Torque limiting tool and method for using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9597786-B2
Application number	US-201414463726-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2014
Priority date	Aug 22, 2013
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

A torque limiting tool, method for using the same, and set of torque limiting tools according to different loads are arranged for adjusting a device to a predetermined load, and preventing further adjustment once the predetermined load is reached.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A torque limiting tool, comprising:
an upper portion having a handle;
a lower portion including a key part; and
an intermediate portion having a shearing section and connecting to the upper and lower portions;
wherein the torque limiting tool is monolithic and continuously formed.

2. The torque limiting tool of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate portion defines opposed frustoconical sections tapering toward a dividing line within the shearing section.

3. The torque limiting tool of claim 2 , wherein the dividing line is along the shearing section adapted to shear the frustoconical sections from one another upon application of a predetermined rotational force.

4. The torque limiting tool of claim 2 , wherein the frustoconical sections have same dimensions and are mirror opposite one another.

5. The torque limiting tool of claim 2 , wherein the frustoconical sections have substantially continuous concentric dimensions.

6. The torque limiting tool of claim 1 , wherein the key part defines a protruding non-cylindrical shape forming an end portion of the torque limiting tool.

7. The torque limiting tool of claim 1 , wherein the key part defines a polygonal cross-section.

8. The torque limiting tool of claim 1 , wherein the upper, intermediate and lower portions are coaxial along a longitudinal axis of the torque limiting tool.

9. The torque limiting tool of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion defines an upper cylindrical portion between the handle and the intermediate portion, and generally concentric with the intermediate portion, and the lower portion defines a lower cylindrical portion between the key part and the intermediate portion, and generally concentric with the intermediate portion.

10. The torque limiting tool of claim 1 , wherein the lower portion defines a lower cylindrical portion between the key part and the intermediate portion, and generally concentric with the intermediate portion, the lower cylindrical portion defines a flanged surface extending generally perpendicularly to the key part.

11. A torque limiting tool, comprising:
an upper portion having a handle;
a lower portion including a key part; and
an intermediate portion having a shearing section and connecting to the upper and lower portions;
wherein each of the first and second arms defines an arcuate surface and a linear surface on opposed sides of each of the arms, the arcuate surface of the first arm is on a side opposite to the arcuate surface of the second arm;
wherein the handle defines coaxial first and second arms along a lateral axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the torque limiting tool.

12. The torque limiting tool of claim 11 , wherein the arcuate surface of each of the first and second arms extends along opposed sides of the longitudinal axis.

13. The torque limiting tool of claim 11 , wherein the arcuate surface of each of the first and second arms defines an arcuate segment generally concentric with the intermediate portion.

14. A method for securing a device with a torque limiting tool having a handle, a key part and a shearing section, the device including a rotatable receptacle for correspondingly receiving the key part, the method comprising the steps of:
coupling the key part with the rotatable receptacle;
rotating the torque limiting tool in a first rotational direction wherein at a predetermined level of rotational force, the shearing section separates the handle from the key part;
wherein the rotatable receptacle couples to a ratchet element preventing rotational movement in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of:
selecting the torque limiting tool among a plurality of different torque limiting tools each having a shearing section indexed at a different predetermined level of rotational force.

16. A set of torque limiting tools, each of the torque limiting tools including an upper portion having a handle,
a lower portion including a key part, and
an intermediate portion having a shearing section and connecting to the upper and lower portions;
wherein each of the torque limiting tools is monolithic and continuously formed;
wherein each of the torque limiting tools has a different shearing section indexed at a different predetermined level of rotational force required to shear the shearing section and sever the handle from the key part.

17. The set of torque limiting tools of claim 16 , wherein each of the torque limiting tools includes different indicia indicating the predetermined level of rotational force of an individual torque limiting tool.

Assignees

• Ossur Hf

Inventors

• Romo Harry Duane
• Chetlapalli Janaki Ram-Srinivasarao

Classifications

• A61B17/8875

  Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches · CPC title

• B25B23/1415 Primary

  Break members; Arrangements specially adapted for break-bolts (break-bolts per se F16B31/00) · CPC title

• A61B2090/031

  torque limiting · CPC title

• A61F5/01

  Orthopaedic devices, e.g. long-term immobilising or pressure directing devices for treating broken or deformed bones such as splints, casts or braces · CPC title