The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 26, 2026
Filed:
Feb. 10, 2023
Little Engine, Llc, Belmont, NC (US);
J. Dean Cole, Orlando, FL (US);
Franz W. Kellar, Gastonia, NC (US);
Harold L. Crowder, Concord, NC (US);
Michael D. Bissette, Belmont, NC (US);
Franz Austen Kellar, Gastonia, NC (US);
Dynamic Balancer Systems, LLC, Belmont, NC (US);
Abstract
A knee gap tensioning apparatus includes: a baseplate, a top plate, and a linkage operable to move the top plate relative to the bottom plate between retracted and extended positions, the linkage including: a first toggle linkage, including a lower link and an upper link; a second toggle linkage, including a lower link and an upper link; a connector linkage interconnecting the first and second toggle linkages; wherein the links comprise parallel pivot axes and the linkage is configured so as to produce linear movement of the top plate relative to the base plate, in response to a rotational movement of one or more of the links; and wherein the linkage includes an input shaft coupled to the linkage and configured to accept a rotary input about an axis parallel to the parallel pivot axes of the links of the linkage.