Fastener member for affixation to a structure in an orthopedic device and method for securing the same
AssigneeOssur Hf
InventorsHelgi Jonsson, Arni Thor Ingimundarson, Bjorn Omarsson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fastener member for mechanical affixation to a structure includes a base having first and second sides, a plurality of fastening elements integrally formed and extending from a first side of the base, and at least one affixation element extending from the second side of the base and arranged to mechanically affix to an attachment opening of a structure. A system includes a structure and a fastener member for mechanical affixation to the structure. A method includes affixing the fastener member to a structure.
Claims18
An orthopedic device comprising a frame element, a brace component, and a fastener member for mechanical affixation of the brace component to the frame element, the fastener member including:
- a base having first and second sides;
- a plurality of hook fastening elements extending from a first side of the base;
- an affixation element extending from the second side of the base and arranged to mechanically affix to at least one of a plurality of attachment openings of the frame element;
- wherein the affixation element has a head defining a length dimension extending longer than a width of at least one of a plurality of attachment openings;
- wherein each of the at least one of a plurality of attachment openings is formed as an elongate slot such the fastener member slides relative to walls surrounding the elongate slot along a length of the elongate slot;
- wherein the fastener member is secured to the frame element into a secured configuration by rotating the fastener member so that a head of the fastener member is pressed against a first surface of the frame element beyond peripheral walls of the at least one of a plurality of attachment openings, an entirety of a backside of the base of the fastener member is arranged directly adjacent to a second surface of the frame element due to a stem carrying the head of the affixation element, which passes through the attachment opening, having a height corresponding to and the same as a thickness of the peripheral walls to assure that the backside of the fastener member is snugly secured without movement directly against the second surface of the frame element, wherein the head extends in length greater than a width or diameter of the stem and wherein the width of the at least one of a plurality of attachment openings matches the diameter or width of the stem of the fastener member, the fastener member being readjustable relative to the frame element from the secured configuration by rotating the fastener member so the length dimension of the head is parallel to the length of the at least one of a plurality of attachment openings;
- wherein the brace component is arranged to connect to the frame element and includes loop material for interengaging the plurality of hook fastening elements of the fastener member at a plurality of locations on the frame element corresponding to the plurality of attachment openings, and the brace component is selected from the group consisting of a strap and padding.
In an orthopedic device, a method for securing a fastener member to a frame element having a plurality of openings by mechanical affixation to connect a brace component to the frame element, the fastener member including a base having first and second sides, a plurality of hook fastening elements extending from a first side of the base, an affixation element extending from the second side of the base and arranged to mechanically affix to an attachment opening of the frame element, the affixation element having a head defining a length dimension extending longer than a width of the plurality of attachment openings, the method comprising the steps of:
- selecting one of the plurality of attachment openings defined by the frame element for affixation of the fastener member;
- inserting the head into one of the plurality of attachment openings such that a length dimension of the head is aligned with a length of the one of the attachment openings;
- sliding the fastener member relative to the one of the plurality of attachment openings and selecting a location along the one of the plurality of attachment openings for affixing the fastener member;
- rotating the fastener member so the length dimension of the head is generally perpendicular to a length of the one of the plurality of attachment openings so the head snugly engages directly against a first surface of the frame element and an entirety of a first side of the base snugly is against a second surface of the frame element without movement at the location;
- wherein the fastener member includes a stem carrying the head of the affixation element, which passes through the attachment opening, having a height corresponding to and the same as a thickness of peripheral walls of the frame element about the one of the plurality of attachment openings, wherein the head extends in length greater than a width or diameter of the stem and wherein the width of the at least one of a plurality of attachment openings matches the diameter or width of the stem of the fastener member;
- applying the brace component to the fastener member such that loop material of the brace component engages the hook fastening elements, wherein the brace component is selected from the group consisting of a strap and padding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.