Non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor and vertebrae end piece

Abstract

A non-metallic clip connection system includes a non-metallic clip having a substantially rectangular base portion, a first longitudinal flared wing portion, and a second longitudinal flared wing portion, wherein a plurality of edges of the clip along a path of insertion are beveled or radiused. The non-metallic clip connection system also includes a first non-metallic member having a first portion of a non-metallic clip receiver and a second non-metallic member having a second portion of the non-metallic clip receiver. The first non-metallic member is secured to the second non-metallic member by inserting the non-metallic clip in the non-metallic clip receiver. A non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor and a non-metallic vertebrae end piece may use a non-metallic clip connection system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor comprising:
 a first non-metallic member comprising
 a first ball portion, 
 a first socket portion, 
 a first portion of a first non-metallic clip receiver, 
 a first portion of a second non-metallic clip receiver, and 
 a first cavity portion; 
   a second non-metallic member comprising
 a second ball portion, 
 a second socket portion, 
 a second portion of the first non-metallic clip receiver, 
 a second portion of the second non-metallic clip receiver, and 
 a second cavity portion; 
   a first non-metallic clip; and   a second non-metallic clip,   wherein the first non-metallic member is secured to the second non-metallic member by inserting the first non-metallic clip in the first non-metallic clip receiver and inserting the second non-metallic clip in the second non-metallic clip receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of  claim 1 , wherein all edges other than a top face of each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip are beveled or radiused. 
     
     
         3 . The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip comprise a substantially rectangular base portion, a first longitudinal flared wing portion, and a second longitudinal flared wing portion. 
     
     
         4 . The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of  claim 3 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip further comprise a clip retention feature disposed on a rear face of the substantially rectangular base portion near a top face. 
     
     
         5 . The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of  claim 1 , wherein the first non-metallic clip fits in the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip fits in the second non-metallic clip receiver with an interference fit. 
     
     
         6 . The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of  claim 1 , wherein the first non-metallic clip has a pre-load angle feature that is different from a corresponding pre-load angle feature of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip has a pre-load angle feature that is different from a corresponding pre-load angle feature of the second non-metallic clip receiver. 
     
     
         7 . The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of  claim 1 , wherein the first non-metallic clip has a pre-load radius feature that is different from a corresponding pre-load radius feature of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip has a pre-load radius feature that is different from a corresponding pre-load radius feature of the second non-metallic clip receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip have a rotation-preventing angle feature on a distal end of a substantially rectangular base portion and each of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver have a corresponding rotation-preventing angle feature in the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver. 
     
     
         9 . The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip have an installation allowance feature and each of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver have a different installation allowance feature in the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver. 
     
     
         10 . The non-metallic vertebrae bend restrictor of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver have a supporting mass above an angle feature of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip. 
     
     
         11 . A non-metallic vertebrae end piece comprising:
 a first non-metallic member comprising
 a first socket portion, 
 a first portion of a first non-metallic clip receiver, 
 a first portion of a second non-metallic clip receiver, and 
 a first cavity portion; 
   a second non-metallic member comprising
 a second socket portion, 
 a second portion of the first non-metallic clip receiver, 
 a second portion of the second non-metallic clip receiver, and 
 a second cavity portion; 
   a first non-metallic clip; and   a second non-metallic clip,   wherein the first non-metallic member is secured to the second non-metallic member by inserting the first non-metallic clip in the first non-metallic clip receiver and inserting the second non-metallic clip in the second non-metallic clip receiver.   
     
     
         12 . The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of  claim 11 , wherein all edges other than a top face of each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip are beveled or radiused. 
     
     
         13 . The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip comprise a substantially rectangular base portion, a first longitudinal flared wing portion, and a second longitudinal flared wing portion. 
     
     
         14 . The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip further comprise a clip retention feature disposed on a rear face of the substantially rectangular base portion near a top face. 
     
     
         15 . The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of  claim 11 , wherein the first non-metallic clip fits in the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip fits in the second non-metallic clip receiver with an interference fit. 
     
     
         16 . The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of  claim 11 , wherein the first non-metallic clip has a pre-load angle feature that is different from a corresponding pre-load angle feature of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip has a pre-load angle feature that is different from a corresponding pre-load angle feature of the second non-metallic clip receiver. 
     
     
         17 . The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of  claim 11 , wherein the first non-metallic clip has a pre-load radius feature that is different from a corresponding pre-load radius feature of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip has a pre-load radius feature that is different from a corresponding pre-load radius feature of the second non-metallic clip receiver. 
     
     
         18 . The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip have a rotation-preventing angle feature on a distal end of a substantially rectangular base portion and each of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver have a corresponding rotation-preventing angle feature in the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver. 
     
     
         19 . The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip have an installation allowance feature and each of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver have a different installation allowance feature in the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver. 
     
     
         20 . The non-metallic vertebrae end piece of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first non-metallic clip receiver and the second non-metallic clip receiver have a supporting mass above an angle feature of the first non-metallic clip and the second non-metallic clip.