Bi-directional dampening and assisting unit
First Claim
1. A hinge assembly for an orthotic, prosthetic or rehabilitative device, comprising:
- a first strut and a second strut pivotally attached to one another at a pivot point;
a spline extending in a first direction perpendicularly from the first strut and the second strut, at the pivot point, the spline being rotatable relative to one of the first strut and the second strut, where the other of the first strut and the second strut has a catch extending in the first direction, located radially of the pivot point; and
a torsion spring having a first end and a second end;
wherein the first end of the torsion spring removably communicates with the extending spline and the second end of the torsion spring removably communicates with the extending catch, the torsion spring applying a bias force opposing relative pivotal movement between the first and the second struts in a first of two directions, and aiding pivotal movement in a second of the two directions; and
wherein, when the torsion spring is removed from the extending spline and from the extending catch, the torsion spring is flipped over, and the first end of the torsion spring removably communicates with the extending spline, and the second end of the torsion spring removably communicates with the extending catch, the torsion spring applies a bias force opposing relative pivotal movement between the first and the second struts in the second direction, and aids pivotal movement in the first direction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dynamic platform with extending struts has fastened thereto a bi-directional torsional power unit to selectively deliver force opposing either extension or flexion, and to provide assistance in a respective opposite direction. The power unit is threadably mounted on a hinge pin (spline) centrally located on the platform, and is latched to a catch assembly radially located thereto, the hinge pin of the platform communicating with one end of a torsion spring of the power unit and the catch assembly communicating with another end of the torsion spring, to selectively deliver the extension/flexion force. The power unit can be detached, with simple manual operation of the catch assembly, without tools, flipped over and reattached to the same platform attachment points to switch (reverse) extension torque to flexion torque and vice versa.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A hinge assembly for an orthotic, prosthetic or rehabilitative device, comprising:
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a first strut and a second strut pivotally attached to one another at a pivot point; a spline extending in a first direction perpendicularly from the first strut and the second strut, at the pivot point, the spline being rotatable relative to one of the first strut and the second strut, where the other of the first strut and the second strut has a catch extending in the first direction, located radially of the pivot point; and a torsion spring having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the torsion spring removably communicates with the extending spline and the second end of the torsion spring removably communicates with the extending catch, the torsion spring applying a bias force opposing relative pivotal movement between the first and the second struts in a first of two directions, and aiding pivotal movement in a second of the two directions; and wherein, when the torsion spring is removed from the extending spline and from the extending catch, the torsion spring is flipped over, and the first end of the torsion spring removably communicates with the extending spline, and the second end of the torsion spring removably communicates with the extending catch, the torsion spring applies a bias force opposing relative pivotal movement between the first and the second struts in the second direction, and aids pivotal movement in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A hinge assembly for an orthotic, prosthetic or rehabilitative device, comprising:
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a first strut and a second strut pivotally attached to one another at a pivot point; a spline extending in a first direction perpendicularly from the first strut and the second strut, at the pivot point, the spline being rotatable relative to one of the first strut and the second strut, where the other of the first strut and the second strut has a catch extending in the first direction, located radially of the pivot point; a torsion spring having a first end and a second end; a toothed range of motion wheel mounted about the pivot point and being rotatably fixed relative to one of the first strut and the second strut; a toothed disk, aligned with and linearly translatable relative to the other of the first strut and the second strut, the toothed disk threadably communicating with the toothed range of motion wheel to arrest pivotal movement between the first and the second struts; a toothed tension wheel mounted about the pivot point and being rotatably fixed relative to the spline; a worm gear located about a perimeter of the toothed tension wheel, the worm gear threadably communicating with the tension wheel to preload the torsion spring; at least one end range tapped hole within, and rotatably fixed relative to, one of the first and the second struts; at least one end range screw, inserted into and extending from the at least one end range tapped hole, where the extending at least one end range screw abuts the other of the first strut and the second strut to limit pivotal range of motion between the first and the second struts; wherein the first end of the torsion spring removably communicates with the extending spline and the second end of the torsion spring removably communicates with the extending catch, the torsion spring applying a bias force opposing relative pivotal movement between the first and the second struts in a first of two directions, and aiding pivotal movement in a second of the two directions; and wherein, when the torsion spring is removed from the extending spline and from the extending catch, the torsion spring is flipped over, and the first end of the torsion spring removably communicates with the extending spline, and the second end of the torsion spring removably communicates with the extending catch, the torsion spring applies a bias force opposing relative pivotal movement between the first and the second struts in the second direction, and aids pivotal movement in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of reversing an angular direction of force applied by a hinge assembly for an orthotic, prosthetic or rehabilitative device, where the hinge assembly comprises:
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a first strut and a second strut pivotally attached to one another at a pivot point; a spline extending in a first direction perpendicularly from the first strut and the second strut, at the pivot point, the spline being rotatable relative to one of the first strut and the second strut, where the other of the first strut and the second strut has a catch extending in the first direction, located radially of the pivot point; and a torsion spring having a first end and a second end; the method comprising the steps of; attaching the first end of the torsion spring to the extending spline, and attaching the second end of the torsion spring to the extending catch, wherein the torsion spring applies a bias force opposing relative pivotal movement between the first and the second struts in a first of two directions, and aids pivotal movement in a second of the two directions; removing the first end of the torsion spring from the extending spline, and removing the second end of the torsion spring from the extending catch; flipping the torsion spring over; and attaching the first end of the torsion spring to the extending spline, and attaching the second end of the torsion spring to the extending catch, wherein the torsion spring applies a bias force opposing relative pivotal movement between the first and the second struts in the second direction, and aids pivotal movement in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification