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 ball portion,
a first socket portion,
a first portion of a first non-metallic clip receiver,
a first portion of a second non-metallic clip receiver, and
a first cavity portion;
a second non-metallic member comprising
a second ball portion,
a second socket portion,
a second portion of the first non-metallic clip receiver,
a second portion of the second non-metallic clip receiver, and
a second cavity portion;
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 inserting the first non-metallic clip in the first non-metallic clip receiver and inserting the second non-metallic clip in the second non-metallic clip receiver.
2 . 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.
3 . 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.
4 . The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 3 , 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.
5 . The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein the first non-metallic clip fits in the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip fits in the second non-metallic clip receiver with an interference fit.
6 . The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein the first non-metallic clip has a pre-load angle feature that is different from a corresponding pre-load angle feature of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip has a pre-load angle feature that is different from a corresponding pre-load angle feature of the second non-metallic clip receiver.
7 . The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein the first non-metallic clip has a pre-load radius feature that is different from a corresponding pre-load radius feature of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip has a pre-load radius feature that is different from a corresponding pre-load radius feature of the second non-metallic clip receiver.
8 . The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip have a rotation-preventing angle feature on a distal end of a substantially rectangular base portion and each of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver have a corresponding rotation-preventing angle feature in the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver.
9 . The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip have an installation allowance feature and each of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver have a different installation allowance feature in the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver.
10 . The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of claim 1 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver have a supporting mass above an angle feature of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip.
11 . A non-metallic vertebrae end piece comprising:
a first non-metallic member comprising
a first socket portion,
a first portion of a first non-metallic clip receiver,
a first portion of a second non-metallic clip receiver, and
a first cavity portion;
a second non-metallic member comprising
a second socket portion,
a second portion of the first non-metallic clip receiver,
a second portion of the second non-metallic clip receiver, and
a second cavity portion;
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 inserting the first non-metallic clip in the first non-metallic clip receiver and inserting the second non-metallic clip in the second non-metallic clip receiver.
12 . The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 11 , 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.
13 . The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 11 , 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.
14 . The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 13 , 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.
15 . The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 11 , wherein the first non-metallic clip fits in the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip fits in the second non-metallic clip receiver with an interference fit.
16 . The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 11 , wherein the first non-metallic clip has a pre-load angle feature that is different from a corresponding pre-load angle feature of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip has a pre-load angle feature that is different from a corresponding pre-load angle feature of the second non-metallic clip receiver.
17 . The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 11 , wherein the first non-metallic clip has a pre-load radius feature that is different from a corresponding pre-load radius feature of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip has a pre-load radius feature that is different from a corresponding pre-load radius feature of the second non-metallic clip receiver.
18 . The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 11 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip have a rotation-preventing angle feature on a distal end of a substantially rectangular base portion and each of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver have a corresponding rotation-preventing angle feature in the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver.
19 . The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 11 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip have an installation allowance feature and each of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver have a different installation allowance feature in the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver.
20 . The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of claim 11 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver have a supporting mass above an angle feature of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip.