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US 9,039,745 B2Granted
One-piece variable angle locking washer
AssigneeBiomet Manufacturing, LLC
InventorDaniel Duane Fritzinger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variable angle locking washer comprising a body having an outer surface circumferentially disposed between a top surface and a bottom surface, a central bore extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the central bore having a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion, and a plurality of radial slots peripherally positioned along the body, each slot defining a channel that extends between the outer surface of the body and the central bore.
Claims17
A variable angle locking washer comprising:
- a body of unitary, one-piece construction formed from a resiliently deformable material having an outer surface circumferentially disposed between a top surface and a bottom surface, the outer surface defining a sidewall that surrounds an entire periphery of the unitary body, the sidewall having a constant convex curvature that transitions between the top surface and the bottom surface;
- a central bore extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the central bore having a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion;
- and
- a plurality of radial slots peripherally positioned along the unitary body, each radial slot defining an channel that extends between the outer surface of the unitary body and the central bore;
- wherein each radial slot is disposed parallel to a diagonal axis that intersects the top surface of the unitary body, and wherein each radial slot at least partially intersects a line defining a maximum peripheral circumference of the sidewall;
- and
- wherein the top surface is capable of expanding axially away from the bottom surface about the central bore while remaining substantially parallel thereto.
4 more elements
A variable angle locking washer assembly comprising:
- a locking washer of unitary, one-piece construction formed from a resiliently deformable material having a plurality of radial slots peripherally positioned along an outer surface of the unitary locking washer, each radial slot defining a channel that extends between the outer surface and a central bore having a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion, wherein the outer surface is circumferentially disposed between a top surface and a bottom surface and defines a sidewall that surrounds an entire periphery of the unitary locking washer, the sidewall having a constant convex curvature that transitions between the top surface and the bottom surface;
- a plate material having an opening defining a mating pocket configured to receive the unitary locking washer;
- and
- a screw including a head portion having helical threads and an elongated shaft portion extending from the head portion, the shaft portion being insertable into the central bore at more than one angle relative to a central axis to lock the screw to the plate material;
- wherein each radial slot is disposed parallel to a diagonal axis that intersects the top surface of the unitary locking washer, and wherein each radial slot at least partially intersects a line defining a maximum peripheral circumference of the sidewall;
- and
- wherein the top surface is capable of expanding axially away from the bottom surface about the central bore while remaining substantially parallel thereto.
4 more elements
A variable angle locking washer assembly comprising:
- a screw including a head portion having helical threads and an elongated shaft portion extending from the head portion;
- a plate material having an opening;
- and
- a locking washer of unitary, one-piece construction formed from a resiliently deformable material having a central bore and plurality of radial slots peripherally positioned along an outer surface of the unitary locking washer, the outer surface being circumferentially disposed between a top surface and a bottom surface and defining a sidewall that surrounds an entire periphery of the unitary locking washer, the sidewall having a constant convex curvature that transitions between the top surface and the bottom surface;
- wherein the central bore has a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion;
- wherein each radial slot is disposed parallel to a diagonal axis that intersects the top surface of the unitary locking washer, and wherein each radial slot at least partially intersects a line defining a maximum peripheral circumference of the sidewall;
- wherein the threaded portion is configured to mate with the helical threads on the head portion of the screw to lock the screw to the plate material at more than one angle relative to a central axis;
- and
- wherein the top surface is capable of expanding axially away from the bottom surface about the central bore while remaining substantially parallel thereto.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.