ARTICULATING SADDLE AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME

Abstract

In some examples, a saddle tree having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, the saddle tree includes a proximal-most segment, a distal-most segment, at least one intermediate segment disposed between the proximal-most segment and the distal-most segment, a first articulation mechanism coupling each of the at least one intermediate segment to proximal ones, and a second articulation mechanism coupling each of the at least one intermediate segment to distal ones.

Claims

1. A saddle tree having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, the saddle tree comprising: a proximal-most segment; a distal-most segment; at least one intermediate segment disposed between the proximal-most segment and the distal-most segment; first articulation mechanisms coupling each of the at least one intermediate segment to a more proximal segment; and second articulation mechanisms coupling each of the at least one intermediate segment to a more distal segment; wherein each of the first articulation mechanisms and the second articulation mechanisms comprises a pair of contralateral articulating hinges that couple one of the proximal-most segment, the distal-most segment and the at least one intermediate segment to an adjacent segment.

2. The saddle tree of claim 1, wherein the at least one intermediate segment comprises a single intermediate segment.

3. The saddle tree of claim 1, wherein the at least one intermediate segment comprises two intermediate segments.

4. (canceled)

5. The saddle tree of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of contralateral articulating hinges comprises a slot and a pin.

6. The saddle tree of claim 1, wherein the at least one intermediate segment is interleaved with adjacent segments.

7. The saddle tree of claim 1, wherein the at least one intermediate segment includes a proximal edge having a proximal upper portion disposed over an adjacent segment and a proximal lower portion disposed under the adjacent segment.

8. The saddle tree of claim 7, wherein the proximal upper portion is disposed away from the longitudinal axis, and the proximal lower portion is disposed along the longitudinal axis.

9. The saddle tree of claim 1, wherein the at least one intermediate segment includes a distal edge having a distal upper portion disposed over an adjacent segment and a distal lower portion disposed under the adjacent segment.

10. The saddle tree of claim 9, wherein the distal upper portion is disposed along the longitudinal axis, and the distal lower portion is disposed away from the longitudinal axis.

11. The saddle tree of claim 1, wherein each of the proximal-most segment, the distal-most segment and the at least one intermediate segment comprises one of carbon fiber, metal or wood.

12. The saddle tree of claim 1, wherein each of the proximal-most segment, the distal-most segment and the at least one intermediate segment comprises ethylene vinyl acetate.

13. The saddle tree of claim 1, wherein each of the proximal-most segment, the distal-most segment and the at least one intermediate segment comprises a copolymer.

14. A saddle tree having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, the saddle tree comprising: a proximal-most segment; a distal-most segment; at least one intermediate segment disposed between the proximal-most segment and the distal-most segment; first articulation mechanisms coupling each of the at least one intermediate segment to a more proximal segment; and second articulation mechanisms coupling each of the at least one intermediate segment to a more distal segment; wherein each of the first articulation mechanisms and the second articulation mechanisms comprises a pair of contralateral articulating hinges that couple one of the proximal-most segment, the distal-most segment and the at least one intermediate segment to an adjacent segment.

15. The saddle tree of claim 14, wherein each of the pair of contralateral articulating hinges comprises a slot and a pin.

16. The saddle tree of claim 14, wherein the at least one intermediate segment is interleaved with adjacent segments.

17. The saddle tree of claim 14, wherein the at least one intermediate segment includes a proximal edge having a proximal upper portion disposed over an adjacent segment and a proximal lower portion disposed under the adjacent segment.

18. The saddle tree of claim 17, wherein the proximal upper portion is disposed away from the longitudinal axis, and the proximal lower portion is disposed along the longitudinal axis.

19. The saddle tree of claim 14, wherein the at least one intermediate segment includes a distal edge having a distal upper portion disposed over an adjacent segment and a distal lower portion disposed under the adjacent segment.

20. The saddle tree of claim 19, wherein the distal upper portion is disposed along the longitudinal axis, and the distal lower portion is disposed away from the longitudinal axis.

21. A saddle tree having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, the saddle tree comprising: a proximal-most segment; a distal-most segment; at least one intermediate segment disposed between the proximal-most segment and the distal-most segment; first articulation mechanisms coupling each of the at least one intermediate segment to a more proximal segment; and second articulation mechanisms coupling each of the at least one intermediate segment to a more distal segment; wherein each of the first articulation mechanisms and the second articulation mechanisms comprises a pair of contralateral articulating hinges that couple one of the proximal-most segment, the distal-most segment and the at least one intermediate segment to an adjacent segment, wherein the longitudinal axis extends through each of the proximal-most segment, the distal-most segment, and the at least one intermediate segment from the proximal end to the distal end, and each of the proximal-most segment, the distal-most segment, and the at least one intermediate segment includes lateral extensions disposed away from the longitudinal axis, and the lateral extensions of each of the proximal-most segment, the distal-most segment, and the at least one intermediate segment overlap with adjacent segments on neighboring lateral extensions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0007] Various embodiments of the presently disclosed saddle tree are shown herein with reference to the drawings, wherein:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of one example of a saddle tree according to the present disclosure;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the saddle tree of FIG. 1; and

[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of the saddle tree of FIG. 1.

[0011] Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawings. It is to be appreciated that these drawings depict only some embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Despite the various improvements that have been made to saddle trees and their methods of use, conventional devices suffer from some shortcomings as described above.

[0013] There therefore is a need for further improvements to the devices, systems, and methods of forming saddles. Among other advantages, the present disclosure may address one or more of these needs.

[0014] FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a saddle 100 having a saddle tree 105 that extends between a proximal end 102 and a distal end 104, the saddle tree 105 having a longitudinal axis L1 and being symmetric about the longitudinal axis L1. In the example shown, saddle tree 105 is formed of a plurality of segments that are capable of articulating relative to one another. Four segments are shown, although the tree may be formed of three, four, five, six or more segments. Each of the segments may comprise one or more materials including a combination of carbon fiber, metal, wood, EVA and a copolymer. In some examples, each segment comprises a lower EVA base (e.g., 55 durometer EVA) joined to an upper copolymer and each segment is encased or coated with carbon Kevlar or a similar suitable fabric.

[0015] Specifically, saddle tree 105 may include a proximal-most segment 110a, at least one intermediate segment (two segments are shown and labeled 110b, 110c), and a distalmost segment 110d. Each of the intermediate segments are joined to neighboring segments on its proximal end and it distal end via articulation mechanisms.

[0016] In the example shown, the proximal-most segment 110a is joined to segment 110b via a pair of articulation mechanisms 140a disposed on contralateral sides of the longitudinal axis L1. The pair of articulating mechanisms may be symmetric and form a mirror image about longitudinal axis L1. Intermediate segment 110b is joined to proximal-most segment 110a via articulation mechanisms 140a and to intermediate segment 110c via articulation mechanisms 140b. Intermediate segment 110c is joined to intermediate segment 110b via articulation mechanisms 140b and to distalmost segment 110d via articulation mechanisms 140c. In some examples, each of the intermediate segments are joined to two pairs of articulation mechanisms and each of the terminal (e.g., proximal-most and distal-most) segments are joined to only a single pair of articulation mechanisms.

[0017] In some examples, each of the articulation mechanisms may be in the form of a hinge or slidable member so that the two adjacent segments may move, articulate, slide, rotate and/or translate relative to one another. In the example shown, articulation mechanism 140a includes a slot 146 of between 4 to 1 inch formed in the upper segments and a pin 147 fixed to the lower segment, the pin being moveable within the slot. Slot 146 may be linear or curved, and the shape, length and/or curvature of the slot may affect the movement of the segments relative to one another. In some examples, the segments are capable of articulating between 5 and 10 degrees relative to one other as shown by dashed lines M1, M2 in FIG. 3. Notably, each of the segments are independently articulatable relative to adjacent ones, but the segments may bend together to form an arc M1, M2 during use.

[0018] Turning to FIG. 2, it will be readily seen that the segments 140a-d may be interleaved with one another. For examples, the segments may be above adjacent segments at certain locations and below adjacent segments at other locations. By way of illustration, intermediate segment 110b may have a proximal edge 170 having proximal upper portion(s) 172 disposed over proximal-most segment 110a and proximal lower portion(s) 174 disposed under proximal-most segment 110a. The upper portion(s) 172 may be disposed near the outer bounds of the segment (e.g., where the segment is widest), and the lower portion(s) 174 may be disposed toward the center along the longitudinal axis. On the opposite end of intermediate segment 110b, a distal edge 180 is formed having distal upper portion(s) 184 disposed over an adjacent segment and a distal lower portion(s) 182 disposed under the adjacent segment, the distal upper portion(s) 184 being disposed along the longitudinal axis, while the distal lower portion(s) 182 are disposed away from the longitudinal axis. In this manner, stability of the saddle tree is increased as each intermediate segment not only abuts adjacent segments but is disposed at least partially above and partially below others.

[0019] Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0020] It will be appreciated that the various dependent claims and the features set forth therein can be combined in different ways than presented in the initial claims. It will also be appreciated that the features described in connection with individual embodiments may be shared with others of the described embodiments.