Patent ID: 9510859
Filing Date: 2016-12-06
CPC Classification: A61B,F16B

Claim Text:
1. A clamp assembly for an external fixation system, the clamp assembly comprising: a first jaw comprising a clamping portion, a rear portion opposite the clamping portion, and a first connector portion between the clamping and rear portions of the first jaw; a second jaw comprising a clamping portion, a rear portion opposite the clamping portion, and a second connector portion between the clamping and rear portions of the second jaw, the clamping portions of the first and second jaws together forming a passage for receiving a first fixation element of the external fixation system, the first connector portion of the first jaw being pivotable about the second connector portion of the second jaw; a first link pivotally connected to the rear portion of the first jaw; and a second link pivotally connected to the rear portion of the second jaw and to the first link, the first link pivotally connected to the rear portion of the first jaw and pivotally connected to the second link, the first and second links being pivotable between a first position and a second position, in the first position, the first and second jaws assuming an open position, and in the second position, the first and second jaws assuming a closed position and the first link resisting separation of the jaws, wherein: the first connector portion comprises a first J-hook and the second connector portion comprising a first boss, at least a portion of the first J-hook extending about the first boss; the first jaw comprises a first inner clamp face and two lateral sides between the clamping and rear portions of the first jaw; the second jaw comprises a second inner clamp face facing the first inner clamp face, and two lateral sides between the clamping and rear portions of the first jaw; the first J-hook extends from the first inner clamp face at one of the two lateral sides of the first jaw; and the second connector portion comprises a first track in one of the two lateral sides of the second jaw, the first track comprising a first radially outer cylindrical surface and the first boss concentric with the first cylindrical surface, at least a portion of the first J-hook received in the first track and extending about the first boss.