System and apparatus for illuminating a specimen

Abstract

An adjustable lighting apparatus for illuminating a specimen while facilitating access to the specimen includes an elongated post defining a first axis, a hub movably attached to the post, and a pair of pivotable curved plate jaws, each jaw connected to the hub and configured for independent movement relative to the hub. The hub is configured for movement parallel to the first axis of the post. Each jaw of the pair of pivotable curved plate jaws has a concave interior surface and has one or more light sources positioned within or against the interior surface between a proximate jaw end and a distal jaw end for illuminating a specimen located within the expandable boundary.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable lighting apparatus for illuminating a specimen while facilitating access to the specimen, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongated post defining a first axis;   a hub movably attached to the post; and   a pair of pivotable curved plate jaws, each jaw connected to the hub and configured for independent movement relative to the hub;   wherein the hub is configured for movement parallel to the first axis of the post; and   wherein each jaw of the pair of pivotable curved plate jaws has a concave interior surface and has one or more light sources positioned within or against the interior surface between a proximate jaw end and a distal jaw end for illuminating a specimen located within the expandable boundary.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable lighting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the position of each jaw in the pair of pivotable curved plate jaws may be varied such that the specimen image may be enhanced and such that the specimen may be accessed by repositioning one of the jaws of the pair of pivotable curved plate jaws. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable lighting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hub includes a plurality of teeth formed therein and configured to engage a plurality of teeth on the elongated post, the teeth of the hub and the teeth on the elongated post defining a gear configured to facilitate movement of the hub parallel to the first axis of the post. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable lighting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hub is configured to allow movement of the pair of pivotable curved plate jaws along a second axis, the second axis extending at angle relative to the first axis. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable lighting apparatus of  claim 4 , further including a mounting assembly attached between the elongated post and the hub, the mounting assembly configured to allow sliding movement of the hub and the pair of the pivotable curved plate jaws attached thereto along the second axis. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable lighting apparatus of  claim 4 , further including a mounting assembly attached between the elongated post and the pair of pivotable curved plate jaws, the mounting assembly configured to allow independent movement of the hub and the pair of the pivotable curved plate jaws attached thereto along the second axis. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable lighting apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the mounting assembly is configured for independent sliding movement of each jaw of the pair of pivotable curved plate jaws along the second axis. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable lighting apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting assembly includes an elongated stem attached to the hub at a first end thereof and movably attached to the elongated post at a second end thereof. 
     
     
         9 . An adjustable lighting apparatus for illuminating a specimen while facilitating access to the specimen, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongated post defining a first axis;   a hub movably attached to the post; and   a pair of pivotable curved plate jaws, each jaw connected to the hub and configured for independent movement relative to the hub;   wherein the hub is configured to allow movement of the pair of pivotable curved plate jaws along a second axis, the second axis extending at angle relative to the first axis; and   wherein each jaw of the pair of pivotable curved plate jaws has a concave interior surface and has one or more light sources positioned within or against the interior surface between a proximate jaw end and a distal jaw end for illuminating a specimen located within the expandable boundary.   
     
     
         10 . The adjustable lighting apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the position of each jaw in the pair of pivotable curved plate jaws may be varied such that the specimen image may be enhanced and such that the specimen may be accessed by repositioning one of the jaws of the pair of pivotable curved plate jaws. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable lighting apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second axis is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable lighting apparatus of  claim 9 , further including a mounting assembly attached between the elongated post and the hub, the mounting assembly configured to allow movement of the hub and the pair of the pivotable curved plate jaws attached thereto along the second axis. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable lighting apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the mounting assembly is configured for sliding movement of the pair of pivotable curved plate jaws along the second axis. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable lighting apparatus of  claim 9 , further including a mounting assembly attached between the elongated post and the hub, the mounting assembly configured to allow independent movement of each jaw of the pair of the pivotable curved plate jaws attached thereto along the second axis. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable lighting apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the mounting assembly is configured for independent sliding movement of each jaw of the pair of pivotable curved plate jaws along the second axis. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable lighting apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the mounting assembly includes an elongated stem attached to the hub at a first end thereof and movably attached to the elongated post at a second end thereof. 
     
     
         17 . An adjustable lighting apparatus for illuminating a specimen while facilitating access to the specimen, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongated post defining a first axis;   imaging equipment mounted to the elongated post;   a hub movably attached to the post; and   a pair of pivotable curved plate jaws, each jaw connected to the hub and configured for independent movement relative to the hub;   wherein the hub is configured for movement parallel to the first axis of the post; and   wherein each jaw of the pair of pivotable curved plate jaws has a concave interior surface and has one or more light sources positioned within or against the interior surface between a proximate jaw end and a distal jaw end for illuminating a specimen located within the expandable boundary.   
     
     
         18 . The adjustable lighting apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the imaging equipment is one of a microscope, a camera, and a magnifying glass. 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable lighting apparatus of  claim 17 , further including a mounting assembly attached between the elongated post and the hub, the mounting assembly configured to allow sliding movement of the hub and the pair of the pivotable curved plate jaws attached thereto along a second axis extending at angle relative to the first axis. 
     
     
         20 . The adjustable lighting apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the mounting assembly includes an elongated stem attached to the hub at a first end thereof and movably attached to the elongated post at a second end thereof.