Ear clip for medical monitoring device
First Claim
1. A clip comprising;
- an upper shell;
and a lower shell, coupled together around a hinge pin, the upper and lower shells having a pair of jaws on a first side of the hinge pin, and handles for squeezing together to separate the jaws on a second side of the hinge pin;
a biasing spring to oppose the squeezing together of the handles and to urge the jaws together;
at least one stop to prevent the jaws from closing completely and to keep the jaws in parallel alignment when no force is applied to handles to overcome the biasing force of the spring;
and an adjustment mechanism to adjust the separation of the jaws, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises an adjustment screw,a washer clip,and an insert;
said adjustment screw comprising a screw head and a threaded shank, the shank being pushed through a clearance hole in the lower shell, the adjustment screw being held in place around the lower shell by the washer clip, and the insert for fitting into a recess in the upper shell, said hinge pin being attached to said insert;
said insert comprising a central block with a tapped hole therein, radial arms extending from the central block, and stabilizing wings integrally cast with the central block and radial arms, the stabilizing wings at an angle to the radial arms;
said stabilizing wings for engaging the upper shell in accurate alignment with the lower shell;
wherein the tapped hole is for receiving the adjustment screw such that the tapped hole and adjustment screw enables adjustment of the separation between the jaws of the upper shell and the lower shell when biasing effect of the biasing spring is not opposed by a squeezing pressure on handles.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hinge pin joint for facilitating precise separation of the jaws of a spring clip, including a base cylinder with a threaded bore, supports extending laterally out from the base cylinder, pin supports capable of pivoting, and stabilizing wings extending from the pin supports. In one embodiment, the capability of pivoting includes pins that are integral with the pin supports and which extend out laterally from the pin support. An alternate embodiment includes aligned opening in the pin supports into which pins may be inserted. At least one stopper may be disposed on at least one of the pin supports for supporting the upper shell. The stabilizing wings are configured as plates that are semi-rigidly secured in guide structures within the lower shell.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A clip comprising;
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an upper shell; and a lower shell, coupled together around a hinge pin, the upper and lower shells having a pair of jaws on a first side of the hinge pin, and handles for squeezing together to separate the jaws on a second side of the hinge pin;
a biasing spring to oppose the squeezing together of the handles and to urge the jaws together;at least one stop to prevent the jaws from closing completely and to keep the jaws in parallel alignment when no force is applied to handles to overcome the biasing force of the spring; and an adjustment mechanism to adjust the separation of the jaws, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises an adjustment screw, a washer clip, and an insert; said adjustment screw comprising a screw head and a threaded shank, the shank being pushed through a clearance hole in the lower shell, the adjustment screw being held in place around the lower shell by the washer clip, and the insert for fitting into a recess in the upper shell, said hinge pin being attached to said insert; said insert comprising a central block with a tapped hole therein, radial arms extending from the central block, and stabilizing wings integrally cast with the central block and radial arms, the stabilizing wings at an angle to the radial arms;
said stabilizing wings for engaging the upper shell in accurate alignment with the lower shell;wherein the tapped hole is for receiving the adjustment screw such that the tapped hole and adjustment screw enables adjustment of the separation between the jaws of the upper shell and the lower shell when biasing effect of the biasing spring is not opposed by a squeezing pressure on handles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification