Pivotable structure.

This invention relates to apparatus for rotatably supporting a structure.

The invention has a particular application where the supported structure is an optical bar code scanning device. However other applications are possible, for example, the supported structure could be a display unit for an electronic cash register or a CRT monitor screen unit for a video display.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for rotatably supporting a structure, which apparatus can maintain the supported structure in a wide range of positions, yet which is of simple construction and hence low in cost.

Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for rotatably supporting a structure, characterized by a support member having a socket member, wherein said structure has mounted thereon a pivot member formed of a resilient material, which is adapted to be inserted into said socket member, said pivot member being deformed when inserted within said socket member and being adapted to slidably engage said socket member, whereby the frictional force exerted between said pivot member and said socket member enables said structure to be rotatably moved to and maintained in a selected position.

Apparatus according to the invention has the advantage that a simple, low-cost apparatus is provided which can position and maintain the supported structure in a wide range of orientations. For example, where the supported structure is an optical bar code scanner, such scanner can be positioned vertically, or horizontally on either side of the vertical, whereby merchandise items can be scanned by passing the items either under or over or by a side of the scanner, as is convenient, such that a highly versatile; adjustable scanner is provided.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an optical scanner shown in a vertical position which includes the support structure of the present invention;</li><li>Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 with a portion of the outer housing cover removed showing details of the optical scanner;</li><li>Fig. 3 is a side view of the optical scanner showing details of the support structure for rotating the optical scanner between a horizontal and vertical position;</li><li>Fig. 4A is a side view of the optical scanner rotated to a horizontal position over which a bar code is moved during a scanning operation;</li><li>Fig. 4B is a side view of the optical scanner rotated to a horizontal position under which a bar code is moved during as scanning operation;</li><li>Fig. 5 is a side view of the lower housing portion of the optical scanner housing showing details of the pivot member;</li><li>Fig. 6 is a top view of the lower housing portion shown in Fig. 5;</li><li>Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on lines 7-7 of Fig. 6 showing the configuration of the pivot member; and</li><li>Fig. 8 is a side detail view of the clam shell socket structure.</li></ul>

Referring now to Fig. 1 there is shown a perspective view of the optical scanner generally indicated by the numeral 18 which includes a box-like housing member 20 having a front cover portion 22 in which is located a transparent aperture 24. The housing member 20 is rotatably mounted on a support member generally indicated by the numeral 26 which includes a base member 27 and a clam shell socket member 28 mounted in the base member 27 and to which the housing member 20 is rotatably secured for frictional movement about the socket member in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Referring now to Fig. 2 there is shown a perspective view of the scanning apparatus for generating scanning light beams which is generally indicated by the numeral 30 with a portion of the housing member 20 removed. The scanning apparatus 30 includes an box-like inner housing member 32 with the front portion of such housing member being open which is positioned adjacent the aperture 24 (Fig. 1) of the housing member 20. The inner housing member 32 includes a cylindrical portion 34 within which is mounted a visible laser diode (not shown) for projecting a laser light beam to a molded routing mirror 36 which deflects the laser light beam along a light path for engagement with one of eight plano reflecting mirrors 38 of a rotating spinner member 40.

The reflecting mirrors or facets 38 are set at various angles with respect to the axis of rotation of the spinner member 40. Four of these facets will reflect the received laser light beam in a direction which strikes a large pattern mirror 42 while the remaining four facets will reflect the laser light beam at a small pattern forming mirror 44 located adjacent the large pattern forming mirror 42 for reflecting the light beams in the form of a scanning pattern through the aperture 24 (Fig. 1).

Referring to Fig. 3 there is shown a side view of the housing member 20 (Fig. 1) with the sidewall portion of the socket member 28 removed showing details of the pivot member allowing the housing member 20 (Fig. 1) to be rotated about the socket member 28. The socket member 28 is comprised of a pair of clam shell members 46 (Fig. 8), each having one end enclosed by a side wall portion 48 (Figs. 1 and 8), and which are joined together to form a hollow cylinder 50. The clam shell members include a depending leg portion 49 having a base portion 51 which when inserted into the base member 27 will form the socket member 28. Removably inserted into the open end of the cylinder 50 is a pivot member 52 secured to the cylindrically shaped lower housing portion 54 of the housing member 20. The pivot member 52 which is composed of a polycarbonate plastic material is molded in a generally W-shaped configuration (Figs. 3 and 8) and includes an elongated body portion 55 (Fig. 6) having a pair of depending flexible arm portions 56. Each of the arm portions 56 includes an upturned curved end portion 58 which when inserted into the cylinder 50 will be compressed by the inner wall surface 53 of the cylinder 50. The engagement of the wall surface 53 by the flexible end portions 58 provides a frictional drag on the cylinder 50 when the housing member 20 is rotated, enabling the housing member to be located in any scanning position between the vertical position (Fig. 1) and two horizontal positions (Figs. 4A and 4B).

Referring now to Figs. 5-7 inclusive, there are shown various views of the pivot member 52. The pivot member 52 is molded as one end of the lower housing portion 54 of the housing member 20 in which the other end of the housing portion includes a recessed portion 60 (Fig. 6) within which is positioned the spinner member 61 of the scanning apparatus 30 (Fig. 2) when the housing portion 54 is mounted to the scanning apparatus and the housing member 20. The pivot member 52, the housing portion 54 and the housing members 20 and 32 are molded of a polycarbonate material such as POLCARBONATE /ABS BAYBLEND which is commercially available from the Mobay Corp. of Pittsburgh, Pa., 15205-9741. Extending along and depending from the center of the elongated body portion 55 of the pivot member 52 is a rib member 62 (Figs. 5 and 7) for providing stability to the pivot member. As best seen from figs. 6 and 7, each of the flexible end portions 58 includes a plurality of rib portions 64 connecting the end portions 58 to the arm portions 56 which transfer the flexing movement of the end portions 58 when mounted within the cylinder 50 to the arm portions. With this construction, the stresses developed by the flexing movement of the arm portions will be concentrated at the junction 68 (Fig. 7) of the arm portions 56 and the body portion 55. In order to absorb these stresses, a pair of rib sections 70 are mounted between the rib member 62, the body portion 55 and the arm portions 56 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4-6 inclusive to transfer the stresses to the rib member 62. The pivot member 52 is molded integral with the end of the lower housing portion 54 through the rib member 62 and the body portion 55 while the arm portions 56 (Fig. 5) are free to be deflected when the pivot member is inserted into the cylindrical portion 50 of the support member 26.

As best seen from figs. 3 and 7, the outer surface 72 of the flexible end portions 58 represents the arc of a circle whose diameter is slightly larger than the inside diameter of the cylindrical portion 50 of the support member. When inserted into the cylindrical portion 50, the end portions 58 and the arm portions 56 of the pivot member 52 will deflect, applying a frictional force on the inside surface 53 of the cylindrical portion 50, allowing the housing member 20 to be rotated between a vertical (Fig. 1) and a horizontal position (Figs. 4A and 4B), enabling the optical scanner to be used in a variety of checkout configurations. The present invention allows the pivot member and the scanner to be easily removed from the support member 26 when it is necessary to repair the scanner. This arrangement also allows a single scanner to be used with more than one support member, enabling a greater use of the scanner within a place of business.