US3653079A — Adjustable break-away splint-stretcher

Claim 1

Independent Claim 140 words

A break-away splint-stretcher comprising a complimentary pair of frame parts detachably interconnected at their ends by a pivot lock, said pivot lock comprising a tongue part connected to one of said frame parts and a bifurcated tongue receiving part connected to the other of said frame parts, said bifurcated part having a pivot pin extending therethrough and said tongue part having an open-ended slot therein engageable about said pin, said tongue part including a movable latch member having a first position in which said latch engages about said pin to maintain said pin in said slot and at the same time permits the parts of said lock to pivot relative to each other about said pin, said latch being movable to a second position in which it disengages said pin to permit the parts of said lock to be separated.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 140 words

A break-away splint-stretcher comprising a complimentary pair of frame parts detachably interconnected at their ends by a pivot lock, said pivot lock comprising a tongue part connected to one of said frame parts and a bifurcated tongue receiving part connected to the other of said frame parts, said bifurcated part having a pivot pin extending therethrough and said tongue part having an open-ended slot therein engageable about said pin, said tongue part including a movable latch member having a first position in which said latch engages about said pin to maintain said pin in said slot and at the same time permits the parts of said lock to pivot relative to each other about said pin, said latch being movable to a second position in which it disengages said pin to permit the parts of said lock to be separated.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 60 words

The break-away splint-stretcher claimed in claim 1 wherein said tongue is horizontally oriented with respect to the plane of said stretcher as defined by said complimentary frame parts, and acts in cooperation with said bifurcated part to rigidify said frame parts in a vertical direction while selectively permitting pivotal movement and separation of said frame parts in a horizontal direction.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 56 words

The break-away splint-stretcher claimed in claim 2 wherein said tongue part has an elongated slot extending inwardly from an outer surface thereof at right angles to said open-ended slot and connecting with said open-ended slot, said latch member being received in said elongated slot and pivotally connected to said tongue part for pivotal movement relative thereto.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 36 words

The break-away splint-stretcher claimed in claim 3 wherein said latch member has a hooked end engageable about said pin, and spring means normally biasing the hooked end of said latch member into engagement with said pin.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 69 words

The break-away splint-stretcher claimed in claim 4 wherein said latch member mounts a release button at its end opposite said hooked end, wherein said release button is received in a bore in said tongue part at the corresponding end of said elongated slot, said release button being depressible in said bore to pivot said latch member in a direction to release its hooked end from engagement with said pin.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 82 words

The break-away splint-stretcher claimed in claim 5 wherein the hooked end of said latch member includes an inclined outer surface positioned to be contacted by said pin when said tongue part is inserted in said bifurcated part, said pin acting on said inclined surface to pivot said latch member to an open position in which said pin may pass the hooked end of said latch member, whereupon said latch member will be returned to a pin engaging position by said spring means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 42 words

The break-away splint-stretcher claimed in claim 1 wherein said complimentary frame parts each include tubular frame members mounting body supporting panels, wherein said body supporting panels comprise rib members secured to said tubular frame members, and a covering skin overlying said ribs.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 42 words

The break-away splint-stretcher claimed in claim 7 wherein said complimentary fraMe parts include an extensible frame section having tubular frame members telescopically received in said body supporting panels, and locking means for maintaining said extensible section in its desired position of use.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 80 words

The break-away splint-stretcher claimed in claim 1 wherein said complimentary body parts include a foldable frame section, and locking hinges connecting said foldable frame section to said frame parts, said locking hinges each comprising a tongue part and a bifurcated tongue receiving part, said parts each having an angularly related extension projecting downwardly from the plane of said stretcher as defined by said complimentary frame parts, and a pivot pin interconnecting said extensions for pivotal movement relative to each other.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 60 words

The break-away splint-stretcher claimed in claim 9 wherein the tongue part of said locking hinge has an open-ended slot therein engageable about a locking pin extending through said bifurcated part and lying in spaced relation to said pivot pin, said tongue part including a latch member engageable about said locking pin to maintain said locking pin in said open-ended slot.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 38 words

The break-away splint-stretcher claimed in claim 10 wherein said latch member has a hooked end engageable about said locking pin, and spring means normally biasing the hooked end of said latch member into engagement with said locking pin.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 102 words

The break-away splint-stretcher claimed in claim 11 wherein said latch member is pivotally mounted in an elongated slot in the tongue part of said locking hinge, said elongated slot extending inwardly from an outer surface of said tongue part at right angles to the open-ended slot therein and connecting with said open-ended slot, said latch member mounting a release button received in a bore in said tongue part in communication with said elongated slot, said release button being depressible in said bore to pivot said latch member in a direction to release the hooked end thereof from engagement with said locking pin.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 89 words

The break-away splint-stretcher claimed in claim 12 wherein the hooked end of said locking hinge latch member includes an inclined surface contactable by said locking pin when said locking pin is caused to enter the open-ended slot in the tongue part, said locking pin acting on said inclined surface to pivot said latch member to an open position in which said locking pin may pass the hooked end of said latch member, whereupon said latch member will be returned to a locking pin engaging position by said spring means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 137 words

A pivot lock for detachably and pivotally interconnecting a pair of opposing member, said pivot lock comprising a tongue part adapted to be connected to one of said opposing members and a tongue receiving bifurcated part adapted to be connected to the other of said opposing members, said bifurcated part having a pivot pin extending therethrough and said tongue part having an open-ended slot therein engageable with said pivot pin, said tongue part also having an elongated slot therein lying at right angles to said open-ended slot and in communication with said open-ended slot, a latch member pivotally mounted in said elongated slot, said latch member having a hooked end engageable about said pin when seated in said open-ended slot, and spring means normally biasing the hooked end of said latch member into engagement with said pin.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 137 words

A pivot lock for detachably and pivotally interconnecting a pair of opposing member, said pivot lock comprising a tongue part adapted to be connected to one of said opposing members and a tongue receiving bifurcated part adapted to be connected to the other of said opposing members, said bifurcated part having a pivot pin extending therethrough and said tongue part having an open-ended slot therein engageable with said pivot pin, said tongue part also having an elongated slot therein lying at right angles to said open-ended slot and in communication with said open-ended slot, a latch member pivotally mounted in said elongated slot, said latch member having a hooked end engageable about said pin when seated in said open-ended slot, and spring means normally biasing the hooked end of said latch member into engagement with said pin.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 66 words

The pivot lock claimed in claim 14 wherein said latch member mounts a release button at its end opposite said hooked end, said release button being received in a bore in said tongue part in communication with said elongated slot, said release button being depressible in said bore to pivot said latch member in a direction to release said hooked end from engagement with said pin.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 79 words

The pivot lock claimed in claim 14 wherein the hooked end of said latch member includes an inclined outer surface contactable by said pin when said tongue part is inserted in said bifurcated part, said pin acting on said inclined surface to pivot saiD latch member to an open position in which said pin may pass the hooked end of said latch member, whereupon said latch member will be returned to a hook engaging position by said spring means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 104 words

A locking hinge for hingedly connecting a pair of members for folding movement relative to each other and for releasably locking the members in a fixed position of use, said locking hinge comprising a tongue part and a bifurcated tongue receiving part, said parts each having an angularly related extension, a pivot pin interconnecting said extensions, said tongue part having an open-ended slot therein engageable about a locking pin extending through said bifurcated part and lying in spaced relation to said pivot pin, said tongue part including a latch member engageable with said locking pin to maintain said locking pin in said open-ended slot.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 104 words

A locking hinge for hingedly connecting a pair of members for folding movement relative to each other and for releasably locking the members in a fixed position of use, said locking hinge comprising a tongue part and a bifurcated tongue receiving part, said parts each having an angularly related extension, a pivot pin interconnecting said extensions, said tongue part having an open-ended slot therein engageable about a locking pin extending through said bifurcated part and lying in spaced relation to said pivot pin, said tongue part including a latch member engageable with said locking pin to maintain said locking pin in said open-ended slot.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 138 words

The locking hinge claimed in claim 17 wherein said tongue part has an elongated slot therein lying at right angles to said open-ended slot and in communication with said open-ended slot, said latch member being received in said elongated slot and pivotally mounted for movement relative to said tongue part, said latch member having a hooked end engageable about said locking pin, spring means normally biasing the hooked end of said locking member into engagement with said locking pin, said latch member mounting a release button at its end opposite said hooked end, said release button being received in a bore in said tongue part in communication with said elongated slot, said release button being depressible in said bore to pivot said latch member in a direction to release said hooked end from engagement with said locking pin.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 83 words

The locking hinge claimed in claim 18 wherein the hooked end of said latch member includes an inclined outer surface positioned to contact said locking pin when said locking pin is inserted in said open-ended slot, said pin acting on said inclined surface to pivot said latch member to an open position in which said locking pin may pass the hooked end of said latch member, whereupon said latch member will be returned to a locking pin engaging position by said spring means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-04-04	1975-10-04	1976-04-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-04-04	1979-10-04	1980-04-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-04-04	1983-10-04	1984-04-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Adjustable break-away splint-stretcher

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