Patent ID: 7662118

Claim:
An orthopedic hinge system, comprising: (a) an outer and an inner lateral base, each substantially complemental in peripheral dimension to each other, each of said bases having a major vertical axis, said inner lateral base having a recess therein; (b) an elongate distal member having a pivot end including, upon a portion of said pivot end, ratchet teeth pointing in a counter-clockwise direction, said pivot end rotationally secured to both of said outer and inner lateral bases; (c) an elongate proximal member having a transverse end element proportioned for complemental securement within said recess of said inner lateral base, said transverse end element including an axis of rotation of said pivot end of said distal member, said axis co-linear with an axis of rotation of said distal member; (d) a cam lever including a pawl surface having pawl teeth pointing in a clockwise direction and, upon contact with said ratchet teeth of said distal member, said pawl teeth then complemental therewith, said cam lever having an axis of rotation co-linear with a second axis within said transverse end element of said proximal member, said cam lever also including a radial projection disposed radially oppositely from said pawl surface; and (e) an extension spring having one end secured to said inner lateral base and an opposite end, secured to said radial projection of said cam lever, at a distance between ends of said spring causing extension of the spring and a normal bias of said pawl teeth into engagement with said ratchet teeth in which a counterclockwise motion of a handle of said cam lever stretches said spring, disengaging said pawl teeth from said ratchet teeth, and freeing said distal member to rotate relative to said proximal member.