Retractor assembly

Claim 2

A retractor assembly, comprising: a first member and a second member, adjustable connecting means holding said members together for mutual rotation about a common axis, said first member being a plate from which a plurality of spaced resilient arms project, each arm supporting a radially outwardly directed rib adapted resiliently to resist deformation away from an unstressed position, said second member having conically diverging wall means centered on said axis, said wall means having a plurality of outward grooves spaced circumferentially and adapted sequentially to receive said ribs upon mutual rotation of said members, said grooves following meridians of said conically diverging wall means, the members being capable of mutual axial displacement to compensate for wear of the ribs.

Claim 3

The invention claimed in claim 1, in which the second member has a recess defined in part by a substantially flat bottom wall normal to said common axis, said conically diverging wall means being contiguous with said bottom wall and further defining said recess, said first member being at least partly receivable within said recess.

Claim 4

The invention claimed in claim 2, in which said first and second members include means by which they may be fixed to first and second structural arms, respectively.

Claim 5

The invention claimed in claim 1, in which the arms are adapted to deform in the plane of the plate to permit the ribs to move radially inwardly and thus out of engagement with said grooves.

Claim 6

The invention claimed in claim 4, in which the arms are elongated in directions other than radial.

Claim 7

The invention claimed in claim 1, in which the arms are adapted to deform in planes normal to the plane of the plate to permit the ribs to move in the direction parallel to said axis and thus out of engagement with said grooves.

Claim 8

The invention claimed in claim 6, in which the arms are disposed substantially radially.

Claim 9

The invention claimed in claim 4, in which each arm is joined at one end to the plate and carries its rib adjacent its other end.

Claim 10

The invention claimed in claim 4, in which each arm is joined at both ends to the plate and carries its rib substantially mid-way between its ends.

Claim 11

The invention claimed in claim 1, in which the second member has two oppositely facing recesses having a common, substantially flat bottom wall normal to said common axis, said conically diverging wall means including a first and a second frusto-conical wall, said walls diverging in opposite directions from said bottom wall and defining a first and a second recess, both frusto-conical walls having a plurality of said outward grooves, said first member being at least partly receivable within the first recess, the retractor assembly including a third member held together with said first and second members for mutual rotation about said common axis, said third member having radially outwardly directed rib means adapted resiliently to resist deformation away from an unstressed position, said third member being at least partly receivable within said second recess with its rib means receivable within the outward grooves of said second recess.

Claim 12

The invention claimed in claim 10, in which said first and third members include means by which they may be fixed to first and second structural arms, respectively.

Claim 13

The invention claimed in claim 1, in which said ribs are elongated parallel to meridians of the adjacent conically diverging wall means.

Claim 14

The invention claimed in claim 1, in which said adjustable connecting means includes a bolt and nut combination extending through suitable bores in said first and second members.