Dynamic Correction Splint

Abstract

The invention relates to a dynamic correction splint (1) with two splint parts (5, 6) connected to each other via a joint (2). Spring bases (25, 26) of a spring device (27) are each coupled to a splint part (5, 6) in such a way that pivoting the splint parts (5, 6) leads to an altered biasing of the spring device (27). The spring device (27) exerts a correction moment onto the splint parts (5, 6) acting in the direction of a correction position of the splint parts (5, 6). The spring device (27) is configured and coupled to the splint parts (5, 6) in such a way that the absolute value of the correction moment increases as the correction position of the splint parts (5, 6) is approached. It is possible that a switching mechanism (40) is present. The switching mechanism (40) is actuated in a motion-controlled way by the pivoting of the splint parts (5, 6) and at its actuation changes the coupling of the splint parts (5, 6) with the spring device (27).

Claims

1. Dynamic correction splint comprising a) two splint parts connected via a joint for being pivoted about a pivoting axis and b) a spring device having spring bases, the spring bases each being coupled to one of the splint parts, c) the spring device being configured and coupled to the splint parts such that a pivoting movement of the splint parts leads to an altered correction moment of the spring device being applied onto the splint parts, said correction moment acting towards a correction position of the splint parts, d) the spring device being configured and coupled to the splint parts such that the absolute value of the correction moment increases as the splint parts approach the correction position and e) a switching mechanism being provided which ea) is actuated in a motion-controlled way by the pivoting of the splint parts and eb) at its actuation alters the coupling of the splint parts with the spring device.

2. Dynamic correction splint according to claim 1, wherein the correction position is a maximum straightened position of the splint parts.

3. Dynamic correction splint according to claim 2, wherein a starting position is a maximum bending position of the splint parts.

4. Dynamic correction splint according to claim 1, wherein the spring device is configured and coupled to the splint parts in such a way that a characteristic of the correction moment in dependence on a bending angle of the splint parts comprises a kink or a step.

5. Dynamic correction splint according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the correction position and a starting position is defined by a stop.

6. Dynamic correction splint according to claim 1, wherein a) the dynamic correction splint comprises a first pivoting range of the splint parts aa) which neighbors the correction position or encompasses the correction position and ab) in which the splint parts are coupled to the spring device via a first coupling, and b) the dynamic correction splint comprises a second pivoting range ba) which neighbors a starting position or encompasses a starting position and bb) in which the splint parts are coupled to the spring device via a second coupling, where the second coupling differs from the first coupling, c) a transition from the first pivoting range to the second pivoting range is achieved by switching the switching mechanism in a motion-controlled way by the pivoting of the splint parts from a first switching state to a second switching state.

7. Dynamic correction splint according to claim 6, wherein in the second pivoting range the absolute value of the correction moment is a) constant, b) zero or c) at maximum is 30% of the mean of the absolute value of the correction moment in the first pivoting range.

8. Dynamic correction splint according to claim 6, wherein in the first pivoting range the correction moment a) has an absolute value which increases for a pivoting towards the correction position and b) comprises an effective direction biasing the splint parts to be pivoted towards the correction position.

9. Dynamic correction splint according to claim 7, wherein in the first pivoting range the correction moment a) has an absolute value which increases for a pivoting towards the correction position and b) comprises an effective direction biasing the splint parts to be pivoted towards the correction position.

10. Dynamic correction splint according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a) a characteristic of the correction moment, b) the spring device and c) the coupling of the spring device to the splint parts is adjustable.

11. Dynamic correction splint according to claim 1, wherein a) the spring bases of the spring device are each coupled to a splint part with an eccentricity with respect to the pivoting axis, b) the splint parts form an angle larger than 180 while an angle of connecting axes of the spring bases to the pivoting axis is smaller than 180.

12. Dynamic correction splint according to claim 6, wherein a) the spring device is a longitudinal spring and b) by the switching mechanism ba) in the first switching state the longitudinal spring is coupled to the splint parts only via the spring bases of the longitudinal spring and bb) in the second switching state the longitudinal spring is additionally supported on a support at a location of the longitudinal spring between these two spring bases and the longitudinal spring is deflected by the support.

13. Dynamic correction splint according to claim 12, wherein the additional support of the longitudinal spring is arranged in the region of the pivoting axis of the splint parts.

14. Dynamic correction splint according to claim 6, wherein a) the switching mechanism in the first switching state couples a first spring base of the spring bases of the spring device or a supporting body supporting the spring device to a first splint part of the splint parts and b) in the second switching state of the switching mechanism the first spring base of the spring device or the supporting body is decoupled from the first splint part.

15. Dynamic correction splint according to claim 14, wherein a) in the first pivoting range and in the first switching state of the switching mechanism the first splint part is form-lockingly coupled to the first spring base or to the supporting body via a coupling body and b) in the second pivoting range and in the second switching state of the switching mechanism the form-locking coupling between the first splint part and the first spring base or the supporting body has been removed.

16. Dynamic correction splint according to claim 15, wherein a) for the form-locking coupling in the first pivoting range and in the first switching state of the switching mechanism the coupling body is arranged in recesses of at least one of the first splint part, the first spring base and the supporting body and b) for the transition from the first pivoting range to the second pivoting range and for a switching of the switching mechanism from the first switching state to the second switching state in a motion-controlled way by a pivoting of the splint parts the coupling body is moved out of the recess of at least one of the first splint part, the spring base and the supporting body.

17. Dynamic correction splint according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the splint parts and the supporting body is realized by a panel construction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] In the following, the invention is further explained and described with respect to preferred exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a back view of a dynamic correction splint in a straightened position.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows the dynamic correction splint according to FIG. 1 in a side view.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows the dynamic correction splint according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in a front view. FIG. 4 shows the dynamic correction splint according to FIGS. 1 to 3 in a spatial view at an angle from the front.

[0045] FIGS. 5 to 10 show the dynamic correction splint according to FIGS. 1 to 4 in different bending positions, where FIGS. 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 show front views while FIG. 6 shows a spatial view at an angle from the front.

[0046] FIG. 11 shows characteristics of a lever arm, a spring force and a correction moment in dependence on the pivoting angle of splint parts of the dynamic correction splint according to FIGS. 1 to 10.

[0047] FIGS. 12 and 13 show selected characteristics of the curves according to FIG. 11 for different uses, designs and adjustments of the dynamic correction splint according to FIGS. 1 to 10.

[0048] FIG. 14 shows a rear view of another embodiment of a dynamic correction splint in a straightened position.

[0049] FIG. 15 shows the dynamic correction splint according to FIG. 14 in a side view.

[0050] FIG. 16 shows a supporting disc which is employed in a dynamic correction splint according to FIGS. 14 and 15.

[0051] FIGS. 17 and 18 each show a splint part of a dynamic correction splint according to FIGS. 14 and 15.

[0052] FIG. 19 shows a front view of a dynamic correction splint according to FIGS. 14 and 15.

[0053] FIG. 20 shows a section XX-XX (cp. FIG. 19) through the dynamic correction splint according to FIGS. 14, 15 and 19.

[0054] FIGS. 21 to 28 show the dynamic correction splint according to FIGS. 14, 15, 19, 20 in different bending positions, where FIGS. 21, 23, 25 and 27 each show a front view, while FIGS. 22, 24, 26 and 28 each show a corresponding section through the dynamic correction splint in the corresponding bending position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] The figures show a dynamic correction splint 1. The dynamic correction splint 1 can be used on its own. For that purpose it can be arranged only on one-side from the parts of an extremity of the person to be treated with a joint arranged between these parts and then by fixed via straps or other fixing devices. Preferably, however, two such dynamic correction splints or a dynamic correction splint and a follower splint are fixed on opposing sides of the parts of the extremity and the joint. In this case the two dynamic correction splints can also be connected to each other and/or fixed to the parts of the extremity by fixing straps or other fixing means (cp. e.g. DE 199 04 554 B4).

[0056] Functionally, a difference is made on the dynamic correction splint 1 between the joint 2 and the two bar-like base bodies 3, 4 connected to each other via the joint 2. The base bodies 3, 4 in use extend in parallel to the extremities. The base bodies 3, 4 serve for transmitting the correction moment onto the extremities and fixing the dynamic correction splint 1 to them. The joint 2 serves for enabling a change of the pivoting angle or bending angle of the dynamic correction splint 1. Into the joint 2, further functions are integrated, especially [0057] a setting of the range of the possible pivoting angles of the dynamic correction splint 1, e.g. by stops and/or a worm drive, [0058] a spring device for creating the correction moment and [0059] measures for influencing the characteristic of the correction moment.

[0060] Constructively, the dynamic correction splint 1 is formed with three panel-like construction elements, that is, a splint part 5, a splint part 6 and a supporting body 7 (which is a supporting disc 8 here). The splint part 6 and the splint part 5 in this sequence contact each other in the region of the joint 2, where they can directly contact each other or between them a sliding disc is arranged to reduce the friction during the pivoting movement. The splint parts 5, 6 and the supporting disc 8 each have a central bore. Through the central bore from the back a plate screw 9 extends. On the opposite side the plate screw 9 is connected (especially screwed) to a support 10. The splint parts 5, 6 and the supporting disc 8 (and sliding discs possibly arranged between them) are caught between the head of the plate screw 9 and the support 10 in such a way that they can pivot about a pivoting axis 11 which is vertical to the plane of projection according to FIG. 1.

[0061] In the region of the joint 2 the splint part 6 has bores 12a, 12b . . . distributed evenly around the circumference. In two bores 12, two stops 13, 14 are fixed. Preferably, the stops 13, 14 are screws 15, 16. The screws 15, 16 comprise a cylinder head with a hexagon socket. The screws 15, 16 can be screwed into the bores 12 comprising a corresponding thread. The stops 13, 14 each serve for limiting the possible pivoting angle of the splint parts 5, 6 in one direction. On the part of its circumference turned towards the splint part 6 the splint part 5 has a radius which is smaller than the distance of the stops 13, 14 from the pivoting axis 11. This design serves for avoiding a collision of the stops 13, 14 with the splint part 5. The part of the circumference with the smaller radius is on both sides limited by counter-stops 17, 18 which are formed here by rounded radial extensions of the splint part 5 (in FIG. 1: in an eleven oclock position and in a seven o'clock position with respect to the pivoting axis 11). In the straightened position shown in FIG. 1, the stop 13 rests against the counter-stop 18. In this way it is avoided that in FIG. 1 (when the splint part 5 is fixed) the splint part 6 is pivoted past the straightened position in a clockwise direction. On the contrary, a pivoting of the splint part 6 in an anti-clockwise direction is possible until the stop 14 contacts the counter-stop 17. In this way the maximum bending angle is set (cp. FIG. 9). The minimum and maximum bending angle are set by the circumferential position of the stops 13, 14 (as well as the circumferential position of the counter-stops 17, 18). By choosing two of the bores 12 for fixing the stops 13, 14 the minimum bending angle, the maximum bending angle and the possible pivoting range of the splint parts 5, 6 can be set.

[0062] In FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that on the supporting disc 8 and on the splint part 5 each a supporting bolt 19 is fixed, which here for example is achieved by screwing a thread of the supporting bolts 19, 20 into corresponding threaded bores of the splint part 5 and the supporting disc 8. For the embodiment shown, the threaded bore 21 for the supporting bolt 19 is located on the longitudinal axis of the splint part 5 in a transition region from the joint 2 to the base body 3.

[0063] In FIG. 3 it can be seen that the supporting bolt 20 is held on the supporting disc 8 with an eccentricity or a radius 22 with respect to the pivoting axis 11. The supporting bolts 19, 20 preferably comprise a hexagon socket contact surface, which enables the screwing of the supporting bolts 19, 20 into the splint part 5 or the supporting disc 8. The supporting bolts 19, 20 each have a groove 23, 24. The supporting bolts 19, 20 are arranged in parallel to the pivoting axis 11 and extend on the front face of the dynamic correction splint 1. Spring bases 25, 26 of a spring device 27 are linked to the supporting body 19, 20 and therefore to the splint part 5 and the supporting disc 8. For the embodiment shown, the spring device 27 is realized as a tension spring 28, here in a realization as a continuous elastic band 29. The elastic band 29 is hooked into the grooves 23, 24 of the supporting bolts 19, 20 in a pre-tensioned way. The elastic band 29 forms two pre-tensioned band parts 30, 31 between the supporting bolts 19, 20. Both band parts 30, 31 create a partial spring force, which with respect to the pivoting axis 11 can comprise a partial lever arm and therefore create a partial correction moment on the dynamic correction splint 1. As a simplification, in the following it will be referred to a spring force caused together by the two band parts 30, 31 with a corresponding spring arm. The correction moment resulting from the spring force in the straightened position of the dynamic correction splint according to FIGS. 1 to 4 has the effect that the stop 13 is pulled against the counter-stop 18, in which way the straightened position is secured. A leaving of the straightened position with an increase of the bending angle necessitates that a bending moment has to be exerted onto the splint parts 5, 6 by the user to reduce the contact force between the stop 13 and the counter-stop 18 and then move the stop 13 away from the counter-stop 18. This bending out of the straightened position according to FIG. 3 into a bended position according to FIG. 5 leads to the result that the supporting bolt 20 moves around the pivoting axis 11 in a clockwise direction, in which way the distance of the supporting bolts 19, 20 increases and therefore the spring force of the tension spring 28 increases. At the same time, however, the lever arm of the tension spring 28 with respect to the pivoting axis 11 decreases.

[0064] The supporting disc 8 is rigidly connected to the splint part 6. It is possible that the rigid connection can be provided in different angular positions for adjusting the dynamic correction splint 1. In this way an adjustability is provided. For an adjustment the supporting bolt 20 can be mounted to the supporting disc 8 in different circumferential positions and/or a continuous adjustment of the relative position of the supporting disc 8 is possible via a worm drive.

[0065] In the straightened position according to FIGS. 1 to 4 and for small bending angles 32 (cp. FIG. 5), the spring device 27 is only linked with the spring bases 25, 26 to the supporting bolts 19, 20 or the splint part 5 and the supporting disc 8. Especially, there is no interaction in the form of a contact with the support 10. This pure linkage by the spring bases is here also referred to as a first coupling 43.

[0066] As can especially be seen from the spatial view according to FIG. 4, the support 10 is realized with an eccentricity or a crank-like partial region in the plane of motion of the spring device 27. The eccentricity or the offset of the crank-like partial region is dimensioned in such a way that the support 10 forms a support surface 33 through which the pivoting axis 11 extends. For the bending angle 32 according to FIG. 5 (which here is approximately 45), the band part 31 has already come to rest against the support surface 33. The partial spring force of the band part 31 therefore runs through the pivoting axis 11 which results in the band part 31 not creating a partial correction force. However, the other band part 30 still has a small lever arm with respect to the pivoting axis 11 so that the partial spring force of this band part 30 creates a correction moment (which is reduced when compared to the correction moment in the straightened position according to FIGS. 1 to 4).

[0067] With a further increase of the bending angle 32 according to FIGS. 7 and 8 both band parts 30, 31 come to rest against the support surface 33. This results in the spring device 27 not being able to produce a correction moment independently of the spring force in the spring device 27. the reason is that the spring force of the spring device 27 does not have a lever arm with respect to the pivoting axis 11 of the splint parts 5, 6. For a further increase of the bending angle 32, therefore no application of a moment by the wearer of the dynamic correction splint 1 will be required. In this way then a pivoting up to the maximum bending angle 32 according to FIG. 10 is possible, where the maximum bending angle 32 is set by the stop 14 coming to rest against the counter-stop 17 (cp. FIG. 9).

[0068] FIG. 11 shows the kinematic relationships or characteristic for a dynamic correction splint according to FIGS. 1 to 10. On the abscissa 34, the angle 35 is shown under which the supporting bolt 20 and therefore the spring base 26 of the spring device 27 are arranged relative to a possible starting position, here a nine o'clock position in FIG. 3. The theoretic variation of this angle 35 in the shown angular range of 0 to 360 for the depiction of the kinematic relationships necessitates that the stops 13, 14 are considered to be removed. Plotted against the angle 35 in FIG. 11 are the spring force of the spring device 27 with the dotted curve 36, 37, the lever arm of a possible spring force of the spring device 27 with the dash-dotted curve and the correction moment resulting from the product of the spring force and the lever arm with the continuous curve 38. The curve 38 of the correction moment here is also referred to as the characteristic of the correction moment. On the y axis the lever arm is given in centimeters while the spring tension is given in units of 100 N and the correction moment in Nm. Without a limitation of the invention to this being intended, a dynamic correction splint according to the invention can comprise a lever arm, a spring tension and a correction moment corresponding to the curves 36, 37, 38 shown (or with curves which differ with respect to the curves 36, 37, 38 shown by 20% or 10% or 5%).

[0069] When the angle 35 is 180, a transition 39 is reached for which the spring device 27 comes to rest against the support surface 33, in which way for the range of the angle 35 from 180 to 360 the curve of the lever arm 37 is zero. On the contrary, the curve of the lever arm 37 for the range of the angle 35 from 0 to 180 can be calculated in dependence on the angle relations under use of trigonometric functions. The length of the spring device 27 or the tension spring 28 here is chosen in such a way that the spring device 27 in the range of the angle 35 from 0 to 30 is not yet tensioned so that here the curve 36 is zero. Only for an angle 35 larger than 30, the spring device 27 is tensioned. Even when assuming a linear spring characteristic of the spring device 27, due to the angle relations in the range from 30 to 180 of the angle 35 a non-linear but continuous increase of the spring force of the spring device 27 results which is proportional to the angle-dependent distance of the two spring bases 25, 26. If for the angular range from 180 to 360 the spring device 27 rest against the support surface 33, with the pivoting of the splint parts 5, 6 the distance of the spring bases 25, 26 does not change so that the curve 36 of the spring force constantly corresponds to the maximum reached for the angle of 180. From the product of the spring force according to curve 36 with the lever arm according to curve 37, then the curve of the correction moment 38 results. Due to the chosen angular relations, in the angular range from 30 to 180 the correction moment acts towards a reduction of the angle 35.

[0070] In the shown characteristic the curve 38 of the correction moment comprises a kink at the transition 39. The kink in the region of the transition 39 and a correction moment of zero in the angular range from 180 to 360 are caused by a switching mechanism 40. The switching mechanism 40 bases on providing different boundary conditions of the spring device 27 in a motion-controlled way and in dependency on the angle 35 or the bending angle 32:

[0071] a) In a first switching state for angle ranges before reaching the transition 39, the spring device 27 is connected only with its spring bases 25, 26 to the splint part 5 on the one hand and the splint part 6 on the other hand, here with the supporting disc 8, which is also called the first coupling 43. A change in the angle 35 or the bending angle 32 leads to a change in the distance of the spring bases 25, 26, so that in dependence on the change of the angle also an altered spring force in the spring device 27 results.

[0072] b) If, on the contrary, the spring device 27 comes to rest against the support surface 33 of the support 10 in a motion-controlled way by the change of the angle 35 or the bending angle 32, the motion-controlled switching of the switching mechanism 40 to the second switching state occurs. After the actuation of the switching mechanism 40 and after the transition 39 there is an additional boundary condition of the spring device 27. As a consequence, for any angle 35 in the angle range from 180 to 360 and for a corresponding bending angle 32 the spring device 27 rests against the support surface 33. This is also referred to as the second coupling 44 here. The change of the angle then, however, does not result in a change of the distance of the spring bases 25, 26, a change of the extension of the spring device 27 or a change of the spring force 36. Furthermore, for this angular range the lever arm 37 of the spring force 36 is zero, which means that also the correction moment is zero.

[0073] The characteristic of the correction moment according to FIG. 11 can be used in a different way depending on the individual area of application. An adjustment of the used portion of the characteristic is done by the choice of the circumferential position of the supporting bolt 20 and therefore the spring base 26 in the straightened position. If, for example, the supporting bolt 20 is mounted onto the supporting disc 8 in the nine o'clock position in the straightened position, the increase of the bending angle 32 causes the initial portion of the characteristic of the correction moment according to FIG. 11 to be run through, starting from the angle 35 of zero. For the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, the straightened position approximately corresponds to an angle 35 in FIG. 11 of 120 (cp. the angle 35 in FIG. 3), while for the maximum bending angle 32 according to FIG. 10 the angle 35 corresponds to approximately 260. The range of the characteristic of the correction moment run through by the dynamic correction splint according to FIGS. 1 to 10 is in FIG. 11 marked with reference sign 41. This section of the characteristic with the corresponding spring force and the lever arm is again shown in FIG. 12, where here as the abscissa not the angle 35 has been chosen, but the bending angle 32 according to FIGS. 1 to 10. Such a range of the bending angle 32 can for example be used at a use of the dynamic correction splint 1 for an elbow joint or a knee joint. It can be seen in FIG. 12 that in a first pivoting range 47 the correction moment is created while in a second pivoting range 48 no correction moment is created. The transition from the first pivoting range 47 to the second pivoting range 48 is achieved via the transition 39.

[0074] For another area of application, another portion 42 of the characteristic of the correction moment can be used. FIG. 13 shows a portion 42 of the characteristic of the correction moment in the range of the angle 35 of 120 to 180, which corresponds to a bending angle 32 of 0 to 60. It can be seen that in the use of the dynamic correction splint 1 the transition 39 with an actuation of the switching mechanism 40 is not necessarily used. From the characteristics of the correction moment according to FIGS. 12 and 13 it can be taken, however, that in the correction position, which here corresponds to the straightened position with a bending angle 32 of zero, the correction moment has an absolute maximum and that with an increase of the bending angle 32 the correction moment decreases continuously. The correction moment according to FIG. 13 goes to zero without a kink while according to FIG. 12 there is a kink in the region of the transition 39. A corresponding use of the same dynamic correction splint 1 with the same characteristic is possible if there is to be a correction effect for a flexion, for which the correction position is not the straightened position but a maximum bent position. In this case, too, the correction moment is at its maximum in the correction position, which here is the maximum bending position, with the corresponding curves with a decrease of the bending angles.

[0075] Before the transition 39 or before the actuation of the switching mechanism 40, a coupling 43 of the spring device 27 to the two splint parts 5, 6 is only provided by the linking of the spring bases 25, 26 to the switching mechanism 40. On the contrary, after the transition 39 or after the actuation of the switching mechanism 40, a coupling 44 of the spring device is provided both by the linking of the spring bases 25, 26 to the splint parts 5, 6 as well as by the contact of the spring device 27 with the support surface 33 of the support 10.

[0076] In FIG. 5, in can furthermore be seen that the connecting axes 45, 46 of the supporting bolt 19 or the spring base 25 with the pivoting axis 11 on the one hand and of the pivoting axis 11 with the supporting bolt 20 or the spring base 26 on the other hand form an angle smaller than 180 while the longitudinal axes of the splint parts 5, 6 form an angle larger than 180. Accordingly, before the actuation of the switching mechanism 40 the correction moment has a direction for decreasing the bending angle 32 and therefore causing a correction moment towards the correction position.

[0077] For the embodiment of the dynamic correction splint 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, the supporting disc 8 (for a chosen setting) was fixedly connected to the splint parts 6 so that the spring bases 25, 26 at a change of the bending angle 32 each did not change their relative position on the splint parts 5, 6. The switching mechanism 40 was formed between the spring bases 25, 26 by forming an additional contact surface with the support surface 33.

[0078] In FIGS. 14 to 28, another embodiment of a dynamic correction splint 1 is shown in which the spring bases 25, 26 of the spring device 27 are also permanently linked to the splint part 5 on the one hand and the supporting disc 8 on the other hand. However, here no support surface 33 is used for providing the switching mechanism 40. Rather than that, the switching mechanism 40 removes the fixed coupling between the supporting disc 8 and the splint part 6.

[0079] FIG. 16 shows the supporting disc 8 as a single part. It has a center bore 49 through which the plate screw 9 can extend and which defines the pivoting axis 11. Furthermore, the generally circular supporting disc 8 comprises a circumferential recess 50 with a reduced diameter which is limited by the counter-stops 51, 52 in the circumferential direction. The supporting bolt 20 is screwed into a threaded bore 53. Finally, radially on the inner side from the circumferential recess 50 the supporting disc 8 comprises a bottom closed recess 54 which has especially a semi-spherical shape or the shape of a part of a sphere.

[0080] In the single-part drawing according to FIG. 17 it can be seen that in the region of the joint 2 and next to the threaded bore 21 the splint part 5 has a bore 55 through which the plate screw 9 can extend and which defines the pivoting axis 11. Furthermore, the splint part 5 has a bore or a threaded bore 56 where a stop 57 can be fixed. While generally in the region of the joint 2 the splint part 5 is realized in the shape of a circular plate, it, too, on the side turned away from the base body 3 has a circumferential recess 58 with a reduced radius. In both circumferential directions the recess 58 is limited by counter-stops 59, 60. Finally, on the radially inner side of the circumferential recess 58 the splint part 5 comprises a circumferential groove 61. The circumferential groove extends over a partial circumference, has a closed bottom and is concentric to the pivoting axis 11.

[0081] From the single-part drawing according to FIG. 18 of the splint part 6 is can be seen that the splint part 6, too, in the region of the joint 2 is generally realized in the shape of circular disc. The splint part 6, too, has a circumferential recess 62 with a reduced radius which is in both circumferential directions limited by counter-stops 63, 64. Through the bores 65 the plate screw 9 can extend, so that the bore 65 also defines the pivoting axis 11. On the side of the circular-disc shaped end region of the splint part 6 turned towards the base body 4, the splint part 6 has several bores 12a, 12b, . . . distributed over the circumference. Furthermore, the splint part 6 has a through bore 66 which is arranged radially on the inner side from the circumferential recess 62 neighboring the counter-stop 63. The cross section of the through bore 66 is coordinated with the largest diameter of the recess 54 or corresponds to it. With respect to the position, the distance from the pivoting axis 11, a possible circumferential extension of the circumferential recess 50, the counter-stops 51, 52, the recess 54, the threaded bore 53, the circumferential recess 58, the counter-stops 59, 60, the circumferential groove 61, the circumferential recess 62, the counter-stops 63, 64 and the through bore 66 reference is made to the figures. However, also deviations with regard to the shown angles and dimensions of e.g. 5% or 10% are possible.

[0082] FIGS. 14, 15 and 19 show the dynamic correction splint 1 in a mounted state in the straightened position, which is the correction position here. The plate screw 9 rotatably connects the splint parts 5, 6. The supporting bolt 19 has been screwed into the threaded bore 21, The other supporting bolt 20 has been screwed into the threaded bore 53 of the supporting disc 8. The spring device 27 has been hooked into the grooves 23, 24 of the supporting bolts 19, 20 in a pre-tensioned way. The stop 57 screwed into the threaded bore 56 via the spring device 27 is being pulled against the counter-stop 51 of the supporting disc 8. Since for this switching state of the switching device 40 (which will be explained further in the following) the supporting disc 8 is fixedly connected to the splint part 6, in this way the straightened position or correction position of the dynamic correction splint 1 is defined. From this correction position, in FIG. 19 the splint part 6 can be pivoted relatively to the splint part 5 in a clockwise direction, which goes along with an increase of the spring force in the spring device 27 but a simultaneous decrease of the lever arm and the motion of the stop 57 away from the counter-stop 51.

[0083] For this embodiment the switching device 40 comprises a coupling body 67 actuated in a motion-controlled way (here, a locking ball 68). In the first pivoting range, in which a correction moment is created, the coupling body 67 fixedly couples the supporting disc 8 to the spring part 6. In the second pivoting range after the switching of the switching device 40 the coupling body 67 is disengaged between the supporting disc 8 and the splint part 6. As can be seen in FIG. 20, in order to achieve this, the locking ball 68 is accommodated form-fittingly in the recess 54 and extends from the recess 54 into the through bore 66. In this way a form-locking between the supporting disc 8 and the splint part 6 has been achieved. The locking ball 68 is caught in the recess 54 and the through bore 66, since it rests against the splint part 5 on the side turned away from the supporting disc 8. Accordingly, the locking ball 68 is not able to leave the recess 54.

[0084] For an increase of the bending angle 32 to a pivoting position of the dynamic correction splint 1 according to FIG. 21, the locking ball 68 of the switching mechanism 40 is still caught in the recess 54 and the through bore 66. Therefore, the spring force of the spring device 27 (possibly an increased spring force) acts onto the supporting disc 8 with a decreased lever arm and via the switching mechanism 40 with the locking ball 68 onto the splint part 6 with an effective direction for reducing the bending angle 32. A transition 39 with an actuation of the switching mechanism 40 has been reached when by further increase of the bending angle 32 with the pivoting of the splint part 6 the locking ball 68 comes into the region of the circumferential groove 61 of the splint part 5 (cp. FIGS. 23 and 24). The moment exerted onto the supporting disc 8 by the spring device 27 is active onto the inclined surfaces of the recess 54, in which way the locking ball 68 is pressed into the through bore 66 and moves through the through bore 66 into the circumferential groove 61. In this way the locking of the supporting disc 8 with respect to the splint part 6 is released (cp. FIGS. 25 and 26).

[0085] When by means of an actuation of the switching mechanism 40 the locking between the supporting disc 8 and the splint part 6 has been released, generally the spring device 27 could freely rotate the supporting disc 8. Such a rotation with a pressure relief of the spring device 27, however, is impeded by the stop 57 coming to rest against the counter-stop 52. In order to achieve this, it is necessary that the unlocking of the switching mechanism 40 is done at a point in time at which the rotation of the supporting disc 8 due to the increase of the bending angle 32 has advanced to an extend such that the supporting bolts 19, 20 have already passed the position in which their connecting axis ran through the pivoting axis 11 (cp. FIG. 23).

[0086] When the switching mechanism 40 has been actuated, that is, when the locking ball 68 has been released from the supporting disc 8, there can be a further increase of the bending angle 32 with the pivoting of the splint parts 5, 6 without there being a pivoting of the supporting disc 8 connected with it, so that the position and extension of the spring device 27 does not change. An increase of the bending angle 32 in this second pivoting range is therefore achieved without there being a necessity for the user to apply a special moment or even an increasing moment. It can be seen from the direction of effect of the spring device 27 for the increase of the bending angle 32 in the first pivoting range before the actuation of the switching mechanism 40 that due to the decrease of the lever arm the correction moment becomes successively smaller at least when getting closer to the transition 39 with the actuation of the switching mechanism 40.

[0087] In the first pivoting range, in which the correction moment is created, the coupling 43 of the splint parts 5, 6 to the spring device is formed by the coupling of the splint part 5 to the spring base 25 via the supporting bolt 19, while the coupling of the splint part 6 is achieved via the locked switching mechanism 40, the supporting disc 8 and the supporting bolt 20 fixed to it with the spring base 26 of the spring device 27. At the actuation of the switching mechanism 40, an alteration into a coupling 44 occurs in that the locking of the supporting disc 8 with the splint part 6 is released, in which way a coupling of the pivoting motion of the splint part 6 with the spring device 27 is no longer present.

[0088] For the description of the embodiment according to FIGS. 14 to 28, for construction elements with the same technical realization and/or corresponding technical function to some extent the same reference signs have been used as for the embodiment of the dynamic correction splint 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 10.

[0089] For the embodiment according to FIGS. 14 to 28, an adaption of the dynamic correction splint 1 to different uses on the one hand can be done by a choice of the circumferential angle at which the supporting bolt 20 is fixed to the supporting disc 8. On the other hand, by choice of the bore 12, onto which a stop 69 is mounted which comes to rest against the counter-stop 60 to set the maximum bending angle 32, the maximum bending angle 32 can be set.

[0090] Preferably, the maximum correction moment and/or the correction moment in the correction position is in the range of 2 Nm to 8 Nm, especially in the range of 3 Nm to 6 Nm.

[0091] In the case that the dynamic correction splint is a Quengel splint, the correction position is the Quengel position, the correction force is the Quengel force, the correction moment is the Quengel moment and the correction effect is the Quengel effect.

[0092] Many variations and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.