'hinge with movement limitation'

Abstract

A uniaxial orthopaedic hinge (1000, 2000) has a substantially circular body forming a recessed housing (1022, 2022). The upper surface of the housing (1022, 2022) is furnished with a concentric arcuate circular slot (1038, 2038) disposed inwardly from the periphery. The inner surface (2040) is provided with equally spaced radial teeth (1044, 2044). A back plate (1006, 2006) has an extension into a stub arm (1004, 2004) for attaching to the arm of an orthosis and is fixed to the recessed housing (1022, 2022). A locking plate (1008, 2008) also has an extension into a stub arm (1002, 2002) and is disposed in a parallel manner between the recessed housing (1022, 2022) and the back plate (1006, 2006). Adjustable locking means are in the form of quadrants (1050, 1052, 2050, 2052) each having a pusher (1066, 1068, 2066, 2068) which extends through the arcuate slot (1038, 2038) in the recessed housing (1022, 2022) and toothed locking faces (1042, 2042) on either side of a base portion (1054, 1056, 2054, 2056), the teeth being adapted so as to engage with those on the inner aspect (2040) of the recessed housing (1022, 2022). The quadrants (1050, 1052, 2050, 2052) are each provided with a compression spring (1074, 1076, 2074, 2068) in the base which sustains the engaged condition until the pusher (1066, 1068, 2066, 2068) is depressed after which the quadrants (1050, 1052, 2050,2052) may be moved along the slot (1038, 2038) to a new position. The locking plate (1008, 2008) is provided with an flange abutment stop (1088, 2088) disposed in such a manner that it always lies under the slot (1038, 2038) in the hinge body and adapted to co-operate with the quadrants (1050, 1052, 2050, 2052) so that the hinge (1000, 2000) may be locked in a selected position or allowed any desired range of angular motion which is a multiple of the angular increments of the hinge teeth angle.