Instrument support socket

Claim 1

An instrument support comprising, in combination, a base having an upper ring defining an annular locking surface having a substantially open center, a plate adapted to mount an instrument and proportioned to fit over said ring, said plate having a plurality of spaced, radially extending feet with surfaces engaging said locking surface, said feet surfaces defining segments of an annular surface that is a section of an external spherical surface so that said plate rocks smoothly in said ring, said feet being spaced and proportioned to define substantial clearance spaces between adjacent feet, said feet surfaces terminating with sharp, radially extending edges so as to clean and better grip said locking surface, a threaded member for selectively drawing together and thus clamping said external spherical surfaces against said annular locking surface so as to prevent relative movement between said base and said plate, said member being threaded into said plate and sandwiching a washer against a clamping surface on said ring, said washer and said clamping surface defining spherical sections having the same approximate center as said internal and external spherical surfaces, and said washer spherical section being defined by a plurality of sharp edged ridges on the washer so as to substantially reduce the contacting area of said spherical sections.