Device for mutual positioning of longitudinal building components

Abstract

A clamping device for positioning longitudinal fixation elements includes (a) a first clamp having a substantially S-shape and including three clamping arms defining first and second clamp openings for receiving longitudinal fixation elements therein, the first and second clamping openings extending along channel axes corresponding to longitudinal axes of the longitudinal fixation elements to be received therein and being open to an exterior of the clamp body via insertion slots through which the longitudinal bone fixation elements are insertable into the first and second clamp openings laterally relative to the channel axes; (b) a second clamp including first and second clamping arms defining a third clamp opening therebetween for receiving a longitudinal fixation element; (c) a first borehole extending through the three arms of the first clamp and the first and second arms of the second clamp along a first axis; (d) a shaft extending through the first borehole; and (e) a locking member engagable with the shaft to lock the locking elements within the first and second clamps and prevent rotation of the first and second clamps relative to one another about the first axis.

Claims

1. A clamping device for positioning longitudinal fixation elements, comprising: a first clamp having a substantially S-shape and including three clamping arms defining first and second clamp openings for receiving longitudinal fixation elements therein, the first and second clamping openings extending along channel axes corresponding to longitudinal axes of the longitudinal fixation elements to be received therein and being open to an exterior of the clamp body via insertion slots through which the longitudinal fixation elements are insertable into the first and second clamp openings laterally relative to the channel axes; a second clamp including first and second clamping arms defining a third clamp opening therebetween for receiving a longitudinal fixation element; a first borehole extending through the three clamping arms of the first clamp and the first and second arms of the second clamp along a first axis; a shaft extending through the first borehole; and a locking member engagable with the shaft to lock the longitudinal fixation elements within the first and second clamps and prevent rotation of the first and second clamps relative to one another about the first axis, wherein the channel axes of the first and second clamp openings are parallel in a plane orthogonal to the first axis.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first clamp includes a second borehole extending along a second axis parallel to the first axis to receive a pin therein, the pin limiting relative movement between at least two of the three clamping arms.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the locking member is a nut engagable with a threading along an end of the shaft.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first borehole includes at least one concave, semi-spherical surface at a first end of the first borehole concentric with the first axis.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the shaft includes an enlarged end received within the at least one concave, spherical surface.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second and third clamp openings include a structural constriction.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the three clamping arms of the first clamp include a surface that tapers such that an opening of at least one of the insertion slots is larger than the structural constriction of a corresponding one of the first and second clamp openings.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the three clamping arms of the first clamp include at least two adjacent, semi cylindrical arcuate surfaces of different sizes extending parallel to at least one of the channel axes.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein a surface of the first clamp and a surface of the second clamp have a complementary elevation and recess which engage one another.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein one of the complementary elevation and recess is roughened.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the complementary elevation and recess are coaxial with the first axis.

12. A clamp for securing longitudinal fixation elements, comprising: a clamp body having a substantially S-shape and including three clamping arms defining first and second clamp openings for receiving longitudinal fixation elements therein, the first and second clamp openings extending along channel axes corresponding to longitudinal axes of the longitudinal fixation elements to be received therein and being open to an exterior of the clamp body via insertion slots through which the longitudinal fixation elements are insertable into the first and second clamp openings laterally relative to the channel axes, wherein elastic deformation of the clamp body constricts and expands the insertion slots, wherein the channel axes of the first and second clamp openings are parallel in a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the clamp body.

13. The clamp of claim 12, further comprising: a first borehole extending through the three clamping arms along a first axis.

14. The clamp of claim 13, further comprising a shaft received within the first borehole.

15. The clamp of claim 14, further comprising: a locking member engagable with an end of the shaft to lock the longitudinal fixation elements within the first and second clamp openings.

16. The clamp of claim 12, further comprising: a second borehole extending along a second axis parallel to the first axis, the second borehole configured to receive a pin to limit the relative movement of at least two of the clamping arms.

17. The clamp of claim 12, wherein at least two of the clamping arms include at least two adjacent semi-cylindrical arcuate surfaces of different sizes extending parallel to at least one of the channel axes.

18. The clamp of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second clamp openings include a structural constriction.

19. The clamp of claim 18, wherein at least two of the three clamping arms of the clamp body include a surface that tapers such that an opening of at least one of the insertion slots is larger than the structural constriction of a corresponding one of the first and second clamp openings.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention and further developments of the invention are explained in even greater detail in the following by means of the partly diagrammatic representations of several examples, of which

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side view of the device of FIG. 1 and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section through a device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) In FIGS. 1 to 3, an embodiment is shown, which comprises two clamps 1a and 1b, which can be rotated against one another about an axis of rotation 6. A borehole 4, which is suitable for accommodating a shaft 7, which can be connected with the blocking means 8, passes coaxially with the axis of rotation through the two clamps 1a and 1b, which can be bought into contact with one another axially. The diameter of the borehole 4 and that of the shaft 7 are such that the shaft 7 has clearance in the borehole 4.

(6) The upper clamp 1a is S-shaped and has three clamp limbs 2a, 2b, and 2c, which are disposed transversely to the axis of rotation 6 and of which the axially outer clamp limb 2a and the middle clamp limb 2c, as well as the inner clamp limb 2b, which is adjacent to the lower clamp 1b and the middle clamp limb 2c each have an in-between clamp opening 3a; 3b for accommodating a rod 20. The clamp openings 3a; 3b are constructed in the form of channels and have parallel channel axes 22a; 22b, which are orthogonal to the axis of rotation 6.

(7) The lower clamp 1b comprises an axially exterior clamp limb 2d as well as an interior clamp limb 2e, which is adjacent to the upper clamp 1a. The lower clamp 1b has only one clamp opening 3c between the clamp limbs 2d; 2e. This clamp opening 3c also forms a channel, which is suitable for accommodating a rod 20 and has a channel axis 22c, which is orthogonal to the axis of rotation 6.

(8) Each of the clamp openings 3a; 3b; 3c can be expanded or constricted by the elastic deformation of the corresponding clamp 1a; 1b. The elasticity of the clamp limbs 2a, 2b, and 2c is attained by constructing the longitudinal bridges 13a and 13b of the clamp 1a, which hold the clamp limbs 2a, 2b, and 2c together, appropriately thin. The elasticity of the clamp limbs 2d and 2e is attained by constructing the longitudinal bridge 13c of the clamp 1b, which hold the clamp limbs 2d and 2e together, appropriately thin. Moreover, each clamp opening 3a; 3b; 3c has a constriction 10 at its opening, which is remote from the axis of rotation 6. Peripherally, the clamp openings 3a; 3b; 3c are provided with expansions 11 to facilitate the introduction of a rod 20 into the clamp opening 3a; 3b; 3c in question.

(9) As shown in FIG. 2, the shaft 7 has at its first end 14 an outer thread 16, over which a nut 17 can be screwed as blocking means 8. At its second end 15, the shaft 7 has been provided with a head 18, which has a larger diameter and rests on the outer clamp limb 2d of the lower clamp 1b. As it is tightened, the nut 17 is pressed against the outer surface of the outer clamp limb 2a of the first clamp 1a, while the head 18 at the second end 15 of the shaft 7 is pressed against the outer surface of the outer clamp limb 2d of the lower clamp 1b. One of the clamp openings 3b in the upper clamp 1a has a cross sectional surface, which is orthogonal to its channel axis 22b and the boundary of which at each of the clamp limbs 2a; 2c has three circular arcs 19 with different diameters, so that circularly cylindrical rods 20 with different diameters can be accommodated in this clamp opening 3b.

(10) As shown in FIG. 3, the mutually adjacent clamp limbs 2b; 2a of the two clamps 1a; 1b have a mutually engaging conical elevation 30 and conical depression 31, which are coaxial with the axis of rotation 6, respectively. The conical elevation 30 is provided here at the surface of the upper clamp 1a, which adjoins the lower clamp 1b, whereas the conical depression 31, which is complementary thereto, is provided at the surface of the lower clamp 1b adjoining the upper clamp 1a. The mutually contacting surfaces of the conical elevation 30 and the conical depression 31 respectively may be roughened, so that a relative rotation of the two clamps 1a; 1b about the axis of rotation 6 is prevented when the blocking means 8 are tightened. Moreover, at the axially external outlets, the boreholes 4, passing through the two clamps 1a; 1b, comprise borehole segments 29, each of which has a concave, spherical zone-like surface 33. Configured complementarily to these borehole segments 29 is the head 18 at the second end 15 of the shaft 7 as well as an intermediate piece 28, which is disposed coaxially between the nut 17 and the upper clamp 1a, that is, the head 18 has a convex spherical zone-like surface 32 directed towards the lower clamp 1b and the intermediate piece 28 also has a convex, spherical zone-like surface 32, which is directed against the upper clamp 1b.

(11) The locking-in-position pins 26 at the upper clamp 1a are also shown in FIG. 3. These locking-in-position pins 26 can be screwed by means of a threaded connection into boreholes 25, which are parallel to the axis of rotation 6 in the inner clamp limb 2b of the upper clamp 1a and can be adjusted so that they limit the pressing together of the clamp openings 3a; 3b at the upper clamp 1a. For this purpose, the locking-in-position pins 26 are screwed in, until a front end 34a of the first locking-in-position pin 26a is in contact with the surface of the middle clamp limb 2c, which is adjacent to the inner clamp limb 2b, and the front end 34b of the second locking-in-position pin 26b is in contact with the surface of the outer clamp limb 2a, which is adjacent to the middle clamp limb 2c.