Hinge system for regulating knee joint flexion and extension
First Claim
1. A hinge system for a knee brace having upper and lower struts each defining an end portion disposed toward a knee joint, the hinge system comprising:
- a flexion-extension regulating device having an upper member and a lower member attached to each other in a manner defining a gap therebetween for accommodating the end portion of the upper strut;
an elongated main slot formed through the upper and lower members and providing a fixed boundary for prescribing a range of motion; and
a motion limiting member connected to the lower member and further being connectable to the end portion of the lower strut, the motion limiting member having a motion limiter disposed within the main slot which is caused to move therealong when the upper and lower struts pivot about the knee joint wherein confinement of the motion limiter within the fixed boundary ensures that the knee joint flexes and extends within the prescribed range of motion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hinge system for a knee brace features a flexion-extension regulating device which is adapted to engage an end portion of the knee brace'"'"'s upper strut. An elongated main slot is formed through the regulating device to provide a fixed boundary for limiting range of motion. A motion limiting member is connected to the regulating device and is further adapted for connection to an end portion of the knee brace'"'"'s lower strut. The motion limiting member includes a motion limiter that is disposed within the main slot. The motion limiter is caused to move therealong when the upper and lower struts pivot about a user'"'"'s knee joint. By confining the motion limiter within the fixed boundary formed by the main slot, the hinge system ensures that the user'"'"'s knee joint flexes and extends within the prescribed range of motion.
25 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A hinge system for a knee brace having upper and lower struts each defining an end portion disposed toward a knee joint, the hinge system comprising:
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a flexion-extension regulating device having an upper member and a lower member attached to each other in a manner defining a gap therebetween for accommodating the end portion of the upper strut;
an elongated main slot formed through the upper and lower members and providing a fixed boundary for prescribing a range of motion; and
a motion limiting member connected to the lower member and further being connectable to the end portion of the lower strut, the motion limiting member having a motion limiter disposed within the main slot which is caused to move therealong when the upper and lower struts pivot about the knee joint wherein confinement of the motion limiter within the fixed boundary ensures that the knee joint flexes and extends within the prescribed range of motion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A knee brace for regulating flexion and extension of a knee joint, the knee brace comprising:
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an upper pair of struts and a lower pair of struts, the upper pair and the lower pair being placeable in an inverted, relative orientation above and below the knee joint with end portions of the upper pair and the lower pair being disposed laterally on opposite sides of the knee joint; and
a pair of hinge systems disposed adjacent the end portions of the upper pair and lower pair to pivot the upper pair and lower pair about the knee joint, each of the hinge systems comprising;
a flexion-extension regulating device engaged to the respective end portion of the upper strut, the device having an elongated main slot formed therethrough and providing a fixed boundary for prescribing a range of motion; and
a motion limiting member engaged to the device and the respective end portion of the lower strut, the motion limiting member having a motion limiter disposed within the main slot which is caused to move therealong when the respective upper and lower struts pivot about the knee joint wherein confinement of the motion limiter within the fixed boundary ensures that the knee joint flexes and extends within the prescribed range of motion. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification