Patent · US Expired

Structural joint

US4917530A · kind A · utility

61Cited by
8References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 31, 1989
Grant dateApr 17, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 31, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16B2200/10
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A structural joint which may be for orthopedic use is effective to simultaneously resist bending and torsional loading. It includes a female member formed with a cone shaped bore and a mouth defining entry into the bore. A male member matingly engageable with the female member has a contoured outer surface which includes a coupling element sized and shaped for mating engagement with the bore. When the male and female members are joined, the coupling element extends to a location within the bore spaced from the mouth and joins, via a smooth surfaced intermediate element, to a transitional element whose transverse dimension is substantially smaller than the mouth of the bore as it extends through and beyond the mouth. The bore and the coupling element may be mutually tapered such that the male and female members become locked together when engaged.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.