ELBOW LOCKING DEVICE

• US 3,698,389 A
• Filed: 05/21/1971
• Issued: 10/17/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthur R. Guedel
• Original Assignee: Arthur R. Guedel
• Inventors: Guedel, Arthur R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trapp, Lawrence W.
• Application Number:
  US05/145,700
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 128/77,80,88 273/189A,54
• US Class Current: 602/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/013 for the arms, hands or fingers A61F5/0118 takes precedence

Abstract

A device for releasably locking a person'"'"''"'"'s elbow against bending, having a pair of hingedly connected shells adapted to be mounted on the user'"'"''"'"'s upper arm and forearm. A bendable slide is mounted on one of said shells and is slidably carried in a guide on the other of said shells. Locking means are engagable with the slide for releasably locking it in position in the guide and thereby releasably locking the shells and the user'"'"''"'"'s arm against bending.

Claims

1. A device for releasably locking a person'"'"''"'"'s elbow against bending, comprising a pair of shells adapted to be mounted on the user'"'"''"'"'s upper arm and forearm, means swingably interconnecting the adjacent ends of said shells, guide means on one of said shells, a bendable slide fixedly mounted on the other of said shells and slidably carried in said guide means, lock means on said one shell for releasably retaining said slide in a fixed position in said guide means for releasably retaining said shells in the desired position of adjustment with respect to each other, and means on said shells for mounting them on the user'"'"''"'"'s arm.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 with the addition that said shells have arcuate cross-sections, padding means are mounted on the concave faces of said shells, and an elastic sleeve is connected at one of its ends to one of said shells.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 with the addition that a brace is mounted on said other of said shells and projects outwardly therefrom at its end opposite said one of said shells.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in which said brace is longitudinally adjustable with respect to said other of said shells.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 3 in wHich said other of said shells is provided with guide means, said brace is slidably carried in said guide means on said other of said shells, and means are provided on said other of said shells for releasably locking said brace in the desired position of adjustment.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 3 with the addition that a transverse wing extends across the outer end of said brace, and means are mounted on said wing for connecting the outer end of said brace to the user.

7. A device for releasably locking a person'"'"''"'"'s elbow against bending, comprising first and second shells adapted to be mounted on the user'"'"''"'"'s upper arm and forearm respectively, means swingably interconnecting the adjacent ends of said shells, an elongated strut connected to the inner face of said shell in spaced relation thereto, a bendable slide connected to said second shell and slidably received between said strut and first shell, a yoke mounted on the outer face of said first shell, a lug on said slide longitudinally slidable in a slot in said first shell and adapted to engage said yoke for retaining said shells in the desired angular orientation, means for disengaging said lug from said yoke, and means on said shells for mounting them on the user'"'"''"'"'s upper arm and forearm.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 7 in which said yoke is longitudinally adjustable on said first shell.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 7 in which said yoke comprises a pair of legs connected to said first shell on opposite sides of said slot and interconnected by a transverse bridge, said bridge extending across said slot and being engagable with said lug, and said means for disengaging said lug comprises a release spring mounted on said bridge and movable into engagement with said lug.

10. The device as set forth in claim 9 with the addition that said legs are provided with longitudinally extending slots, and fastening means connected to said first shell extend through said slots for adjustably mounting said yoke on said first shell.

11. A device for releasably locking a person'"'"''"'"'s elbow against bending, comprising first and second shells adapted to be mounted on the user'"'"''"'"'s upper arm and forearm respectively, means swingably interconnecting the adjacent ends of said shells, first and second elongated struts connected to the inner faces of said first and second shells respectively in spaced relation thereto, a bendable slide connected at one of its ends between said second strut and second shell and slidably carried between said first strut and first shell, lock means on said first shell releasably retaining said slide in fixed position between said first strut and first shell for releasably retaining said shells in the desired position of adjustment with respect to each other, a brace slidably carried between said second strut and second shell and projecting outwardly from the end of said second shell opposite said first shell, means for releasably retaining said brace in fixed position with respect to said second shell, and means on said shells for mounting them on the user'"'"''"'"'s upper arm and forearm.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 11 with the addition that said brace has a longitudinally extending slot formed therein, said means for releasably retaining the brace in position comprises a bolt projecting outwardly from said second strut through said slot and second shell and a nut received on said screw, and means are provided on said brace for connecting the outer end of said brace to the user.

13. A device for releasably locking a person'"'"''"'"'s elbow against bending, comprising first and second shells adapted to be mounted on the user'"'"''"'"'s upper arm and forearm, means swingably interconnecting the adjacent ends of said shells, first and second guide means on said first and second shells, respectively, a slide fixedly connected to said second guide means and slidably carried in said first guide means, lock means on said first shell for releasably retaining said slide in a fixed positioN in said first guide means, a brace slidably carried in said second guide means and projecting outwardly from said second shell, lock means on said second shell releasably locking said brace in fixed position in said second guide means, and means for mounting said shells on the user'"'"''"'"'s arm.