HOLE TRANSPORTER
The present invention is a hole extender, in which a hole transporter includes a transport beam having a first flange with a first flange pin and a first flange hole, and at the other end of the transport beam is a second flange with a second flange hole. Key features of the present hole transporter include that the main direction of each flange is perpendicular to the beam, and the direction of the second flange hole is parallel to the direction of the first flange hole.
1 - 4 . (canceled)
5 . A hole transporter, comprising:
a longitudinally extending central transport beam;
a first flange at a first end of said longitudinally extending central transport beam; and
a second flange at a second end of said longitudinally extending central transport beam,
wherein said flanges are at right angles to said longitudinally extending central transport beam,
wherein a portion of said first flange extends radially from said longitudinally extending central transport beam, bears a first flange pin having a longitudinal axis, and defines a first flange hole displaced from said first flange pin,
wherein a portion of said second flange extends radially from said longitudinally extending central transport beam and defines a second flange hole,
wherein said longitudinal axis of said first flange pin extends through said longitudinally extending central transport beam, and
wherein said first flange pin has a first overall length, said first flange hole has a second overall length, and said first overall length is approximately half as great as said second overall length.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said longitudinally extending central transport beam and said flanges are respective portions of a unitary article.
7 . The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising an external fixator strut secured to said second flange hole.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said longitudinally extending central transport beam and said flanges are respective portions of a unitary article.
9 . An apparatus, comprising:
a longitudinally extending central transport beam;
a first flange at a first end of said longitudinally extending central transport beam;
a second flange at a second end of said longitudinally extending central transport beam; and
an external fixator ring defining an in-external-fixator-ring hole,
wherein said flanges are at right angles to said longitudinally extending central transport beam,
wherein a portion of said first flange extends radially from said longitudinally extending central transport beam, bears a first flange pin having a longitudinal axis, and defines a first flange hole displaced from said first flange pin,
wherein a portion of said second flange extends radially from said longitudinally extending central transport beam and defines a second flange hole,
wherein said longitudinal axis of said first flange pin extends through said longitudinally extending central transport beam,
wherein said in-external-fixator-ring hole receives said first flange pin therein,
wherein said external fixator ring bolts to said first flange via said first flange hole, and
wherein said first flange pin has a first overall length, said first flange hole has a second overall length, and said first overall length is approximately half as great as said second overall length.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said longitudinally extending central transport beam and said flanges are respective portions of a unitary article.
11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising an external fixator strut secured to said second flange hole.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said longitudinally extending central transport beam and said flanges are respective portions of a unitary article.
13 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said radial extension of said portion of said first flange, said longitudinal extension of said central transport beam, and said radial extension of said portion of said second flange conform to a generally Z-shaped geometry.
14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said radial extension of said portion of said first flange, said longitudinal extension of said central transport beam, and said radial extension of said portion of said second flange conform to a generally Z-shaped geometry.
15 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said radial extension of said portion of said first flange, said longitudinal extension of said central transport beam, and said radial extension of said portion of said second flange conform to a generally Z-shaped geometry.
16 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said radial extension of said portion of said first flange, said longitudinal extension of said central transport beam, and said radial extension of said portion of said second flange conform to a generally Z-shaped geometry.