Remote inspection device and threaded member used therein

Claim 1

AN INSPECTION DEVICE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SNAKELIKE MEMBER WHICH HAS A DISTAL END FOR INSPECTING A REMOTE AREA AND A PROXIMAL END AT WHICH THE DEVICE IS CONTROLLED, THE SNAKE-LIKE MEMBER INCORPORATING AT LEAST ONE FLEXIBLE BUNDLE OF ELONGATED LIGHT-CONDUCTING FIBERS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID TWO ENDS, AN ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM SUPPORTED BY SAID SNAKE-LIKE MEMBER AT A POINT SPACED FROM SAID PROXIMAL END, SAID ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM HAVING AT LEAST ONE COMPONENT ADAPTED TO MOVE RELATIVE TO THE BODY OF SAID SNAKE-LIKE MEMBER TO CONTROL SAID INSPECTION, AN ELONGATED, FLEXIBLE, TORQUE-TRANSMITTING CABLE EXTENDING FROM SAID PROXIMAL END TO SAID MECHANISM ALONG SAID FLEXIBLE BUNDLE OF FIBERS AND SUPPORTED BY SAID SNAKE-LIKE MEMBER, A REACTION BLOCK MEANS LOCATED NEAR SAID MECHANISM AND FIXED LONGITUDINALLY TO THE BODY OF SAID SNAKELIKE MEMBER, SAID REACTION BLOCK MEANS THREADABLY ENGAGED WITH COOPERATING MEANS ON SAID FLEXIBLE CABLE TO ENABLE THE LATTER TO APPLY AN ADJUSTMENT FORCE TO SAID MOVABLE COMPONENT, THE PORTION OF SAID TORQUE-TRANSMITTING CABLE ENGAGED WITH SAID BLOCK MEANS BEING RESTRAINED BY SAID BLOCK MEANS FROM LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT IN THE ABSENCE OF ROTATION OF SAID CABLE, CONNECTOR MEANS DRIVINGLY CONNECTING THE RESPECTIVE END OF SAID FLEXIBLE CABLE AND SAID MOVABLE COMPONENT OF SAID ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM, AND MEANS AT THE PROXIMAL END OF SAID DEVICE ADAPTED TO ROTATE SAID FLEXIBLE CABLE.