Patent Publication Number: US-2021169527-A1

Title: Super Wing Bolt

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a Continuation and claims the benefit of the filing date of an application entitled, “Super Wing Nut” Ser. No. 16/406,224, now US. Pat. No. 10,912587, filed May 8, 2019, assigned to the assignee of the present application, and herein it by reference, 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The claimed subject matter relates generally to novel wing bolts and, more specifically, to a wing bolts that include a head that facilitates both loosening and tightening the bolt. 
     BACKGROUND 
     External Bone Fixation devices are employed by Orthopedic Health Care Providers to treat hone 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 wing bolts that include a novel head that tenable the 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 bead, 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 bead, 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. 
     This summary is not intended as a comprehensive description of the claimed subject matter but, rather, is intended to provide a brief overview of some of the functionality associated therewith. Other systems, methods, functionality, features and advantages of the claimed subject matter will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the at upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A better understanding of the claimed subject matter can be obtained when the following, detailed description of the disclosed embodiments is considered in conjunction with the following figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of super wing nut with a novel head in accordance with the claimed subject matter. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of the super wing nut of  FIG. 1 , from a different perspective, showing features that are obscured in the illustration of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of the super wing nut of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , from a third perspective. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of super wing bolt with a novel head in accordance with the claimed subject matter. 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of the super wing bolt of  FIG. 4 , from a different perspective. 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of the super wing bolt of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , from a third perspective. 
         FIG. 7  is an illustration of an External Bone Fixation device that has been assembled with the nuts and bolts of  FIGS. 1-6 . 
     
    
    
     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. 1  is an illustration of super wing nut  100  constructed in accordance with the claimed subject matter. A head  102  of nut  100  includes two wings  104 , each wing including a serrated surface  106  that are parallel to each other along the sides of head  102 . A surf ace  101  is referred to as the “top” of super wing nut  100  and head  102 . Although not visible in  FIG. 1 , the side of each wing  104  opposite serrated surfaces  106  also has a serrated surface. Wings  104  provide a first means to either loosen or tighten wing nut  100  by enabling wing nut  100  to be rotated, typically with a user&#39;s fingers but also with a wrench if necessary. A tightening hole  108  runs through head  102  perpendicular to serrated surfaces  106  of wing nut  190 . Tightening hole  108  serves two (2) purposes, the first is to lighten the weight of wing nut  100  and the second to provide a second means to either loosen or tighten wing nut  100  by inserting a rod knot shown) or other implement into hole  108  and rotating head  102  of wing nut  100 . A tightening slot  110  is positioned on the top of head  102  and also serves two (2) purposes, the first to lighten the weight of wing nut  100  and the second is to provide a third means to either loosen or tighten wing nut  100 . for example by using a screwdriver (not shown) or other implement inserted into tightening slot  110 . 
     A lower portion of wing nut  100  includes a polygonal sided shaft, which in this illustration is six-sided, or hex-sided, shall  112  that provides a fourth means to loosen or tighten wing nut  100  by using an appropriately sized wrench (not shown). Running axially through the center of the length of shaft  112  is a threaded hole  114  into which a matching bolt would be threaded. Either a typical bolt or a super bolt  200  (see  FIGS. 4-6 ) may be used. Typically, the diameter of threaded hole  114  would he less than the diameter of both tightening hole  108  and tightening slot  110  so that a bolt threaded through threaded hole  114  of wing nut  100  would he able to extend through and out the top of bead  102  if necessary. 
       FIG. 2  is an illustration of the super wing nut  100  of  FIG. 1 , from a different perspective, showing additional features that are obscured in the illustration of  FIG. 1 . Head  192 , wings  104 , serrated surfaces  106 , tightening hole  108 , hex-sided shaft  112 , and threaded hole  114 , all introduced above in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , are shown. In addition, an anti-slip surface  116  is shown on the bottom of hex-sided shaft  112 . Anti-slip surface  116  prevents wing nut  100  from loosening once wing nut  100  is tightened to a bolt or strut (see  310 ,  FIG. 7 ). Typically, anti-slip surface would abut whatever component (see  302 ,  304 ,  306  and  308 ,  FIG. 7 ) to which the strut or bolt are attached. 
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of the super wing nut  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , from a third, or side, perspective. Visible in  FIG. 3  are top  101 , wing  104 , serrated surface  106  and hex-sided shaft  112  introduced above in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The portion of super wing nut  100  referred to as head  102  is also illustrated. Also visible, is anti-slip surface  116 , which was introduced above in conjunction with  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 3  shows wing nut  100  with a width of ten millimeters (10 mm.), which would he a typical size when wing nut  100  is employed in conjunction with and external bone fixation device (see  300 ,  FIG. 7 ). in this size wing nut  109 , threaded hole  114  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), which is not visible in  FIG. 3 , would typically be six millimeters (6 mm.). It should be understood that the illustrated sizes are only examples and the disclosed technology may he employed with wing nuts  100  of any size, both larger and smaller. In this embodiment, hex-sided shaft  112  has the same width as head  102  and two sides of shaft  112  are parallel to wings  104 , which enables a single sized wrench to be used on either component  194  or  112  to loosen or tighten wing nut  100 . In this example, the width of both wings  104  and shaft  112  axe ten-millimeter (10 mm.) and a ten-millimeter wrench (not shown) could be employed to either tighten or loosen wing nut  100  by applying the wrench to either wings  104  or shaft  112 . 
       FIG. 4  is an illustration of super wing bolt  200  with a novel head in accordance with the claimed subject matter. A head  202  of bolt  200  includes two wings  204 , each wing including a serrated surface  206  that are parallel to each other along the sides of head  202 . A surface  201  is referred to as the “top” of super wing bolt  200  and head  202 . Although not visible in.  FIG. 4 , the side of each wing  204  opposite serrated surfaces  206  also has a serrated surface. Wings  204  provide a first means to either loosen or tighten wing bolt  200  by enabling wing bolt  200  to be rotated, typically with a user&#39;s fingers but also with a wrench if necessary. A tightening hole  208  runs through head  202  perpendicular to serrated surfaces  206  of wing bolt  200 . Tightening hole  208  serves two (2) purposes, the first is to lighten the weight of wing bolt  200  and the second to provide a second means to either loosen or tighten wing bolt  200  by inserting a rod (not shown) or other implement into hole  208  and rotating head  202  and wing bolt  200 . A tightening slot  210  is positioned on the top of head  202  and also serves two (2) purposes, the first to lighten the weight of wing bolt  200  and the second is to provide a third means to either loosen or tighten wing bolt  200 , for example by using a screwdriver (not shown) or other implement inserted into tightening slot  210 . 
     A lower portion of wing bolt  200  includes a polygonal-sided shall  212 , which in this illustration is six-sided, or hex-sided, that provides a fourth means to loosen or tighten wing bolt  200  by using an appropriately sized wrench (not shown). Extending from the bottom of shaft  212  is a threaded shall  214  onto which a matching nut would be threaded. Either a typical nut or super nut  100  ( FIGS. 1-3 ) may be used. 
       FIG. 5  is an illustration of the super wing bolt  200  of  FIG. 4 , from a different perspective. Head  202 , wings  204 , serrated surfaces  206 , tightening hole  208 , hex-sided shaft  212 , and threaded shaft  214 , all introduced above in conjunction with  FIG. 4 , are shown. Although an anti-slip surface such anti-slip surface  116  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) is not shown on the bottom of hex-sided shaft  212  another embodiment may have such a surface. 
       FIG. 6  is an illustration of the super wing bolt  200  of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , from a third perspective. Visible in  FIG. 6  are top  201 , wing  204 , serrated surface  206 , hex-sided shaft  212  and threaded shaft  214 , all introduced above in conjunction with  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The portion of super wing bolt  200  referred to as head  202  is also illustrated.  FIG. 6  shows wing bolt  200  with a width of ten millimeters (10 mm.), which would be a typical size when wing bolt  200  is employed in conjunction with and external bone fixation device (see  300 ,  FIG. 7 ). In this size wing bolt  200 . threaded shaft  214  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ), would he six millimeters (6 mm.). It should be understood that the illustrated sizes are only examples and the disclosed technology may be employed with wing bolts  200  of any size, both larger and smaller. In this embodiment, hex-sided shaft  212  has the same width as head  202  and two sides of shaft  212  are parallel to wings  204 , which enables a single sized wrench to be used on either component  204  or  212  to loosen or tighten wing bolt  200 . In this example, the width of both wings  204  and shaft  212  are ten-millimeter (10 mm.) and a ten-millimeter wrench (not shown) could be employed to either tighten or loosen wing bolt  200  by applying the wrench to either wings  204  or shaft  212 . 
       FIG. 7  is an illustration of an. External Bone Fixation (EBF) device  300  that has been assembled with the wing nuts  100  (EEGs.  1 - 3 ) and wing bolts  200  ( FIGS. 1-6 ). EBF device  300  includes a C-shaped Plate  302 , two (2) I-shaped Plate  304 , only one of which is labeled, posts  306  and a bridge  308 . It should he understood that EBF device  300  is 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 plate  302  is attached to I-shaped plates  304  by means of four (4) adjustable struts  310 , only three (3) of which are labeled. Although not visible, adjustable struts  310  have a threaded shaft at each end that pass through holes in either C-shaped plate  302  or I-shaped plate  304 . Super wing nuts  100  are threaded onto these shafts to secure adjustable struts  302  to their respective components  302  or  304 . In this figure, only two wing nuts  100  are labeled, both of which are attaching adjustable struts  310  to C-shaped plate  302 . 
     Although not visible, posts  306  have threaded holes that enable posts  306  to be affixed to I-shaped plates  304  by means of wing bolt  2041 , only one of which is labelled, by passing threaded shaft  214  through a hole in plates  304  into the threaded hole and tightening. In a similar fashion, threaded holes, which are not visible, at each end of bridge  308  enable bridge  308  to be affixed to posts  306  by passing threaded shaft  214  through a hole in post  306  and threading and tightening wing bolt  209 . 
     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.