Adjustable spine joint assembly for crash test dummy
View Patent ↗An adjustable spine joint assembly for a crash test dummy includes an upper member adapted to be operatively connected to an upper thoracic portion of a spine of the crash test dummy, a lower member adapted to be operatively connected to a lower thoracic portion of the spine of the crash test dummy, a center pivot bolt pivotally connected to the lower member and the upper member to allow rotational movement therebetween, and a self-locating adjustment mechanism cooperating with the upper member and the lower member to allow adjustment of a plurality of fixed joint angles between the upper member and the lower member.
1. An adjustable spine joint assembly for a crash test dummy comprising:
an upper member adapted to be operatively connected to an upper thoracic portion of a spine of the crash test dummy;
a lower member adapted to be operatively connected to a lower thoracic portion of the spine of the crash test dummy;
a center pivot bolt pivotally connected to said lower member and said upper member to allow rotational movement therebetween; and
a self-locating adjustment mechanism cooperating with said upper member and said lower member to allow adjustment between a plurality of fixed joint angles between said upper member and said lower member.
2. An adjustable spine joint assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said self-locating adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of ball plungers and a plurality of detents.
3. An adjustable spine joint assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a plurality of locking bolts.
4. An adjustable spine joint assembly as set forth in claim 3 including a plurality of wave spring washers, each of said locking bolts being associated with one of said wave spring washers.
5. An adjustable spine joint assembly as set forth in claim 4 including a cover plate connected to one side of said lower member.
6. An adjustable spine joint assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said upper member includes said detents.
7. An adjustable spine joint assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said lower member includes said ball plungers.
8. An adjustable spine joint assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a dowel pin connected to said upper member.
9. An adjustable spine joint assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said lower member includes at least one groove for receiving said dowel pin.
10. An adjustable spine joint assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lower member has a yoke shape.
11. A crash test dummy comprising:
a body;
a spine operatively attached to said body; and
an adjustable spine joint assembly including an upper member operatively connected to an upper thoracic portion of said spine, a lower member operatively connected to a lower thoracic portion of said spine, a center pivot bolt pivotally connected to said lower member and said upper member to allow rotational movement therebetween, and a self-locating adjustment mechanism cooperating with said upper member and said lower member to allow adjustment between a plurality of fixed joint angles between said upper member and said lower member.
12. A crash test dummy as set forth in claim 11 wherein said adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of ball plungers and a plurality of detents.
13. A crash test dummy as set forth in claim 11 including a plurality of locking bolts.
14. A crash test dummy as set forth in claim 13 including a plurality of wave spring washers, each of said locking bolts being associated with one of said wave spring washers.
15. A crash test dummy as set forth in claim 11 including a cover plate connected to one side of said lower member.
16. A crash test dummy as set forth in claim 12 wherein said upper member includes said detents.
17. A crash test dummy as set forth in claim 12 wherein said lower member includes said ball plungers.
18. A crash test dummy as set forth in claim 11 including a dowel pin connected to said upper member.
19. A crash test dummy as set forth in claim 18 wherein said lower member includes at least one groove for receiving said dowel pin.
20. A crash test dummy as set forth in claim 11 wherein said lower member has a yoke shape.
21. An adjustable spine joint assembly for a crash test dummy comprising:
an upper member adapted to be operatively connected to an upper thoracic portion of a spine of the crash test dummy;
a lower member adapted to be operatively connected to a lower thoracic portion of the spine of the crash test dummy;
a center pivot bolt pivotally connected to said lower member and said upper member to allow rotational movement therebetween; and
a self-locating adjustment mechanism cooperating with said upper member and said lower member to allow adjustment between a plurality of fixed joint angles between said upper member and said lower member, said self-locating adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of ball plungers in said lower member and a plurality of detents in said upper member, said ball plungers and said detents being arranged such that one set of said ball plungers engages a maximum of one set of said detents at a time.