Differential Compression Screw for Industrial Applications
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
The inventive concept applies the differential compression screw technology to new industries, enabling secure compression and stability in various industrial settings, such as wind turbines, composite materials, and boat hulls.
Background and Problem Solved
The original patent disclosed a differential compression bone screw for securing bones together. However, the limitations of the original patent lie in its restricted application to the medical field. The new inventive concept addresses this limitation by expanding the technology to tackle compression and stability challenges in other industries.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The new inventive concept comprises a differential compression screw with a head portion and a distally extending shank featuring threads with a differential pitch. This design enables secure compression and stability in various industrial applications, such as securing wind turbine blades, repairing damaged wind turbine blades, reinforcing composite materials, assembling composite aircraft structures, and repairing damaged composite boat hulls.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The new claims introduce a novel application of the differential compression screw technology to industrial settings, which is non-obvious compared to the original patent's medical focus. The inventive step lies in the adaptation of the screw's design to address specific compression and stability challenges in these new industries.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include variations in thread pitch, screw material, and head portion design to accommodate specific industrial requirements. For example, a screw with a higher thread pitch could be used for securing thicker composite materials, while a screw with a specialized head portion could be designed for easy insertion into wind turbine blades.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in various industries, including wind energy, aerospace, and marine manufacturing. The ability to provide secure compression and stability in these settings could lead to improved product performance, reduced maintenance costs, and enhanced safety.
CPC Classifications
| Section | Class | Group |
|---|---|---|
| A | A61 | A61B17/863 |
| A | A61 | A61B17/809 |
| A | A61 | A61B17/8605 |
| A | A61 | A61B17/80 |
| A | A61 | A61B17/8635 |
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Mechanical fastener design and application, specifically focusing on compression screws for structural joining across medical and industrial domains, with expertise in thread design, material joining, and load transfer mechanisms
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
A mechanical engineer with advanced degree and 5-7 years experience in fastener design, familiar with thread pitch variations, compression mechanics, and cross-industry design adaptation techniques
Obviousness Rationale
A PHOSITA would recognize that the fundamental compression screw design disclosed in the source patent represents a generalizable mechanical principle applicable across multiple technical domains. The differential thread pitch mechanism enabling controlled compression is a transferable engineering concept that can be systematically adapted to different material joining scenarios. The PTD demonstrates a straightforward extension of known compression screw technology by applying established mechanical principles to alternative industrial contexts.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,235 |
|---|---|
| Title | Differential compression bone screw |
| Assignee(s) | In2Bones USA, LLC |