Super wing nut

Provided are a super wing nut and a super wing bolt that may be used both separately and in conjunction with each other. The super wing nut comprises a head, two wings that extend transversely from opposite sides of the head, a tightening hole that passes perpendicular through the head between the two wings, a tightening slot in a top surface of the head, a polygonal sided shaft that extends downward from the head, and a threaded shaft that extends downward from the polygonal sided shaft. The super wing bolt comprises a head, two wings that extend transversely from opposite sides of the head, a tightening hole that passes perpendicular through the head between the two wings, a tightening slot in a first top surface of the head, a polygonal-sided shaft that extends downward from the head and a threaded hole that passes axially through the shaft.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The claimed subject matter relates generally to novel nuts and bolts and, more specifically, to nuts and bolts that include a head that facilitates both loosening and tightening the nut or bolt, primarily with respect to an orthopedic fixation device.

BACKGROUND

External Bone Fixation devices are employed by Orthopedic Health Care Providers to treat bone deformity and acute trauma. Such devices are typically assembled from components fastened together using, among other components, nuts and bolts. Speed of assembly is often desirable, particularly in the event of trauma, yet the currently available nuts and bolts typically require the use of specific wrenches and other tools to be install, spin and tighten onto a corresponding bolt or nut, respectively.

External Fixation Devices may include variously configured plates and posts. Plates are fastened together with struts with a threaded portion, the threaded portion secured to plate by a nut. A post may have a threaded hole that enables the post to be attached to a plate or another post with a bolt.

SUMMARY

Provided are super nuts and bolts that include a novel head that tenable the nuts and bolts to be attached for their intended purposes more easily and quickly. As the Inventors herein have realized, External Bone Fixation (EBF) devices would benefit from novel nuts and bolts that weigh less and are able to be assembled more quickly with a fewer number and wider variety of tools than typical nuts and bolts. In other words, there is a need for nuts and bolts that are lighter, faster and easier to assemble, particularly with respect to EBF devices.

Provided is a fastener for use with a correspondingly threaded bolt comprising a head, two wings that extend transversely from opposite sides of the head, a tightening hole that passes perpendicular through the head between the two wings, a tightening slot in a top surface of the head, a polygonal sided shaft that extends downward from the head and a threaded hole that passes axially through the shaft.

Also provided is a fastener for use with a correspondingly threaded nut comprising a head, two wings that extend transversely from opposite sides of the head, a tightening hole that passes perpendicular through the head between the two wings, a tightening slot in a top surface of the head, a polygonal sided shaft that extends downward from the head and a threaded shaft that extends downward from the polygonal sided shaft.

Also provided is a two-part fastener with a first part comprising a head, two wings that extend transversely from opposite sides of the head, a tightening hole that passes perpendicular through the head between the two wings; a tightening slot in a top surface of the head, a polygonal sided shaft that extends downward from the head, and a threaded shaft that extends downward from the polygonal sided shaft. The second part comprises a head, two wings that extend transversely from opposite sides of the head, a tightening hole that passes perpendicular through the head between the two wings, a tightening slot in a first top surface of the head, a polygonal sided shaft that extends downward from the head, and a threaded hole that passes axially through the shaft, wherein the threaded shaft of the second part threads through the threaded hole of the first part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Although described with particular reference to an External Bone Fixation device, the claimed subject matter can be implemented in any mechanical application in which ease and speed of assembly is desirable. Those with skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the disclosed embodiments have relevance to a wide variety of situation in addition to those described below.

FIG. 1is an illustration of super wing nut100constructed in accordance with the claimed subject matter. A head102of nut100includes two wings104, each wing including a serrated surface106that are parallel to each other along the sides of head102. A surface101is referred to as the “top” of super wing nut100and head102. Although not visible inFIG. 1, the side of each wing104opposite serrated surfaces106also has a serrated surface. Wings104provide a first means to either loosen or tighten wing nut100by enabling wing nut100to be rotated, typically with a user's fingers but also with a wrench if necessary. A tightening hole108runs through head102perpendicular to serrated surfaces106of wing nut100. Tightening hole108serves two (2) purposes, the first is to lighten the weight of wing nut100and the second to provide a second means to either loosen or tighten wing nut100by inserting a rod (not shown) or other implement into hole108and rotating head102of wing nut100. A tightening slot110is positioned on the top of head102and also serves two (2) purposes, the first to lighten the weight of wing nut100and the second is to provide a third means to either loosen or tighten wing nut100, for example by using a screwdriver (not shown) or other implement inserted into tightening slot110.

A lower portion of wing nut100includes a polygonal sided shaft, which in this illustration is six-sided, or hex-sided, shaft112that provides a fourth means to loosen or tighten wing nut100by using an appropriately sized wrench (not shown). Running axially through the center of the length of shaft112is a threaded hole114into which a matching bolt would be threaded. Either a typical bolt or a super bolt200(seeFIGS. 4-6) may be used. Typically, the diameter of threaded hole114would be less than the diameter of both tightening hole108and tightening slot110so that a bolt threaded through threaded hole114of wing nut100would be able to extend through and out the top of head102if necessary.

FIG. 2is an illustration of the super wing nut100ofFIG. 1, from a different perspective, showing additional features that are obscured in the illustration ofFIG. 1. Head102, wings104, serrated surfaces106, tightening hole108, hex-sided shaft112, and threaded hole114, all introduced above in conjunction withFIG. 1, are shown. In addition, an anti-slip surface116is shown on the bottom of hex-sided shaft112. Anti-slip surface116prevents wing nut100from loosening once wing nut100is tightened to a bolt or strut (see310,FIG. 7). Typically, anti-slip surface would abut whatever component (see302,304,306and308,FIG. 7) to which the strut or bolt are attached.

FIG. 3is an illustration of the super wing nut100ofFIGS. 1 and 2, from a third, or side, perspective. Visible inFIG. 3are top101, wing104, serrated surface106and hex-sided shaft112introduced above in conjunction withFIGS. 1 and 2. The portion of super wing nut100referred to as head102is also illustrated. Also visible is anti-slip surface116, which was introduced above in conjunction withFIG. 2.FIG. 3shows wing nut100with a width of ten millimeters (10 mm.), which would be a typical size when wing nut100is employed in conjunction with and external bone fixation device (see300,FIG. 7). In this size wing nut100, threaded hole114(FIGS. 1 and 2), which is not visible inFIG. 3, would typically be six millimeters (6 mm.). It should be understood that the illustrated sizes are only examples and the disclosed technology may be employed with wing nuts100of any size, both larger and smaller. In this embodiment, hex-sided shaft112has the same width as head102and two sides of shaft112are parallel to wings104, which enables a single sized wrench to be used on either component104or112to loosen or tighten wing nut100. In this example, the width of both wings104and shaft112are ten-millimeter (10 mm.) and a ten-millimeter wrench (not shown) could be employed to either tighten or loosen wing nut100by applying the wrench to either wings104or shaft112.

FIG. 4is an illustration of super wing bolt200with a novel head in accordance with the claimed subject matter. A head202of bolt200includes two wings204, each wing including a serrated surface206that are parallel to each other along the sides of head202. A surface201is referred to as the “top” of super wing bolt200and head202. Although not visible inFIG. 4, the side of each wing204opposite serrated surfaces206also has a serrated surface. Wings204provide a first means to either loosen or tighten wing bolt200by enabling wing bolt200to be rotated, typically with a user's fingers but also with a wrench if necessary. A tightening hole208runs through head202perpendicular to serrated surfaces206of wing bolt200. Tightening hole208serves two (2) purposes, the first is to lighten the weight of wing bolt200and the second to provide a second means to either loosen or tighten wing bolt200by inserting a rod (not shown) or other implement into hole208and rotating head202and wing bolt200. A tightening slot210is positioned on the top of head202and also serves two (2) purposes, the first to lighten the weight of wing bolt200and the second is to provide a third means to either loosen or tighten wing bolt200, for example by using a screwdriver (not shown) or other implement inserted into tightening slot210.

A lower portion of wing bolt200includes a polygonal-sided shaft212, which in this illustration is six-sided, or hex-sided, that provides a fourth means to loosen or tighten wing bolt200by using an appropriately sized wrench (not shown). Extending from the bottom of shaft212is a threaded shaft214onto which a matching nut would be threaded. Either a typical nut or super nut100(FIGS. 1-3) may be used.

FIG. 5is an illustration of the super wing bolt200ofFIG. 4, from a different perspective. Head202, wings204, serrated surfaces206, tightening hole208, hex-sided shaft212, and threaded shaft214, all introduced above in conjunction withFIG. 4, are shown. Although an anti-slip surface such anti-slip surface116(FIGS. 2 and 3) is not shown on the bottom of hex-sided shaft212, another embodiment may have such a surface.

FIG. 6is an illustration of the super wing bolt200ofFIGS. 4 and 5, from a third perspective. Visible inFIG. 6are top201, wing204, serrated surface206, hex-sided shaft212and threaded shaft214, all introduced above in conjunction withFIGS. 4 and 5. The portion of super wing bolt200referred to as head202is also illustrated.FIG. 6shows wing bolt200with a width of ten millimeters (10 mm.), which would be a typical size when wing bolt200is employed in conjunction with and external bone fixation device (see300,FIG. 7). In this size wing bolt200, threaded shaft214(FIGS. 4 and 5), would be six millimeters (6 mm.). It should be understood that the illustrated sizes are only examples and the disclosed technology may be employed with wing bolts200of any size, both larger and smaller. In this embodiment, hex-sided shaft212has the same width as head202and two sides of shaft212are parallel to wings204, which enables a single sized wrench to be used on either component204or212to loosen or tighten wing bolt200. In this example, the width of both wings204and shaft212are ten-millimeter (10 mm.) and a ten-millimeter wrench (not shown) could be employed to either tighten or loosen wing bolt200by applying the wrench to either wings204or shaft212.

FIG. 7is an illustration of an External Bone Fixation (EBF) device300that has been assembled with the wing nuts100(FIGS. 1-3) and wing bolts200(FIGS. 1-6). EBF device300includes a C-shaped Plate302, two (2) I-shaped Plate304, only one of which is labeled, posts306and a bridge308. It should be understood that EBF device300is only one simple example and that a typical EBF device may include both additional components like those illustrated and addition types of components. C-shaped plate302is attached to I-shaped plates304by means of four (4) adjustable struts310, only three (3) of which are labeled. Although not visible, adjustable struts310have a threaded shaft at each end that pass through holes in either C-shaped plate302or I-shaped plate304. Super wing nuts100are threaded onto these shafts to secure adjustable struts302to their respective components302or304. In this figure, only two wing nuts100are labeled, both of which are attaching adjustable struts310to C-shaped plate302.

Although not visible, posts306have threaded holes that enable posts306to be affixed to I-shaped plates304by means of wing bolt200, only one of which is labeled, by passing threaded shaft214through a hole in plates304into the threaded hole and tightening. In a similar fashion, threaded holes, which are not visible, at each end of bridge308enable bridge308to be affixed to posts306by passing threaded shaft214through a hole in post306and threading and tightening wing bolt200.

While the claimed subject matter has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter, including but not limited to additional, less or modified elements.