Expanded – threaded – driven – headed – tool-deformed – or locked-thr – Externally threaded fastener element – e.g. – bolt – screw – etc. – Resiliently flexible
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-30
2003-04-29
Wilson, Neill (Department: 3679)
Expanded, threaded, driven, headed, tool-deformed, or locked-thr
Externally threaded fastener element, e.g., bolt, screw, etc.
Resiliently flexible
C411S366100, C411S400000, C411S432000, C606S063000, C606S075000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06554553
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to devices used to secure flexible material to concrete substrate such as cable to a wall, or tendon to bone. The present invention relates to a method, and a screw device therefor, for tensioning a cable such that rotation of the cable is prevented when the screw is turned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various fasteners have been described which provide compression to a surface. Standard screws provide an anchoring of the screw through the shear force exerted by the thread against the walls of the bore in which it is embedded. The head of the screw provides compression against the material. In situations where threads cannot purchase the material surrounding the bore, jackets surrounding the threads of the screw are often utilized. The jacket is designed to expand in the bore of the material and provide anchoring for the screw threads. Known screw devices cannot deliver a precise level of load to the cable or tendon tension. At present, when a cable is attached to a screw, or a sheath around the screw, and the screw is turned, the cable or sheath are not stabilized against rotation with respect to the substrate to which the screw is engaged
One type of known compressive bolt device consists of wings which provide compression to a surface of the material in which the device is mounted. Thus both sides of the bolt are compressing material as opposed to screws where one side is acting in shear. These devices generally are not wholly removable and require the wing side of the device to be left within or on the surface of the material within which the device was installed, when the bolt portion is removed.
Another type of known compressive bolt device includes winged bolts in which the device is wholly removable following use. Some of these devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,974 issued in 1983, which covers a bone-fixating surgical implant device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present device both provides a compression anchor and permits precise adjustment of the tension of an attached tendon or cable while preventing the tendon or cable from turning with appropriate instrumentation. The present device comprises an outer nut and an inner bolt to which a cable or tendon can be attached. By rotating the outer nut, the inner bolt is retracted in or out of the nut and hence tightening or loosening the cable or outer sheath.
The present invention provides a fixation device for bringing one object close to another by applying a compressive force on one or more surfaces of the objects being brought closer together. One end of the device is attached to a cable which is anchored in a second surface. One embodiment of the invention employs a sheath mounted around the shaft of a screw such that when the device is installed, the sheath is caused to expand radially outward as the screw is tightened.
Another embodiment of the device has a cylindrical inner shaft surrounded by a cylindrical sleeve, with a washer around the cylindrical sleeve. The inner shaft ends in an eyelet adapted to receive a cable or tendon. This device has slots in the end of the device, both on the inner shaft and on the outer nut, to receive a tool that can insert and deploy the bolt.
Yet another embodiment of this device employs a sheath surrounding a screw, an outer nut at one end of the screw, and a washer at the end of the screw, opposite the outer nut, such that by turning the outer nut the screw is brought closer to or further from the nut. In this way, the sheath of material is caused to expand radially outwardly from the screw. The sheath can be made of a single piece rigid material or a solid material. In the case of a solid material, there are longitudinal cuts in the sheath such that the longitudinal pieces can expand outwardly.
Still another embodiment of this device utilizes the Winged Compression Bolt disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,433, which device comprises an outer sleeve surrounding a central screw and an outer nut threaded onto the outer sleeve. Turning the outer nut around the outer sleeve such that the wings of the device are pulled inward or outward from the nut, causing the outer sleeve, or sheath, to push radially outward on surrounding material. Holes in the wings will allow for a cable or tendon to be attached to the wings. When the other end of the cable or tendon is attached to second object, the cable or tendon can be loosened or tightened by turning the outer nut.
It has been discovered according to the present invention that because the nut can be rotated in increments, the cable or tendon can be adjusted in tension to a precise degree such that the cable attached to the end of the screw or the sheath put around the screw will be able to be put under tension or compression, respectively, to a precise degree.
It has also been discovered according to the present invention that by using a cylindrical sheath, which is split longitudinally, along with a washer having a ridge on it, the sheath can be caused to push radially outward in a uniform fashion when the nut is tightened about the screw.
It has also been discovered according to the present invention that if the sheath around the sleeve is made of a soft material, the sheath can be of a single piece and made to expand uniformly outward from the threaded shaft when the nut is tightened about the screw.
It has also been discovered according to this invention that the tools which deploy the nut and screw can stabilize the inner screw and rotate the outer nut.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an apparatus having a sheath which creates a compressive force on an area of surrounding material with a sheath around its shaft or as a result of creating a tensile force on a tendon or cable attached to an end of the shaft such that the device will maintain the surrounding material in a steady, non-rotating manner while compressing or loosening the material.
It is further an object of this invention to provide a fixation device that is removable from the hole when it is desired to be removed.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a tension adjusting device for creating tension on material comprising:
a. a hollow outer nut (sleeve) having a sidewall enclosing a centrally disposed opening within the nut, a front end and a rear end;
b. an elongated shaft having a first end and a second end, which shaft is movable and within the opening in the hollow outer nut;
wherein the mean length of the device is adjusted by changing the relationship outer nut and elongated shaft.
Some preferred embodiments of the invention include those wherein: 1) the hollow outer nut is rotatable around the elongated shaft; 2) the shaft is threaded and has a slot at one end; 3) the nut comprises an internally threaded cylinder; 3) the elongated shaft is threaded and has a flat surface on it by which it can be engaged to stabilize it while the nut is rotated about it; 4) the elongated shaft has hole or securing coupling at an end to allow it to attach a material which requires anchoring; 5) the outer nut is rotatable while the inner elongated shaft is stabilized thereby causing the inner shaft to move within the sleeve such that any material attached to the shaft can be tightened; 6) the device comprises an inner sleeve and the outer nut is movable against the inner sleeve such that the sleeve is more or less contained within the outer nut; 7) the elongated shaft is threaded and has a slot at the first end and further comprises a washer or “O” ring at the opposite second end, wherein the washer or “O” ring is rotatably engaged with the shaft so as to provide compression on a material; 8) the device further comprises a first grooved nut below an “O” ring at the first end of the shaft and a second grooved nut is placed on a surface of the nut such that the grooves are facing each other; 9) a cylinder of material is placed between the ends of the device; 10) a split cylinder of material is placed between two “O” rings onto which grooved washers have been placed such that the cylinder can split and
Innovar L.L.C.
Matos Rick
Wilson Neill
LandOfFree
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