Fastener for attaching objects to bones
First Claim
1. A rivet for expanding into a hole in a material, said rivet comprising a tubular body having an exterior surface for fitting into the hole and having a projection extending radially from a first end of the body for controlling an extent to which said rivet can extend into the hole, the body having an aperture extending therethrough from the first end to a second end wherein the aperture has a first diameter in a first portion of the body adjacent to the first end and a second diameter in a second portion of the body adjacent to the second end of the body wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter to thereby form an annular step in the aperture, the exterior surface at the second portion tapers inward toward the second end which has an end surface that is beveled toward the aperture, said body further includes a plurality of elongated slots extending along the exterior surface spaced from both the first end and the second end and communicating with the aperture and said elongated slots defining longitudinal ribs in the body between the slots, wherein the ribs expand radially into the material upon compression of the body.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fastener adapted to expand into bone has a tubular body having a longitudinal opening therethrough with a stop within the opening. The body has a head at one end and a longitudinal slot extends through the body near the other end to form ribs that expand radially when the body is compressed. A puller projects through the opening in the rivet and has a head that engages the other end to compress the rivet when the puller is pulled through the body. An annular recess is formed in the puller near the head and the other end of the body is crimped into the recess to aid expansion of the ribs. The puller is weakened at a point so that it will break upon continued pulling after the ribs reach a fully expanded state.
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Citations
29 Claims
- 1. A rivet for expanding into a hole in a material, said rivet comprising a tubular body having an exterior surface for fitting into the hole and having a projection extending radially from a first end of the body for controlling an extent to which said rivet can extend into the hole, the body having an aperture extending therethrough from the first end to a second end wherein the aperture has a first diameter in a first portion of the body adjacent to the first end and a second diameter in a second portion of the body adjacent to the second end of the body wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter to thereby form an annular step in the aperture, the exterior surface at the second portion tapers inward toward the second end which has an end surface that is beveled toward the aperture, said body further includes a plurality of elongated slots extending along the exterior surface spaced from both the first end and the second end and communicating with the aperture and said elongated slots defining longitudinal ribs in the body between the slots, wherein the ribs expand radially into the material upon compression of the body.
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10. A fastener for expanding into a hole in a material, said fastener comprising:
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a rivet having a tubular body with first and second ends, an exterior surface, the body with an aperture extending therethrough from the first end to the second end wherein the aperture has a first cross sectional area in a first portion of the body adjacent to the first end and a second cross sectional area in a second portion of the body adjacent to the second end of the body wherein the first cross sectional area is smaller than the second cross sectional area thereby forming an annular step in the aperture, a plurality of elongated slots extending along the exterior surface spaced from both the first end and the second end and communicating with the aperture and said elongated slots defining longitudinal ribs in the body between the slots which ribs expand into the material when said rivet is compressed, and a puller for compressing the rivet, said puller comprising a rod, a head and an intermediate section connecting the rod to the head, wherein the rod fits within the first portion of the body, the head being incapable of fitting through the aperture at the second end, and the intermediate section fitting within the aperture in the second portion of the body while being incapable of fitting in the aperture in the first portion of the body, the intermediate section forming a recess for capturing the second end of the rivet, said recess being free of restrictions to movement of the second end of the rivet. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A fastener for expanding into a hole in a material, said fastener comprising:
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a rivet having a tubular body with first and second ends, an exterior surface and a projection extending radially from the first end, the body having an aperture extending therethrough from the first end to the second end wherein the aperture has a first diameter in a first portion of the body adjacent to the first end and a second diameter in a second portion of the body adjacent to the second end of the body wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter thereby forming an annular step in the aperture, a plurality of elongated slots extending along the exterior surface spaced from both the first end and the second end and communicating with the aperture in the second portion of the body and said elongated slots defining longitudinal ribs in the body between the apertures, and a puller located in the aperture for expanding said rivet, said puller comprising a rod, a head and an intermediate section connecting the rod to the head, wherein the rod has a diameter that is less than the first diameter, the head has a diameter that is greater than the second diameter and the intermediate section having surface that engages the step to restrict movement of said puller through the aperture in the rivet, the intermediate section forming a recess for capturing the second end of the rivet, said recess being free of restrictions to movement of the second end of the rivet. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification