Reversibly Engaged Force-controlled Buckle and Pelvic Ring Support Device Incorporating Such a Buckle

摘要

A belt-like hip-girdling pelvic sling device for maintaining a desired amount of tension surrounding a person's hips and pelvis to securely support and stabilize a fractured pelvis, including a force-controlled buckle that automatically latches to control the tension and that includes a releasable latching mechanism. The latching mechanism maintains engagement of the buckle with a strap at the required position of the strap with respect to the buckle. The latching mechanism includes a movable member of the buckle that is moved to and latched in a position in which the buckle engages the strap, once a desired amount of tension is reached, limiting and maintaining the required tension.

主权项

1. A buckle, comprising:
(a) a frame having a base portion and a pair of opposite sides and defining an opening through the frame from one to the other of the opposite sides; (b) a movable member disposed within the opening adjacent the base and movable between a first position with respect to the frame, in which the movable member shields an engagement member, and a second position with respect to the frame, in which at least a portion of the engagement member is exposed with respect to the movable member; (c) an elastic member urging the movable member toward the first position; and (d) a latch arranged to be engaged automatically in response to the movable member moving into the second position, and to hold the movable member in the second position with respect to the frame.