Torque enhancing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11852283-B2
Application number	US-202017617362-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2020
Priority date	Jun 12, 2019
Publication date	Dec 26, 2023
Grant date	Dec 26, 2023

Abstract

The torque enhancing apparatus including a first socket and a second socket coupled to the first socket, including an extendable moment arm. The torque enhancing apparatus includes a ball pivotably and captively held between the first socket and the second socket. The torque enhancing apparatus may include one or more extendable moment arms. The extendable moment arm or arms are configured such that they provide a mechanical advantage for moving the first socket and the second socket relative to one another. The torque enhancing apparatus may include a first socket, a second socket coupled to the first socket including four extendable moment arms. The torque enhancing apparatus including a ball pivotably held between the first socket and the second socket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A torque enhancing apparatus, comprising:
a mounting assembly comprising:
a mounting arm extending from a first end to a second end; and
a ball disposed at the second end of the mounting arm, the ball having a first diameter;

a first socket comprising:
a first coupling portion having a first cylindrical surface, wherein at least a portion of the first cylindrical surface is threaded; and
a first receiving enclosure having one or more circumferential walls that extend along a first socket axis and a support wall that extends substantially transverse to the first socket axis, the first receiving enclosure configured to receive at least a portion of the ball of the mounting assembly such that a first portion of the ball contacts a portion of the support wall;

a second socket comprising:
a flange portion including a top surface that surrounds a first portion of a central aperture extending through the flange portion, the central aperture having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter;
an elongated first moment arm that extends from a first end to a second end, the first end being pivotably coupled to a first portion of the flange portion, the first moment arm configured to be pivoted between a retraced position and an extended position, wherein when the first moment arm is in the extended position, the second end extends beyond an outer perimeter edge defining the flange portion, and wherein when the first moment arm is in the retracted position, the second end does not extend beyond the outer perimeter edge defining the flange portion;
an elongated second moment arm that extends from a first end to a second end, the first end being pivotably coupled to a second portion of the flange portion, the second moment arm configured to be pivoted between a retraced position and an extended position, wherein when the second moment arm is in the extended position, the second end extends beyond the outer perimeter edge defining the flange portion, and wherein when the second moment arm is in the retracted position, the second end does not extend beyond the outer perimeter edge defining the flange portion; and
a cylindrical second coupling portion projecting from the flange portion, the second coupling portion comprising:
one or more inner surfaces that define a second portion of the central aperture;
a second socket engagement portion disposed at an end portion of the second coupling portion; and
a circumferential second cylindrical surface, wherein at least a portion of the second cylindrical surface is threaded, and wherein the threaded portion of the second cylindrical surface engages the threaded portion of the first cylindrical surface to displace the second socket between an engaged position and a disengaged position relative to the first socket, wherein:
(a) when the second cylindrical surface is rotated in a first rotational direction relative to the first cylindrical surface, the second socket engagement portion of the second socket displaces in a first linear direction towards a second portion of the ball until the second socket engagement portion contacts the second portion of the ball such that the second socket is in the engaged position in which the ball is fixed between the second socket engagement portion and the support wall of the first receiving enclosure of the first socket, and
(b) when the second cylindrical surface is rotated in a second rotational direction relative to the first cylindrical surface, the second socket engagement portion of the second displaces in a second linear direction away from the second portion of the ball until the second socket engagement portion is not in contact with the second portion of the ball such that the second socket is in the disengaged engaged position in which the ball is the rotatable relative to the first socket that thus the mounting arm is positionable relative to the first socket, and
wherein each of the first moment arm and the second moment arm are configured to be rotated from the retraced position to the extended position such that a force is configured to be applied by a user to the second end of each of the first moment arm and the second moment arm to rotate the second socket from the disengaged position to the engaged position.

2. The torque enhancing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a mount coupled to the first socket.

3. The torque enhancing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second socket further comprises an ergonomic feature.

4. The torque enhancing apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the ergonomic feature comprises a plurality of recesses.

5. The torque enhancing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first moment arm and the second moment arm are symmetrically positioned relative to the central aperture.

6. The torque enhancing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the two extendable moment arms are asymmetrical.

7. The torque enhancing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first moment arm and the second moment arm each rotate in a first pivot direction from the retracted position to the extended position.

8. The torque enhancing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a pivot axis of each of the first moment arm and the second pivot arm is parallel to the first socket axis.

9. The torque enhancing apparatus of claim 1 , the second socket further comprising:
an elongated third moment arm that extends from a first end to a second end, the first end being pivotably coupled to a third portion of the flange portion, the third moment arm configured to be pivoted between a retraced position and an extended position, wherein when the third moment arm is in the extended position, the second end extends beyond the outer perimeter edge defining the flange portion, and wherein when the third moment arm is in the retracted position, the second end does not extend beyond the outer perimeter edge defining the flange portion; and
an elongated fourth moment arm that extends from a first end to a second end, the first end being pivotably coupled to a fourth portion of the flange portion, the fourth moment arm configured to be pivoted between a retraced position and an extended position, wherein when the fourth moment arm is in the extended position, the second end extends beyond the outer perimeter edge defining the flange portion, and wherein when the fourth moment arm is in the retracted position, the second end does not extend beyond the outer perimeter edge defining the flange portion,
wherein each of the third moment arm and the fourth moment arm are configured to be rotated from the retraced position to the extended position such that a second force is configured to be applied by the user to the second end of each of the third moment arm and the fourth moment arm to rotate the second socket from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

10. The torque enhancing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first moment arm and the second moment arm each rotate in a first pivot direction from the retracted position to the extended position, and wherein the third moment arm and the fourth moment arm each rotate in a second pivot direction from the retracted position to the extended position, wherein the second pivot direction is opposite to the first pivot direction.

11. The torque enhancing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a pivot axis of each of the first moment arm, the second pivot arm, the third pivot arm, and the fourth pivot arm is parallel to the first socket axis.

12. The torque enhancing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the flange portion is planar and normal to the first socket axis.

13. The torque enhancing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first

Assignees

• Lsi Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Sauer Jude S

Classifications

• F16M11/2078 Primary

  with ball-joint (ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06) · CPC title

• F16M13/022

  repositionable · CPC title

• A61B90/50

  Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms · CPC title

• B25G1/06 Primary

  reversible or adjustable for position · CPC title

• B25B17/02

  providing for torque amplification · CPC title