Examination Apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus and method for an examination apparatus that includes a manually movable structure having a first movement from a free state to a compressed state and a second reversing movement from the compressed state to the free state. Also included is a plurality of fingers that are disposed adjacent to the structure. The fingers having a stowed state and an open state, the stowed state having a nested relationship between the fingers to reduce a silhouette profile size. In moving from the stowed state to the open state of the plurality of fingers requires a selected sequential movement of each the fingers to proceed from the nested relationship to the open state that is accommodated by an assemblage for moving the fingers sequentially utilizing the manually operated structure, wherein the fingers are moved from the stowed state to the open state and reversed manually.

1 . An examination apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a manually movable structure having a first selective movement from a free state to a compressed state and a second selective movement, being a return movement from said compressed state to said free state;   (b) a plurality of fingers disposed adjacent to said structure, said fingers having a stowed state and an open state, said stowed state having a nested relationship between said fingers to reduce a silhouette of a leading edge profile of said plurality of fingers in said stowed state, said open state requiring a sequential movement of each of said fingers to proceed from said nested relationship to said open state; and   (c) a means for moving said fingers utilizing said structure wherein said fingers are moved from said stowed state to said open state, wherein said means for moving automatically accommodates said sequential movement in proceeding from said stowed state to said open state and reversing said sequential movement in proceeding from said open state to said stowed state.   
     
     
         2 . An examination apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said means for moving said fingers is sized and configured to facilitate said sequential movement to include an initial movement by a first finger that allows for an un-nested relationship of said plurality of fingers followed by a further sequential movement by a second finger in proceeding to said open state. 
     
     
         3 . An examination apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said means for moving said fingers further includes a means for independently urging said second finger into said stowed state. 
     
     
         4 . An examination apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said nested relationship includes said second finger being sized and configured to be disposed within a profile of said first finger. 
     
     
         5 . An examination apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a lockable element that is operational to selectively hold said plurality of fingers at a selected position between said stowed state and said open state. 
     
     
         6 . An examination apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said means for moving said fingers is sized and configured to have an increasing mechanical advantage in proceeding from said stowed state to said open state, wherein said increasing mechanical advantage is between said manually movable structure and said plurality of fingers that is operational to increase an opening force of at least one of said plurality of fingers from said stowed state to said open state for a fixed manual force on said structure in proceeding from said stowed state to said open state. 
     
     
         7 . An examination apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said means for moving said fingers is sized and configured to have a selectable increasing mechanical advantage in proceeding from said stowed state to said open state, wherein said selectable increasing mechanical advantage is between said manually movable structure and said plurality of fingers that is operational to selectably increase an opening force on at least one of said plurality of fingers from said stowed state to said open state for a fixed manual force on said structure in proceeding from said stowed state to said open state. 
     
     
         8 . An examination apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a retention element that is removably engaged between said structure and a body. 
     
     
         9 . An examination apparatus, comprising:
 (a) manually movable structure having a first selective movement from a free state to a compressed state and a second selective movement, being a return movement from said compressed state to said free state;   (b) a plurality of fingers disposed adjacent to said structure, said fingers having a stowed state and an open state, said stowed state having a nested relationship between said fingers to reduce a silhouette of a leading edge profile of said plurality of fingers in said stowed state, said open state requiring a sequential movement of a first finger prior to a movement of a second finger to proceed from said nested relationship to said open state;   (c) a means for urging said second finger automatically into said stowed state; and   (d) a mechanism for moving said plurality of fingers utilizing said structure, wherein said fingers are moved from said stowed state to said open state, wherein said mechanism includes a plurality of flexible elements that communicate movement from said manually movable structure to said plurality of fingers while automatically accommodating said sequential movement in proceeding from said stowed state to said open state and reversing said sequential movement in proceeding from said open state to said stowed state.   
     
     
         10 . An examination apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein said mechanism for moving said fingers further includes said plurality of flexible elements each being constructed a cable that is adjacent to a pivotal moment arm of each of said plurality of fingers, with said cable also being adjacent to a movable portion of said structure on an opposing end of said cable, wherein said mechanism is sized and configured to be operational for at least one of said fingers to have an increasing mechanical advantage facilitated by an effective change in a moment arm dynamic length of said pivotal moment arm in proceeding from said stowed state to said open state, wherein said increasing mechanical advantage is between said manually movable structure and said plurality of fingers that is operational to increase an opening force of at least one of said plurality of fingers from said stowed state to said open state for a fixed manual force on said structure in proceeding from said stowed state to said open state. 
     
     
         11 . An examination apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said mechanism for moving said fingers further includes a selectable device to vary said pivotal moment arm for a selected initial moment arm length for any one of said plurality of flexible elements that is adjacent to said pivotal moment arm of each of said plurality of fingers, wherein said selectable device is operational for any one of said fingers to have a selectably increasing mechanical advantage facilitated by a selected change in said selected initial moment arm length, wherein said pivotal moment arm further has said moment arm dynamic length change of said pivotal moment arm in proceeding from said stowed state to said open state, wherein said increasing mechanical advantage is between said manually movable structure and said plurality of fingers that is operational to selectably increase an initial opening force of one of said plurality of fingers from said stowed state and further allowing for a selectable increase in said opening force in going from said stowed state to said open state for said fixed manual force on said structure in proceeding from said stowed state to said open state. 
     
     
         12 . An examination apparatus according to  claim 9  further comprising a retention element that is removably engaged between said structure and a body. 
     
     
         13 . An examination apparatus, comprising:
 (a) manually movable structure having a first selective movement from a free state to a compressed state and a second selective movement, being a return movement from said compressed state to said free state;   (b) a plurality of fingers disposed adjacent to said structure, said fingers having a stowed state and an open state, said stowed state having a nested relationship between said fingers to reduce a silhouette of a leading edge profile of said plurality of fingers in said stowed state, said open state requiring a sequential movement of a first finger prior to a movement of a second finger to proceed from said nested relationship to said open state;   (c) a means for urging said second finger automatically into said stowed state; and   (d) an assemblage for moving said plurality of fingers from said stowed state to said open state, wherein said assemblage includes a plurality of linkages that communicate movement from said manually movable structure to said plurality of fingers while automatically accommodating said sequential movement in proceeding from said stowed state to said open state and reversing said sequential movement in proceeding from said open state to said stowed state.   
     
     
         14 . An examination apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein said assemblage for moving said fingers further includes said plurality of linkages each being constructed a substantially rigid extension that is adjacent to a pivotal moment arm of each of said plurality of fingers, with said extension also being adjacent to a movable portion of said structure on an opposing end of said extension, wherein said assemblage is sized and configured to be operational for at least one of said fingers to have an increasing mechanical advantage facilitated by an effective change in a moment arm length of said pivotal moment arm in proceeding from said stowed state to said open state, wherein said increasing mechanical advantage is between said manually movable structure and said plurality of fingers that is operational to increase an opening force on at least one of said plurality of fingers from said stowed state to said open state for a fixed manual force on said structure in proceeding from said stowed state to said open state.