Mount for an optical structure and methods of mounting an optical structure using such mount

摘要

An improved mount for, and methods of mounting an, optical structure are provided. The mount has a protruding member extending from a surface of the optical structure, a base element having a mounting structure for mounting the mount to another structure and an upper element extending from the base element having a first opening extending therethrough for receipt therein of at least a portion of the protruding member. The first opening defines first and second arms, each of the arms comprising a head portion and each of the head portions ending at an end. A second opening in the upper element extends through one of the head portions and the end thereof in a direction toward the other head portion, while a third opening exists in the upper element through the end of the other head portion in an orientation substantially opposite to and in communication with the second opening so that a tightening mechanism received through the second opening can be received into the third opening. Tightening of the tightening mechanism into the third opening causes the ends of the head portions to draw toward each other so that the first opening of the upper element tightens around the at least a portion of the protruding member.

主权项

1. A method of mounting an optical structure, comprising the steps of:
sliding a first opening extending through an upper element of a mount for mounting an optical structure over at least one portion of a protruding member, said optical structure comprising at least one reflective or mirror panel, said at least one reflective or mirror panel having at least one reflective surface and at least one back surface substantially opposite said reflective surface, and said protruding member extending from said at least one back surface of said optical structure and being part of said mount for mounting said optical structure such that at least one portion of said at least one back surface of said optical structure is at least one of disposed directly on and in direct connection with at least one portion of a first surface of said protruding member, or said at least one portion of said optical structure is at least one of bonded directly, fused directly and adhered directly to the at least one portion of said first surface of said protruding member such that only a bonding, fusing or adhering material or element is located between the at least one portion of said optical structure and the at least one portion of said first surface of said protruding member, and said first opening at least one of forms and defines two arms in said upper element, each of said two arms having a head portion and ending at an end thereof; and tightening said first opening of said upper element of said mount around said at least one portion of said protruding member such that at least one of one or more contracting forces and one or more distortional forces affecting at least one of said reflective surface and said back surface of said optical structure and an optical flatness of at least one of said reflective surface and said back surface of said optical structure are at least one of reduced and eliminated, thereby maintaining the optical flatness of said surface of said optical structure, by inserting a tightening mechanism into a second opening located through one of said head portions of said upper element and by further inserting and tightening said tightening mechanism into a third opening in said other head portion of said upper element so that said tightening mechanism draws said two ends of said head portions toward each other such that said upper element is disposed at least one of substantially on, in connection with and around at least one of at least one portion of a second surface and at least one portion of a third surface of said protruding member and said protruding member is disposed between at least a portion of said optical structure and at least a portion of said upper element of said mount.