Knee and elbow brace
First Claim
1. The knee brace comprising:
- a thigh plate shaped to conform to the thigh of the leg;
a calf plate shaped to conform to the calf of the leg;
said thigh plate and calf plate being positioned on the thigh and calf when the knee brace is mounted on the leg so that the center lines of said thigh and calf plates lie on the mid-lateral line of the leg;
a thigh stay secured on the outer surface of said thigh plate and extending to a first hinge portion of a hinge moment adjacent the knee joint when positioned on the leg;
a calf stay secured on the outer surface of said calf plate and extending to a second hinge portion of said hinge member adjacent the knee joint when positioned on the leg;
means for limiting the pivotal motion of said hinge member to confine the motion of the joint within a preselected arc including an arc of zero degrees to immobilize the knee and for establishing a predetermined angular relationship between the hinge portions and thereby controlling the degree of flexion of the knee;
spring means interconnecting said upper and lower sections for creating a moment about the pivotal axis of said hinge member for urging said upper and lower sections toward a predetermined relationship;
fastening means for securing the thigh and calf plates to the leg.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved knee brace (10) is disclosed. The knee brace includes thigh and calf cuffs (12, 14) and identical side members (15, 16) to simplify manufacture and permit use with a range of leg sizes. The hinge members (24) on each of the side members permit the knee joint to be immobilized at a predetermined degree of flexion or movable within a predetermined arc of motion such as 0° to 30° flexion or 30° to 60° flexion. A tensioned cord (70) is provided to urge the knee joint in a given direction. The spring force may be employed to inhibit the quadriceps muscles or permit progressive resistance exercises during rehabilitation. In a first modification, a torsion spring (250) replaces the tension cord (70) and forms the preferred embodiment. In a second modification, a torsion spring is also employed with a thumb screw (218) which permits the knee joint to be immobilized at any desired degree of flexion. In a second embodiment, an elbow brace (300) is provided for supporting and rehabilitation of the elbow joint and adjacent body portions in the arm. A hinge member (310) permits pivotal motion of the elbow brace about an axis corresponding to the axis of the elbow joint. A spring (334) provides a moment about the pivotal axis of the hinge member to inhibit the biceps muscle and provide a variable resistance to motion to rehabilitate the elbow joint and surrounding tissues.
159 Citations
17 Claims
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1. The knee brace comprising:
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a thigh plate shaped to conform to the thigh of the leg; a calf plate shaped to conform to the calf of the leg; said thigh plate and calf plate being positioned on the thigh and calf when the knee brace is mounted on the leg so that the center lines of said thigh and calf plates lie on the mid-lateral line of the leg; a thigh stay secured on the outer surface of said thigh plate and extending to a first hinge portion of a hinge moment adjacent the knee joint when positioned on the leg; a calf stay secured on the outer surface of said calf plate and extending to a second hinge portion of said hinge member adjacent the knee joint when positioned on the leg; means for limiting the pivotal motion of said hinge member to confine the motion of the joint within a preselected arc including an arc of zero degrees to immobilize the knee and for establishing a predetermined angular relationship between the hinge portions and thereby controlling the degree of flexion of the knee; spring means interconnecting said upper and lower sections for creating a moment about the pivotal axis of said hinge member for urging said upper and lower sections toward a predetermined relationship; fastening means for securing the thigh and calf plates to the leg. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A knee brace for supporting the knee joint in a leg comprising:
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a thigh cuff for wrapping about the thigh of the leg; a calf cuff for wrapping about the calf of the leg; first and second side members for being secured to said thigh and calf cuffs on the mid-lateral line of the leg, said first and second side members each including; a thigh plate adapted to be secured to said thigh cuff, said thigh plate being shaped to conform to the thigh of the leg; a calf plate adapted to be secured to said calf cuff, said calf plate being shaped to conform to the calf of the leg; both said thigh plate and calf plate being positioned on the thigh and calf cuffs when wrapped about the leg so that the center line of said thigh and calf plates lie on the mid-lateral line of the leg; a thigh stay secured on the outer surface of said thigh plate and extending to a first hinge portion adjacent the knee joint when positioned on the leg; a calf stay secured on the outer surface of said calf plate and extending to a second hinge portion adjacent the knee joint when positioned on the leg; hinge pin means for interconnecting said first and second hinge portions to permit pivotal motion about an axis substantially corresponding to the pivotal axis of the knee joint when positioned on the leg; means for limiting the pivotal motion between said first and second hinge portions for restricting the motion of the knee joint within a preselected arc including an arc of zero degrees wherein the knee is immobilized and for establishing a predetermined angular relationship between the hinge portions and thereby controlling the degree of flexion of the knee; spring means interconnected between said thigh stay and calf stay for creating a movement about the pivotal axis to urge the knee joint into a desired degree of flexion; and fastening means for securing said first and second side members, and said thigh and calf cuffs to the leg. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An elbow brace for supporting the elbow joint and adjacent body portions, comprising:
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an upper arm section adapted to be secured to the upper arm; a lower arm section adapted to be secured to the lower arm; a hinge member interconnecting said upper and lower arm sections for pivotal motion about a pivotal axis, the pivotal axis corresponding substantially to the pivotal axis of the elbow joint when said upper and lower arm sections are secured to the arm; and spring means interconnected between said upper and lower arm sections to create a moment about the pivotal axis to urge the elbow joint into a desired degree of flexion when said elbow brace is secured to the arm. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An elbow brace for supporting the elbow joint and regions adjacent thereto in an arm, comprising:
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outer and inner upper arm plates shaped to conform to portions of the upper arm; at least one strap for securing said outer and inner upper arm plates to the upper arm; front and back lower arm plates shaped to conform to portions to the lower arm; at least one strap for securing said front and back lower arm plates to the lower arm; an upper arm stay secured to said outer upper arm plate and having a hinge portion extending adjacent the elbow joint when secured on the arm; a lower arm stay secured to said back lower arm plate and having a hinge portion extending adjacent the elbow joint when secured to the arm; means for pivotally interconnecting the hinge portions of said upper and lower arm stays for pivotal motion about an axis corresponding substantially to the pivotal axis of the elbow joint when secured on the arm; and a spring mounted at each end to a portion of said upper and lower arm stays and offset from the pivotal axis of said hinge portions thereof to generate a moment about the pivotal axis to urge the elbow joint into a degree of flexion desired. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification