Patent Publication Number: US-2022212333-A1

Title: Adapter for a rotary device

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosure relates to an adapter for securing to a rotary device, and more particularly to an adapter having a handle ergonomically facilitating rotation of the rotary device and adapting components upon which the rotary device is secured for minimizing rotational forces exerted thereon. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Use of a rotary device for tightening a lace, cable, or other elongate element is becoming more commonplace in numerous applications including sports, workwear, medical applications, and footwear. As it is intended that rotary devices are low profile to integrate with articles and replace original or traditional means for tightening, including laces, straps, or other suitable elongate elements, these rotary devices come at a sacrifice to individuals having poor dexterity, vision, or otherwise finding it difficult to regulate the rotary device. 
     An example of a rotary device for tightening a lace is provided by BOA Technology Inc. of Denver, Colo., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,591,050, issued Sep. 22, 2009, and incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the rotary device  10  includes a base member  16  mountable onto an article and arranged to receive a lace  24  or other elongate tensioning element. A knob  14  is provided in combination with the base member  16  and used to regulate tension and wind the lace  24  within the rotary device  10 . This knob  14  may be difficult to grasp or adjust due to its small size (i.e., a diameter of the knob  14 ) and height (i.e., an amount by which the rotary device  10  protrudes from the article). The knob  14  may comprise a top cap portion  20  and an outer cap portion  22 . 
     In many applications, it is desirable that the rotary device  10  has a low profile and closely conforms to the article upon which it is mounted, constituting a small footprint over the article and minimizing inconveniences such as bulkiness or the knob  14  catching on clothing or other objects. However, this makes it challenging for an individual with poor dexterity to grasp and rotate the knob  14 , even if the knob  14  is provided with traction elements  26  about its periphery or is constructed from a material offering improved gripping means, such as rubber. It may further be a challenge for a user to precisely regulate such a device to a desired degree of tension. Because of the low height of the rotary device  10 , there may be little clearance from the article upon which it is mounted, making it difficult to grasp. Making the knob  14  larger compromises the size of the rotary device  10  and may defeat the purpose of using a rotary device. 
     Besides considerations of difficulty with grasping the knob and insufficient clearance from the base member, some individuals may have weakness in the hands or limited dexterity which prevents the individual from rotating the knob to tighten the laces. As disclosed in the orthopedic device of U.S. patent application publication 2017/0348131, published on Dec. 7, 2017, belonging to the assignee of the present disclosure and incorporated herein by reference, the rotary device is coupled to a cable routed about a network of guides to tension a strap about a leg. Considerable force may be required by the individual wearing the device to properly tension the strap from the rotary device and through the network of guides. 
     As rotational forces are transmitted to a component of the article by tensioning of a lace about the rotary device, it may be difficult to provide conventional portions of the article that can readily withstand such rotational forces without premature failure. Such forces may provide undue stress on the portions of the article, or cause the connection of the rotary device to shear from the article. 
     From the foregoing, there is a need for a tool that facilitates rotation of a rotary device by improved gripping of the rotary device for individuals with poor dexterity, increased clearance from the article upon which the rotary device is mounted for rotating the rotary device without compromising the convenience and effectiveness of providing a rotary device, and assistance for rotating the rotary device for individuals with impaired strength. There is also a need to adapt an article for rotational forces because of the activity of the rotary device to assure it can generally withstand such forces without a detrimental effect on its structure or function. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the adapter for a rotary device of the disclosure overcome the shortcomings of known rotary devices by providing a coupler for improving the engagement of the rotary device and a handle for improved rotation of the rotary device, with the handle and the coupler together defining an adapter for a rotary device. The handle is preferably sized with a width or diameter greater than a knob on the rotary device, and the coupler and handle stack the adapter with greater clearance from an article upon which the rotary device is mounted. 
     The handle width or diameter allows for greater mechanical advantage when rotating the knob and can be provided with a grip that has improved ergonomics, particularly for an individual having poor dexterity. Because of the larger size, the handle may include indicia that make it more apparent as to the direction by which the handle should be rotated to wind an elongate element. In embodiments, the indicia may also provide an indication of a degree of rotation, helping a user to more accurately rotate the adapter to a desired or proper degree based on the rotary device. 
     The coupler may be provided with tractional elements and interior profiles that better engage the knob to facilitate grasping of the knob for rotation by the handle. The handle and coupler may be arranged with width and height features to optimize the regulation of the rotary device and engagement therewith. The handle and coupler are preferably arranged coaxially relative to one another and may be formed by a monolithic single mass of material that is integrally and continuously formed. 
     A connector may be arranged to couple a first component to a second component. The connector may have cooperating features to couple features of the first component and the second component. The connector may have material properties different from either of the first and second components. The cooperating features of the connector may form a snap-fit with a snapping action with the coupling features. For example, the cooperating features may be on opposite sides of the coupling features of corresponding first and second components, and counteract the coupling to both the first and second components. The counteracting coupling and snap-fit may occur as the connector is inserted between the coupling features. 
     A mounting system for mounting a rotary device onto a frame member of an article is provided with the connector to facilitate coupling and decoupling from the frame member. The connector enables removable and replaceable mounting of the rotary device to the frame member and eliminates adhesives, stitching or other means for securing the rotary device to the frame member. As the rotary device and frame member are not arranged to couple to one another, meaning that while they have cooperating coupling features, the connector enables locking the coupling features together to resist unintended demounting or decoupling of the rotary device from the frame member. 
     In another embodiment of the mounting system, a reinforcement plate is added to the connector to provide improved stability over the frame member. The reinforcement plate stiffens the attachment of the rotary device to the frame member to provide a robust connection, while still maintaining a low-profile yet flexible connection to the frame member, and without significant modification of the frame member structure. 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood regarding the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, but instead are drawn to provide a better understanding of the components thereof, and are not intended to be limiting in scope, but to provide exemplary illustrations. The figures illustrate exemplary configurations of an adapter for a rotary device, and in no way limit the structures or configurations according to the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a known rotary device on an article in combination with an embodiment of the adapter of the disclosure. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic elevational view of the rotary device and adapter of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of the adapter of  FIG. 1  viewed from an engagement side of the adapter. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of the adapter of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the adapter viewed from an engagement side of the adapter. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a mounting system for a rotary device on a frame member of an article. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of the mounting system of  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of a connector in the mounting system of  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8B  is an elevational view of a first side of the connector of  FIG. 8A . 
       FIG. 8C  is an elevational view of a second side of the connector of  FIG. 8A . 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a mounting system. 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X in the mounting system of  FIG. 9 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS 
     A better understanding of different embodiments of the disclosure may be had from the following description read with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like elements. While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments are in the drawings and are described below. It should be understood, however, there is no intention to limit the disclosure to the embodiments disclosed; but on the contrary, the intention covers all modifications, alternative constructions, combinations, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an adapter  100  arranged to secure to a rotary device  10  mounted on an article  50 . The adapter  100  includes a handle  102  having a width greater than a knob  14  of the rotary device  10 , and a coupler  104  extending from the handle  102  and adapted to engage the rotary device  10  and releasably interlock therewith. The coupler  104  is preferably coaxial with the handle  102  along an axis A-A of the adapter  100 . 
     The handle  102  and the coupler  104  may be formed as a monolithic single mass of material integrally and continuously formed to define the handle  102  and the coupler  104 . For example, the adapter  100  may be made from injection molding as the entire adapter  100  and its features are simultaneously molded as a single part. The adapter  100  can thereby be made at a low cost and provided with an article and/or rotary device as an accessory should it be needed to regulate a rotary device. 
     The handle  102  may define indicia  106  to indicate a rotational direction R for rotating the handle  102 . For example, the indicia  106  may be printed or formed on the handle  102  in a conspicuous location for each indicium or identification. The indicia  106  may comprise a series of indentations, markings, raised features, or other indicia. The markings can have any suitable configuration, size, or pattern. In embodiments, the markings may have a similar shape and a pattern of the individual markings may provide a direction of rotation. For example, as the markings increase in size in a direction, a user may perceive that the direction is the rotation direction R. It will be understood that the3 depicted embodiment is merely exemplary and any suitable pattern, configuration, combination, or size of indicia may be provided. 
     The handle  102  defines a profile forming a grip  108  about a periphery of the handle  102 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the grip  108  may be formed by a serrated profile.  FIG. 5  shows another example wherein the grip  108  is formed by an alternating profile  153  about the periphery of the handle  102 . Alternatively or in combination, the handle  102  may include traction means such as overmolded and/or elastomeric material having frictional properties greater than a remainder of the handle  102  or adjacent parts of the handle  102 , or traction means may be applied onto the handle  102 . The traction means may be any material that improves gripping ability over adjacent portions of the handle  102 . The entirety of the adapter  100  may be formed from a high-friction material to facilitate gripping and actuating the rotary device  10 . 
     The handle  102  may define at least one opening  110  arranged for receiving an attachment element  112 . For example, the attachment element  112  may be formed as a cord or other element that can attach onto the article  50  or another item to retain the adapter  100  in close position for use, for example, if the adapter  100  is de-coupled from the rotary device  10 . 
       FIG. 2  shows how relational and dimensional features of the adapter  100  are provided to improve engagement and facilitate the rotation of the rotary device  10 . The handle  102  preferably has a diameter D 1  greater than a diameter D 2  of the coupler  104 . The handle  102  may define a radial overhang  105  extending radially outwardly from the axis A-A and a distance D 4  relative to the diameter D 2  of the coupler  104 . The handle  102  may also form an axial overhang  107  coaxially extending at least along the rim  116 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The coupler  104  preferably has a diameter D 2  greater than a diameter D 3  of the rotary device  10 . The handle  102  may have a height H 2  greater than a height H 3  of the coupler  104 . The coupler  104  may have a height H 3  greater than a height H 5  of the rotary device  10 . In embodiments, the adapter  100  may have a height H 1  at least twice a height H 5  of the rotary device  10 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show the adapter  100  defining a cavity  114  about the axis A-A and extending from an engagement side  130  into the adapter  100 . The coupler  104  includes a rim  116  coaxial with the axis A-A and surrounding at least part of the cavity  114 . The rim  116  preferably defines an outer diameter D 2  of the coupler  104 . The cavity  114  may have a diameter proximate or corresponding to the diameter D 3  of the rotary device  10 . In embodiments, the diameter of the cavity  114  is complementary to the diameter D 3  of the rotary device  10 , allowing the adapter  100  to releasably engage the rotary device  10  and effectively transfer forces, such as rotation forces, thereto. A height H 3  of the rim  116  defines the height of the coupler  104 . 
     The cavity  114  defines a top portion  118  extending at least into the handle  102  or within a height H 2  of the handle  102 . The top portion  118  of the cavity  114  may define a profile or recess  120  adapted to correspond or that is proximate in shape to a cap  20 ,  22  of the rotary device  10 . The profile or recess  120  may be configured to interlock and create traction with a profile of the cap  20 ,  22 , as shown with a profile of the recess  120  in  FIG. 3 . The top portion  118  of the cavity  114  may have an arcuate cross-sectional profile to accommodate the cap  20 ,  22  of the rotary device  10 , or to provide clearance therefrom to minimize traction or interference when rotating the rotary device  10 . 
     A periphery  120  of the cavity  114  may define a plurality of traction elements  122 A- 122 D, generally extending radially and/or circumferentially relative to the axis A-A. The traction elements  122 A- 122 D may taper in width in the rotational direction R. For example, the traction elements  122 A- 122 D may taper in width toward a forward end  134  in the rotational direction R and may taper in width toward a rearward end  136 . The traction elements  122 A- 122 D may define a peak  138  extending toward the axis A-A proximate the rearward end  136 . 
     The traction elements  122 A- 122 D may extend through and be defined by or proximate the periphery  120  at a top surface of the cavity  114 . The traction elements  122 A- 122 D may be of a same material as the handle  102  and the coupler  104  or may comprise a different material. In embodiments, the traction elements  122 A- 122 D are configured to engage frictionally a surface of the rotary device  102 , for example a top surface, a corner surface between the top surface and a side surface, and/or a side surface of the rotary device  102 . 
     The periphery  120  of the cavity  114  may further define a plurality of traction elements  124 A- 124 D extending about the axis A-A along an inner periphery of the rim  116 . The plurality of traction elements  124 A- 124 D may extend along protruding portions extending radially toward the axis A-A about the inner periphery of the rim  116 , for example, about a lateral or side surface of the rim  116 , and may be configured to engage a side surface or features of the rotary device  102 . 
     The orientation of the traction elements  122 A- 122 D,  124 A- 124 D may be modified to engage the rotary device  10  better. For example, a plurality of the traction elements  122 A- 122 D may be arranged obliquely relative to the axis A-A, or the plurality of traction elements  122 A- 122 D may be arranged to extend in variable angles relative to the axis A-A. The plurality of traction elements  124 A- 124 D may be arranged coaxially relative to the axis A-A, or the plurality of traction elements  124 A- 124 D may be arranged obliquely relative to the axis A-A. 
     The individual traction elements may be formed in different configurations according to their location, orientation, and corresponding profiles of the rotary device. For example, the plurality of traction elements  122 A- 122 D,  124 A- 124 D may be defined as a plurality of teeth  128 . The plurality of traction elements  122 A- 122 D,  124 A- 124 D may also be formed as a plurality of protrusions  126  of different shapes or sizes. 
     The plurality of traction elements  122 A- 122 D,  124 A- 124 D may be formed integrally with the handle  102  and the coupler  104 . The plurality of traction elements  122 A- 122 D,  124 A- 124 D may be arranged to interlock with a plurality of traction elements  26  formed by the rotary device  10 , such as recesses formed by the rotary device  10  or vice versa. 
     The handle  102  may define a cresting peak  140  on a gripping side  132  of the handle  102  corresponding to the axis A-A. The coupler  104  may be arranged to be placed coaxially with the rotary device  10  and mutually engage therewith upon application of pressure by the adapter  100  against the rotary device  10 . The handle  102  is adapted to rotate the rotary device  10  because of the mutual engagement of the coupler  104  with the rotary device  10 . Rotation of the handle  102  simultaneously rotates the rotary device  10  about a common axis A-A. Not only does the increased diameter of the handle  102  relative to the coupler  104  provide improved leverage and ease rotating the rotary device  10 , but the handle  102  also facilitates easier gripping by a user. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of an adapter  150 . In this embodiment, the coupler  154  preferably has a height greater than the handle  152 , which allows for greater stacking or distancing of the adapter  150  from the article upon which a corresponding rotary device is mounted, and without making the handle  152  too thick for adjustment. The adapter  150  defines a cavity  156  having a spacer  160  protruding from an upper portion  158  of a cavity wall  159  and generally defined along an axis B-B. As the spacer  160  protrudes short of a height H 6  between the spacer  160  and a bottom  166  of a rim  162 , the handle  152  can be better elevated from the article with the rotary device abutting the spacer  160 . 
     The height H 6  may generally correspond to a height of the rotary device  10 . The height H 6  may be longer than a height of the spacer  160 , or vice versa, depending on the extent it is desired to elevate the handle  152  relative to the article. The adapter  150  includes an interior surface of the rim  162  defining a plurality of traction elements  164  formed by teeth generally extending parallel to the axis B-B and configured for releasably engaging an outer surface of the corresponding rotary device. The traction elements  164  may be arranged as teeth and/or in sufficient numbers and frequency to allow a user to releasably attach the adapter  150  to the corresponding rotary device in substantially any configuration or degree of rotation, thereby significantly simplifying the design and use of the adapter  150 . 
       FIG. 6  exemplifies a mounting system  200  for coupling a rotary device  202  to a frame member  201  of an article. The rotary device  202  may be of any of the devices described herein, and an exemplary frame member is found in U.S. patent application publication nos. 2017/0348131, published on Dec. 7, 2017, and 2019/0105188, published Apr. 11, 2019, which are incorporated herein by reference. As the rotary device  202  may be a standard part and sold in mass quantity as an off-the-shelf component, the frame member  201  may be adapted with coupling features to engage corresponding standard coupling features of the rotary device  202 . However, corresponding coupling features of the rotary device  202  and the frame member  201  may not be suitable to securely lock the rotary device  202  to the frame member  201 . 
     One drawback is that the frame member  201  may not be suitably rigid to retain the rotary device  202  firmly, particularly at desired and/or necessary levels of tension. This drawback is evident in certain applications with frame members of orthopedic devices with flexibility or which are semi-rigid to adapt to a contour of a leg. In the past, adhesives or stitching of the rotary device  202  to the frame member  201  has been a standard process, but it is desirable to eliminate these means to create means for coupling that provides better assurance that the connection between the rotary device  202  and the frame member  201  will be maintained over repeated use, and to simplify the manufacturing process. It is also desirable to provide means that enable removal of the rotary device  202  from the frame member  201  for maintenance or replacement of the rotary device  202 . 
     To surmount drawbacks in known mounting systems, a connector  208  is provided to secure the connection between the rotary device  202  and the frame member  201 . The rotary device  202  has coupling features  204  that engage with coupling features  206  of the frame member  201 . The connector  208  cooperates with the coupling features  204 ,  206  of the rotary device  202  and the frame member  201  to ensure that the rotary device  202  is securely retained on the frame member  201 . The connector  208  may be formed from a more rigid material than the frame member  201 , and/or may have dimensional qualities, such as greater thickness, that result in a more stable structure than the frame member  201 , for example to withstand interacting forces between the frame member  201  and the rotary device  202 , such as tension applied by the rotary device  202  to an elongate tension element. 
       FIG. 7  shows an exemplary mounting system  200 . The frame member  201  defines coupling features such a peripheral tab  210  extending about at least a portion of an opening  209  into which coupling features  204  of the rotary device  202  extend. The peripheral tab  210  may engage a corresponding and/or complementary peripheral groove  211  of the rotary device  202 . A peripheral lip  212  of the rotary device  202  bordering the peripheral groove  211  may be biased against the peripheral tab  210 . While these coupling features  204 ,  206  of the rotary device  202  and the frame member  201  interact with and correspond to one another, they may be provided to oppositely engage relative to the coupling provided by the connector  208 , and retain the rotary device  202  within the opening  209  in a stable condition by forming a snap-fit. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIGS. 8A-8C , the connector  208  may be configured to be retained by and fit with coupling features  206  of the frame member  201 , and correspondingly engage the coupling features  204  of the rotary device  202 . The connector  208  may have a first lip  214  bordering a recess  216  adapted to receive a protruding coupling part  220  of the coupling features  204  of the rotary device  202 . The recess  216  may be formed along a first side of an extension  226  from a base  224  of the connector  208 . 
     The first lip  214  may be accepted by or cooperate with a second peripheral groove  221  defined by the rotary device  202 . While the recess  216  and the first lip  214  are shown in  FIG. 7  with the first lip  214  extending above or outwardly from the recess  216 , the depicted arrangement is exemplary and is by no means limiting. More or fewer recesses, lips, peripheral grooves, and other features may be provided as suitable and in any suitable configuration. 
     In the disclosed example, the base  224  and extension  226  have an arcuate profile  228  generally corresponding to a shape of the opening  209 . The connector  208  is not limited to an arcuate profile  228 , and it may be configured according to the coupling features  204 ,  206 , the opening  209 , the frame member  201 , or otherwise. 
     The connector  208  may have first and second latches  218 A,  218 B on a second side of the extension  226  and engageable with the coupling features  206  of the frame member  201  and cooperating with the coupling of the coupling part  220  of the rotary device  202 , thereby stabilizing and serving intermediate to both the frame member  201  and the rotary device  202 . The connector  208  may form a base periphery  230  adapted to be retained by corresponding portions  222  of the coupling features  206  of the frame member  201 . In embodiments, the corresponding portions  222  may be formed as a biasing part. 
     The extension  226  is arranged to be inserted through the corresponding portions  222  of the coupling features  206  of the frame member  201  to clasp or retain the coupling features  204 ,  206  of the rotary device  202  and the frame member  204  as the extension  226  is inserted. The base periphery  230  is preferably flush with a surface of the frame member  201  so as not to protrude beyond the frame member  201 , thereby minimizing bulk, improving reliability, and optimizing comfort and aesthetics. The frame member  201  may be adapted with suitable biasing or retaining features to assure stable retention of the base  224  and the base periphery  230  relative to the frame member  201  while permitting the extension  226  to snap-fit to the coupling features  204 ,  206  of the rotary device  202  and the frame member  201 . 
     The depicted coupling features  204 ,  206  of both the frame member  201  and the rotary device  202  are merely exemplary, and the mounting system  200  is not limited to the depicted features. The connector  208  is arranged, however, to accommodate the coupling features  204 ,  206  and to form a corresponding snap-fit to preferably both the rotary device  202  and the frame member  201 , thereby forming a secure connection. The connector  208  may be adapted to be removed from the coupling features  204 ,  206 , such as biasing the latches and or lip away from the coupling features  204 ,  206 . However, such removal may require substantial exertion on the connector compared to normal use, so during normal use, the snap-fit connection is assuredly stable from inadvertent motion and resists decoupling. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , another embodiment of connector  250  is provided to offer a robust connection of the rotary device  202  to the frame member  201  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 6-8C . The connector  250  includes a plate  254  secured to the rotary device  202  by a fastener  253  that extends through a thickness of the plate  254 , the frame member  201 , and into a thickness of the rotary device  202  and an intermediate part  264 . The plate  254  is adapted to extend along an inner side of the frame member  201  on the opposite side of the rotary device  202 . The rotary device  202 , aside from the fastener  253 , is coupled similarly to a periphery  272  of an engagement section  270  of the frame member  201 , as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 6-8C , for example at a lip portion  251 . 
     The plate  252  has a central flange  258  that carries the intermediate part  264 , which generally extends perpendicularly from the central flange  258  toward the rotary device  202  to engage the rotary device  202  with at least one lip  268  projecting therefrom to engage a peripheral groove  269  defined by the rotary device  202 , as in the embodiment of the connector  208  of  FIGS. 6-8C . The intermediate part  264  may be formed similarly to the connector  208  aside from a base  266  (as the base  224 ) extending from the central flange  258 . 
     The plate  252  further includes first and second flanges  260 ,  262 , which flank the central flange  258  and reinforce the intermediate part  264  and provide flexibility. An elongate clearance  261   a  is located between the central and first flange  258 ,  260  and a base opening  263   a . A similar arrangement is provided between the central and second flanges  258 ,  262  with an elongate clearance  261   b  and a base opening  263   b . The clearances  261   a ,  261   b  aid in providing flexibility, while the central, first and second flanges  258 ,  260 ,  262  provide rigidity similar to or the same as the frame member  201  and reinforce the rotary device  202  upon use. The flanges  258 ,  260 ,  262  extend short of a tension relief slot  274  defined through a thickness of the frame member  201 , and which itself serves as a flange extending from the frame member  201 , as taught in U.S. patent application publication no. 2017/0348131. 
     The adapter for a rotary system according to the disclosed embodiments advantageously addresses the challenges of rotary systems being poorly adapted to be gripped and regulated by a user, particularly if the user has limited dexterity, eyesight, or due to difficulties with regulating a rotary device while the rotary device is being worn on the user&#39;s body. The adapter for a rotary system according to the embodiments advantageously provides increased leverage and clearance from a frame member and provides improved indicia for accurately regulating a rotary device for compliant use. 
     The embodiments disclosing a connector and/or a mounting system for better securing a rotary device to a frame member of a device advantageously address the problem of rotary devices being glued or similarly adhered to a frame member, and thus being difficult to accurately, consistently, and removably secure a rotary device to a surface. The connector and mounting system embodiments provide a secure, intuitive, and precise solution for releasably securing a rotary device to a surface. 
     It is to be understood that not necessarily all objects or advantages may be achieved under an embodiment of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize that an adapter for a rotary system may be embodied or carried out so it achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without achieving other objects or advantages as taught or suggested herein. 
     The skilled artisan will recognize the interchangeability of various disclosed features. Besides the variations described herein, other known equivalents for each feature can be mixed and matched by one of ordinary skill in this art to build and use an adapter for a rotary system under principles of the present disclosure. It will be understood by the skilled artisan that the features described herein may be adapted to other methods and types of adapters, rotary systems, and devices. 
     Although this disclosure describes certain exemplary embodiments and examples of an adapter for a rotary system, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure extends beyond the specifically disclosed adapters for rotary systems to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the disclosure and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof, including other types and components of various devices, including orthopedic, prosthetic, medical, and otherwise. It is intended that the present disclosure should not be limited by the disclosed embodiments described above and may be extended to other applications that may employ the features described herein.