Cam-wedge locking mechanism
AssigneeMinnesota Scientific, Inc.
InventorWalter Dobrovolny
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A positioning device allowing rotatable travel in one direction only when an inclined member engages a cammed member. The positioning device includes a rotatable cammed member having a surface defined by a decreasing radius, an inclined member movable between a first position and a second position, and a spring for urging the inclined member into engagement with the cammed member.
Claims19
A positioning device comprising:
- a cammed member movable about an axis;
- an inclined member movable between a first position and a second position, the inclined member allowing rotatable travel of the cammed member in one direction only when engaging the cammed member;
- and
- a spring for urging the inclined member into engagement with the cammed member.
A positioning mechanism for securing a rotatable member in a selected position, the mechanism preventing reverse-rotation of the rotatable member, the positioning mechanism comprising:
- a rotatable cam;
- a movable wedge including an inclined surface abuttable against the cam, the wedge preventing reverse-rotation of the cam when engaged with the cam;
- and
- a spring for urging the wedge against the cam.
An automatically locking retractor apparatus comprising:
- a retractor blade;
- a cammed member attached to the retractor blade and having a cam defined by a radius of varying lengths;
- and
- a wedge capable of engaging the cam surface to retain the cammed member in a fixed position thereby selectively positioning the retractor blade.
A method of selectively positioning a retractor blade of a retractor apparatus, the apparatus including a cam rotatable about an axis and attached to the retractor blade and a wedge for slidably engaging the cam and a spring force urging the wedge against the cam, the method comprising:
- rotating the retractor blade to a selected position;
- and
- engaging the retractor blade with body tissue, the cam thereby being engaged by the wedge so that the blade is retained in the selected position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.