US2716698A - Reciprocating support mechanism for therapeutic lamp or the like - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 30, 1955 c. J. BRUKNER 2,716,698

RECIPROCATING SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR C LAMP OR THE LIKE THERAPEUTI 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 5, 1949 R Y o E m WN R E o v T N T l A Aug. 30, 1955 c. J. BRUKNER 2,715,693

RECIPROCATING SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR THERAPEUTIC LAMP OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 3, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS 5 h R 5 m .I w 9 w m" 7 W J n .7

2 2 5 I O m m 2 2w n e Aug. 30, 1955 c. J. BRUKNER 2,716,698

RECIPROCATING SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR THERAPEUTIC LAMP OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 5, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 E 8 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Aug. 30, 1955 c. J. BRUKNER 2,716,693

RECIPROCATING SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR THERAPEUTIC LAMP OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 3, 1949 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Aug. .30, 1955 Filed Jan. 5, 1949 C. J. BRUKNER RECIPROCATING SUPPORT MECHA. 3M FOR THERAPEUTIC LAMP OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 W 1 we hl ln Hill, 70 $167 I 61 Patented Aug. 30, 1%55 RECIPRGCATING SUPPORT MECHANISIVI FOR THERAPEUTIC LAMP R THE LIKE Clayton J. Erultner, Troy, Ohio Application January 3, H49, Serial No. 68,874 12 Claims. (Cl. 240-4) This invention relates to supporting and timing apparatus for a therapeutic lamp or other radiating source, such as a lamp for emitting ultraviolet or infrared radiation.

In the use of therapeutic lamps, it is often desirable to expose to the therapeutic radiation 21 larger area of the body of the user than is within the effective stationary range of the lamp at a proper distance from the user, depending upon the size and capacity of the lamp, and also to obtain substantially uniform exposure of such large areas. In addition it is of considerable importance with such lamps to control the time and degree of exposure to avoid injury to the body, this being particularly true for ultraviolet radiation because of the absence of warning as to body tolerance, since the effects of ultraviolet rays on the body are usually not detectable for a period of some hours after exposure thereto.

if a lamp of small capacity and coverage is used for treating a large area, it must be positioned relatively close to the body of the user for effective operation, which increases the necessity for accurate timing, and also the user must shift position with respect to the lamp with considerable care to obtain the desired uniform coverage without over-exposing portions of the body which may fall within the effective range of the lamp in more than one position. The careful attention to time and position required during such exposure is neither restful nor relaxing to the user, thus eliminating one benefit which should be received from the treatment. Similar disadvantages exist in the use of lamps of larger capacity and greater effective range, and in addition it will be apparent that when the lamp is positioned at a proper height for large area coverage lengthwise of the body of the user, there will be considerable wasted radiation falling on each side of the body. Since the operating costs of such lamps are relatively high, this use is inefficient and uneconomical.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide supporting apparatus adapted for use with a radiating source such as a therapeutic lamp which will support the lamp at a desired distance from the user and will simultaneously cause the lamp to move back and forth in a substantially straight line at a selected distance from the user and for a desired time to give substantially uniform exposure and coverage to a selected area of the users body.

An additional object is to provide supporting apparatus for a therapeutic lamp or other radiating source which includes a main mast or standard from which an adjustable arm extends outwardly to support the lamp at a desired distance above the user and which also includes a driving mechanism for causing the arm to swing back and forth about the mast in such manner as to carry the lamp back and forth in a substantially straight line and at a substantially constant height or effective distance from the user.

Another object is to provide such supporting apparatus which may be quickly and accurately adjusted in accordance with the desired area to be exposed and the desired ing of the approach F construction at the exposure time to predetermine the distance through which the lamp is moved, its effective distance from the surface to be exposed, and the time for which each portion of that surface is treated.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such supporting apparatus which includes simple and accurate timing mechanism effective to discontinue operation of the lamp after a predetermined period, and particularly to provide for readily timing the exposure period either in accordance with the total elapsed time or in accordance with the total number of passes which the lamp makes over the surface to be exposed.

A further object is to provide such supporting apparatus wherein the timing mechanism will give advance warnof the end of the exposure period to enable the user to reset the apparatus to continue operation beyond the period for which it was initially set without the necessity of permitting the lamp to cool before being reenergized.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such supporting apparatus which includes a simple mechanism by which the user may reset the apparatus to continue operation for a desired time beyond the period for which it was initially set from a prone position and without having to watch a dial or other indicator during resetting.

A still further object is to provide such supporting apparatus which is of relatively compact and lightweight foldable construction for ready transportation and storage and which requires comparatively little operating area and will accordingly operate effectively in a relatively confined space.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

in the drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout Fig. l is a view in side elevation showing supporting apparatus for a therapeutic lamp in accordance with the invention and illustrating the operation of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view similar to Fig. i;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view similar to Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows the driving mechanism for the supporting apparatus of Figs. 1-3, the view being taken in section approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a portion of the mechanism of Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 4 but with some parts removed to show the mechanism for adjusting the distance through which the supporting apparatus moves the lamp;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the operation of the driving mechanism;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view showing certain details of lower portion of the apparatus and the supporting arm for the lamp;

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram showing an electrical timing mechanism for the apparatus;

Fig. 11 is a detail view in plan of the base unit of the apparatus;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the speed reducing drive arrangement of the mechanism of Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the connection between the boom and mast portions of the apparatus;

Fig. 15 is a section on the line 15-15 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a View similar to Fig. 4 showing a mechanical timing mechanism for the apparatus, the view being taken in section substantially on the line 1616 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary side view of the mechanism of Fig. 16 with the casing partly broken away;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the adjusting members for the timing mechanism of Figs. 16 and 17; and

Fig. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken in section approximately on the line 1919 of Fig. 16.

Referring to the drawings, which show preferred embodiments of the present invention. Figs. 1 to 3 illustrate the operation of supporting apparatus in accordance with the invention for moving a therapeutic lamp 20 back and forth along a substantially horizontal path spaced above a table or bed 21 on which the patient or other user of the lamp may lie. The supporting apparatus includes a vertical mast 22 of tubing or other suitable material which is mounted in a tubular socket 23 brazed or otherwise secured to a base member 24 of inverted cup shape, which is shown in detail in Figs. 11 and 12. A pair of front legs 25 and a pair of rear legs 26 having threaded inner ends are received in suitable holes 27 in the outer wall of base member 24 and screwed into threaded holes 28 in socket 23.

It will be noted in Fig. somewhat longer than rear 2 that the front legs 25 are legs 26, and accordingly the holes 28 for the rear legs are slightly higher than the corresponding holes for the front legs. Also these holes and the holes 27 are arranged in such angular relation that the ends of the four legs define a substantially rectangular outline for maximum stability in use. In addition, the base member 24 is provided with a plurality of socket portions 29 in its upper surface which are adapted to receive the tapered inner ends of the legs 25 and 26 when the latter are removed, as indicated at 250 in Fig. 12, thus materially reducing the space required for storage of the apparatus.

A hollow boom 30, also shown as formed of tubing, has its lower end mounted for pivotal and vertical reciprocating movement along a guide rod 31 secured to the lower portion of mast 22 and extending parallel therewith. As shown in detail in Figs. 9, 14 and 15, a bracket 32 is mounted on the lower end of boom and carries a grooved roller 33 which is adapted to ride on rod 31 to provide for angular movement of the boom with respect to the guide red as well as pivotal and reciprocating movement thereon. In order to retain the bracket 32 on the boom, the end of the boom is formed with an indentation 34 which receives a correspondingly indented portion of the bracket as shown in Figs. 14 and 15.

The electric cord 35 for lamp 20 extends through boom 30 and is connected at its lower 36 adapted for engagement with a female plug 37 on a suitable energizing electric cord 38. As shown in Fig. 9, the plug base 36 is adapted to rest on the upper end of socket 23 to limit penetration of the socket by the lower end of mast 22. A rubber grommet 40 is inserted in the upper end of boom 30 and receives the cord 35 freely therethrough when the cord is straight. However, when the cord 35 is curved by the weight of lamp 20, the cord will be frictionally gripped by the grommet to hold the lamp at a desired elevation, and this arrangement provides for readily adjusting the height of lamp 20 by projecting a desired length of the cord beyond grommet 40, as indicated at 20a in Fig. 1.

A frame or casing indicated generally at 44 is mounted on the upper end of mast 22 by means of a bolt 46 for swinging movement about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the length of the mast and lies in the vertical plane defined by the mast and guide rod 31. An arm extends outwardly from casing 44 in inclined relation with the mast, and the outer end of this arm is provided with a swiveled connection to boom 30 at a position approximately equidistant the ends of the boom. As shown in Fig. 9, this connection is formed by a wire ring 50 and a pair of D-shaped wire links 51, the ends of one of these links being pivoted in suitable receiving holes in end with a male plug base opposite sides of boom 30 and the ends of the other link being similarly pivoted in the end of arm 45.

With this construction, when the frame or casing 44 oscillates on mast 22, the arm 45 will be caused to swing back and forth in such manner that its outer end will describe a circular arc confined to a substantially vertical plane, and the mid-point of boom 30 which is attached to the lower end of the arm will similarly oscillate in a substantially vertical plane, as indicated at 54 in Figs. 1 and 2. This movement of the arm and tne mid-point of boom 3iwill in turn cause the lower end of the boom to swing back and forth on guide rod 31, and simultaneously the lower end of the boom will be caused to reciprocate on the guide rod. Since the parts are so proportioned as shown in Fig. i that the axis of belt 46 passes through the upper end of boom 30 at the mid-point of the travel of the parts, the net result of this compound movement of the boom will be to cause its upper end to reciprocate in a substantially straight line horizontal path which is perpendicular both to guide rod 31 and also to the oscillating axis of frame 44, this path being indicated at 55 in Figs. 1 and 2, and since lamp 7.?) is suspended from this upper end of the boom, it will similarly be caused to reciprocate in a straight line horizontal path.

It will thus be seen that when frame 44 is oscillated on bolt 46, the arm 45 will be caused to swing in such manner as to generate a portion of the surface of a cone having its axis coincident with the oscillating axis of the frame and having its apex substantially in line with the oscillating axis of boom 30 on guide rod 31. The outer end of arm 45 will accordingly swing in a vertical plane which is substantially perpendicular to the oscillating axis of the frame, and since the similar arcuate move ment of the mid-point of boom 39 is counteracted or off- I set by the reciprocating movement of the lower end of the boom or guide rod 31, the upper end of the boom, which carries the lamp, will move back and forth along a substantially straight line path which lies in a horizontal plane and is parallel to the vertical plane of movement of the oute end of arm 45.

The driving mechanism for etieeting the oscillating movement of frame 44 is shown in detail in Figs. 4 to 8. The frame 4 includes end plates and 6E. and a cover 62 which is slotted at 63 for ventilation and at 64 to receive mast 22 and provide for oscillating movement of the frame thereon. The bolt 46 which supports frame 4-4 for oscillating movement on the upper end of mast 22 is journaled by means of a bearing assembly 65 in a sleeve 66 which is welded to the upper end of mast 22 in line with the vertical plane defined by the mast and guide rod 31. The inner end of bolt 46 is received in a nut 67 riveted to a bracket "ill within the casing.

The bracket 70 also forms the support for the upper end of arm 45, which is pivoted therein on a cross bolt 7i. The main portion of the arm is ofiset forwardly at from its upper portion, which extends through a slot 76 running from front to back in the casing cover 62. The arm can accordingly be pivoted on belt 7t, and a pair of relatively heavy coil springs 7'7 provides a counterbalance for holding the arm in extended position. These springs are located on either side of arm 45, with their lower ends being hooked into the arm and their upper ends being carried by cross rods 78 which extend between the casing plates 60 and 61. Accordingly, the arm and boom 30 may if desired be folded into a generally upright position, by pivoting the arm inwardly on bolt 71, to reduce the area required by the device either for storage purposes or for operation in a confined space, and springs 77 will retain the arm in any desired position within the limits provided by slot '76.

The drive for oscillating frame 44 on the mast is provided by reversible electric motor means, shown in Fig. 10 as a pair of electric motors 8G, ioined in an assembly 31 supported in the top of casing 44 and having a common drive shaft 82. The motor shaft 82 is in frictional driving engagement with a friction drive wheel 83 secured to a small drive pinion 85 carried for rotation on a stud 84 which is in turn carried by a supporting plate 86 adjustably secured to the casing plate by means of the screws and slots indicated at 87. The pinion meshes with a large gear 88 carried for rotation on a stud 89 which is also carried by plate 86. The gear 88 also carries a sprocket 90 from which a sprocket chain 91 extends to hook portions 92 at opposite sides of a sector plate 95 welded or otherwise secured to mast 22, and it will be seen that as sprocket 90 rotates, it will act through chain 91 and plate 95 to swing the entire frame 44 around the oscillating axis provided by the bolt 46. The electric wires for motors 80 may conveniently be brought from the plug base 36 through mast 22, as indicated at 94 in Fig. 8.

This driving assembly with a resilient friction drive reducing the higher speed of the motor to a speed below which small commercial spur gears operate quietly gives effectively silent operation of the drive. In order to assure this noiseless operation by preventing possible buzz resulting from tapping of the gear teeth against each other when the load on the gears is at a minimum, a Z-shaped spring 96 is riveted to the plate 86 and arranged to bear resiliently against a thrust bushing 97 extending beyond the end of stud 84 from the sprocket 90, a friction washer 93 being provided between gear 88 and plate 86. The spring 96 thus exerts a continuous small axial load on sprocket 90, the resulting friction against washer 98 maintains a continuing contact of the teeth of gears 85 and 88 even when the load thereon of the oscillating part of the apparatus is at a minimum during the midportion of its travel at each direction.

The motors 0 are also provided with a noise and vibration suppressing mounting comprising a resilient member 99 formed of vibration-absorbing sheet material. The member 99 is bolted to the motor assembly at 100 and to the casing plate 61 at 101 to support the motors for limited pivotal movement about an axis extending generally lengthwise of the member 99, and the weight of the motors thus serves to maintain the drive shaft 82 resiliently in contact with friction drive wheel 83 throughout the range of angular positions of casing 44. The upper part of the housing is also provided with a reinforcing strap or spacer 102 which is secured at one end to an angle bracket 103 adjustably secured to casing plate 60 by screws 104 in slots 105 (Fig. 13) in the plate 60, and the other end of spacer 102 is secured to casing plate 61 by a screw 106. This spacer strap 102 thus reinforces the upper end of the housing against twisting under the weight of the parts carried thereby in use, and it is also made of suiiiciently heavy stock to aid in counterbalancing the parts of the apparatus below the pivot bolt 46.

It will also be noted that the spacer strap 102 serves to limit movement of the motor assembly away from friction drive wheel 83 when the apparatus is not in upright position, as for example during storage or shipment, and the adjustment of bracket 103 provided for by the screws 104 in the slots 105 in casing plate 60 facilitates adjustment of spacer 102 to limit this move ment of the motor as desired. The adjustable mounting of the plate 84 by means of the screws and slots 87 similarly provides for adjusting tension in chain 91, which can also be readily done when the device is being assembled for use.

Means are also provided for readily disengaging the motor shaft from friction drive wheel 83 to facilitate manual adjustment of the device to a desired position of the boom and lamp. A cord 107 is run through arm 45, and its upper end is looped over spacer 102 and secured to one of the mounting bolts 100 at the drive end of the motor assembly, a guiding eye for the cord being indicated at 108. The lower end of cord 107 extends below arm 45 within easy reach of the user of the device and is shown as provided with a handle 109 of rubber or other vary the position of soft material to minimize noise from possible contact with the boom in use. With this arrangement, if the user desires to move the boom manually, a pull on handle 109 will cause the cord to lift the motor assembly sufficiently to disengage shaft 82 from drive wheel 83 and the boom can then be swung laterally to a desired position without the drag of the motor.

In the operation of the device, periodic reversal of the drive, by alternately energizing one and then the other of the motors 80, to produce the desired oscillating move of frame 44 is effected by a reversing switch 110, shown as a microswitch having an operating arm 111 and secured to plate 95 by bolts 112 in bolt holes 113. The switch arm 111 is operated by a dog 115 shown as a lever pivotally mounted on plate 95 by means of a screw 116 in a receiving hole 117. This dog 115 is arranged to pivot in such manner as to contact and depress arm 111 when it moves in counter clockwise direction as viewed in Pig. 4 and to release arm 111 when it moves in clockwise direction.

The operating dog 115 for switch is in turn actuated as the frame 44 oscillates by a stud or pin 120 carried by a pointer 121 which is pivoted at 122 on the outer face of easing plate 60. The pin 120 extends inwardly through an aperture 123 in plate 60 and a curved slot 124 in plate 95 into overlapping relation with dog 115. As the frame 44 oscillates on mast 22, the pin 120 will contact dog on alternate sides of its pivot 116, thus moving the dog back and forth between its two operative positions with respect to the switch arm 111. Thus as shown in Fig. 8, when the casing is at one limit position of its oscillating movement, pin has moved dog 115 into engagement with arm 111, and the dog will remain in this position until the casing approaches its limit position of oscillating movement in the opposite direction, in which position the pin 120 will engage the dog at the opposite side of its pivot and thus swing the dog out of engagement with the switch arm.

The pin 120 and pointer 121 are adjustable to provide for varying the angular extent of the oscillating movement of frame 44, and this in turn regulates the linear extent of the reciprocating movement of the upper end of boom 30 and the lamp 20 carried thereby. Thus the pointer 121 can be pivoted on its supporting bolt 122 to pin 120 in aperture 123, and this adjustment will change the relative spacing of pin 120 and the pivot 116 for dog 115. This will in turn change the angular extent of the movement of pin 120 required to shift dog 115 from one operative position to the other, and thereby correspondingly vary the Oscillating stroke of frame 44. In Fig. 7, the position of pin 120 and pointer 121 shown in full lines is the position of these parts for the maximum oscillating stroke, and the position of these parts shown in dotted lines represents the adjustment for the minimum oscillating stroke. A scale provided with suitable indicia may accordingly be provided on the front of plate 60, and such a scale is indicated at 1'25 in Fig. l and may conveniently be calibrated in terms of the length of stroke for lamp 20. Also, the belt 122 is provided with a suitable spring washer 126 to hold pointer 121 and pin 120 in desired adjusted position.

It is desirable to provide means for timing the exposure period with therapeutic lamps of the above type, and Fig. 10 shows an electric timing device adapted to cooperate with the supporting apparatus and including alarm means for indicating the approach of the end of the preset exposure period. This device includes a synchronous motor 130 driving a large gear 131 through a small gear 132, and gear 131 in turn drives a shaft 133 carrying a switch earn 134 and a buzzer cam 135. A follower 136 cooperates with switch cam 134 to operate a switch 137, the switch being opened when follower 136 drops into the notched portion 138 of cam 134. A pawl 140 is pivoted at 141 and carries a pin 142 which acts as a follower for buzzer cam 134. The pawl 140 controls the buzzer armature 143, the arrangement being such that the armature 143 is held out of operating position while pin 142 is riding the major portion of cam 135 but is permitted to buzz as the pin 142 drops into the notch 144 of the cam.

This electric timer is shown as connected in the operating circuits for the supporting apparatus and lamp by means of a three-conductor cord and series plug 145, which is inserted between the plugs 36 and 37. The switch 137 accordingly controls the operating current to lamp 20 and the motors and 131). The timer can accordingly be set for a desired period of operation for the lamp and supporting apparatus by means of a suitable control handle or dial carried on shaft 133, and the motors 8t) and 131i and lamp 20 will then operate so long as the cam follower 136 is riding the high portion of cam 134. The notch 144 on cam is cut with an inclined leading side which is so positioned with respect to the notch 138 on cam 134, that the buzzer armature 143 will be permitted to buzz with increasing intensity for a period of some seconds before the follower 136 drops into notch 138 and opens switch 137. For example, satisfactory results have been obtained with these parts so relatively positioned that the buzzer sounds with increasing intensity for a period of twenty seconds and then at full intensity for an additional period of ten seconds before switch 137 is opened to de-energize the apparatus and the timer motor 130.

This arrangement with the electric timer device permits the user of the lamp to control its operation from a prone or other desired exposure position and also insures against over-exposure by positively discontinuing operation of the lamp at the end of the interval for which the timer is pre-set. This timer is also helpful if it is desired to continue the treatment beyond the initially set period by resetting the timer as desired. In this connection, it should also be noted that some therapeutic lamps when deenergized require a cooling off period before they may be re-energized. Thus if the lamp were disconnected at the end of the initial interval, there would have to be a delay for the lamp to cool before another exposure could be treated. However, with the timer constructed as described to give an audible signal well in advance of the termination of the initially chosen exposure period, the timer can be reset before the lamp is de-energized, and the treatment can then be continued without any delay.

Figs. 16 to 19 show mechanical means incorporated in the casing 44 for controlling the exposure period of the lamp by terminating operation of the lamp and the supporting apparatus after a predetermined number of passes or oscillating strokes. A ratchet wheel is mounted for frictional rotation on a shaft 161 supported by the casing plate 61 and an extension portion 162 of the bracket 71), the bracket portion 162 being secured to another bracket 163 extending inwardly of the frame from plate 61. Ratchet wheel 160 is held against rotation in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 16 by means of a bracket 164 carried by bracket '70. Rotation of ratchet wheel 161) in the opposite direction is effected by a resilient arm or dog 165 carried by a bracket 166 secured to bracket 70 and actuated by a knob 167 on the upper surface of sleeve 66. It will be seen that as the frame 44 oscillates, the knob 167 will actuate dog 165 to advance ratchet wheel 160 one tooth each time the frame passes the mid-point of its oscillating are.

A pulley 170 is fixed to rotate with shaft 161 and is frictionally connected with ratchet wheel 160 by a spring washer 171. A shut-off switch having an operating arm 176 is carried by bracket 163. Switch 175 is normally closed and is so connected in the operating circuit as to de-energize the lamp and motors 80 when its switch arm 176 is depressed. A switch operating lug 177 of insulating material is carried by a bracket 178 secured to the pulley 170, and Fig. 16 shows these parts in position to open switch 175 and thus discontinue operation of the apparatus.

An alarm bell 180 is carried by a supporting arm 181 pivoted in a yoke 182 secured to the upper surface of sleeve 66, and this arm 131 passes through a slot 183 (Fig. 19) in bracket 163 which limits pivotal movement of the arm. A spring 184 is mounted in yoke 182 in position to urge arm 131 normally to the limit of its movement permitted by slot 183 to the right as viewed in Fig. 16. A striker 185 comprising a short length of bead chain is carried by the motor shaft 82, and the length of this chain is such that it will not strike bell 181! when the bell supporting arm 181 is at its right-handlimit position movement in slot 183 as viewed in Fig. 16 but will strike the bell with increasing force as the arm 181 is moved to the left against spring 184, Fig. 16 showing the bell as in striking position.

In order to set this timing device to operate after a predetermined number of oscillating passes of the lamp, a bead chain is secured to pulley 170 and extends downwardly through the bottom of casing 44 or through the mast to a convenient location within ready reach of the user. A fair lead 191 is shown in Fig. 16 as provided at the point where the chain is brought out from the mast to a pull ring 192, and a chain guard 193 is carried by the bracket portion 162. With this construction, when the chain 190 is pulled, it will overcome the action of spring washer 171 sutficiently to cause pulley 170 and shaft 161 to turn with respect to the ratchet wheel 160, thus moving the bracket 178 and switch operating lug 177 away from switch arm 176. Then when the chain is released, the device will operate for the number of oscillating strokes or passes corresponding to the number of teeth of ratchet wheel 16% required to return pulley 170 to the osition wherein lug 177 operates the shut-off switch 175.

It will also be noted that this arrangement provides a warning signal preliminary to operation of the cut-off switch. This signal is provided by the operation of the bracket 178, which is arranged to contact bell support arm 181 before lug 177 reaches switch arm 176, thus moving the bell 18 slowly within range of the bell striker 185. The bell will accordingly be caused to sound with increasing intensity for a substantial interval before the shut-off switch is operated, thus giving the user notice of the approaching end of the preset exposure period and permitting the user to reset the device if it is desired to continue the treatment.

A scale 21H) calibrated in terms of the number of passes of the lamp is provided on the outer face of easing plate 61, and a cooperating pointer 2111 is secured to shaft 161 for rotation therewith. Rotation of pointer 201 will thus set the device to operate for a selected number of passes without using chain 190, or the chain may be pulled until this pointer is at a. desired position with respect to the scale. In addition, a stop member is provided for limiting rotation of pointer 201 so that the device can be reset to a desired number of passes by pulling chain 190 without visual reference to the pointer and scale. An indicator 205 of flexible material is pivoted on shaft 161 between pointer 201 and plate 61 and is provided at its outer end with a pin 2116 adapted to engage in any one of the series of holes 207 shown as arranged in scale 200 in units of five passes. A portion 210 of indicator 205 is turned outwardly to form a finger extending into the path of pointer 2G1, and with the pin 206 engaged in one of holes 207, the finger portion 210 will provide a stop limiting resetting movement of the pointer.

With this arrangement, the indicator 205 can be set with its pin portion 296 in any desired one of the holes 207 to limit resetting movement of pointer 201, Fig. 18 showing indicator 265 as set for thirty-five passes of the boom and lamp. If then the user desires to continue the treatment for another thirty-five passes, or any other value for which the indicator is set, he can merely pull chain 190 when the alarm is sounding until pointer 201 is in contact with finger 210, thus automatically resetting the device for a further exposure period of predetermined extent in accordance with the setting of the indicator without having to get up to read scale 2th). The user can similarly repeat this resetting operation as often as desired each time the bell 180 gives its preliminary warning of the approaching cut-off. In order to change the setting of indicator 205, it is only necessary to deform the indicator outwardly sufficiently to remove its pin 206 from the particular hole .207 in which it is inserted and then move the indicator to another desired position.

It will accordingly be seen that with the supporting apparatus of the invention, the user can readily treat large areas of the body with a therapeutic lamp for a desired predetermined time with substantially uniform coverage over the entire area. For example, with the mast approxi mately six feet in height from the floor and with the other parts in proportion as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, oscillating movement of the frame 44 through an arc of the order of 75 will cause back and forth movement of the lamp over a straight horizontal path approximately six feet in length, and since the speed of movement of the lamp is substantially constant, the exposure will be correspondingly uniform over the entire area within the effective range of the lamp. The timing means provided by the invention has the advantage of automatically terminating action of the lamp to assure against over-exposure and also of providing an audible signal preceding the shut-off of the lamp. Thus if the user desires to continue the treatment, he is notified of the proper time to do so without interruption, and also if he should fall asleep, since it is a well known tendency of some therapeutic lamps to induce drowsiness, the signal will notify him when the treatment is concluded and thus protect him from overexposure to the radiation from the lamp. The apparatus also has the further advantages of light weight and minimum space requirements both for storage and for use, thus promoting effective operation in confined areas. It will also be apparent that although the invention has been described in connection with the support of a therapeutic lamp for movement with respect to a user, it is not limited thereto but is equally applicable to use with other radiating sources and other objects which it is desired to support for oscillating movement in an approximately straight line.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Supporting apparatus of the character described comprising a mast, a boom, means mounting one end of said boom on said mast for pivotal movement about an axis extending longitudinally of said mast and for reciprocating movement along said axis, a frame, means forming a pivotal mounting for said frame on said mast for oscillating movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to said pivotal axis of said boom, an arm extending from said frame in inclined relation with said oscillating axis of said frame, means connecting one end of said arm to said boom at a position substantailly equidistant the ends of said boom, means pivotally connecting the other end of said arm to said frame on an axis substantially perpendicular to said oscillating axis to provide for collapsing movement of said boom and said arm into substantial parallelism with said mast, and driving means carried by said frame and said mast for causing said oscillating movement on said pivotal mounting thereof to effect simultaneous pivotal and reciprocating movement of said one end of said boom and reciprocating movement of the opposite end of said boom along a substantially straight line path in a direction substantially at right angles to both said axes.

2. Supporting apparatus of the character described comprising a vertical mast, a boom, means mounting one end of said boom on said mast for pivotal movement about a vertical axis and for reciprocating movement along said axis, a frame, means forming a pivotal mounting for said frame on said mast for oscillating movement about a substantially horizontal axis, an arm extending from said frame in inclined relation therewith, means connecting said arm to said boom at a position substantially equidistant the ends of said boom, driving means including a friction drive wheel carried by said frame for causing said oscillating movement thereof to effect simultaneous pivotal and reciprocating movement of said one end of said boom and reciprocating movement of the opposite end of said boom along a substantially straight line horizontal path, motor means having a drive shaft for driving said wheel, and resilient means mounting said motor means in said frame with said drive shaft above and in driving contact with said wheel under the weight of said motor to maintain elfective driving engagement between said shaft and said wheel while suppressing objectionable vibrations.

3. Supporting apparatus of the character described comprising a vertical mast, a boom, means mounting one end of said boom on said mast for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, a frame, means forming a pivotal mounting for said frame on said mast for oscillating movement about a substantially horizontal axis, means connecting said frame to said boom, driving means including a friction drive wheel carried by said frame for causing said oscillating movement thereof and resulting pivotal movement of said boom, motor means having a drive shaft for driving said wheel, resilient means mounting said motor means in said frame with said drive shaft in resiliently urged driving contact with said wheel, and means operable from outside of said frame for moving said motor with respect to said drive wheel to disengage said drive shaft from said wheel for adjustment of said boom without revolving said shaft.

4. Supporting apparatus of the character described comprising a vertical mast, a boom, means mounting one end of said boom on said mast for pivotal movement about a vertical axis and for reciprocating movement along said axis, a frame, means forming a pivotal mounting for said frame on said mast for oscillating movement about a substantially horizontal axis, an arm extending from said frame in inclined relation therewith, means connecting said arm to said boom at a position substantially equidistant the ends of said boom, driving means including a motor carried by said frame and a plurality of meshing gears for causing said oscillating movement of said frame to effect simultaneous pivotal and reciprocating movement of said one end of said boom and reciprocating movement of the opposite end of said boom along a substantially straight line horizontal path, and resilient means for imparting an axially directed load to one of said gears to reduce chattering between the meshing teeth of said gears when the load on said motor is at a minimum.

5. Supporting apparatus of the character described comprising a vertical mast, a boom, means mounting one end of said boom on said mast for pivotal movement about a vertical axis and for reciprocating movement along said axis, driving means carried by said mast for causing the midpoint of said boom to oscillate in an arc confined to a substantially vertical plane, means cooperating with said driving means to effect vertical reciprocation of said one end of said boom along said vertica axis while said boom pivots about said axis and thereby to cause reciprocation of the other end of said boom in a substantially straight horizontal line substantially parallel with said vertical plane, and a supporting base member for said mast including a plurality of legs extending outwardly therefrom in diverging relation on the same side of said mast with said boom to support said mast against angular stresses thereon resulting from said movement of said boom.

6. Supporting apparatus of the character described comprising a vertical mast, a boom, means mounting one end of said boom on said mast for pivotal movement about a vertical axis and for reciprocating movement along said axis, driving means carried by said mast for causing the midpoint of said boom to oscillate in an arc confined to a substantially vertical plane, means cooperating with said driving means to effect vertical reciprocation of said one end of said boom along said vertical axis while said boom pivots about said axis and thereby to cause reciprocation of the other end of said boom in a substantially straight horizontal line substantially parallel with said vertical plane, and a supporting base member for said mast including a plurality of legs removably mounted in the sides of said base member and extending outwardly therefrom in diverging relation to support said mast against angular stresses thereon resulting from said movement of said boom, said base member also having sockets in the upper portion thereof for receiving said legs in upright position when said legs are removed from said base member to reduce the fioor space occupied by said apparatus.

7. Apparatus for supporting a therapeutic lamp for back and forth movement with respect to a user to give substantially uniform coverage over a relatively large area, comprising a base, an elongated boom, means connecting one end of said boom to said base for oscillating movement in an are about a predetermined axis, means at the other end of said boom for supporting said lamp thereon in operative position with respect to the user, drive means including a motor carried by said base for causing said oscillating movement of said boom about said axis, means cooperating with said base to maintain said boom in inclined relation with said axis throughout the full range of said oscillating movement thereof, and means con- 1 nected with said boom and effective on said supporting means in response to said oscillating movement of said boom for compensating for said oscillating movement in such manner as to guide said lamp along a substantially straight line path at a substantially uniform distance from the user.

8. Apparatus for supporting a therapeutic lamp for back and forth movement with respect to a user to give substantially uniform coverage over a relatively large area,

comprising a base, an elongated boom, means connecting one end of said boom to said base for oscillating movement in an are about an axis inclined with respect to said boom, means at the other end of said boom for supporting said lamp thereon in operative position with respect to the user, drive means including a motor carried by said base for causing said oscillating movement of said boom about said inclined axis, and means responsive to operation of said drive means for changing the degree of tilting relation between said boom and said axis during said oscillating movement of said boom in such manner as to cause said other end of said boom and said lamp to travel along a substantially straight line path at a substantially uniform distance from the user.

9. Apparatus for supporting a therapeutic lamp for back and forth movement with respect to a user to give substantially uniform coverage over a relatively large area, comprising a base adapted to stand on the floor, an elongated boom, means connecting the lower end of said boom to said base for oscillating movement about a substantially vertical axis, means for maintaining said boom in inclined relation with the vertical to cause the upper end thereof to overhang an area on the floor spaced laterally from said base, means at the upper end of said boom for supporting said lamp thereon in operative position with respect to the user, drive means including a motor carried by said base for causing said oscillating movement of said boom about said vertical axis, and means connected with said boom and effective on said supporting means in response to said oscillating movement of said boom in such manner as to guide said lamp along a substantially straight line path at a substantially uniform distance from the user.

10. Apparatus for supporting a therapeutic lamp for back and forth movement with respect to a user to give substantially uniform coverage over a relatively large area, comprising a base adapted to stand on the floor, an elongated boom, means connecting the lower end of said boom to said base for oscillating movement about a substantially vertical axis, means for maintaining said boom in inclined relation with the vertical to cause the upper end thereof to overhang an area on the floor spaced laterally from said base, means at the upper end of said boom for supporting said lamp thereon in operative position with respect to the user, drive means including a motor carried by said base for causing said oscillating movement of said boom about said vertical axis, and means responsive to operation of said drive means for changing the degree of tilting relation between said boom and said axis during said oscillating movement of said boom in such manner as to cause said other end of said boom and said lamp to travel along a substantially straight line path at a substantially uniform distance from the user.

11. Apparatus for supporting a therapeutic lamp for back and forth movement with respect to a user to give substantially uniform coverage over a relatively large area, comprising a base, an elongated boom, means connecting one end of said boom to said base for oscillat ing movement about an axis inclined with respect to said boom, means at the other end of said boom for supporting said lamp thereon in operative position with respect to the user, drive means carried by said base for causing the midpoint of said boom to oscillate in an are defining a plane parallel with and spaced from said axis to maintain said boom in inclined relation with said axis, and means responsive to said oscillating movement of said boom for causing said one end thereof to reciprocate parallel with said axis and thereby to vary the degree of said tilting relation between said boom and said axis during said oscillating movement of said boom in such manner as to cause said other end of said boom to travel along a substantially straight line path at a substantially uniform distance from the user.

12. Apparatus for supporting a therapeutic lamp for back and forth movement with respect to a user to give substantially uniform coverage over a relatively large area, comprising a mast, an elongated boom, means connecting one end of said boom to said mast for reciprocating movement longitudinally of said mast and for oscillating movement about an axis parallel with said mast, means at the other end of said boom for supporting said lamp thereon in operative position with respect to the user, an arm extending outwardly from said mast and inclined in relation thereto, means connecting the outer end of said arm to said boom at a position substantially equidistant the ends of said boom to support said boom in inclined relation with said mast, and driving means supported by said mast for causing said arm to swing about an axis substantially perpendicular to said mast and thereby to effect simultaneous oscillating and reciprocating movement of said one end of said boom with respect to said mast in such manner as to cause the opposite end of said boom to reciprocate in a substantially straight line in a direction substantially at right angles to said mast.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,181,669 Kelly May 2, 1916 (Other references on following page) 13 UNITED STATES PATENTS Kelle Oct. 29, Moore, et a1. July 15, McFaddin Sept. 19, Robertson Oct. 4, Dennis Jan. 17, Anderson Jan. 1, Cason Jan. 19 Cutler et a1. Feb. 9,

Sherbinin Jan. 3,

14 Norton et a1. Dec. 31, 1935 Levison Feb. 23, 1943 Poole Apr. 18, 1944 Fisher et a1 Sept. 11, 1945 Edwards Feb. 11, 1947 McFarlane Apr. 4, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS France Apr. 11, 1936

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