Abstract
An orthopedic rail system which has a first component with a receiving element and a second component with a connection end for connecting to the receiving element. The receiving element has two opposing stop walls, and the connection end has two opposing lateral walls. The receiving element and the connection end can be connected to each other by at least one connection element such that the lateral walls rest against the stop walls in the connected state. The stop walls and the lateral walls each taper towards each other in a conical manner.
Claims
1. An orthopedic rail system, comprising: a first component with a receiving element; a second component with a connection end for connecting to the receiving element; wherein the receiving element has two stop walls lying opposite each other; the connection end has two lateral walls lying opposite each other; the receiving element and the connection end are connectable to each other by at least one connection element, such that the lateral walls bear on the stop walls in the connected state; the stop walls and the lateral walls, respectively, taper conically toward each other; and the receiving element and the connection end are able to be positioned steplessly relative to each other.
2. The rail system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second component has a second longitudinal direction, and at least one lateral wall encloses, with the second longitudinal direction, an angle different than 0.
3. The rail system as claimed in claim 2, wherein both stop walls or both lateral walls or both stop walls and also both lateral walls enclose, with the respective first longitudinal direction or second longitudinal direction, an angle different than 0.
4. The rail system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the angles between the stop walls and the first longitudinal direction and also between the lateral walls and the second longitudinal direction are identical.
5. The rail system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving element has a base and the connection end has an underside, wherein the underside bears on the base in the connected state.
6. The rail system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rail system has at least one connection element for connecting the receiving element to the connection end.
7. The rail system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first component has a first longitudinal direction, and at least one stop wall encloses, with the first longitudinal direction, an angle different than 0.
8. The rail system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving element and the connection end are able to be positioned steplessly relative to each other in two mutually perpendicular directions and are connectable to each other.
9. The rail system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving element is connected releasably to the first component.
10. The rail system as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the stepless positions of the receiving element relative to the connection end is a position in which the receiving element and the connection end bear on each other in a manner free of play.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing in which:
(2) FIG. 1 shows a component with a connection end,
(3) FIG. 2 shows a component with a rail box,
(4) FIG. 3 shows the two components from FIGS. 1 and 2 in the connected state,
(5) FIG. 4 shows the component from FIG. 1 in different views,
(6) FIG. 5 shows the component from FIG. 2 in different views,
(7) FIG. 6 shows the connected components from FIG. 3 in different views,
(8) FIG. 7 shows a component with a connection end and a rail box,
(9) FIG. 8 shows the two components from FIG. 7 in the connected state in different views,
(10) FIG. 9 shows connected components of a rail system in different views,
(11) FIG. 10 shows two components connected via an adapter element, in different views,
(12) FIGS. 11 to 14 show connections of two components of a rail system in a schematic 3D view and a sectional view for different illustrative embodiments of the present invention,
(13) FIG. 15 shows the schematic sectional view through a component with a functional component,
(14) FIGS. 16 to 19 show further views of interconnected components in a schematic 3D view and a sectional view, and
(15) FIGS. 20 and 21 show further views of a possible connection according to a further illustrative embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(16) FIG. 1 shows a second component 2, at one end of which a connection end 4 is located. The connection end 4 has an underside 6 and two lateral walls 8. It will be seen that the two lateral walls 8 taper conically toward each other such that, in the illustrative embodiment shown, the distance between the two lateral walls 8 decreases. In the connection end 4 there is a bore 10, which is configured as an oblong hole. A connection element can be guided through the latter in order to connect two components to each other.
(17) FIG. 2 shows a first component 12, at one end of which a receiving element 14 in the form of a rail box is located. The latter has a base 16 and two stop walls 18, which lie opposite each other and taper conically toward each other. Consequently, the distance between the two stop walls 18 also decreases. A receiving device 20 is located centrally, which receiving device 20 can be designed, for example, as a threaded bore.
(18) FIG. 3 shows the first component 12 and the second component 2 in the state when joined to each other. It will be seen that the connection end 4 is received in the rail box. The underside 6 bears on the base 16 in this case. Moreover, the lateral walls 8 of the connection end 4 are in contact with the stop walls 18 of the rail box. The bore 10 lies flush above the receiving device 20, such that a connection element (not shown in FIG. 3) inserted here secures the first component 12 and the second component 2 to each other. It will be seen that the bore 10 is configured as an oblong hole, such that the two components 2, 12 are displaceable relative to each other.
(19) Since the lateral walls 8 and also the stop walls 18 are designed tapering conically toward each other, it is ensured, independently of any existing inaccuracies within the context of manufacturing tolerances, that the two components 2, 12 are always connected to each other in a manner free of play.
(20) FIG. 4 shows the second component 2 from FIG. 1 in different views. The view at the very top is a sectional view along a second longitudinal direction L.sub.2. The right-hand part of this view shows the connection end 4 with an angled lateral wall 8. The bore 10 extends through this connection end 4.
(21) Below this there is a plan view of the second component 2 with the connection end 4 and the bore 10 located therein. The lateral walls 8 tapering conically toward each other are also shown here. Below this is a side view of the second component 2.
(22) The view at the very bottom of FIG. 4 shows the second component 2 in a view from underneath. It is thus possible to see here the underside 6 of the connection end 4, and the two lateral walls 8. The bore 10 is made in two different depths, as can already be seen from the sectional view shown in the upper part of FIG. 4. A connection element to be arranged therein can in this way be recessed for example with a screw head in the second component 2.
(23) FIG. 5 shows the first component 12 in the same views as the second component 2 in FIG. 4. At the very top, therefore, is the sectional view through the first component 12 and the rail box 14. A plan view is shown below this. It can be seen particularly clearly from this plan view that the two stop walls 18 are designed tapering conically toward each other and, in this case, both enclose an angle different than 0 to a first longitudinal direction L.sub.1. Below this, in the side view of the first component 12 with the rail box 14, it can be seen particularly clearly that the installation space required for the rail box 14 can be extremely small. Since the illustrative embodiment shown is provided with just one receiving device 20 for precisely one connection element, the rail box 14 can be designed much smaller than rail boxes known from the prior art.
(24) FIG. 6 shows the two components 2, 12 in the connected state, in the views already known from FIGS. 4 and 5. The connection end 4 of the second component 2 is inserted into the rail box 14 of the first component 12. The lateral walls 8 bear on the stop walls 18, and the underside 6 bears on the base 16. With this design, the two components 2, 12 are connected to each other in a way that is structurally compact but free of play and secure.
(25) Particularly in the plan view shown second from the top and depicting the two components 12, 2 joined together, it will be seen that the bore 10 is not only configured as an oblong hole in the direction of the respective longitudinal direction L.sub.2, L.sub.1 but is also larger, in a direction transverse thereto, than would be necessary for a connection element. This means that displaceability is also possible in a direction perpendicular to the respective longitudinal direction L.sub.1, L.sub.2, and the two components can be secured to each other in each position thus adopted. This has the effect that it is possible to compensate in particular for variations in the amount of material removed.
(26) FIG. 7 shows the second component 2 with the connection end 4 and with a separate rail box 14 to be secured thereon. A connection element 22 can be seen which is guided through the bore 10 of the connection end 4 and is screwed into the internal thread of the receiving device 20. This permits a particularly simple and secure connection of the two components to each other.
(27) The rail box 14 has a recess 24 through which a further connection element (not shown) can be guided in order to secure the rail box 14 on the first component 12.
(28) FIG. 8 shows the elements from FIG. 7 in the connected state and in different views. A sectional view along the longitudinal direction L.sub.2 is shown in the middle. At the top is a plan view, and at the bottom a view from underneath. The connection element 22 is guided through the bore 10 and the receiving device 20 and thus connects the second component 2 to the rail box 14.
(29) Alternatively, for example, the pivot axis for a joint can also extend through the recess 24, which joint can in this particularly simple way be arranged on the second component 2.
(30) FIG. 9 shows four different views of the first component 12 on which the rail box 14 is located. A plan view, a side view, a view from underneath and a longitudinal sectional view are shown from the top downward. The second component 2 with the connection end 4 is located on the right in each view. However, in the illustrative embodiment shown, the second component 2 is arranged on the rail box 14 not with the connection end 4 but instead with the opposite end 26. At this end, a separate connection end component 28 is arranged which is secured on the end 26 of the second component 2 via a second connection element 30. In the view at the very top of FIG. 9, it will be seen that the connection end component 28 likewise has a connection end 4, which is designed like the connection end 4 of the second component 2. This connection end 4 is arranged in the rail box 14 of the first component 12 in the manner already described.
(31) In the view at the very bottom of FIG. 9, it will be seen that the connection end component 28 has a displacement wedge 32, which is arranged in a recess provided for it and is displaceable in the direction of the second longitudinal direction L.sub.2. The displacement wedge 32 for this purpose bears on a displacement surface 34 of the connection end component 28.
(32) By a displacement of the displacement wedge 32 along the displacement surface 34, which has an angle to the second longitudinal direction L.sub.2 different than 0, the clear width of the receiving space 36 into which the end 26 of the second component 2 is received decreases. In this way, the second component 2 can be clamped inside the receiving space 36 and can be fixed by the additional second connection element 30.
(33) In the illustrative embodiment shown, the end 26 has a rounded corner 38. Since the opposite corner is not rounded and the receiving space 36 of the connection end component 28 is adapted to this configuration, the end 26 can be inserted into the receiving space 36 only in one orientation. As regards the functionality, it is immaterial at which corner the rounded corner 38 is arranged and what actual shape this corner has, as long as the configuration permits a clear differentiation of the two corners and the receiving space 36 is adapted to this configuration.
(34) Of course, instead of the connection end 4 on the connection end component 28, a rail box 14 can also be provided. The component then is not a connection end component 28 but a separate rail box 14 which can be arranged at one end of a component that is not designed as a connection end 4. Through these separate components, conventional rails and components according to the prior art can also be furnished with the advantages of the present invention.
(35) FIG. 10 shows two second components 2 with connection ends 4 which are connected to each other via an adapter element 40. FIG. 10 also shows the views already known from FIG. 9. The two second components 2 are introduced via their ends 26 into the adapter element 40. This can clearly be seen especially in the lowermost sectional view in FIG. 10. The adapter element 40 has two displacement wedges 32, which are each arranged displaceably on a displacement surface 34. In this way, the operating principle already known from FIG. 9 can be achieved and the ends 26 of the second components 2 can be clamped in the adapter element 40. The two ends 26 each have a rounded corner 38, which ensures that they can be introduced into the adapter element 40 only in one orientation.
(36) FIG. 11 shows, in the lower part, the schematic three-dimensional arrangement of the first component 12 with the rail box 14, with a second component 2 arranged thereon and having a connection end 4. The connection end 4 has two conically tapering lateral walls 8 which, in the state shown in FIG. 11, bear on the two stop walls 18 of the rail box 14. It will be seen that, in the illustrative embodiment shown, the underside 6 does not bear on the base 16. The two components 2, 12 are connected to each other via two connection elements 22, which are designed here as screws. The same arrangement is shown in a sectional view in the upper part of FIG. 11. In this view, it is again clear that the conically tapering lateral walls 8 bear on the likewise conically tapering stop walls 18 and that the connection element 22 is fitted in the receiving device 20 which, in the illustrative embodiment shown, is provided with an internal thread.
(37) FIG. 12 shows a similar view. Here too, the lower part of FIG. 12 shows the first component 12 with the rail box 14, and the second component 2 with the connection end 4. In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the conically tapering lateral walls 8 and the likewise conically tapering stop walls 18 do not occupy the entire area of the respective surface of their component 2, 12. However, they taper conically in part and, in the illustrative embodiment shown, bear on each other. It is also clear here that the underside 6 does not have to bear on the base 16. The upper part of FIG. 12 shows a sectional view through the connection shown in the lower part. By means of the connection element 22 which engages in the receiving device 20, the two components 2, 12 are clamped against each other, resulting in a stable connection free of play.
(38) FIG. 13 shows a further illustrative embodiment of the rail box 14 and of the connection end 4. This connection end 4 also has two conically tapering lateral walls 8, which bear on two likewise conically tapering stop walls 18. However, the direction in which the two walls conically taper is rotated through 180 in relation to the illustrative embodiments shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 13, only a single connection element 22 is provided by which the two components are clamped onto each other. The upper part of FIG. 13 shows the situation in the form of a sectional view. In this illustrative embodiment, the connection element 22 is guided through the recess in the connection end 4 of the second component 2, but it does not engage in a recess in the first component 12 or in the rail box 14 thereof. Instead, the connection element 22 bears, with the end shown toward the bottom in FIG. 13, on the base 16 of the rail box 14, such that further screwing in of the connection element 22 downward in the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 13 results in a force that acts on the second component 2 or the connection end 4 thereof and is directed upward. In this way, the two components 2, 12 are clamped together in this example too.
(39) The lower part of FIG. 14 shows an additional element 15 which is designated as a lock and into which a connection end 4 of the second component 2 is inserted. The additional element 15 can be connected rigidly to the second component 2 or can be designed as a separate component. Instead of the circumferentially closed design shown in FIG. 14, the additional element 15 can also consist, for example, of two plate elements to be arranged one at the top and one at the bottom. The additional element 15 is closed all around its circumference, such that it completely surrounds the connection end 4 (not shown) of the second component 2. Here too, the connection between the two components 2, is locked via a connection element 22, which is again designed as a screw. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 14, a nut 42 is arranged on the connection element 22 and is used to apply the required force.
(40) The upper part of FIG. 14 again shows a sectional view from which it can clearly be seen that the additional element 15 is closed circumferentially. The connection element 22, with the nut 42 arranged thereon, extends both through the additional element 15 and also through the connection end 4 of the second component 2. Different hatching indicates the two conically tapering lateral walls 8, which extend analogously to the component 2 shown for example in FIG. 1.
(41) FIG. 15 shows a functional component 44 which is mounted on the end 26 of a component 12. For this purpose, the functional component 44 has the receiving space 36, in which two displacement wedges 32 are arranged in the present case. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 15, these displacement wedges 32 can be displaced upward and downward and thus ensure that the component 12 is firmly clamped in the receiving space 36, such that it can be secured by a connection element not shown in FIG. 15. The functional component 44 has two displacement surfaces 34 along which the two displacement wedges 32 can be moved. Particularly in the case where only one displacement wedge 32 is present, the latter can be connected to the additional element 15, as is shown in FIG. 14. The clamping action is then obtained when the element 15 is pushed on.
(42) The lower part of FIG. 16 shows a further illustrative embodiment of two components which are connected to each other according to the invention. The lower part of FIG. 16 is a 3D view showing the first component 12 and the second component 2. Two receiving devices 20, through which connection elements 22 can be guided, are shown in the second component 2. Only the sectional views shown in the upper part of FIG. 16 reveal how the two components can be mounted on each other free of play. For this purpose, the first component 12 has receiving elements 14 which, however, are not designed as rail boxes in this illustrative embodiment but instead as frustoconical elevations. It is conceivable here to provide just one of these receiving devices 14, as is shown in the upper right of FIG. 16, or to arrange more than one, for example two conical elevations, on the first component 12, as is shown in the upper left of FIG. 16. On the connection end 4, the second component 2 has depressions 46 which correspond to the truncated cones and into which the frustoconical elevations can engage. The lateral walls of these depressions 46 form in this case the lateral walls 8 which, as can be clearly seen from the sectional views in FIG. 16, taper conically toward each other. The lateral walls of the frustoconical elevations 14 on the first component 12 form the conically tapering stop walls 18. Connection elements 22, for example in the form of a screw, are inserted into the bore extending through both components 2, 12.
(43) An orthopedic technician seeking to connect two components 2, 12 to each other using the embodiment shown in FIG. 16 can do so in a particularly simple way. Thus, for example, merely the first component 12 can be provided from the manufacturer with the frustoconical elevations 14, whereas the second component 2 is supplied without depressions or bores. The two components 2, 12 can be fitted onto each other particularly easily, in particular after cutting the second component 12 to length, such that, through the bores which are contained in the first component 12, corresponding bores can now also be produced in the second component 2 at exactly the correct positions. At the locations thus defined, the frustoconical depressions 46 can also be introduced into the second component 2, such that an exact positioning of the depressions 46 relative to the positions of the frustoconical elevation is possible.
(44) FIG. 17 shows a similar embodiment in which it will be seen, particularly from the 3D view at the bottom, that one of the receiving devices 20 is designed as an oblong hole. From the sectional view shown in the upper left of FIG. 17, it is clear what is achieved by this. While the left-hand elevation 14 bears with its stop walls 18 free of play on the conically tapering lateral walls 8 of the depression 46, this is not the case with the right-hand elevation. Here, a gap 48 forms by which manufacturing tolerances can be compensated. The right-hand elevation serves only as an anti-rotation means, which is intended to prevent a rotation about the longitudinal axis of the left-hand elevation 14. Therefore, the receiving device 20 shown there is designed as an oblong hole, in order to be able to compensate for manufacturing tolerances here and yet be able to insert a connection element 22. In the upper right of FIG. 17, a sectional view is shown that corresponds substantially to the view shown in the upper right of FIG. 16.
(45) FIG. 18 shows a further embodiment corresponding substantially to the embodiment shown in FIG. 16. A 3D view with the first component 12, the second component 2 and two receiving devices 20 is again shown in the lower part. However, in contrast to the views previously shown, the first component 12 is now located on top. From the sectional view shown in the upper part of FIG. 18, it will be seen that the first component 12 and the two illustrated frustoconical elevations, which form the receiving elements 14, are not configured in one piece, but that the receiving elements 14 are let into the first component 12, for example via screw connections. The second component 2 again has corresponding depressions 46 which, with their lateral walls 8, bear in a manner free of play on the conically tapering stop walls 18 of the receiving elements 14.
(46) FIG. 19 shows a further embodiment in which the 3D view in the lower part of FIG. 19 differs from the 3D view in FIG. 18 mainly in terms of the size of the receiving devices 20. The sectional view in the upper part of FIG. 19 shows that the second component 2, as is already shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, has depressions 46. These depressions 46 again have conically tapering lateral walls 8. In the sectional view in FIG. 19, the first component 12 is shown only with the receiving devices 20, of which the lateral walls seamlessly continue the lateral walls 8 of the depressions 46. Conical screws can now be inserted into these receiving devices 20, these conical screws having, for example, a frustoconical head whose jacket surface forms the stop walls 18. These also taper conically toward each other, such that this embodiment too is in accordance with the invention.
(47) The second component 2 is shown in four different side views in the lower part of FIG. 20. Above these is a sectional view, which shows a viewing direction along the longitudinal direction of the second component 2. This sectional view in particular shows that the second component 2 has an oval cross section at the connection end 4. The lateral walls 8 thus extend in a curved shape and, starting from the center, i.e. from the broadest point of the second component 2, they therefore taper toward each other seen from the top and underneath in the upper part of FIG. 20. Seen from the center, the width of the second component 2 continuously decreases in this direction, such that the lateral walls 8 taper toward each other.
(48) The receiving element 14, which consists of two clamp elements 50 in the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 20, is fitted onto the second component 2. These clamp elements 50 are connected to each other by two screws 52, wherein a space 54 lies between the two clamp elements 50, the width of this space 54 being able to be reduced or increased by screwing in or unscrewing the screws 52. The two clamp elements 50 form a recess which, at least on one side, has stop walls 18 extending obliquely to each other, as can be seen in the upper part of FIG. 20 for example. When the screws 52 are actuated, the two clamp elements 50 are moved toward each other and thus clamp the second component 2 free of play.
(49) FIG. 21 shows a similar view in which, once again, a receiving element 14 consisting of two clamp elements 50 is fitted onto the second component 2. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 21, the clamp element 50 shown at the bottom left in the sectional view in the upper part of FIG. 21 is displaceable to the left and to the right. Just like the second clamp element 50, it has in each case an obliquely extending stop wall 18, these tapering conically toward each other. By displacement of the clamp element 50 relative to the second clamp element 50, the two stop walls 18 are moved toward each other or away from each other, such that the second component 2 is clamped and a connection free of play is thus obtained. In FIG. 20 and also in FIG. 21, the receiving element 14 has a securing element 56, which is shown as having a circular shape and on which, for example, straps can be secured that can be placed around the body of a person wearing a rail system of this kind.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
(50) L.sub.1 first longitudinal direction L.sub.2 second longitudinal direction 2 second component 4 connection end 6 underside 8 lateral wall 10 bore 12 first component 14 rail box 16 base 18 stop wall 20 receiving device 22 connection element 24 recess 26 end 28 connection end component 30 second connection element 32 displacement wedge 34 displacement surface 36 receiving space 38 rounded corner 40 adapter element 42 nut 44 functional component 46 depression 48 gap 50 clamp element 52 screws 54 space 56 securing element
