Non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor and vertebrae end piece
A non-metallic clip connection system includes a non-metallic clip having a substantially rectangular base portion, a first longitudinal flared wing portion, and a second longitudinal flared wing portion, wherein a plurality of edges of the clip along a path of insertion are beveled or radiused. The non-metallic clip connection system also includes a first non-metallic member having a first portion of a non-metallic clip receiver and a second non-metallic member having a second portion of the non-metallic clip receiver. The first non-metallic member is secured to the second non-metallic member by inserting the non-metallic clip in the non-metallic clip receiver. A non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor and a non-metallic vertebrae end piece may use a non-metallic clip connection system.
1. A non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor comprising:
a first non-metallic member comprising
a first half of a ball portion,
a first half of a socket portion,
a first half of a first non-metallic clip receiver,
a first half of a second non-metallic clip receiver, and
a first half of a cavity;
a second non-metallic member comprising
a second half of the ball portion,
a second half of the socket portion,
a second half of the first non-metallic clip receiver,
a second half of the second non-metallic clip receiver, and
a second half of the cavity;
a first non-metallic clip; and
a second non-metallic clip,
wherein the first non-metallic member is secured to the second non-metallic member by a first interference fit between the first non-metallic clip and the first non-metallic clip receiver and a second interference fit between the second non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip receiver.
2. The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of non-metallic retention screws.
3. The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein all edges other than a top face of each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip are beveled or radiused.
4. The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip comprise a substantially rectangular base portion, a first longitudinal flared wing portion, and a second longitudinal flared wing portion.
5. The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 4 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip further comprise a clip retention screw receiver on a side longitudinal face of the substantially rectangular base portion.
6. The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 4 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip further comprise a clip retention feature disposed on a rear face of the substantially rectangular base portion near a top face.
7. The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein the first half of the cavity comprises a first half of a flared portion that extends from the first half of the socket portion to a bottom of the first non-metallic member and a first half of a flared portion that extends from the first half of the ball portion to a top of the first non-metallic member.
8. The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein the first non-metallic member further comprises:
a first ball alignment and shear protrusion extending from an interior face of the first half of the ball portion; and
a first ball alignment and shear protrusion receiver disposed in the interior face of the first half of the ball portion.
9. The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein the second non-metallic member further comprises:
a second ball alignment and shear protrusion extending from an interior face of the second half of the ball portion; and
a second ball alignment and shear protrusion receiver disposed in the interior face of the second half of the ball portion.
10. The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein the first non-metallic member further comprises:
a first socket alignment and shear protrusion extending from an interior face of the first half of the socket portion; and
a first socket alignment and shear protrusion receiver disposed in the interior face of the first half of the socket portion.
11. The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein the second non-metallic member further comprises:
a second socket alignment and shear protrusion extending from an interior face of the second half of the socket portion; and
a second socket alignment and shear protrusion receiver disposed in the interior face of the second half of the socket portion.
12. The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein the first non-metallic member further comprises:
a first boss alignment and shear protrusion extending from an interior face of a first half of a boss portion; and
a first boss alignment and shear protrusion receiver disposed on the interior face of the first half of the boss portion.
13. The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein the second non-metallic member further comprises:
a second boss alignment and shear protrusion extending from an interior face of a second half of a boss portion; and
a second boss alignment and shear protrusion receiver disposed in the interior face of the second half of the boss portion.
14. The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein each of the first non-metallic member and the second non-metallic member are comprised of polyurethane, a non-metallic polymer, or a non-metallic material.
15. The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip are comprised of polyurethane, a non-metallic polymer, or a non-metallic material.
16. The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein the ball portion of each of the first non-metallic member and the second non-metallic member comprise a half of a rib portion.
17. The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein the socket portion of each of the first non-metallic member comprises a half of a rib receiver.
18. A non-metallic vertebrae end piece comprising:
a first non-metallic member comprising
a first half of a socket portion,
a first half of a first non-metallic clip receiver,
a first half of a second non-metallic clip receiver, and
a first half of a cavity;
a second non-metallic member comprising
a second half of the socket portion,
a second half of the first non-metallic clip receiver,
a second half of the second non-metallic clip receiver, and
a second half of the cavity;
a first non-metallic clip; and
a second non-metallic clip,
wherein the first non-metallic member is secured to the second non-metallic member by a first interference fit between the first non-metallic clip and the first non-metallic clip receiver and a second interference fit between the second non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip receiver.
19. The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 18 , further comprising:
a plurality of non-metallic retention screws.
20. The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 18 , wherein all edges other than a top face of each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip are beveled or radiused.
21. The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 18 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip comprise a substantially rectangular base portion, a first longitudinal flared wing portion, and a second longitudinal flared wing portion.
22. The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 21 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip further comprise a clip retention screw receiver on a side longitudinal face of the substantially rectangular base portion.
23. The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 21 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip further comprise a clip retention feature disposed on a rear face of the substantially rectangular base portion near a top face.
24. The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 18 , wherein the first half of the cavity comprises a first half of a flared portion that extends from the first half of the socket portion to a bottom of the first non-metallic member and a first half of a flared portion that extends from the first half of the ball portion to a top of the first non-metallic member.
25. The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 18 , wherein the first non-metallic member further comprises:
a first socket alignment and shear protrusion extending from an interior face of the first half of the socket portion; and
a first socket alignment and shear protrusion receiver disposed in the interior face of the first half of the socket portion.
26. The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 18 , wherein the second non-metallic member further comprises:
a second socket alignment and shear protrusion extending from an interior face of the second half of the socket portion; and
a second socket alignment and shear protrusion receiver disposed in the interior face of the second half of the socket portion.
27. The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 18 , wherein the first non-metallic member further comprises:
a first boss alignment and shear protrusion extending from an interior face of a first half of a boss portion; and
a first boss alignment and shear protrusion receiver disposed on the interior face of the first half of the boss portion.
28. The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 18 , wherein the second non-metallic member further comprises:
a second boss alignment and shear protrusion extending from an interior face of a second half of a boss portion; and
a second boss alignment and shear protrusion receiver disposed in the interior face of the second half of the boss portion.
29. The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 18 , wherein each of the first non-metallic member and the second non-metallic member are comprised of polyurethane, a non-metallic polymer, or a non-metallic material.
30. The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 18 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip are comprised of polyurethane, a non-metallic polymer, or a non-metallic material.
31. The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 18 , wherein the socket portion of each of the first non-metallic member comprises a half of a rib receiver.