Interframe fixator

Abstract

To provide means of enabling a connection member to be adjusted to a desired inclined position in a frame in a semispherical direction, and holding the connection member at the inclined position after adjustment.SOLUTION: An inter-frame fixation device includes: a frame; a connection member connected to the frame; and an inclination fixation mechanism enabling the connection member to be inclined with respect to the frame and capable of fixing the connection member in the inclined state. The inclination fixation mechanism includes: a spherical joint ball provided in at least one end of the connection member; and a ball housing provided in the frame and having a ball receiving part for receiving the joint ball.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an inter-frame fixator that fixes frames together at a desired tilt position. [Background technology]

[0002] As an example of this type of inter-frame fixture, there is known one that connects and fixes a connecting member between the frames of a cabinet.

[0003] For example, the inter-frame fixture for shelves disclosed in JP 2008-126057 A (Patent Document 1) allows stacked frames to be easily assembled and separated using connecting members, and is capable of stably holding the assembled frames.

[0004] Such shelves cannot be tilted, which creates a problem, for example, when the shelves are used for exhibition purposes, in that the shelves cannot be tilted to make it easier to view the exhibits placed on the shelves.

[0005] As another inter-frame fixator, for example, one configured by connecting a plurality of connecting members between two opposing ring-shaped frames of an external fixator is known.

[0006] Among inter-frame fixators applied to such external fixators, there are known ones that can be attached so that the opposing ring-shaped frames are not parallel but are tilted depending on the manner in which they are attached to the human body.

[0007] For example, the external fixator disclosed in JP 2016-501051 A (Patent Document 2) has opposing ring-shaped frames connected by a connecting member having a hinge mechanism at one end, allowing the opposing ring-shaped frames to tilt relative to each other and to maintain the tilted state. Also, the external fixator disclosed in JP 2009-505736 A (Patent Document 3) uses a spherical washer when connecting the ring-shaped frames to the connecting member, allowing the opposing ring-shaped frames to tilt relative to each other and to maintain the tilted state, similar to Patent Document 2. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-126057 A [Patent Document 2] Special publication 2016-501051 [Patent Document 3] Special publication 2009-505736 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] Patent document 2 discloses a configuration in which the end of an extendable connecting member has an angle adjustment mechanism that allows tilt in one direction relative to the axial direction of the connecting member, and a rotation adjustment mechanism that allows the angle adjustment mechanism to rotate around the axis of the connecting member.

[0010] Patent Document 3 discloses a device that uses a convex spherical washer and a concave spherical washer to simultaneously adjust the angle and rotational position.

[0011] The external fixator of Patent Document 2 requires two mechanisms, one to adjust the angular position and one to adjust the rotational position, to tilt two opposing ring-shaped frames relative to each other. This makes the configuration complicated, and it is necessary to operate two mechanisms to adjust to the desired tilt position. Furthermore, the two mechanisms must be fixed separately to maintain the tilted state, which makes it difficult to operate and makes adjustment difficult.

[0012] Furthermore, the external fixator of Patent Document 3 requires a convex spherical washer and a concave spherical washer, which increases the number of parts, and assembly errors occur due to alignment between the components, making it difficult to reliably fix the device at the desired tilt position.

[0013] The present invention was made through extensive research by the inventors in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a means with a simple structure that enables a connecting member to be adjusted to a desired tilt position in the direction of the hemisphere of the frame, and that maintains the adjusted tilt position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] The inter-frame fixator of the present invention comprises a frame, a connecting member connected to the frame, and a tilt fixing mechanism that allows the connecting member to be tilted relative to the frame and can be fixed in the tilted state, the tilt fixing mechanism comprising a spherical joint ball provided at at least one end of the connecting member, and a joint ball provided on the frame, It is cylindrical and accommodates the joint ball. Ball receiving part that receives the joint ball and a first engaging portion on one surface of the cylindrical portion facing the ball receiving portion. a ball housing having a pressing member having a second engaging portion that screws into a first engaging portion formed on one surface of the cylindrical ball housing, and an abutting portion that abuts against the joint ball by the screwing, wherein the ball receiving portion and the abutting portion have a spherical curved surface shape that contacts the joint ball and conforms to the spherical shape of the joint ball. .

[0017] The inter-frame fixator of the present invention is characterized in that the ball housing has a tapered portion formed around the periphery of the connecting member.

[0018] The inter-frame fixator of the present invention is characterized in that the connecting member is provided with an extension mechanism for adjusting the length.

[0019] The inter-frame fixator of the present invention is The ball housing has an insertion hole through which the frame is slidably inserted, and by threading the second engagement portion of the pressing member into the first engagement portion of the ball housing, the joint ball is pressed against the ball receiving portion and the frame is pressed against the insertion hole. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] According to the present invention, the connecting member can be adjusted to a desired tilt position in the hemispherical direction relative to the frame with a simple structure, and can be maintained at the adjusted tilt position. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an external fixator according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a front view showing an external fixator according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a part of the connecting member and the tilt fixing mechanism. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a connecting member and an inclination fixing mechanism. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing (A) an inclined fixing mechanism, (B) a pressing member, and (C) a ball housing. [Figure 6] (A) Cross-sectional view showing the extension mechanism, (B) crimping core, and (C) fixing ring. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another tilt fixing mechanism. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] An embodiment of an external fixator incorporating the inter-frame fixator of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an external fixator according to a first embodiment, Fig. 2 is a front view of an external fixator according to the first embodiment, Fig. 3 is a front view of a portion of a connecting member and an inclined fixing mechanism, Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the connecting member and the inclined fixing mechanism, Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of (A) the inclined fixing mechanism, (B) the pressing member, (C) the ball housing, and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of (A) the expansion mechanism, (B) the crimping core, (C) the fixing ring.

[0024] In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the inter-frame fixator of the present invention is applied to an external fixator, but it may also be applied to various things other than external fixators, such as fixing mechanisms for construction scaffolding and racks.

[0025] As shown in Figure 1, an external fixator 1 has two frames 2, 2, which are connected by two connecting members 3, 3. The number of frames and connecting members is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more.

[0026] The frame 2 is formed in a substantially circular shape so as to be able to substantially surround at least a part of the affected area of ​​the human body to be treated. As shown in Figure 2, the frame 2 is provided with two tilt fixing mechanisms 5, 5 at substantially opposite positions on the circumference.

[0027] In this embodiment, the frame 2 is annular in plan view, but it does not necessarily have to be annular. Also, the frame 2 has a substantially circular cross section, but it may be formed in a plate shape or a polygonal cross section.

[0028] 3, the connecting member 3 has an extension / retraction mechanism 4 between the first shaft 31 and the second shaft 32 so that the distance between the opposing frames 2, 2 can be adjusted to a predetermined distance in accordance with the treatment area. The first shaft 31 and the second shaft 32 are each formed with a small-diameter neck portion 31a, 32b at the tip end, and approximately spherical joint balls 51, 51 are provided at the tip of the neck portion 31a, 32b. The joint balls 51, 51 only need to have a curved surface at the portion that comes into contact with a ball receiving portion 52c, which will be described later.

[0029] As shown in Figure 4, the telescopic mechanism 4 has a solid, round, elongated second shaft 32 inserted into a crimped core 41 at the base end (lower side of the figure) of a hollow, approximately cylindrical, elongated first shaft 31, and the fixing ring 42 can be loosened to allow the second shaft 32 to be pulled out from the first shaft 31, and can be tightened to fix the first shaft 31 and the second shaft 32 together.

[0030] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 6, an outer tapered portion 41a and an external thread 41b are formed on the outer periphery of the crimping core 41 of the first shaft 31 in this order from the base end. The outer tapered portion 41a is tapered so that its diameter decreases from the external thread 41b toward the base end (from top to bottom in the drawing). The outer tapered portion 41a also has three slits 41c formed at equal intervals around the circumference, penetrating from the outer periphery to the inner periphery and extending in the axial direction (two visible slits 41c are shown in Fig. 6(B)). The fixing ring 42 has an inner tapered portion 42a and an internal thread 42b formed on its inner periphery, corresponding to the outer tapered portion 41a and the external thread 41b of the crimping core 41. The internal thread 42b is threadably engaged with the external thread 41b. The inner tapered portion 42a is formed substantially parallel to the outer tapered portion 41a, and the crimping core 41 is sandwiched between the inner tapered portion 42a and the second shaft 32 like a wedge.

[0031] As a result, when the fixing ring 42 is loosened, the inner tapered portion 42a connects the crimp core 41 of the first shaft 31 and the second shaft 32. 32 The crimping between the first shaft 31 and the second shaft 32 is released, and the connecting member 3 can be adjusted to the desired length by sliding the second shaft 32 in the insertion or extraction direction relative to the first shaft 31. When the fixing ring 42 is tightened, the inner tapered portion 42a of the fixing ring 42 presses the outer tapered portion 41a, and the crimping core 41 of the first shaft 31 and the second shaft 32 are crimped together, and the first shaft 31 and the second shaft 32 are fixed together, thereby maintaining the connecting member 3 at the desired length.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 5, the tilt fixing mechanism 5 includes a joint ball 51, a ball housing 52, and a pressing member 53.

[0033] The ball housing 52 is generally cylindrical and has a concave first engagement portion 52a on one side and a tapered portion 52b on the other side. Between the first engagement portion 52a and the tapered portion 52b of the ball housing 52, there is a ball receiving portion having a spherical curved surface that conforms to the spherical shape of the joint ball 51 and that holds the joint ball 51. 52c The ball receiving part is formed. 52cThe diameter of the tapered portion 52b side cross section is smaller than the diameter of the first engaging portion 52a side cross section, and the ball receiving portion 52c The center point CP1 of the first engaging portion 52a is located at the same height as the bottom surface 52a1 of the first engaging portion 52a, so that the joint ball 51 is inserted into the ball receiving portion 52b from the first engaging portion 52a side. 52c Inserted ball receiving part 52c The ball is held so as not to slip out in the direction of the first shaft 31. 52c The diameter of the tapered portion 52b in cross section is set to a size that allows the first shaft 31 to pass through but prevents the joint ball 51 from passing through.

[0034] The first engaging portion 52a has an inner periphery formed with a female screw 52a2 that screws into the pressing member 53. The tapered portion 52b is a ball receiving portion of the ball housing 52. 52c The joint ball 51 is in a tapered shape with a diameter increasing from the first surface to the other surface. 52c This provides a relief so that the neck portion 31a of the first shaft 31 does not come into contact when the connecting member 3 moves along the groove, and the movable range of the connecting member 3 can be increased.

[0035] The pressing member 53 has a plate-shaped fixing operation portion 53a standing on one surface and a convex second engagement portion 53b on the other surface. A male thread 53b1 is formed on the outer periphery of the second engagement portion 53b, and by threading into the female thread 52a2 of the ball housing 52, the second engagement portion 53b of the pressing member 53 fits into the first engagement portion 52a of the ball housing 52. A contact portion 53c having a spherical curved surface that follows the spherical shape of the joint ball 51 is formed on the second engagement portion 53b at a position corresponding to the ball receiving portion 52c of the ball housing 52.

[0036] In this embodiment, the first engaging portion 52a of the ball housing 52 is recessed, and the pressing portion Material 53rd two Engagement part 53b is convex, but the concave-convex relationship may be reversed.

[0037] Contact part 53c is the contact part 53cThe center point CP2 of the second engaging portion 53b is positioned beyond the top surface 53b2 of the second engaging portion 53b, and when the pressing member 53 is screwed in, the joint ball 51 is clamped between the abutting portion 53c and the ball receiving portion 52c.

[0038] In this embodiment, both the ball receiving portion 52c and the contact portion 53c are formed in a spherical curved surface shape that conforms to the spherical shape of the joint ball 51. stomach Any material may be used as long as the support ball 51 can be moved and fixed, and the surfaces of the ball receiving portion 52c and the contact portion 53c may be formed with irregularities by embossing, or may be formed into a polygonal shape that is close to a sphere.

[0039] When the fixing operation part 53a is operated to loosen the pressing member 53, the clamping of the joint ball 51 by the ball receiving part 52c and the abutting part 53c is released, and the first shaft 31 can be adjusted to a desired tilt position in the hemispherical direction relative to the frame 2 to which the tilt fixing mechanism 5 is attached. When the pressing member 53 is tightened, the abutting part 53c abuts against the joint ball 51, and the joint ball 51 is pressed against the ball receiving part 52c. 53c The joint ball 51 is clamped between these, and the first shaft 31 is held at a desired tilt position in the direction of the hemisphere of the frame 2.

[0040] Furthermore, the height of the first engagement portion 52a, the depth of the second engagement portion 53b, and the space formed by the ball receiving portion 52c and the abutment portion 53c are set so that the top surface 53b2 of the second engagement portion 53b of the pressing member 53 does not come into contact with the bottom surface 52a1 of the first engagement portion 52a of the ball housing 52, even when the pressing member 53 is tightly tightened and the abutment portion 53c is firmly abutted against the joint ball 51.

[0041] The fixing operation portion 53a is formed in a plate shape, but as long as the pressing member 53 can be tightened manually and / or with a fastener, it may be formed, for example, with irregularities on the outer periphery of a cylinder, or may be formed in a hexagonal column shape, etc.

[0042] The above describes the inclined fixing mechanism 5 that connects the first shaft 31 and the frame 2, but the inclined fixing mechanism 5 that connects the second shaft 32 and the frame 2 also has a basically similar structure except for the structure of the shaft portion.

[0043] An example of a method for attaching the external fixator having the above-described configuration to the human body will be described below.

[0044] First, the limb is passed through the frames 2, 2 of the external fixator 1, and the treatment site is roughly positioned between the opposing frames 2, 2 and then positioned.

[0045] Next, the fixing ring 42 of the extension / contraction mechanism 4 and the fixing operation part 53a of the tilt fixing mechanism 5 are loosened to adjust the length of the connecting member 3 and the tilt position of the connecting member 3 in the direction of the hemisphere relative to the frame 2 to the desired tilt position. This allows the two opposing frames 2, 2 to be adjusted so that they are tilted relative to each other.

[0046] Then, the fixing ring 42 of the extension mechanism and the fixing operating portion 53a of the tilt fixing mechanism 5 are tightened, so that the connecting member 3 is held at the desired length and the connecting member 3 and the frame 2 are held at the desired tilt position.

[0047] Another tilt fixing mechanism will be described with reference to Figure 7. The tilt fixing mechanism of the first embodiment is fixed to the frame, but the other tilt fixing mechanism is different in that it is movably provided along the frame. Note that the reference numerals corresponding to the configuration of the first embodiment are prefixed with "10" or "1."

[0048] The ball housing 152 has a generally cylindrical shape and has a concave first engagement portion 152a on one surface thereof and a tapered portion 152b on the other surface thereof. 152c To attach the joint ball 151 to the 152b It can be attached by pressing it in from the side.

[0049] Between the first engaging portion 152a and the tapered portion 152b of the ball housing 152, there are provided an insertion hole 152d through which the frame 102 is slidably inserted, and a ball receiving portion having a spherical curved surface that conforms to the spherical shape of the joint ball 151 and that holds the joint ball 151. 152c The through hole 152d and the ball receiving portion 152c are connected at the top, and are set so that the joint ball 151 and the frame 102 come into contact with each other when the joint ball 151 is housed in the ball receiving portion 152c.

[0050] The presser member 153 has a plate-shaped fixed operation portion 153a standing on one surface and a convex second engagement portion 153b on the other surface. A male thread 153b1 is formed on the outer periphery of the second engagement portion 153b, and when this male thread 153b1 is threadedly engaged with the female thread 152a2 of the ball housing 152, the second engagement portion 153b of the presser member 153 enters the first engagement portion 152a of the ball housing 152, and its top surface 153b2 abuts against the frame 102, which abuts against the joint ball 151 and presses the joint ball 151 against the ball receiving portion 152c. The abutting portion of the frame 102 with the joint ball 151 functions as the abutting portion 53c in the first embodiment.

[0051] As a result, when the fixing operation part 153a is operated to loosen the pressing member 153, the pressure exerted by the pressing member 153 on the frame 102 and the joint ball 151 is released, and the tilt fixing mechanism 105 can slide on the frame 102 and move to a desired position, and the first shaft 131 can be adjusted to a desired tilt position in the direction of the hemisphere relative to the frame 102 to which the tilt fixing mechanism 105 is attached.

[0052] Furthermore, when the pressing member 153 is tightened, the frame 102 is pressed against the joint ball 151, and the joint ball 151 is pressed against the ball receiving portion 152c, the tilt fixing mechanism 105 is fixed at a desired position relative to the frame 102, and the first shaft 131 is held at a desired tilt position in the hemispherical direction of the frame 2.

[0053] In this embodiment, the joint balls 51, 151, the ball housings 52, 152, the pressing members 53, 153, the frame 102, etc. constitute the tilt fixing mechanism. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1 External fixator 2, 102 frames 3 Connecting members 4 Telescopic mechanism 5, 105 Tilt fixing mechanism 51, 151 joint ball 52, 152 ball housing 52c, 152c ball receiving part 53, 153 Pressing member 53a, 153a fixed operation part 53c contact part

Claims

1. The frame and a connecting member connected to the frame; a tilt fixing mechanism that allows the connecting member to be tilted relative to the frame and can be fixed in the tilted state, The tilt fixing mechanism is a spherical joint ball provided at at least one end of the connecting member; a ball housing provided on the frame, the ball housing having a cylindrical ball receiving portion that houses and receives the joint ball, and a first engagement portion on one surface of the cylindrical ball receiving portion that faces the ball receiving portion; a second engaging portion that screws into the first engaging portion formed on one surface of the cylindrical ball housing, and a pressing member that has an abutment portion that abuts against the joint ball by the screw engagement, the ball receiving portion and the abutting portion have contact surfaces with the joint ball that form spherical curved surfaces that follow the spherical shape of the joint ball.

2. 2. The inter-frame fixator according to claim 1, wherein the ball housing has a tapered portion formed around the connecting member.

3. 3. The inter-frame fixator according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member is provided with an extension mechanism for adjusting the length.

4. The ball housing has an insertion hole through which the frame is slidably inserted, 4. The inter-frame fixator according to claim 1, wherein the second engagement portion of the pressing member is threadedly engaged with the first engagement portion of the ball housing, thereby pressing the joint ball against the ball receiving portion and pressing the frame against the insertion hole.

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