, or the sensor, the deflector being located forward of the sensor and spaced apart therefrom, the deflector defining a deflection surface; wherein the front and rear struts are adapted to pivot about the upper frame to move the sensor in response to an obstacle on the target surfaces; wherein the sensor is adapted to pivot about the lower ends of the front and rear struts to maintain the sensing surface in substantially parallel orientation to the target surface; and wherein, upon the deflection surface impacting the obstacle on the target surface, the deflector is adapted to pivot the struts upwardly.