TORQUE AMPLIFYING KNOB APPARATUS FOR EXTERNAL BONE FIXATOR

1 . A torque amplifying knob apparatus for engaging a screw associated with an orthopedic exterior fixator to enable tightening and loosening without a tool, the screw having an elongated cylindrical threaded body extending along a screw axis, the knob apparatus comprising:

a plurality of collapsible turn levers, each turn lever having a longitudinal body extending between a movable end and a hinged end; and

a central screw turn actuator, the central screw turn actuator having an outer side and an inner side, the hinged end of each turn lever being connected via a hinge to the outer side of the central screw turn actuator, the movable end of each turn lever being movable between a collapsed position where each lever is situated over the outer side of the central screw turn actuator and an open position where the movable end is situated outwardly from the outer side of the central screw turn actuator, the central screw turn actuator engaged with the screw so that movement of the actuator is caused in first and second linear directions along the cylindrical threaded body when rotational force is applied in first and second rotational directions, respectively, to the torque amplifying knob;

wherein each hinge pivots about a hinge longitudinal body, the hinge longitudinal bodies being parallel to one another and extending perpendicular to the screw, the screw axis being generally centered between the hinge longitudinal bodies.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the turn levers are collapsed in a side-by-side arrangement.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the longitudinal bodies of the turn levers has inner and outer edges, the inner edges being closer to the screw axis than the outer edges, the inner edges having respective contours that engage in a mating complimentary manner when the turn levers are collapsed in the side-by-side arrangement, the longitudinal bodies having sufficient size to cover a substantial part of the outer side of the central screw turn actuator when the turn levers are collapsed.

4 . A torque amplifying knob apparatus for engaging a threaded screw associated with an orthopedic exterior fixator to enable tightening and loosening without a tool, the screw having a cylindrical elongated threaded body, the knob apparatus comprising:

a central screw turn actuator, the central screw turn actuator having an outer side and an inner side, the knob having a central screw turn actuator engaged with the fixator screw so that movement of the actuator is caused in first and second linear directions along the cylindrical threaded body when rotational force is applied in first and second rotational directions, respectively, to the torque amplifying knob; and

at least one turn lever;

wherein the turn lever has a longitudinal body extending between a movable end and a hinged end, the hinged end being connected via a hinge to the outer side of the central screw turn actuator, the movable end being movable between a collapsed position where the movable end is situated over the outer side of the central screw turn actuator and an open position where the movable end is situated outwardly from the outer side of the central screw turn actuator;

wherein the hinge pivots about a hinge longitudinal body, the hinge longitudinal body extending perpendicular to the screw;

wherein an axis that is perpendicular to and extends through the screw axis also extends through a central part of the hinge longitudinal body of the hinge;

wherein the turn lever longitudinal body has inner and outer edges, the inner edge being closer to the screw axis than the outer edge, the turn lever longitudinal body having sufficient size to cover a substantial part of the outer side of the central screw turn actuator when the turn lever is collapsed;

wherein the knob changes between an opened size and a collapsed size, the opened size having at least a part that extends a greater distance in a direction outwardly from the threaded body of the screw as compared to the collapsed size so that a greater rotational torque can be applied relative to the screw in connection with the opened size as compared to the collapsed size.

5 . The knob of claim 4 , wherein the at least one turn lever includes first and second turn levers, wherein the turn levers are collapsed in a side-by-side arrangement, and wherein each of the longitudinal bodies of the turn levers has inner and outer edges, the inner edges being closer to the screw axis than the outer edges, the inner edges having respective contours that mate in complimentary manner when the turn levers are collapsed in the side-by-side arrangement, the longitudinal bodies having sufficient size to cover a substantial part of the outer side of the central screw turn actuator when the turn levers are collapsed.