Back to results
US 10,512,305 B2Granted
Tightening system with a tension control mechanism
AssigneeOssur Hf
InventorsBjorn Omarsson, Harry Duane Romo, Janaki Ram-srinivasaRao Chetlapalli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tightening system includes a housing and a spool situated within the housing. The spool is rotatable about an axis within the housing. An elongate tensioning element is rotatably linked to the spool and a tension control mechanism is operatively connected to the spool. The tension control mechanism is arranged to automatically move relative to the spool when tension in the tensioning element reaches a predetermined level, which, in turn, releases at least part of the tension in the tensioning element.
Claims14
A tightening system comprising:
- a housing;
- a dial member connected to the housing;
- a spool situated within the housing, the spool defining a winding surface and selectively engaging the dial member such that rotation of the dial member causes rotation of the spool;
- an elongate tensioning element attached to the spool, the spool being rotatable in a first direction in which the elongate tensioning element is wound around the winding surface and a second direction in which the elongate tensioning element is unwound from the winding surface;
- and
- a tension control mechanism engaging a lower surface of the spool,
- wherein when a tension level in the tensioning element reaches a predetermined level the tightening system automatically moves from an original position in which the tension control mechanism forces the spool into engagement with the dial member to a release position in which the spool shifts away from the dial member and rotates independent of the dial member in the second direction to decrease the tension level in the elongate tensioning element.
4 more elements
An orthopedic system comprising:
- a tightening system including:
- a housing;
- a spool situated within the housing, the spool rotatable about an axis and defining a winding surface;
- a dial member selectively engaging the spool, wherein the dial member defines a first engagement surface, and the spool defines a second engagement surface opposed the first engagement surface, the second engagement surface arranged to engage the first engagement surface such that rotation of the dial member causes rotation of the spool;
- an elongate tensioning element rotatably linked to the spool, the spool being rotatable in a first direction in which the elongate tensioning element is wound around the winding surface and a tension level in the elongate tensioning element increases and a second direction in which the elongate tensioning element is unwound from the winding surface and the tension level in the elongate tensioning element decreases;
- and
- a resilient element situated under the spool, wherein when the tension level in the tensioning element reaches a predetermined level the at least one resilient member moves from an original position in which the least one resilient member forces the spool into engagement with the dial member to a release position in which the resilient element allows the second engagement surface to disengage from the first engagement surface and rotate independent of the dial member in the second direction to decrease the tension level in the elongate tensioning element.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.