CONNECTION DEVICE AND JOINT DEVICE FOR AN ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE

Abstract

A connection device for connecting a first component to a second component of an orthopedic device. The connection device includes a first swivel element for arranging on the first component and a second swivel element for arranging on the second component. The first adjustment element is arranged on the first swivel element the adjustment element having a first contact surface. The second swivel element has a second contact surface, wherein the first swivel element is arranged on the second swivel element such that it can be swivelled about a swivel axis, and the first adjustment element is arranged and designed in such a way that the first contact surface lies flat on the second contact surface.

Claims

1. A connection device for connecting a first component to a second component of an orthopedic device, the connection device comprising: a first swivel element configured to be arranged on the first component; a second swivel element configured to be arranged on the second component; a first adjustment element arranged on the first swivel element, the adjustment element having a first contact surface the first swivel element being arranged such that the first swivel element can be rotated about a rotational axis, a radial distance of the first contact surface from the rotational axis being variable, the second swivel element having a second contact surface; wherein the first swivel element is arranged on the second swivel element such that the first swivel element can be swivelled about a swivel axis and the first adjustment element is arranged and designed such that the first contact surface lies flat on the second contact surface.

2. The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the first adjustment element is arranged on the first swivel element such that the first adjustment element can be detached.

3. (canceled)

4. The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the radial distance of the first contact surface from the rotational axis in a circumferential direction varies across at least one part of a circumference of the first adjustment element.

5. The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the first contact surface is inclined relative to the rotational axis in at least one area.

6. (canceled)

7. The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the first adjustment element can be connected to the first component such that the first adjustment element is torque-proof.

8. The connection device according to claim 1, wherein a second adjustment element is arranged on the second swivel element, the second adjustment element including the second contact surface, and the second adjustment element is arranged such that the second adjustment element can be at least one of detached and rotated about a second rotational axis.

9. A joint device for an orthopedic device, the joint device comprising: a first component; a second component; a connection device according to claim 14; wherein the first component is arranged on the first swivel element and the second component is arranged on the second swivel element such that the first component can be swivelled relative to the second component about a joint axis, and the joint axis forms a right angle with the swivel axis.

10. The joint device according to claim 9, wherein the first component and the second component are connected to one another in such a way that a swiveling of one of the first and second components relative to the connection device effects a swiveling of the respective other of the first and second components relative to the connection device.

11. The joint device according to claim 9, wherein the first and second components each feature a multitude of teeth that engage with each other.

12. The joint device according to claim 9, wherein the first and second components are connected to one another by at least one tensile force transmission elements.

13. The joint device according to claim 9, wherein a maximum swivel angle of the first component relative to the second component is restricted in at least one swivel direction by an adjustable end stop.

14. A connection device for connecting a first component to a second component of an orthopedic device, the connection device comprising: a first swivel element configured to be arranged on the first component; a second swivel element configured to be arranged on the second component, at least one of the first component and the second component can be swivelled relative to the connection device when arranged on the respective swivel element; a first adjustment element arranged on the first swivel element, the adjustment element having a first contact surface, and the second swivel element having a second contact surface; wherein the first swivel element is arranged on the second swivel element such that the first swivel element can be swivelled about a swivel axis and the first adjustment element is arranged and designed such that the first contact surface lies flat on the second contact surface.

15. The connection device according to claim 14, wherein the first adjustment element is arranged on the first swivel element such that the first adjustment element can be detached.

16. The connection device according to claim 14, wherein the radial distance of the first contact surface from the rotational axis in a circumferential direction varies across at least one part of a circumference of the first adjustment element.

17. The connection device according to claim 14, wherein the first contact surface is inclined relative to the rotational axis in at least one area.

18. The connection device according to claim 14, wherein the first adjustment element can be connected to the first component such that the first adjustment element is torque-proof.

19. The connection device according to claim 14, wherein a second adjustment element is arranged on the second swivel element, the second adjustment element featuring the second contact surface, wherein the second adjustment element is preferably arranged such that the second adjustment element can be at least one of detached and rotated about a second rotational axis.

Description

[0023] In the following, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail by way of the attached figures: They show

[0024] FIG. 1the schematic depiction of a joint device according to a first example of an embodiment of the present invention in two positions,

[0025] FIG. 2an exploded view of a part of a joint device,

[0026] FIG. 3three schematic sectional views through a joint device in different positions.

[0027] FIG. 4a schematic partial sectional view through a joint device,

[0028] FIG. 5a schematic exploded view through a joint device according to a further example of an embodiment of the present invention,

[0029] FIG. 6a top view and a perspective view of a joint device according to a further example of an embodiment of the present invention,

[0030] FIG. 7two views of an orthosis that has a joint device according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention,

[0031] FIG. 8the schematic depiction of a further orthosis with a joint device and

[0032] FIG. 9the schematic depiction of a further joint device according to another example of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a joint device 1 according to a first example of an embodiment of the present invention in two different positions. It has a first component 2 and a second component 4. Both are arranged on a connection device 6, which features a first swivel element 8 with a first adjustment element 10 and a second swivel element 12. The first swivel element 8 and the second swivel element 12 can be swivelled relative to one another about a swivel axis.

[0034] In the two depictions in FIG. 1, it is clear that the first component 2 and the second component 4 can be swivelled relative to one another about a joint axis, which is not depicted. In the present example of an embodiment, this does not effect a swivelling of the first swivel element 8 relative to the second swivel element 12 about the swivel axis 14.

[0035] FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view through a joint device 1. It shows the first component 2 and the second component 4, each of which has several teeth 16 that engage with each other when the two components 2, 4 are arranged on the connection device 6. The first swivel element 8 features a central bore 18, whichwhen mountedmoves so that it overlaps with a hole 20 that is arranged in the first component 2. To this end, the first component 2 is inserted into a slit 22, which is provided in the first swivel element 8. In the present example of an embodiment, the first adjustment element 10 consists of two plate-shaped elements, which can be connected to one another by way of the central bore 18 and through the hole 20. The upper element features a recess 24, which can engage with a tool in order to rotate the first adjustment element 10 about a rotational axis that extends through the central bore 18.

[0036] The first adjustment element 10 features the first contact surface 26, the radial distance of which from a rotational axis of the first adjustment element 10 varies across the circumference of the first adjustment element 10.

[0037] Two pins 28, which are inserted through corresponding recesses, connect the two swivel element 8, 12 such that they can be swivelled. The swivel axis runs through their centre.

[0038] The second swivel element 12 also has a slit 30, into which the second component 4 is inserted to move a central bore 32 so that it overlaps with a hole 34, which is arranged in the second component 4. Connecting pieces 36 are then inserted and the second component 4 thereby arranged on the second swivel element 12. The second swivel element features a second contact surface 38.

[0039] Unlike in the example of an embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the joint device 1 according to FIG. 2 comprises a connection pin 40 that can be connected, via two holes 42, to the first component 2 and the first adjustment element 10 in a torque-proof manner. It can slide in an elongated hole 44 in the first swivel element 8. If the first component 2 is now moved relative to the first swivel element 8, the first adjustment element 10 moves at the same time, so that a displacement of the first contact surface 26 relative to the second contact surface 38, and therefore a swivelling of the two pins 28 about the swivel axis, occurs.

[0040] This is shown in FIG. 3. Three sectional views through the joint device 1 can be seen, wherein each view has a different swivel angle between the first component 2 and the second component 4 about the swivel axis. This is due to the different radial distances and inclines of the first contact surface 26 relative to the second contact surface 38. If the first adjustment element 10 is rotated about the rotational axis, the incline and radial distance of the first contact surface 26 changes in the region that engages with the second contact surface 38; this results in the depicted swivelling.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a partial sectional view. The two pins 28 can be recognized, said pins forming both the swivel axis and the teeth 16 of the two components 2, 4, which are engaged with one another.

[0042] FIG. 5 depicts a further exploded view through a joint device 1 according to a further example of an embodiment of the present invention. One difference between this and the view depicted in FIG. 1 is that the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 does not have a connecting pin 40. The first adjustment element 10 is also constructed differently. The two parts that form the first adjustment element 10 each comprise a central part 46; a ring element 48 is arranged on each said central part. This ring element can be easily exchanged and fixed to the respective central part 46 via positive-locking elements 50.

[0043] In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, the design of the hole 34 and the correspondingly designed connecting end 52 of the first adjustment element 10 enables a positive-locking connection between the first adjustment element 10 and the first component 2, such that a swivelling of the first component 2 relative to the connection device 6 also effects a change in the angle of inclination and a swivelling of the first swivel element 8 relative to the second swivel element 12 about the swivel axis that extends through the two pins 28.

[0044] FIG. 6 shows two depictions of another embodiment of a joint device, the connection device 6 of which features the first adjustment element 10 and a second adjustment element 54. An outer lateral surface of the second adjustment element 54 forms the second contact surface 38.

[0045] FIG. 7 depicts two orthoses 56, which are designed as knee orthoses and which each feature a joint device 1. It is arranged between the two components 2, 4. The swivel axis extends in the drawing plane. Looking at the position of the two adjustment elements 10, 54, two settings can be seen, so that an angle between the two components 2, 4 is designed to be different.

[0046] FIG. 8 depicts a further orthosis 56 with a joint device 1.

[0047] It also comprises a tension element 58, the end stops 60 of which can be moved using the tool 62 depicted. A swivelling of the two components 2, 4 relative to one another results in a movement of the tension element 58, which is arranged at both ends on the second component 4 and is securely connected to the first swivel element 8 in the example of an embodiment shown. As a result, the endswhich are not depictedof the tension element 58 are displaced until they strike one of the end stops 60, where applicable.

[0048] FIG. 9 depicts two partial sectional views of a joint device 1. In both views, it is clear that a swivelling of the two components 2, 4 relative to one another and relative to the connection device 6 causes a swivelling of the two swivel elements 8, 12 relative to one another about the swivel axis.

REFERENCE LIST

[0049] 1 joint device

[0050] 2 first component

[0051] 4 second component

[0052] 6 connection device

[0053] 8 first swivel element

[0054] 10 first adjustment element

[0055] 12 second swivel element

[0056] 14 swivel axis

[0057] 16 tooth

[0058] 18 central bore

[0059] 20 hole

[0060] 22 slit

[0061] 24 recess

[0062] 26 first contact surface

[0063] 28 pin

[0064] 30 slit

[0065] 32 central bore

[0066] 34 hole

[0067] 36 connecting piece

[0068] 38 second contact surface

[0069] 40 connecting pin

[0070] 42 hole

[0071] 44 elongated hole

[0072] 46 central part

[0073] 48 ring element

[0074] 50 positive-locking element

[0075] 52 connecting end

[0076] 54 second adjustment element

[0077] 56 orthosis

[0078] 58 tension element

[0079] 60 end stop