Joints and connections – Articulated members – Lockable at fixed position
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-13
2001-05-29
Dayoan, B. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Articulated members
Lockable at fixed position
C403S090000, C403S096000, C403S103000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238124
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the general art of joint mechanisms, and, more particularly, to an improvement in the locking joint mechanism disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,767.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an improvement to the locking joint mechanism disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,767, the disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by reference.
As discussed in the incorporated patent, angularly adjustable, releasably locakable ball joints are used in a variety of assemblies. Such assemblies include umbrellas as well as other jointed items. However, these joint mechanisms are also useful in the field of prosthetics. As discussed in the incorporated patent, it is important for the joint to securely lock two elements together, yet be expeditiously angularly adjustable and releasable when desired.
The locking joint mechanism disclosed in the incorporated patent quite effectively secures the parts against pitch and/or yaw movements between the parts jointed by the mechanism. The inventor has found that the patented joint mechanism can be improved by further securing the joint mechanism against roll movements between the parts joined thereby. This will further improve its performance in many applications, including prosthetics.
Therefore, there is a need to improve the joint mechanism disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,767 by further securing the mechanism against roll movements between the parts joined by the joint mechanism.
Still further, while the joint mechanism disclosed in the incorporated patent provides a wide range of adjustments, the inventor has also found that such a joint mechanism can be further improved by providing still greater range of adjustments which is also capable of even finer adjustment steps whereby the relative orientation between the parts joined by the mechanism can be adjusted in extremely fine steps over a wide range.
Therefore, there is a need to improve the joint mechanism disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,767 by providing an ability to adjust the relative orientation between the parts joined by the mechanism over a wide range yet in fine incremental steps.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is a main object of the present invention to improve the joint mechanism disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,767 by further securing the mechanism against roll movements between the parts joined by the joint mechanism.
It is another object of the present invention to improve the joint mechanism disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,767 by providing an ability to adjust the relative orientation between the parts joined by the mechanism over a wide range yet in fine incremental steps.
It is a specific object of the present invention to provide an improved locking joint mechanism that is suitable for use in a prosthetic device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These, and other, objects are achieved by improving the locking joint mechanism disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,767 by adding at least one pin spaced from the main clicker pin disclosed in that patent.
As disclosed in the incorporated patent, the joint mechanism includes a spherical member on one part and an actuator on another part, with the parts being joined by the mechanism and locked into a chosen relative orientation by the joint. A multiplicity of protuberances are located on the spherical member and the main locking clicker pin or actuator is accommodated between the protuberances to lock the parts into the chosen relative orientation. Pitch and yaw are effectively prevented by such engagement.
The additional pin included in the improved joint embodying the present invention is also received in the spaces between the protuberances but at a location that is spaced from the main locking clicker pin or acutator whereby roll movement between the joined parts is prevented. Roll is effectively blocked by two spaced pins, each one interacting with one protuberance or a concavity between protuberances. Therefore, the locking positions are fixed by the number of concavities and/or protuberances. To achieve minute adjustments (i.e., locking positions), more than two pins are used.
Special protuberance patterns are also used to further improve the patented joint mechanism and these patterns can be derived from polyhedrons.
In this manner, and by using more than two actuator heads or pins, not only is the roll effectively prevented, the number of adjustments between the two parts is increased thereby increasing the range of adjustments possible while also increasing the number of increments possible. The increased number of increments allows finer adjustments to be made between the two parts as compared to the patented joint mechanism.
By increasing the range and number of increments of the adjustment over the patented mechanism, the presently-disclosed joint mechanism is more adaptable to use in a number of fields, including prosthetics than prior mechanisms.
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patent: 5713633 (1998-02-01), Lu
patent: 291547 (1928-06-01), None
Bochna David E.
Dayoan B.
Gernstein Terry M
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