text:
|Numéro de publication
|Type de publication
|Numéro de demande
|Date de publication
|12 juin 2012
|Date de dépôt
|28 juil. 2010
|Date de priorité
|16 mai 2007
|Autre référence de publication
|Numéro de publication
|John E. Hammill, Sr., Robert L. Doubler
|Cessionnaire d'origine
|Ortho Innovations, Llc
|Exporter la citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Citations de brevets (103), Référencé par (5), Classifications (5), Événements juridiques (1)
|Liens externes: USPTO, Cession USPTO, Espacenet
This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/540,398 entitled Thread-Thru Polyaxial Pedicle Screw System, filed Aug. 13, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,942,909, which in turn is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/355,145, filed Jan. 16, 2009, which claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/114,515, filed on Nov. 14, 2008; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/749,615, filed May 16, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,942,910,the contents of these applications are herein incorporated by reference.
This invention is directed to the field of pedicle screws, and in particular, to a thread-thru polyaxial pedicle screw system adapted for use as a spinal implant.
The use of pedicle screw fasteners is well known for their use with spinal fixation systems. In the field of spinal pathologies, spinal fixation systems represent a major medical breakthrough. Surgically implanted fixation systems are commonly used to correct a variety of back structure problems, including those which occur as a result of trauma or improper development during growth. A commonly applied fixation system includes the use of one or more stabilizing rods aligned in a desired orientation with respect to a patient's spine. The pedicle screw provides anchoring of the fixation system wherein a series of connectors are used to rigidly link rods and the anchors.
Common to all spinal implant systems is the necessity for proper anchoring to the bone so as to provide support for the aforementioned components. The use of a polyaxial design pedicle screw has proven very effective in allowing a surgeon the flexibility to secure an installation with minimal strain on the individual. However, one of the problems with a polyaxial pedicle screw is the lack of a stabilized angular placement position during installation. Once a polyaxial pedicle screw is inserted into the bone, the connector component portion has yet to receive a connecting rod leaving the connector assembly to flop over making it difficult for the Surgeon to grasp while in the midst of surgery. This problem is compounded by the need to align multiple component heads for receipt of a connecting rod. Another problem with the prior art is the inability to use various size anchoring screw in combination with a common saddle larger saddle, both of which leads to assembly integrity over a large range of installation considerations.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,066,937 discloses an apparatus including a housing having a first passage configured to receive a longitudinal member and a second passage with an axis transverse to the first passage; a fastener extending through an opening in the housing and being moveable relative to the housing; the second passage of the housing having an indentation, the indentation including an axially extending surface at least partially defining the second passage and an upper surface extending transverse to the axially extending surface, a spacer received in the second passage of the housing, the spacer having a radial surface below the upper surface of the indentation; and a member contacting the upper surface of the indentation and the radial surface of the spacer that applies an axial force to the spacer to prevent relative movement between the fastener and the housing and holding the fastener in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the housing.
U.S. Pat. No 6,485,491 discloses a multi-axial bone anchor assembly that includes a saddle member, a bone anchoring member and a washer. The saddle has a channel that receives a rod. A snap ring secures the washer in the saddle member. The snap ring engages a snap ring recess. The disclosed structure would not prevent relative movement between a fastener and a housing and would not hold a longitudinal axis of the fastener in any one of a plurality of desired angular positions relative to a longitudinal of a passage in the housing when a rod, longitudinal member, is disengaged from a spacer. The patent does not teach an arrangement where a spacer necessarily engages a fastener when a rod, longitudinal member, is so disengaged.
A conventional polyaxial bone screw typically consists of a single shaft with a coarse thread at one end for threading into the bone. A spherical ball is positioned at an opposite end for coupling to a connecting member. For example, a number of patents exist for bone screw anchoring assemblies that include a U-shaped connector element which acts as a saddle for attachment to an alignment rod. U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,717 sets forth a sacral screw with a saddle support. Disclosed is the use of an auxiliary angled screw to provide the necessary support in placing the screw in an angular position for improved anchoring.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,900 sets forth an attachment screw and connector member that is adjustably fastened to an alignment rod. An oblong area provided within each connector member allows minute displacement of the alignment rod.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,595 discloses a screw that has a first externally threaded portion for engagement with the bone and a second externally threaded portion for engagement with a locking nut. The disclosure illustrates the use of a singular fixed shaft.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,458 discloses a screw which employs a spherical portion which is adapted to receive a locking pin so as to allow one portion of the screw to rotate around the spherical portion. A problem with the screw is the need for the locking pin and the inability of the base screw to accommodate a threaded extension bolt.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,542 discloses a screw clamp wherein two horizontally disposed sections are adapted to receive the head of a pedicle screw for use in combination with a hook which holds a support rod at an adjustable distance.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,304 discloses the use of a screw with a top portion that is adaptable for use with a specially designed alignment rod to permit compression as well as distraction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,596 discloses a pedicle screw for use in coupling an alignment rod to the spine wherein the screw includes a clamp permitting adjustment of the angle between the alignment rod and the screw.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,196 discloses a screw with an upper portion designed for threadingly engaging a semi-spherical cup for use with a specially designed alignment rod. The alignment rod includes spaced apart covertures for receipt of a spherical disc allowing a support rod to be placed at angular positions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,435 sets forth a modular spinal plate assembly for use with polyaxial pedicle screw implant devices. The device includes compressible components that cooperatively lock the device along included rails.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,166 discloses an orthopedic bone bolt and bone plate construction including a bone plate member and a collection of fasteners. At least one of the fasteners allows for multi-angle mounting configurations. The fasteners also include threaded portions configured to engage a patient's bone tissue.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,247 discloses a multi-angle fastener usable for connecting patient bone to other surgical implant components. The '247 device includes fastening bolts having spherical, multi-piece heads that allow for adjustment during installation of the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,357 discloses a spinal treatment and long bone fixation apparatus. The apparatus includes link members adapted to engage patient vertebrae. The link members may be attached in a chain-like fashion to connect bones in a non-linear arrangement. The apparatus also includes at least one multi-directional attachment member for joining the link members. This allows the apparatus to be used in forming a spinal implant fixation system.
Another type of spinal fixation system includes rigid screws that engage the posterior region of a patient's spine. The screws are designed with rod-engaging free ends to engage a support rod that has been formed into a desired spine-curvature-correcting orientation. Clamping members are often used to lock the rod in place with respect to the screws. Instead of clamping members, other fixation systems, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,900 employs connectors that join the support rods and anchoring screws. The connectors eliminate unwanted relative motion between the rod and the screws, thereby maintaining the patient's spine in a corrected orientation.
Other spinal fixation systems employ adjustable components. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,608 includes anchoring screws that have pivoting free ends which attach to discrete rod-engaging couplers. As a result, the relative position of the anchoring screws and rods may be adjusted to achieve a proper fit, even after the screw has been anchored into a patient's spinal bone. This type of fixation system succeeds in easing the rod-and-screw-linking process. This adjustment capability allows the screws to accommodate several rod paths.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,445,627 discloses a fastener and a bone fixation assembly for internal fixation of vertebral bodies. According to one exemplary embodiment, a tulip assembly is employed; the tulip assembly includes a non-circular surface disposed on its outer surface. A fastener is coupled to the tulip assembly and positionable to retain the tulip assembly on the head of a screw. A cap having an outer surface and a plurality of inner protrusions mateably connects to the non-circular surface on the tulip body to compress the tulip assembly to secure a rod.
U.S. Publication No. 2008/0177322 discloses a spinal stabilization system that includes bone fastener assemblies that are coupled to vertebrae. Each bone fastener assembly includes a bone fastener and a collar. The bone fastener has a head portion having at least a first cross-sectional shape in a first plane, and a second cross-sectional shape in a second plane. The collar has a circular opening in the bottom, with a relief extending from the circular opening. The second cross-sectional shape of the bone fastener is keyed to the opening to permit insertion of the bone fastener into the collar assembly from the bottom. After insertion, the bone fastener is rotated to prohibit removal of the bone fastener from the collar. The collar can then be rotated and/or angulated relative to the bone fastener. An elongated member can be positioned in the collar and a closure member is then used to secure the elongated member to the collar.
U.S. Publication No. 2006/0241599 discloses a polyaxial fixation device having a shank with a spherical head formed on a proximal end thereof, and a receiver member having an axial passage formed therein that is adapted to polyaxially seat the spherical head of the shank. The polyaxial bone screw further includes an engagement member that is adapted to provide sufficient friction between the spherical head and the receiver member to enable the shank to be maintained in a desired angular orientation before locking the spherical head within the receiver member.
U.S. Publication No. 2006/0235392 discloses a system for connecting a fastener element (e.g., a pedicle screw) relative to a rod for the purposes of vertebral fixation. The system may permit multi-axial movement between the fastener element and the rod. Further, the system may permit the angular relationship between the fastener element and the rod to be held in a desired orientation.
U.S. Publication No. 2006/0155277 discloses an anchoring element for securing a rod on a vertebra, that comprises a retaining means for receiving the rod, a safety element placed on the retaining means, a securing element which can be placed on the body of the vertebra, and a clamping device which is arranged between the retaining means and the securing element. The clamping device includes a ring-shaped mount, a partially conical-segment shaped bearing and an intermediate element which is embedded in the mount and which engages the bearing, whereby the mounting is moveable in a removed state in relation to the bearing, whereas the mount is maintained in a clamped state on the bearing by means of the intermediate element. The mount is rigidly connected to the retaining means and the bearing is rigidly connected to the securing element.
U.S. Publication No. 2006/0149240 discloses a polyaxial bone screw assembly that includes a threaded shank body having an upper capture structure, a head and a multi-piece retainer, articulation structure. The geometry of the retainer structure pieces correspond and cooperate with the external geometry of the capture structure to frictionally envelope the retainer structure between the capture structure and an internal surface defining a cavity of the head. The head has a U-shaped cradle defining a channel for receiving a spinal fixation or stabilization longitudinal connecting member. The head channel communicates with the cavity and further with a restrictive opening that receives retainer pieces and the capture structure into the head but prevents passage of frictionally engaged retainer and capture structures out of the head. The retainer structure includes a substantially spherical surface that mates with the internal surface of the head, providing a ball joint, enabling the head to be disposed at an angle relative to the shank body.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,214 discloses a polyaxial bone screw having a bone implantable shank, a head and a retaining ring. The retaining ring includes an outer partial hemispherical surface and an inner bore with radially extending channels and partial capture recesses. The shank includes a bone implantable body with an external helical wound thread and an upwardly extending capture structure. The capture structure includes at least one spline which extends radially outward and has a wedged surface that faces radially outward therefrom. The capture structure operably passes through a central bore of the retaining ring while the spline passes through a suitably shaped channel so that the spline becomes positioned above the head, at which time the shank is rotated appropriately and the shank is drawn back downwardly so that the spline engages and seats in the capture recess. The head includes an internal cavity having a spherical shaped surface that mates with the ring surface and has a lower restrictive neck that prevents passage of the ring once the ring is seated in the cavity.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,565,567 discloses a pedicle screw assembly for use with a rod for the immobilization of bone segments. The assembly is comprised of a screw, a polyaxial housing for receiving the screw, a washer, a set screw, and a cup-shaped cap. The lower portion of the housing terminates in a reduced cross-sectional area, which engages the bottom of the screw head. When the screw is placed inside the polyaxial housing and the screw is secured into the bone, the polyaxial housing is pivotable with three degrees of freedom. The housing includes a top portion with a pair of upstanding internally threaded posts. A washer is inserted between the head of the screw and the rod. A cap, having a bottom, with a pair of posts accommodating openings and a lateral cross connector, is placed over the posts so that the cross connector engages the rod. The cross connector and washer have concave generally semi-cylindrical rod engaging surfaces to prevent the rod from rotating or sliding within the housing once the set screw is tightened. A set screw is threaded into the housing posts to secure the rod within the housing. The washer has a roughened lower surface which, in conjunction with the reduced cross-sectional area at the bottom of the housing, securely clamps and locks the housing to the screw head when the set screw is tightened.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,684 discloses an osteosynthetic fixation device which consists of a fixation element which has a conical head section and an anchoring element abutting it which is for attachment into the bone. The fixation device also consists of a spherically formed, layered, slotted clamping piece which has a conical borehole for installation of the conical head section, and which is meant for locking within a connecting piece equipped with a spherically shaped layered borehole. Fixation piece has an axially arrayed tension element, permitting axial displacement and wedging of conical head section in the borehole that corresponds with it. The fixation device is appropriate for use as a plate/screw system, an internal or external fixator, and in particular for spinal column fixation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,240 discloses a bone pin clamp for external fracture fixation. The apparatus comprises rotation, slide and housing elements nested one within the next, each such element having an aperture to receive a pin therethrough, and the rotation and slide elements respectively affording pin adjustment in azimuth and zenith, and in height, relative to the housing element. A locking mechanism including a common actuator member is operable simultaneously to lock the pin and rotation and slide elements in the housing element. In a preferred form, the housing element serves as a cylinder with the slide element as a keyed piston therein, and the rotation element is a disc located between a screw and annular thrust members engaged in the piston, the piston and disc being split respectively to lock by expansion and compaction under screw action towards the thrust members.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,334 discloses an external fixation device for holding bone segments in known relation to each other. The device includes a pair of bone clamp assemblies each secured to bone pins extending from the bone segments, a bridge extending between the pin clamp assemblies, and a specialized high friction universal assembly connecting the bridge to each of the pin clamp assemblies.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,116 discloses an external fixation device for reducing fractures and realigning bones that includes sliding universal articulated couplings for enabling easy adjustment and subsequent locking of connections between Steinmann pins and tubular tie-rods. The couplings each include a split, spherical adapter sleeve which is embraced by the matching inner surface of an open ring portion of a coupling locking clamp having clamp lugs tightenable against a block by means of a nut-and-bolt assembly. Further nut-and-bolt assemblies are disposed in elongated slots in the blocks and cooperate with associated clamping members to clamp the Steinmann pins to the blocks after adjustment in two orthogonal directions and optional resilient bending of the pins.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,788 discloses a ball and socket joint incorporating a detent mechanism that provides positive biasing toward a desired position. The ball and socket joint can be used in flexible supports that hold and support items such as lamps, tools and faucets. The detent mechanism comprises two corresponding parts, one in the ball portion and the second in the socket portion of the joint. The first detent part is a protrusion of some type and the second detent part is a groove or indentation that is adapted to accept and engage the protrusion. If the ball contains the detent protrusion, then the socket contains the detent indentation. And conversely, if the socket contains the detent protrusion, then the ball contains the detent indentation. The detent tensioning force can be provided by a spring or a spring band, the characteristics of the material from which the joint is made, or by some other similar tensioning device.
U.S. Publication No. 2003/0118395 discloses a ball and socket joint, which has a housing, a ball pivot mounted pivotably in the housing, and a sealing bellows, which is fastened to the housing and is mounted on the ball pivot slidably via a sealing ring provided with two legs. A first leg of the two legs is in contact with the ball pivot under tension and the second leg meshes with the wall of the sealing bellows. The second leg is, furthermore, fastened in an anchoring ring arranged at least partially in the wall of the sealing bellows.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,510 discloses a ball joint coupling assembly that permits universal movement and positioning of an object with respect to a vertical support shaft. Quick release/lock action is provided by a ball joint assembly having a housing in which a ball and piston are movably coupled. The ball is captured between annular jaw portions of the housing and piston, with locking action being provided by gripping engagement of the piston jaw portion and the housing jaw portion. The ball member is gripped in line-contact, compressive engagement by the annular edges of the piston jaw and housing jaw on opposite sides of the ball. The piston is constrained for axial movement within the housing with locking engagement and release being effected by rotation of a threaded actuator shaft.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,510 discloses a swivel structure for rigidly joining first and second parts together. A first member is connected to the first part and a second member is connected to the second part. An intermediate hollow member interconnects the first and second members together. An enlarged outer end portion is provided on the first member and includes a plurality of locking means thereon. Means are provided on the second member for engaging one of the locking means. Means are provided for threadably joining the hollow member and the second member together. A slot is provided in the hollow member and includes an enlarged entrance which passes the enlarged outer end portion and which also includes a restricted opening opposite the threaded joining of the hollow member and the second member together. The portion surrounding the restricted opening opposes the forces imparted against the outer end portion as the second member is threadably joined to the hollow portion and bears against the outer end portion.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0269809 discloses a bottom loading pedicle screw assembly. The device includes a pedicle screw and a connector member. The pedicle screw includes a threaded lower portion while the upper portion includes a groove sized to accept a clip member. The clip member includes a spherical outer surface. In operation the clip is placed within the groove and the assembly is pressed through the opening in the bottom of the connector member. While the device is bottom loading, the device will separate when the pedicle screw is aligned with the connector member. The construction of the clip member allows the clip to collapse sufficiently to pass back through the opening when the screw is positioned in alignment with the connector, requiring the connection to bone be placed at an angle with respect to the connector for proper operation.
Thus, what is needed is a lockable polyaxial ball and socket joint that can be adapted for use in a spinal fixation system that includes the advantages of known devices, while addressing the shortcomings that they exhibit. The system should allow component interchangeability at point of installation, thereby addressing a wide variety of spinal deformities with fewer components. In addition, the system should allow the stabilized angular placement position of the connector components during installation. The connector component should be stabilized prior to connection to a connecting rod so that the component will not flop over after being positioned by the surgeon thereby enabling the surgeon to properly align multiple components and configure the connecting rod to match the locations of the anchoring screws.
The present invention is a polyaxial pedicle screw system that permits the threads of a pedicle screw to pass thru a lower section of a connecting member during manufacturing. The pass thru design permits the manufacturer to use a range of different size shanks and threads while using a common connector member thereby lowering inventory costs and providing the surgeon with a similar shaped connector despite the type of pedicle screw employed. The system includes a means for applying tension to the pedicle screw anchoring member to assist in surgery.
The polyaxial bone screw has a threaded shank extending outwardly from a spherical ball for use in anchoring to the spine and a connector member that includes a socket constructed and arranged to accept the spherical ball. In the disclosed embodiment, the connector member is illustrated as a U-shaped connector member having a lower receptacle that operates as a socket for housing a retainer ring. The socket is receptive to the spherical ball which is inserted through the top of the connector during a manufacturing step. The retainer ring is spring loaded against a upper component of the connector member and engages the spherical ball so as to keep the U-shaped connector member in position during installation. The upper retainer ring is resiliently biased against an upper component of the connector member and engages the spherical ball so as to keep the U-shaped connector member in position during installation. A surgeon can easily move the connector member into a preferred position and the resilient biasing component will keep sufficient force on the upper retainer ring so as to maintain the connector in a selected position relative to the spherical connector. This facilitates the installation of the rod as the U-shaped connector not only can be rotated into a position for proper placement of the connecting rod but the proper angle of the saddle can also maintained while allowing the surgeon to align additional screws for ease of rod placement. In addition, by maintaining the pre positioning of the connector members the surgeon will be able to pre position and bend the rod as needed to align for any number of anchoring screws.
A fastener member, such as a set screw or nut, is utilized to press the retaining ring into contact with the spherical ball while simultaneously causing a lower portion of the ball to engage the inner surface of the connector member thereby immobilizing the connector.
The connector members are rigid structures adapted to link an associated anchoring assembly with one of the stabilizing rods. The stabilizing rods may be rigid or dynamic members shaped to form a spine-curvature-correcting and/or immobilizing path. Attaching each anchoring assembly, via connectors, to a stabilizing rod forces a patient's back into a surgeon-chosen shape. Stabilizing rods may be used singly, or in pairs, depending upon the type of correction required. The rods vary in size, but typically extend between at least two vertebrae.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to teach the use of a polyaxial pedicle screw system for posterior fixation having a common connector for use with different sized shanks and thread types, which lowers inventory requirements and provides the surgeon with a uniform connector.
It is another objective of the present invention to teach the use of a polyaxial pedicle screw having a biasing member to apply a force between the anchoring member and the connector member, the force facilitates installation by maintaining the connector component in an angular placement position as desired by the surgeon. A polyaxial ball and socket system that permits component adjustment during installation thereby enabling satisfactory correction of a wide variety of spinal deformities.
It is another objective of the present invention to teach the use of a polyaxial bone screw assembly having a thicker connector even when oversized anchoring screws are employed by use of a thread thru design of a lower connector, the upper connector need not be threaded providing a greater safety factor when a set screw fastener is employed by avoiding splaying.
Another objective of the present invention to teach the use of a polyaxial bone screw assembly that can allow for multiple rod connector member diameter sizes for use with a single sized connector assembly.
Still another objective of the present invention to teach the use of a retainer ring member for use in conjunction with a U-shaped saddle to obtain a three point fixation between a fastener set screw and the saddle.
Yet another objective of the present invention to teach the use of a polyaxial bone screw assembly that allows 60 degrees of conical polyaxial motion.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a simple spinal fixation system having only a few components for use in assembly and limiting component parts needed during assembly by use of a common connector.
Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
Referring generally to the Figures, disclosed is an exemplary embodiment of the thread thru polyaxial pedicle screw system for use in a spinal fixation system. The thread-thru pedicle screw system (10) is based on an anchoring member formed from a bone screw (12) including a shank (14) with at least one helical thread (16) formed along the length thereof. It is important to note that the proportions of the bone screw depicted are for illustrative purposes only and variations in the length of the shank, diameter of the screw, thread pitch, thread length, number of thread leads, shank induced compression and the like may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention. As will be further described later in this specification, unique to invention is the ability to use various shank widths and thread sizes with the same connector which reduces the manufacturing inventory. At the upper end (20) of the shank (14) is a ball shaped spherical connector (18) having a predetermined diameter. The diameter of the spherical connector (18) and the width of the shank (20) control the angular positioning (A) of about 60 degrees that the shank has of conical polyaxial motion in relation to the connector assembly (30). A driver receptacle (22) is located along the upper end (20) of the spherical connector for use in installing the bone screw by use of driving tool. It should be noted that the driving receptacle may be any shape, male or female, suitable for cooperation with a driving tool to rotate the bone screw into its final position.
The connector assembly (30) is U-shaped and includes an upper connector member (31), a lower connector member (33), and a retainer ring (42). The upper connector member includes a substantially circular side wall (32) divided by a pair of U-shaped openings (49) forming an upstanding first interior side wall (34) and second interior side wall (36). A portion of each said side wall is threaded (54) for receipt of a set screw (80). The connector assembly is sized to cooperate with the retainer ring (42) for receipt of various sized rod.
The outer side walls of the upper connector may include a plurality of recessed grooves (35). The grooves are constructed and arranged in a horizontal plane, as shown, and may also be placed in a vertical plane, not shown. The horizontal grooves further allow attachment of an extender tube (not shown). Extender tubes are well known in the art of minimally invasive spinal procedures. Vertical placed grooves provide a gripping surface that cooperates with a tool (not shown) to allow a physician to apply a counter torque to the connector member during tightening of the fastening member.
The upper connector member (31) preferably includes a shoulder (92) on the bottom surface thereof for location of the lower connector member (33) forming a socket area (44) for receipt of a retainer ring (42) there between. The socket area (44) is constructed and arranged to cooperate with the spherical ball connector on the bone screw and is further designed to prevent rotation of the retainer ring (42) thereby maintaining the saddle surface area in alignment with the U-shaped opening. Alignment is maintained by inset side walls (45, 46) which operate in conjunction with side walls (43, 48) of the retainer ring (42).
The lower connector member (33) also includes a shoulder (96) that is constructed and arranged to cooperate with shoulder (92) to maintain alignment of the two components. The lower connector member (33) includes a substantially spherical shaped receptacle (38) which operates in conjunction with the upper component member to house the retainer ring (42) used to engage the spherical ball (18). The shoulders (92) and (96) are utilized to align the components and the upper and lower connector members, once assembled the connector members are laser welded together. It should be noted that other suitable methods or techniques of attaching the upper and lower connector members together may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention, such methods may include, but should not be limited to spot welding, threads, adhesives, pins swaging, solder, interference fits and suitable combinations thereof.
The retainer ring (42) is positioned within the lower receptacle (38) with an upper edge (52) positionable within the cavity formed by side wall (41); the retainer ring side wall (43) cooperates with side wall (41) of the cavity to prevent rotation of the retainer ring. The inner surface (56) of the retainer ring has a spherical diameter and provides for self centering by engaging of the outer surface of the spherical connector (18). The upper surface (53) of the retainer ring (42) includes a concave cylindrical surface for cooperation with the connecting rod (70 a or 70 b). The cylindrical surface provides additional surface area for contact with the connecting rod and may include a knurled or otherwise modified surface finish adapted to enhance gripping power between the rod (70 a or 70 b) and the connecting assembly (30). The retainer ring (42) includes a biasing member to cause an applied force from the retainer ring (42) to the spherical ball (18). In the preferred embodiment the biasing member is a pair of coil springs (102) that are located to cooperate with spring pockets (100) positioned in the upper connector member to locate and contain coil springs (102). The coil springs (102) bias the retainer ring (42) toward the opening (50) of the lower receptacle (38). Once the anchoring member is secured to the bone, a rod (70 a or 70 b) is placed within the connector assembly fits within the U-shaped saddle (49) and is placed on the surface (53) of the retainer ring (42). The set screw (80) is threaded onto the threads (54) of the upper connector (31) wherein the rod (70 a or 70 b) forces the retainer ring (42) onto the spherical ball connector (18) locking the assembly into a fixed position. Alternatively the upper connector member can include the use of the well know faster type wherein the upper connector member had an external thread and the fastener element would be a nut having internal threads.
The surface (53) of the retainer ring (42) includes a clamp angle that provides positive contact with the rod connection member along three points, point 1 (63) and point 2 (64) are from the shape of the clamp angle with the exact point position dependant upon the diameter of the connecting rod. A third point, point 3 (65) is supplied by the bottom of the set screw (80) creating three point securement when used with any diameter rod.
The thread-thru pedicle screw system (10) is constructed through the steps of selecting an anchoring member having a threaded shank (16) of an elected size for a particular installation. The shank may be small or large, the threads may be small or large, or any combination therebetween. A spherical connector (18) is of a common size allowing the use of a single sized lower connector element (33). The threaded shank (14) is inserted into the opening (50) of the lower connector member (33), the lower connector member having a socket (38) with a centrally disposed aperture which is constructed and arranged to allow the threaded shank to pass through. The lower connector member (33) includes a pass through thread (103) which allows the larger threaded shanks to pass through by matching the threaded shank with the pass through thread. In operation, the an oversized bone screw can be installed by use of a helical rotation wherein the bone screw is threaded through the member (33). The pass through thread (103) having a helical assembly groove to match the bone screw threads. The spherical connector (18) remains the same size and is situated in the socket (96), the design allowing a variety of anchor screws to be inventoried yet only one size connector assembly 30 needs to be inventoried.
To assemble, the anchoring screw (12)and the retainer ring positioned within the socket (96), the retainer ring (42) having a lower spherical surface (56) positionable along an upper surface of the spherical connector (18), the upper surface (53) of the retainer ring constructed and arranged to receive a connecting rod (70 a or 70 b). A clearance aperture (61) allows passage of a driver for use in securing to the bone screw driver receptacle (22). Each of the coil springs (102) is seated within one of the spring pockets (100) formed in the upper connector (31). The upper connector member (31) is then coupled, or welded as previously mentioned, to the lower connector member (33) engaging the springs (102) to bias the retainer ring (42) against the spherical connector (18).
The spring pockets (100) each have a longitudinal axis (L2) that is parallel to the longitudinal axis (L1) of the connector assembly (30). As shown in
It should be noted that while the biasing member is illustrated as a pair of coil springs (102), any spring or resilient type member suitable for displacing the retaining ring may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention. Such spring or resilient members may include, but should not be limited to, Belleville type springs, leaf springs, polymeric members and suitable combinations thereof.
All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.
One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.
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|Classification aux États-Unis
|Classification internationale
|Classification coopérative
|Classification européenne
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Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HAMMILL, JOHN E., SR.;DOUBLER, ROBERT L.;REEL/FRAME:024754/0412
Owner name: ORTHO INNOVATIONS, LLC, FLORIDA
Effective date: 20100727


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Royals Tickets
Things are changing in Kansas City, and GoTickets.com has your 2015 Kansas City Royals tickets so that you can be there at Kauffman Stadium all season long and see a young Royals team go deep into the season, contending in the American League Central Division for the playoffs. And should KC make a push to play in October we will also have a great selection of Royals playoff tickets. The boys in blue could be the surprise team this season, so get your Royals tickets (including spring training tickets) now from GoTickets.com!
2015 Kansas City Royals Schedule
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How To Buy Kansas City Royals Tickets
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Shipping & Availability When purchasing Kansas City Royals tickets online, you will be taken to our Kansas City Royals Tickets page. You will then be able to pick which Kansas City Royals event you would like to purchase. All tickets listed are seated together. All of our Kansas City Royals tickets are shipped via Federal Express. Please note that we do not deliver on Saturday unless, that option is specially requested on your order . Our ticket inventory is updated hourly. If for any reason the tickets are no longer available, you will be able to cancel your order or request a different area.
Royals Ticket Info
The Kansas City Royals posted a winning record for the first time in nearly a decade, winning 86 games in '13. The Royals boast a roster full of talent with the likes of Eric Hosmer, Alex Gordon, and Greg Holland. Expectations for the Royals will be high in 2015, as the team will look to build off a very successful '13 campaign. Led by veteran manager Ned Yost, the Royals will attempt to return to the World Series for the first time since '85. Check out all the action at Kauffman Stadium this season with KC Royals tickets from GoTickets.
Royals fans still manage to make it out to see their team despite their lack of success over the last several years. The days of George Brett and appearances against bitter rival St. Louis in the Fall Classic seem like distant memories but the KC faithful believe that they have the right man for the job in Ned Yost. Be sure you're there for all the excitement in 2015 as the Royals look to reverse their fortune and return to the playoffs for the first time since their '85 Championship season.
Every year one of the highlights of the Kansas City Royals schedule are the games against the rival St. Louis Cardinals, and that will certainly be the case this season as the Cards are the defending World Series champions. Get all your KC Royals baseball tickets from GoTickets.
Gotickets.com has got you covered with tickets to every MLB game this year as well as 2015 World Series and MLB All Star Game tickets.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Attorney General Eric Holder has an urgent message for Americans: While he is confident that the United States will continue to thwart attacks, "the terrorists only have to be successful once."
And while it is not certain we will be hit, the American people, he told ABC News, "have to be prepared for potentially bad news."
"What I am trying to do in this interview is to make people aware of the fact that the threat is real, the threat is different, the threat is constant," he said.
In a rare and wide-ranging interview, the attorney general disclosed chilling, new details about the evolving threat of homegrown terror, and touched on topics ranging from Wikileaks to the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.
What was uppermost on his mind, however, is the alarming rise in the number of Americans who are more than willing to attack and kill their fellow citizens.
"It is one of the things that keeps me up at night," Holder said. "You didn't worry about this even two years ago -- about individuals, about Americans, to the extent that we now do. And -- that is of -- of great concern."
"The threat has changed from simply worrying about foreigners coming here, to worrying about people in the United States, American citizens -- raised here, born here, and who for whatever reason, have decided that they are going to become radicalized and take up arms against the nation in which they were born," he said.
In the last 24 months, Holder said, 126 people have been indicted on terrorist-related charges, Fifty of those people are American citizens.
"I think that what is most alarming to me is the totality of what we see, the attorney general said. "Whether it is an attempt to bomb the New York City subway system, an attempt to bring down an airplane over Detroit, an attempt to set off a bomb in Times Square ... I think that gives us a sense of the breadth of the challenges that we face, and the kinds of things that our enemy is trying to do."
Holder says many of these converts to al Qaeda have something in common: a link to radical cleric Anwar Al Awlaki, an American citizen himself.
Authorities suspect Awlaki helped mastermind last year's Christmas Day underwear bombing plot in Detroit, and a recent scheme to blow up cargo planes travelling from Yemen to Europe and the United States.
"He's an extremely dangerous man. He has shown a desire to harm the United States, a desire to strike the homeland of the United States," Holder said. "He is a person who -- as an American citizen -- is familiar with this country and he brings a dimension, because of that American familiarity, that others do not."
Holder said that as a threat to the United States, Awlaki ranks right up there with Osama bin Laden.
"He would be on the same list with bin Laden," the attorney general said. "He's up there. I don't know whether he's one, two, three, four -- I don't know. But he's certainly on the list of the people who worry me the most."
When asked whether the United states has a preference between killing or capturing and prosecuting Awlaki, Holder replied: "Well, we certainly want to neutralize him. And we will do whatever we can in order to do that."
Awlaki is believed to be in Yemen, but thanks to the Internet, his reach is global, and his influence dangerous.


text:
Advanced Liposomal Delivery
Eternal Woman Progesterone Cream features progesterone from healthful, woman-friendly soy, enhanced by Mexican wild yam. Progesterone Cream can help address normal menopausal discomforts, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and irritability.
Source Naturals Natural Progesterone Cream features natural progesterone USP from soy. Their Progesterone Cream is guaranteed to contain 500 mg of progesterone per ounce and 22 mg per 1/4 teaspoon.
Directions for Use: Massage 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cream twice daily into smooth skin areas, such as wrists, face, throat, abdomen or chest. Pre-menopausal women use for 14 days prior to the first day of menstruation, discontinue and repeat. Menopausal and postmenopausal women use for 21 days, discontinue for 7 days and repeat. These are general recommendations only and may need to be modified for individual needs. Please consult your health care professional for specific situations.
Other Directions: If you are pregnant, nursing, or intending to become pregnant, consult with a health care professional before using this product. If irritation occurs, discontinue use. For external use only. Do not use around eye area.
Other IngredientsDeionized Water, Aloe Vera Leaf Gel, Cetearyl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Natural Progesterone USP from soy (500 mg per ounce), Wild Yam Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate (Natural Vitamin E), Lecithin Phospholipid, Glyceryl Stearate & Peg-100 Stearate, Jojoba Seed Oil, Squalene, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Stearic Acid, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Ginseng Root Extract, Sorbic Acid, Xanthan Gum, and Rosemary Oil.
Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy is your source for natural health products. Browse our online selection of products from all of the best natural brands, or visit one of our pharmacy locations and talk with one of our licensed practitioners. From natural beauty products and cosmetics to vitamins, herbs and supplements, we offer high-quality natural wellness products for the whole family! Start exploring—shop by brand or by condition to find the perfect natural health products for your body, skin, home and more.
The products and claims made about specific products on this site have not been evaluated by Pharmaca.com or the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. The information on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy will not assume liability for any cross-contamination of ingredients, misprints, or adverse reactions to any ingredients in the products we carry. The products sold here may contain lead and other substances that are known to the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects and other reproductive harm. Prices and promotions are subject to change without notice. All content on this web site is copyrighted by Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy unless otherwise stated. All online offers and prices are valid for online purchases only, and may be different from those in our retail stores. Free shipping offer may not apply to all orders and all states; see shipping policy for full details. Copyright © 2009 – 2015 by Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy. All rights reserved.


text:
Bruce Springsteen. James Brown. Tom Petty. B.B. King.
For a festival that many associate with a college-aged crowd, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has welcomed more than its share of performers in their 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s over the years. This year, R&B legend Stevie Wonder shares the fest's coveted Saturday night slot with rap superstar Jay-Z. At their best, these sorts of bookings can connect musical veterans with a new audience -- and turn young music lovers on to classic sounds while coaxing many middle-aged fans out of suburbia and back onto festival grounds.
Rick Farman of Bonnaroo co-producers Superfly Productions says the festival is "an opportunity to check one of those legends off your list."
"When we had James Brown (in 2003), there were a lot of people who saw him that year that were like, 'Wow, I got to see James Brown.' If he was playing at an arena or amphitheater or club near them, would they necessarily go out and buy a ticket? Maybe not. But because it's at a festival and they're coming to see 20 or 30 other bands, they're really excited to see that act."
While Wonder and reggae figurehead Jimmy Cliff will perform on Bonnaroo's biggest stage, there are many more veteran acts holding court in Bonnaroo's mid-sized tent stages. Jeff Beck, Kris Kristofferson, John Prine and Steve Martin are sharing lineups with artists just a fraction of their age — and if Bonnaroos past are any indication, they'll be just as warmly received.
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text:
Posted by babu 8:26am GMT
Posted by babu 8:25am GMT
Representing Lifetime Networks, Nina Lederman, SVP Series Development, accepts the Guardian Award at this year's annual Outfest Legacy Awards held at the Director's Guild of America for the network's commitment, support and positive depictions of LGBT characters and individuals.
Posted by babu 8:23am GMT
Dedicated to growing tomorrow's women leaders, Girl Scouts of the USA announces their new book, Tough Cookies, a story that is not only a celebration of leadership, citizenship, service and character but a testament to a movement that continues to transform lives across the globe.
Posted by babu 8:20am GMT
The Washington, DC screening of Lifetime's Original Movie FIVE was an inspiring evening that included open remarks from Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden as well as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Representative Rosa DeLauro about the importance of affordable, accessible and preventable breast cancer care for all women.
Posted by babu 8:18am GMT
We loved working with Demi Moore on FIVE and are proud to support her efforts to empower women. That's why we were thrilled she's lending her hand along with the DNA Foundation to joinFITE, the philanthropic program powered by Kiva and championed by Dermalogica, that helps women entrepreneurs start or grow a business.
Posted by babu 8:16am GMT
We are delighted to announce the launch of our Project Runway Scholarship Challenge, in which $35,000 worth in scholarships will be awarded to assist six fashion design students in their pursuit of a college degree and support their dreams of becoming a designer.
Posted by babu 8:09am GMT
Lifetime Television was a proud sponsor of the 2011 International Women's Economic Summit in Washington DC, a two-day conference at Georgetown University where world leaders spoke to women entrepreneurs from Afghanistan and Rwanda as part of their Peace Through Business training program.
Posted by babu 8:07am GMT
Don't miss the Drop Dead Diva screening event at Outfest Film Festival in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 16 at 8:30PM for a sneak peek of the special episode inspired by the true story of Mississippi teen Constance McMillan who was denied access to her high school prom.
After the screening, stay for a special panel discussion with series creator/executive producer Josh Berman, direct
Posted by babu 8:05am GMT
Lifetime is honored to support military females who attended the Every Step Counts event for National Women's Health Week, and congratulates Staff Sergeant Patricia Desamero the winner of an exclusive "Army Wives" basket.
Posted by babu 8:03am GMT
Sally Pressman from Army Wives interviews Paulette Nelson, a USO volunteer, dedicated to making deployment special for service members in an exclusive Homefront Heroes webisode.
An active volunteer, Paulette greets soldiers with a friendly smile, warm hug and encouraging words as they board planes to Afghanistan and Iraq.


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Comments On Feb 10, 2014:great silencer for the price
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Comments On Feb 15, 2013:Much quieter than stock. Looks good, sounds good, easy to install, fit was perfect. Cannot tell any increase in performance.
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Comments On Aug 14, 2012:I fitted this pipe to my 03 wr450f not only does it look good but it sounds great and it only took 3 days to get from Utah to me in Scotland thanks rockymountain, awesome.
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Comments On Dec 24, 2011:Makes great power even with spark arrestor in, looks great to. Will start to blow packing around 40hrs, this clog your spark arrestor so be sure to check and re-pack. Just allens bolts to remove for re-packing, not rivets, nice!
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Comments On Jun 30, 2011:LOOKS GREAT. FIT WAS PERFECT. TOOK ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES TO INSTALL. SOUND SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE QUIETER THAN STOCK.COULDN'T TELL ANY PERFORMANCE CHANGE ON MY 2009 KX250F. IM GOING TO PURCHACE POWER BOMB HEAD PIPE NEXT.
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Comments On Apr 14, 2011:I have had this on many bikes never disapoints. Lots of low end power. Great sound also; very throaty
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Comments On Jan 16, 2011:loved the sound and horse power it put out
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Comments On Jan 06, 2011:FMF ALWAYS GREAT PRODUCT AND ROCKYMOUNTAIN OFFERS AT A LOW PRICE HAVE BROUGHT 3 DIFFERENT SLIP ON ALL FMF THRU RM AND HAD NO PROBLEMS
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Comments On Aug 10, 2010:I bought this for my wr450 07 and I'm still use since 1 year very happy with the performance. The bike revs better, sounds better, and looks better. It's easy to install.
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Comments On Jul 12, 2009:For $750 and a company that's been around for as many years you'd think you would get some better quality in a pipe. Springs that hold on the header are either falling off or rubbing against the pipe and denting it, can't get a good seal with the mid pipe(keeps sliding in and out)and the spark arrestor screw stripped out the first time I used it when tightened about 1 foot lbs. Not happy, going to get rid of it and buy a Pro circuit or something.
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"Best and Cheap Customize Gift for your Love"
By Rabia Saleem
Comments: The gift was correctly customized. They send a digital image and confirm the customization twice. After that the product reach at home one day before time and it was as it expected. Although the gift card was disappointed. It was a piece of card, no design, no image. Just simple text. If they are taking $2 then they should make it worth
"heart shape valentine"
By Brittany Hedgecoth
Comments: I am glad i got this for my loving bf he was really happy thanks everyone. will order when i get money


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Salt Lake City Lodging
Vacation Rentals at Salt Lake City by Vacasa
4411 South 2950 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84124
Best Available Rates for: Sep 04, 2015 - Sep 06, 2015 Change Dates
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Vacation Rentals at Salt Lake City by Vacasa
Vacation Rentals Made Easy
- Star Rating
Treat yourself to mountain views, elegant decor and everything you can dream of in a home on your next Park City vacation! This four bedroom home, which sleeps 12, is the perfect place for your next family vacation or ski getaway!
If you are hitting the slopes, enjoy the convenience of having the ski-in/ski-out access to Canyons Resort! Historic Old Town Park City is only four miles away, and don't worry about having to drive to enjoy a night on the town there is a complimentary town shuttle!
After a long day of skiing curl up next to the fireplace and delight in that book you haven't found time to even open. Or turn on the flat screen television and flip through the channels until you find something that catches your eye.
Whether you are preparing to claim the fame of "Top Chef" or just delight in cooking for your family, this kitchen is a dream for everyone! You can't deny the beauty of this kitchen; the stainless steel appliances create the perfect space to create a meal for every occasion, from three-course dinners to laid-back breakfasts.
With four bedrooms you never have to worry about space being invaded; three of the four bedrooms have their own private bathroom! Throughout the home you will find two king-sized beds, one queen-sized bed, four twin-sized (two sets of bunk beds) and for the extra space you may need there is a queen-sized Aerobed.
With so many things to do in town, on the slopes, and even in the home you will want to stay for more than a few days! Relax in the private hot tub or enjoy the beautiful mountain views and enjoy winter paradise at Vintage on the Strand.
Amenities & Services
Amenities vary based on property. Visit Vacasa.com for full details on amenities!
Property Amenities
- Pets allowed (fees may apply)
- Ski-in/ski-out
- Indoor pool
- Outdoor pool
- Indoor/outdoor pool(s)
- Barbecue grills available
- Complimentary underground parking
- Express check-in
- Express check-out
- No pets allowed
- Complimentary parking
- Ping-pong table
- Pool
- Pool table
- Sauna
- Outdoor pool (seasonal)
- 100% non-smoking
- Tennis court(s)
- Volleyball court(s)
- Complimentary covered parking
- Complimentary garage parking
- Complimentary secure covered parking
- Walk to shops and restaurants
- Complimentary wireless Internet
In-Room Amenities
- Air conditioning
- DVD player
- Rooms with fireplace available
- Jetted bathtub (availability varies by room)
- Full kitchen
- Microwave
- Refrigerator
- Television
- Rooms with private hot tub available
- Private balcony
- Cable or satellite TV
- CD Player
- Coffeemaker
- Cookware
- Dishware and utensils
- Dishwasher
- Family room
- Wood-burning fireplace
- Fireplace
- High-speed Internet (complimentary)
- Hair dryer
- Home theater
- Private hot tub
- iPod/MP3 docking station
- Iron and ironing board
- Jacuzzi tub
- Kitchen linens
- In-room washer and dryer
- Private patio
- Private deck
- Ski-prep and/or mudroom
- Smoke alarms in rooms
- Sofa sleeper
- Flat-screen Television
- Blender
- Desk
- Oven
- Separate sitting area
- Stovetop
- Internet Access
- Jetted Tub Rooms Available
- Microwave in Room
- Refrigerator in Room
- Television in Room
- Rooms with Hot Tub Available
- DVD in Room
- Fireplace in Rooms Available
- Kitchen in Rooms
- Wired Internet (complimentary)
Dining and Attractions
Location Description
Location of vacation homes will vary. Most Salt Lake City homes by Vacasa are located at the base of Little and Big Cottonwood Canyon.


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My project is a special size trailer. dual 3500# axles but the bed is only 9' long with no floor.
The metal I will be needing (rounded up to the next foot):
3x2x0.120 tubing (tongue) 2 each @ 8'
2.5x1.5x0.120 tubing (side rails) 2 each @ 9'
2.5x1.5x0.120 tubing (cross rails) 2 each @ 7'
3x3x3/16 angle iron (adjustable spring mounts) 2 each @ 6'
(FYI, I can cut the metal to the correct length and I expect some waste. I know I can't order odd lengths.)
Now the questions about ordering the metal.
a) what are 'standard lengths'?
b) do smaller lengths have a larger per foot cost?
c) do the steel shops 'mind' small orders like this?
d) do most supplies have normal delivery routes and you just wait for the right day?
e) are delivery charges normally based on weight, number of items, or something else.
f) do I just call them up and say 'I need some metal to make a trailer' or do I need to know more about steel types and such?
g) are they used to newbies ordering stuff and so can guide one though the order process?
Results 1 to 10 of 19
Thread: Ordering metal
11-12-2008, 08:40 PM #1Junior Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
- Posts
- 11
Ordering metal
11-12-2008, 09:11 PM #2Dynasty 350DX
Dynasty 200DX TigRunner
MM Passport Plus
Spectrum 375 Extreme
08' Trailblazer 302
I've answered some of your questions in your other posts, so please answer a few of my questions so we can better help you..
What is your experience level in the welding and fabrication field?
What kind of welding equipment do you have available to you?
What will this trailer be used for?
What will be the weight of the loaded trailer be?
Is this your first project?If necessity is the Mother of Invention, I must be the Father of Desperation!
John Blewett III 10-22-73 to 8-16-07
Another racing great gone but not to be forgotten.http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...modified&hl=en
11-12-2008, 11:23 PM #4Ed Conley
Passport Plus w/Spool Gun
Miller 125c Plasma 120v
O/A set
SO 2020 Bender
You can call me Bacchus
11-13-2008, 12:01 AM #5Senior Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2007
- Location
- Deltaville, VA
- Posts
- 2,239
Cutting to length will depend on the local yard you use.
Standard lengths include 20', 22', and 24' (depending on material).
I think you need to really take a serious look at the questions Dave asked regarding your background.
I'm not the trailer expert Dave (Dabar39) is, but it would seem to me that the material you spec'd out is mighty light for a trailer needing tandem 3500# axles. That material seems more suited to a 1500-2000# single axle trailer.
SundownIII, I'm not so worried about the materials selection as i am about his experience level.If necessity is the Mother of Invention, I must be the Father of Desperation!
John Blewett III 10-22-73 to 8-16-07
Another racing great gone but not to be forgotten.http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...modified&hl=en
Most tubing lengths common in the Chicago area are 20 and 24 ft lengths...2x3 in this area is going around $5 per foot for 120 wall.........figure the smaller stuff at less expensive...Thats just in this area for small quantities....and they will cut to length and sell partial lengths to order. JimWelding in Crete
Syncrowave 350 LX
Millermatic 252
Millermatic 180 w Spoolgun
Miller Gold Seal 155
Miller Elite welding helmet
JD2 Tubing bender with Hydraulic conversion
Evolution Raptor15" SteelDry Cut Saw
Hypertherm Powermax 30
Some really cool hammers BIG and small
11-13-2008, 06:03 AM #8Junior Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
- Posts
- 11
Location: Halfway between Orlando and Daytona Beach.
Experience level:
Did a LOT of welding on street-rods, autos and and stuff in a previous life, about 30 years ago. All the steel was provided by my employer so I never got into that area and even if I did, that was 3 states away and 30 year old knowledge. This will be my first project in 30 years, so I plan on buying some extra material and jigging up some practice welds that I can then cut with a band saw to check the weld depth and such.
I will be using an Idealarc 250 AC/DC welder. I normally use 7018 rods.
As to the material size:
I have went back and forth on the sizes. I could still bump each section up a size. The trailer load is a railroad maintenance item pic on metal wheels that form a 69x57" rectangle. I estimate (on the very high side) 1500# on each front point and 1000# on each back point. Front to back, they will be within 3" of the outer spring hangers using 26" springs. Sideways, they will be about 10" narrower that the spring hangers. The springs will actually be mounted on the 3" angle-iron. The trailer frame will then sit inside the 3" angle. This will allow me to fine-tune the axle location to get the right tongue weight once I have the unit on the trailer. It will also provide some more strength. The actual unit will sit on 1.5x1.5 square tubing that will run front to back acting as a 'rail-head', but there will be a frame crossbeam right under each wheel to support the load going down the road. The frame extension to the rear is just to get the bumper out from under the unit. The frame extension to the front is just to add some more stability to the 'V' tongue. The load will be rolled on, but stands will be used under the rear bumper during loading and unloading. All in all, cantilever weight is not a real big concern so that is why I dropped the frame from 3x2down to 2.5x1.5. Actually, two 3500# axles (with brakes on both) may be an overkill, but if at some point I leave the hobby, I could just remove them and use then on a standard utility trailer.
11-13-2008, 07:33 AM #9Senior Member
- Join Date
- Sep 2007
- Location
- Medford MA
- Posts
- 544
call them and ask. i'm a (more or less) newbie at all this
and have found most of them to be helpful. the ones that
aren't get crossed off my list.
of course, "an educated consumer is our best customer"
'standard lengths' generally are the lengths that come from
the "wholesaler" or mill and are kept in stock at the supplier,
and are in the 20'/22'/24' area or the like.
most will cut for you. some charge per cut. some do not.
many will cut pretty accurately (1/8" or better), a few
are +/- an inch. (for what it's worth, the place i usually
go to will cut for free, but the cuts are with an o/a torch
and are "accurate" to about an inch... or so... maybe...
costs are usually based on the weight of material - 1' costs
1/10th as much as 10'. i've not been surcharged, as it were,
for something less than the 24' -- but i'm also not doing
precision work and am willing to take 'remnants', or if
i want 8' and they have a 9' section, i'll take the whole thing.
you should know the types of material you need for your projects.
i do garden art, and doo-dads for stuff around the house. nothing
is 'critical'. so i can ask for "mild steel" or the like -- since i don't
care which exact grade it is. i don't know if trailers should use
specific grades of steel, but if they do, you should know what grade
you need and ask specifically for it (and if you do not know the answer
here, you might want to take to heart dave's comments :-).
11-13-2008, 09:29 AM #10Senior Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2007
- Location
- Deltaville, VA
- Posts
- 2,239
Not saying you're not capable of building said trailer. You seem to have a good idea about what must be done to insure safety.
Think you'll find that by the time you buy all your materials at retail (steel, axles, wheels, brakes, hitch connector, lights, etc) you'd be ahead of the game by having somebody like Dabar39 (Commercial trailer builder) build it for you to your specs.
If you haven't bought any steel in a while, be prepared for a "shock". Here in Virginia, steel has gone up nearly 30% in the last 6 mos. It's supposed to be headed down, but I haven't seen it yet.
Just a thought.


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BIC is an independent supply chain organisation, committed to improving the efficiency of the book industry trade and library supply chains, by helping to implement standards, reduce costs and automate processes. This includes creating an efficient supply chain for both physical and digital products in the trade and library sectors, working with all the relevant stakeholders to eliminate wasteful and time-consuming practices and implement solutions acceptable to all. Read more »
By Peter Kilborn (Executive Director, BIC)
After years of talking about the oncoming digital revolution, in the blink of an eye the breakthrough was made. Most titles now have a digital version available for the Kindle, iPad or other device and there are no longer any serious publishers still standing on the sidelines waiting to see what happens. I can certainly say that there are many publishers that have been very enterprising in their approach to digital content, but many more are dealing with the situation in a reactive and unprepared manner. They are not taking advantage of some very real business opportunities and this is a bit worrying.
Despite the many warnings, most publishers appear to have been taken by surprise by the developments in the digital supply chain. They are resorting to quick work-arounds to deal with it rather than putting time into some serious planning. There is still a resistance to investing in the broad-based IT and standard systems that could underpin the digital supply chain in a positive and long term way. The situation has not been helped by the demands on publishers by significant new entrants who are demanding support for their proprietary processes and procedures.
Sales Reporting is the key mechanism for reporting sales back to the publisher from throughout the supply chain and is in desperate need of standardisation. It is still mainly being done by individual resellers on the fly using fairly crude methods, such as manual or, at best, spreadsheets. This is a serious concern, particularly in the US, where the agency model has required publishers to have the ultimate responsibility for tax reporting. BIC's US colleagues in the Book Industry Study Group are working hard to implement industry-wide standards for sales reporting. This will benefit publishers because they will be able to take sales reports that they can trust from their supply chains and automatically process the results appropriately and seamlessly. Integrating with accurate reporting information allows publishers to meet their requirements for tax, royalties and other costs based on standardised, trustworthy data.
While the rest of the world doesn't have the same tax reporting issues as the US, publishers still need standardised knowledge throughout the supply chain or they will simply be unable to meet their commitments properly. If they are forced down the proprietary route demanded by the very large resellers, they will soon find they cannot cope with so many different standards effectively and profitably. BIC has been quite effective at driving open standards but we need to do more to get the larger organisations to listen to us and support us.
Another key issue highlighted by the digital supply chain revolution is the identification of digital books. The ISBN identifier works well enough for physical books, but what about the very digital practice of selling fragments of books? Products need to be identified in a rigorous way in order to ensure sales information is reported back accurately so publishers can meet their contractual and author commitments.
There are many publishers out there trying to avoid these issues by simply not implementing some key practices. As time goes by these issues are going to get bigger and more complex and will cause some significant challenges, particularly I suspect on the contracts side. With the additional threat of piracy, publishers shouldn't be simply shrugging their shoulders and leaving it all to someone else. We all need to get together and develop globally agreed solutions on how to move the industry forward properly and positively.
Software systems are key to delivering the standards that we are working towards. Over recent years, there has been a definite shift away from the all-encompassing holistic systems to a more best-of-breed approach to business management. I believe companies like Bookmaster, with integrated industry-specific applications, are offering appropriate solutions. Publishers need solid back office systems to handle finance and administration and these need to be integrated with task-specific applications at the front end that can incorporate all the latest requirements for ecommerce, web services and digital content.
BIC is working hard throughout the world to help publishers meet the demands of the modern supply chain. From digital content management to open standards for sales reporting and product identification, we are developing solutions and methodologies for the industry to follow. In our challenge to achieve these aims, we always appreciate the commitment of software organisations, such as IBS Bookmaster.
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AITP – Kent State Columbiana County Student ChapterPosted Mar. 13, 2013
A student chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) is now open for Kent State University students from the Salem and East Liverpool campuses.
The group is open to students majoring in any computer-related field or if computers are vital to their professions. Monthly meetings are held at locations convenient to both campuses.
Assistant Professor Bob Logan is a member of the Akron-Canton Professional Chapter of AITP and worked hard to establish the student chapter for Salem and East Liverpool. Serving his fourth year as president of the Akron chapter, Logan understands fully the importance of belonging to a professional organization.
"The AITP provides opportunities for its members to hear presentations from professionals from big IT companies, such as Microsoft, and to network with people from all across the country," he said. "Students can get advice from professionals working in the field and from job placement agencies. They will meet and interact with people who can help them reach their goals."
Advisors for the club include Logan from the Salem campus, and Shawn Golden from the East Liverpool campus. They are working with club members to make arrangements to attend the AITP National Collegiate Conference in St. Louis in April. The conference includes competitive challenges for college IT teams, representing some of the biggest schools in the country. The Kent State at Ashtabula campus teams placed second and third in last year's .NET Programming competition.
"When you choose an IT career, you have to be aware of evolving technology and it's not always easy to do on your own," Logan noted. "Belonging to AITP can help you develop contacts. People recognize the advantages of having a network of people to seek information and advice from, especially in a field that is constantly changing.
"This organization can help you find your niche and make you mindful of other aspects of IT and how they affect your area of expertise," he continued. "Being an IT professional is a lifestyle. If you are not willing to eat, sleep, breathe and live IT, this isn't for you. You have to live your life around what you do for a living and be willing to keep learning all the time."
For information about the local AITP chapter, contact Logan at email@example.com or by calling 330-337-4265.
Media Contact:
Tina Smith, email@example.com , 330-337-4247