Adapter with centering mechanism for articulation joint
First Claim
1. A joint assembly comprising:
- a proximal joint housing defining a first longitudinal axis and including a first hinge positioned at a distal portion of the proximal joint housing;
a first ring pivotally coupled to the first hinge about a first pivot axis orthogonal to and intersecting the first longitudinal axis;
a joint cover having a first cover portion and a second cover portion, the first cover portion pivotally coupled to the first hinge about a second pivot axis orthogonal to and intersecting the first pivot axis and the first longitudinal axis, the first and second pivot axes intersecting the first longitudinal axis at a first joint center;
a second ring pivotally coupled to the second cover portion of the joint cover about a third pivot axis;
a second hinge pivotally coupled to the second ring about a fourth pivot axis orthogonal to the third pivot axis, the third and fourth pivot axes intersecting at a second joint center spaced from the first joint center, a cover axis of the joint cover defined between the first and second joint centers; and
a biasing mechanism engaged with the first ring and the joint cover to bias the first ring and the first cover portion in a direction parallel to the first longitudinal axis, and to bias the joint cover towards an aligned configuration in which the cover axis is aligned with the first longitudinal axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A joint assembly of an adapter defines a first longitudinal axis and includes first and second hinges, first and second rings, a joint cover, and a biasing mechanism. The joint cover has first and second cover portions. The first ring is pivotally coupled to the first hinge and the first cover portion is pivotally coupled to the first hinge to define a first joint center. The second ring is pivotally coupled to the second cover portion and the second hinge is pivotally coupled to the second ring to define a second joint center that is spaced from the first joint center. The first and second joint centers define a cover axis of the joint cover. The biasing mechanism is engaged with the first ring and the joint cover to bias the joint cover towards an aligned configuration in which the cover axis is aligned with the first longitudinal axis.
2143 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A joint assembly comprising:
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a proximal joint housing defining a first longitudinal axis and including a first hinge positioned at a distal portion of the proximal joint housing; a first ring pivotally coupled to the first hinge about a first pivot axis orthogonal to and intersecting the first longitudinal axis; a joint cover having a first cover portion and a second cover portion, the first cover portion pivotally coupled to the first hinge about a second pivot axis orthogonal to and intersecting the first pivot axis and the first longitudinal axis, the first and second pivot axes intersecting the first longitudinal axis at a first joint center; a second ring pivotally coupled to the second cover portion of the joint cover about a third pivot axis; a second hinge pivotally coupled to the second ring about a fourth pivot axis orthogonal to the third pivot axis, the third and fourth pivot axes intersecting at a second joint center spaced from the first joint center, a cover axis of the joint cover defined between the first and second joint centers; and a biasing mechanism engaged with the first ring and the joint cover to bias the first ring and the first cover portion in a direction parallel to the first longitudinal axis, and to bias the joint cover towards an aligned configuration in which the cover axis is aligned with the first longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An adapter comprising:
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a proximal portion configured to couple to a handle; an elongate portion extending from the proximal portion and defining a first longitudinal axis; and a distal portion supported by the elongate portion and configured to releasably couple a tool assembly to the handle, the distal portion including a joint assembly having; a first hinge disposed along the first longitudinal axis and positioned at a distal end of the elongate portion; a first ring pivotally coupled to the first hinge about a first pivot axis orthogonal to and intersecting the first longitudinal axis; a joint cover having a first cover portion and a second cover portion, the first cover portion pivotally coupled to the first hinge about a second pivot axis orthogonal to and intersecting the first pivot axis and the first longitudinal axis, the first and second pivot axes intersecting the first longitudinal axis at a first joint center;
a second ring pivotally coupled to the second cover portion of the joint cover about a third pivot axis;a second hinge pivotally coupled to the second ring about a fourth pivot axis orthogonal to the third pivot axis, the third and fourth pivot axes intersecting at a second joint center spaced from the first joint center, a cover axis of the joint cover defined between the first and second joint centers; and a biasing mechanism engaged with the first ring and the joint cover to bias the first ring and the first cover portion in a direction parallel to the first longitudinal axis, and to bias the joint cover towards an aligned configuration in which the cover axis is aligned with the first longitudinal axis.
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Specification