Spacer segment and a spacer

A spacer segment comprising a first collar portion, a second collar portion, the collar portions having an inner face and an outer face, the spacer segment further comprising at least one support assembly extending between the first collar portion and the second collar portion to maintain the collar portions in a fixed spaced relation to each other, the at least one support assembly comprising a suspension means provided by a resilient wall portion and a contact portion which is biased by the suspension means in a spaced relation from the outer face of the collar portions, the contact portion is adapted to move between a normal position wherein the spacer segment has no load thereon, toward a compressed position, wherein the spacer segment has a load thereon, the resilient wall portion is integrally formed so as to be incorporated with the body, wherein the resilient wall portion flexes as load is applied thereto;

• a first connector element provided at one end of each of the collar portions wherein the first connector element comprises a passage formed along the respective collar portion to extend inwardly from the respective end and second connector element provided at the other end of each of the collar portions, the second connector element comprising an elongate element which in use is able to be received in the passage to be slidable along the passage, wherein the first connector elements are engageable with the second connector elements of the same or another spacer segment such that one or more spacer segments are able to form a spacer which in use is capable of being received around a first surface such that the elongate element is received between the inner face and the second surface, the first connector element having an adjustment element cooperating with the passage and the elongate element to control the position of the elongate element within the passage, wherein the adjustment element comprises a threaded element rotatably supported adjacent the passage and wherein the elongate element is formed with a set of serrations along at least a portion of its length, the spacing between the serrations conforming to the thread of the threaded element, wherein in use when the elongate element is received in the passage the thread of the threaded element is engaged with the serrations such that rotation of the threaded element causes relative displacement between the passage and the elongate element;
• wherein the suspension means biases the contact portion towards the normal position, such that when any load is removed from the spacer segment the contact portion returns to the normal position.