Motion restraining knee brace

• US 4,817,588 A
• Filed: 07/01/1987
• Issued: 04/04/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medical Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Medical Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Bledsoe, Gary R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lamb, Tonya
• Application Number:
  US07/068,931
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 128/80 C, 128/80 F, 128/88
• US Class Current: 602/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0167 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0125 the device articulating around a single pivot-point

Abstract

A motion restraining knee brace has a pair of articulated side portions each defined by elongated thigh and calf support members pivotally interconnected by an adjustable hinge mechanism. Each hinge mechanism has a single adjustment dial that cooperates with a pair of stop members to selectively limit the relative pivotal movement between the thigh and calf support members associated with the hinge. Outer ends of the thigh and calf support members are securable to the leg by connecting straps which encircle the leg and have independently adjustable anterior and posterior portions. Each of the thigh and calf support members is formed from two adjustably interlockable longitudinal sections releasably held together by a pivotable clip member to thereby provide for rapid support member length adjustment. To inhibit extension of the leg beyond the hingeestablished extension limit angle of the brace, a restraining strap member is looped through eyed connectors carried by each of the support members to form a generally hourglass-shaped strap network positioned behind the knee. As the leg is extended, the strap network is progressively tightened against it, with each portion of the network being held in essentially equal tension, to inhibit overextension of the leg.

Claims

1. Motion restraining knee brace apparatus comprising:

first and second elongated thigh support members respectively positionable to extend along first and second lateral sides of a thigh portion of a human leg;

first and second elongated calf support members respectively positionable to extend along first and second lateral sides of a calf portion of the leg, each of said thigh and calf support members having;

a first longitudinal section having an opening means formed therein,

a second longitudinal section having protruberance means formed thereon for releasable insertion, in a first lateral direction, into a selected portion of said opening means to selectively vary the length of the support member, and to longitudinally and pivotably lock said first and second longitudinal sections thereof, and

retaining means carried by one of said first and second longitudinal sections for movement relative thereto between a first position in which said first and second longitudinal sections may be separated in said first lateral direction, and a second position in which said retaining means prevent their separation in said first lateral direction;

connecting means for operatively securing said thigh and calf support members to the leg, said connecting means including;

first strap means interconnectable between said thigh support members and adapted to generally encircle said thigh portion of the leg, and

second strap means interconnectable between said calf support members and adapted to generally encircle said calf portion of the leg;

first hinge means, positionable adjacent a knee portion of the leg, for pivotably interconnecting facing end portions of said first thigh support member and said first calf support member;

second hinge means, positionable adjacent said knee portion of the leg, for pivotably interconnecting facing end portions of said second thigh support member and said second calf support member, each of said first and second hinge means being adjustable to selectively limit the relative pivotal movement of its associated support members to a predetermined angular range extending between selectively variable extension and flexion limit angles, each of said first and second hinge means including;

base means,

a duality of stop members each carried by said base means for translational movement relative thereto into a selected one of a series of positions thereon,

adjustment means, carried by said base means for movement relative thereto, and

cooperating means on said base means, said duality of stop members and said adjustment means for sequentially;

causing said adjustments means, during a first movement thereof relative to said base means, to engage a selected one of said duality of stop members and move it away from an initial position thereof on said base means,

permitting the stop member moved by said adjustment means to be manually moved to a second position on said base means, and

locking the manually moved stop member on said base means in said second position on said base means,

first attachment means for anchoring an end portion of one of the support members associated with the hinge means to its base means, and

second attachment means for connecting an end portion of the other of the support members associated with the hinge means to its base means for pivotal motion relative thereto between and into motion-limiting engagement with the first and second stop members carried thereby; and

flexible restraining means, carried by said thigh and calf support members, for inhibiting extension of the leg beyond said extension limit angle, said flexible restraining means being;

positionable entirely posteriorly of the leg,

configured to longitudinally span and exert pressure against a posterior longitudinal portion of the leg extending from longitudinally above the knee to longitudinally below the knee, and having opposite end portions positioned and configured to laterally span and exert pressure against opposite ends of said posterior longitudinal portion, in response to extension of said leg,

operative to be progressively and uniformly loosened along said posterior longitudinal portion by said thigh and calf support members as the leg is flexed toward said flexion limit angle, and

operative to be progressively and uniformly tightened against said posterior longitudinal portion by said thigh and calf support members as the leg is extended toward said extension limit angle.

2. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said apparatus further comprises first strap connector means carried by one said thigh support members, and second strap connector means carried by one said calf support members,

said first strap means include a first connection strap having a central portion anchored to the other of said thigh support members, said first connection strap having a pair of free portions with outer ends which may be passed through said first strap connector means, and first tightening means for adjustably tightening each of said pair of free portions against leg, and

said second strap means include a second connection strap having a central portion anchored to the other of said calf support members, said second connection strap having a pair of free portions with outer ends which may be passed through said second strap connector means, and second tightening means for adjustably tightening each of said pair of free portions of said second connection strap against the leg.

3. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

said first strap connector means include a first pair of connector members having openings formed therethrough,

said second strap connector means include a second pair of connector members having openings formed therethrough, and

said first and second tightening means include cooperating hook and pile surfaces formed on said outer ends and said free portions of said first and second connection straps.

4. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said apparatus further comprises first and second pairs of connector members respectively secured to said thigh support members and to said calf support members, and

said flexible restraining means include restraining strap means slidably looped through said first and second pairs of connector members to form a generally hourglass-shaped restraining strap network.

5. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 4 wherein:

said restraining strap means include first and second restraining straps and buckle means for adjustably intersecuring adjacent free end portion of said first and second restraining straps.

6. Motion restraining knee brace apparatus comprising:

first and second elongated thigh support members respectively positionable to extend along first and second lateral sides of a thigh portion of a human leg;

first and second elongated calf support members respectively positionable to extend along first and second lateral sides of a calf portion of the leg, each of said thigh and calf support members having;

a first longitudinal section having opening means formed therein,

a second longitudinal section having protruberance means formed thereon for releasable insertion, in a first lateral direction, into selected portion of said opening means to selectively vary the length of the support member, and to longitudinally and pivotably lock said first and second longitudinal sections thereof, and

retaining means carried by one of said first and second longitudinal sections for movement relative thereto between a first position in which said first and second longitudinal sections may be separated in said first lateral direction, and a second position in which said retaining means prevent their separation in said first lateral direction;

connecting means for operatively securing said thigh and calf support members to the leg, said connecting means including;

first strap means interconnectable between said thigh support members and adapted to generally encircle said thigh portion of the leg, and

second strap means interconnectable between said calf support members and adapted to generally encircle said calf portion of the leg,

said first and second strap means each having anterior and posterior portions whose lengths are independently adjustable to thereby precisely position and hold said thigh and calf support members in desired anterior-posterior orientations along said thigh and calf portions of the leg;

first hinge means, positionable adjacent a knee portion of the leg, for pivotably interconnecting facing end portions of said first thigh support member and said first said support member;

second hinge means, positionable adjacent said knee portion of the leg, for pivotably interconnecting facing end portions of said second thigh support member and said second calf support member, each of said first and second hinge means being adjustable to selectively limit the relative pivotal movement of its associated support members to a predetermined angular range extending between selectively variable extension and flexion limit angles, each of said first and second hinge means including;

base means,

a duality of stop members each carried by said base means for translational movement relative thereto into a selected one of a series of positions thereon,

adjustment means, carried by said base means for movement relative thereto, and

cooperating means on said base means, said duality of stop members and said adjustment means sequentially;

causing said adjustment means, during a first movement thereof relative to said base means, to engage a selected one if said duality of stop members and move it away from an initial position thereof on said base means,

permitting the stop member moved by said adjustment means to be manually moved to a second position on said base means, and

locking the manually moved stop member on said base means in said second position on said base means,

first attachment means for anchoring an end portion of one of the support members associated with the hinge means to its base means, and

second attachment means for connecting an end portion of the other of the support members associated with the hinge means to its base means for pivotal motion relative thereto between and into motion-limiting engagement with the first and second stop members carried thereby; and

flexible restraining means, carried by said thigh and calf support members, for inhibiting extension of the leg beyond said extension limit angle, said flexible restraining means being;

positioned entirely posteriorly of the leg,

configured to longitudinally span and exert pressure against a posterior longitudinal portion of the leg extending from longitudinally above the knee to longitudinally below the knee and to laterally span and exert pressure against opposite ends of said posterior longitudinal portion,

operative to be progressively and uniformly loosened along said posterior longitudinal portion of said thigh and calf support members as the leg is flexed toward said flexion limit angle, and

operative to be progressively and uniformly tightened against posterior longitudinal portion by said thigh and calf support members as the leg is extended toward said extension limit angle,

said opening means including longitudinally spaced series of openings formed through said first longitudinal section,

said protruberance means including a longitudinally spaced duality of lateral projects carried by said longitudinal section and adapted to be releasably inserted in a selected adjacent pair of said openings, and

said retaining means including a clip member pivotally carried by one of said first and second longitudinal sections and, when in said second position, adapted to engage each of said first and second longitudinal sections along overlapping portions thereof.

7. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 6 wherein:

said clip member has a generally U-shaped body portion, and a support arm portion extending from said body portion and pivotally connected to said second longitudinal section.

8. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

said first longitudinal section has an inner end notch, and

said support portion is pivotally connected to said second longitudinal section by a connecting member having an outwardly projecting head portion adapted to be received in said end notch or any of said openings.

9. Motion restraining knee brace apparatus comprising:

first and second elongated thigh support members respectively positionable to extend along first and second lateral sides of a thigh portion of a human leg;

first and second elongated calf support members respectively positionable to extend along said first and second lateral sides of a calf portion of the leg, each of said thigh and calf support members having;

a first longitudinal section having opening means formed therein,

a second longitudinal section having protruberance means formed thereon for releasable insertion, in a first lateral direction, into a selected portion of said opening means to selectively vary the length of the support member, and to longitudinally and pivotally lock said first and second longitudinal sections thereof, and

retaining means carried by one of said first and second longitudinal sections for movement relative thereto between a first position in which first and second longitudinal sections may be separated in said first lateral direction, and a second position in which said retaining means prevent their separation in said first lateral direction;

connecting means for operatively securing said thigh and calf support members to the leg, said connecting means including;

first strap means interconnectable between said thigh support members and adapted to generally encircle said thigh portion of the leg, and

second strap means interconnectable between said calf support members and adapted to generally encircle said calf portion of the leg,

said first and second strap means each having anterior and posterior portions whose lengths are independently adjustable to thereby precisely position and hold said thigh and calf support members in desired anterior-posterior orientations along said thigh and calf portions of the leg;

first hinge means, positionable adjacent a knee portion of the leg, for pivotally interconnecting facing end portions of said first thigh support member and said first calf support member;

second hinge means, positionable adjacent said knee portion of the leg, for pivotally interconnecting facing end portions of said second thigh support member and said second calf support member, each of said first and second hinge means being adjustable to selectively limit the relative pivotal movement of its associated support members to a predetermined angular range extending between selectively variable extension and flexion limit angles, each of said first and second hinge means including;

base means,

a duality of stop members each carried by said base means for translational movement relative thereto into a selected one of a series of positions thereon,

adjustment means, carried by said base means for movement relative thereto, and

cooperating means on said base means, said duality of stop members and said adjustment means for sequentially;

causing said adjustment means, during a first movement thereof relative to said base means, to engage a selected one of said duality of stop members and move it away from an initial position thereof on said base means,

permitting the stop member moved by said adjustment means to be manually moved to a second position on said base means, and

locking the manually moved stop member on said base means in said second position on said base means,

first attachment means for anchoring an end portion of one of the support members associated with the hinge means to its base means, and

second attachment means for connecting an end portion of the other of the support members associated with the hinge means to its base means for pivotal motion relative thereto between and into motion-limiting engagement with the first and second stop members carried thereby; and

flexible restraining means, carried by said thigh and calf support members, for inhibiting extension of the leg beyond said extension limit angle, said flexible restraining means being;

positionable entirely posteriorly of the leg,

configured to longitudinally span and exert pressure against a posterior longitudinal portion of the leg extending from longitudinally above the knee to longitudinally below the knee and to laterally span and exert pressure against opposite ends of said posterior longitudinal portion,

operative to be progressively and uniformly loosened along said posterior longitudinal portion by said thigh and calf support members as the leg is flexed toward said flexion limit angle, and

operative to be progressively and uniformly tightened against said posterior longitudinal portion by said thigh and calf support members as the leg is extended toward said extension limit angle,

said base means including a pair of base plates each having formed thereon an arcuate extension slot having a circumferentially spaced series of notches formed along a side thereof, and an arcuate flexion slot having a circumferentially spaced series of notches formed along a side surface thereof,

said duality of stop members comprising an extension pivot stop disc and a flexion pivot stop disc each sandwiched between said base plates,

said adjustment means including a dial member carried by one of said base plates for rotation relative thereto, and

said cooperating means including a central axial locking pin secured to said extension pivot stop disc and having opposite end portions carried in said extension slots adapted to enter and be circumferentially locked in selected notches thereof, a central axial locking pin secured to said flexion pivot stop disc and having opposite end portions carried in said flexion slots and adapted to enter and be circumferentially locked in selected notches thereof, an annular flange on said dial member having an enternal side surface portion adapted to engage said locking pins and captively retain them in notches of said extension and flexion slots, a depression formed in said internal side surface of said annular flange and adapted to radially receive an outer end of one of said locking pins, and a spring member carried by said dial member, said spring member being adapted to engage and resiliently urge said outer end of one of said locking pins into said depression and resiliently retain it in the depression for rotational movement with said dial member.

10. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

locking means for selectively locking said dial member against rotation relative to said base plates.

11. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 10 wherein said locking means include:

a pair of aligned locking slots formed in said base plates,

a locking disc sandwiched between said base plates and movable relative thereto, said locking disc having a central axial pin portion carried at opposite ends in said locking slots so that said locking disc may be moved between first and second positions relative to said base plates, said central axial pin portion having an outer end projecting outwardly from the base plate upon which said dial member is mounted,

an external notch formed in the periphery of said dial member and defined by outwardly projecting side portions of said dial member, said external notch being adapted to receive said projecting outer end of said central axial pin portion,

said projecting outer end of said central axial pin portion, when received in said external notch with said locking disc held in said first position, cooperating with side portions to prevent rotation of said dial member relative to said base plates,

spring means for resiliently biasing said locking disc toward said first position and permitting said locking disc to be moved to said second position by engagement of either of said outwardly projecting side portions with said projecting outer end of said central axial pin portion to thereby permit said outwardly projecting side portions to be rotated past said projecting outer end of said central axial pin portion against the biasing force of said spring means, and

holding means for selectively holding said projecting outer end of said central axial pin portion in said external notch on said dial member.

12. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

said holding means include a pair of aligned openings formed through said base plates and adapted to receive a blocking member which blocks movement of said locking disc from said first position toward said second position.

13. Knee brace apparatus having a leg support portion comprising:

a duality of elongated leg support members positionable along opposite lateral sides of a longitudinal portion of a human leg, each of said leg support members including separate first and second longitudinal sections;

connecting means for operatively securing said leg support members to the leg; and

interconnecting means for releasably interconnecting the first and second longitudinal sections of each of said leg support members in a manner permitting the lengths of said leg support members to be rapidly adjusted, said interconnecting means including;

opening means in each of said first longitudinal sections,

projection means formed on each of said second longitudinal sections and being releasably insertable, in a first lateral direction, into a selected portion of the opening means in an associated first longitudinal section to create pivotal and translational shear locks between each associated set of first and second longitudinal sections, and

retaining clip means pivotally carried by one of first and second longitudinal sections in each set thereof at a fixed location thereon for pivotal movement relative thereto between a first position in which said first and second longitudinal sections may be separated in said first lateral direction, and a second position in which said retaining clip means engage said first and second longitudinal sections along overlapping portions thereof and prevent their separation in said first lateral direction.

14. Motion restraining knee brace apparatus comprising:

a duality of elongated thigh support members positionable along opposite lateral sides of a thigh portion of a human leg;

a duality of elongated calf support members positionable along opposite lateral sides of a calf portion of the leg, each of said thigh support members and said calf support members having;

a first longitudinal section having opening means formed therein,

a second longitudinal section having protruberance means formed thereon for releasable insertion, in a first lateral direction, into a selected portion of said opening means to selectively vary the length of the support member and to longitudinally and pivotally lock said first and second longitudinal sections thereof, and

a retaining member carried by one of said first and second longitudinal sections for movement between a first position in which said first and second longitudinal sections may be separated in said first lateral direction, and a second position in which said retaining member prevents their separation in said first lateral direction;

hinge means, positionable adjacent a knee portion of the leg, for pivotally interconnecting the thigh and calf support members positionable on the same lateral side of the leg, said hinge means being selectively adjustment to limit the relative pivotal movement of the interconnected thigh and calf support members to a predetermined angular range; and

connecting means for operatively securing said thigh and calf support members to the leg,

said opening means including a longitudinally spaced series of openings formed through said first longitudinal section,

said protruberance means including a longitudinally spaced duality of lateral projections carried by said second longitudinal section and adapted to be releasably inserted in a selected adjacent pair of said openings, and

said retaining means including a clip member pivotally carried by one of said first and second longitudinal sections and, when in said second position, adapted to engage to each of said first and second longitudinal sections along overlapping portions thereof.

15. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 14 wherein:

said clip member has a generally U-shaped body portion, and a support arm portion extending from said body portion and pivotally connected to said second longitudinal section.

16. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 15 wherein:

said first longitudinal section has an inner end notch, and

said support arm portion is pivotally connected to said second longitudinal section by a connecting member having an outwardly projecting head portion adapted to be received in said end notch or any of said openings.

17. Adjustable hinge apparatus for pivotally interconnecting first and second members and selectively limiting their relative pivotal motion to a predetermined angular range, comprising:

base means;

a duality of stop members each carried by said base means for arcuate translational movement relative thereto into a selected one of a series of positions thereon;

a dial member carried by said base means for rotational movement relative thereto and relative to said duality of stop members; and

cooperating means on said base means, said duality of stop members and said dial member for sequentially;

causing said dial member, during a first rotational movement of said dial member relative to said base means and relative to said duality of stop members, to engage a selected one of said first duality of stop members and carry it away from an initial position thereof on said base means,

permitting the dial member-moved stop member to be manually moved out of carriable engagement with said dial member to a second position on said base means, and

locking the manually moved stop member on said base means in said second position in response to a second rotational movement of said dial member relative to said base means and said selected one of said duality of stop members;

first attachment means for anchoring one of said first and second members to said base means; and

second attachment means for connecting the other of said first and second members to said base means for pivotal motion relative thereto between and into motion limiting engagement with said duality of stop members.

18. Motion restraining knee brace apparatus comprising:

a first duality of elongated leg support members respectively positionable to expand lengthwise along one lateral side of thigh and calf portions of a human leg;

a second duality of elongated leg support members respectively positionable to extend lengthwise along the opposite lateral side of said thigh and calf portion of the leg;

connecting means for operatively securing said leg support members to the leg;

first hinge means, positionable adjacent a knee portion of the leg, for pivotally interconnecting facing end portions of said first duality of leg support members; and

second hinge means, positionable adjacent said knee portion of the leg, for pivotally interconnecting facing end portions of said second duality of leg support members, each of said first and second hinge means being adjustable to selectively limit the relative pivotal movement of its associated duality of leg support members to a predetermined angular range extending between selectively variable extension and flexion limit angles, each of said first and second hinge means including;

base means,

a duality of stop members each carried by said base means for arcuate translational movement relative thereto into a selected one of a series of positions thereon,

a dial member carried by said base means for rotational movement relative thereto and relative to said duality of stop members, and

cooperating means on said base means, said duality of stop members and said dial member for sequentially;

causing said dial member, during a first rotational movement thereof relative to said base means and relative to said duality of stop members, to engage a selected one of said duality of stop members and carry it away from an initial position thereof on said base means,

permitting the dial member-moved stop member to be manually moved out of carriable engagement with said dial member to a second position on said base means, and

locking the manually moved stop member on said base means in said second position in response to a second rotational movement of said dial member relative to said base means and said selected one of said duality of stop members;

first attachment means for anchoring an end portion of one said leg support members in each of said first and second dualities thereof to the base means of its associated hinge means; and

second attachment means for connecting an end portion of the other said leg support members in each of said first and second dualities thereof to the base means of its associated hinge means for pivotal motion relative thereto between and into motion-limiting engagement with the first and second stop members carried thereby.

19. Motion restraining knee brace apparatus comprising:

a first duality of elongated leg support members respectively positionable to extend lengthwise along one lateral side of thigh and calf portions of a human leg;

a second duality of elongated leg support members respectively positionable to extend lengthwise along the opposite lateral side of said thigh and calf portion of the leg;

connecting means for operatively securing said leg support members to the leg;

first hinge means, positionable adjacent a knee portion of the leg, for pivotally interconnecting facing end portions of said first duality of leg support members; and

second hinge means, positionable adjacent said knee portion of the leg, for pivotally interconnecting facing end portions of said second duality of leg support members, each of said first and second hinge means being adjustable to selectively limit the relative pivotal movement of its associated duality of leg support members to a predetermined angular range extending between electively variable extension and flexion limit angles, each of said first and second hinge means including;

base means,

a duality of stop members each carried by said base means for translational movement relative thereto into a selected one of a series of positions thereon,

an adjustment member carried by said base means for movement relative thereto, and

cooperating means on said base means, said duality of stop members and said adjustment member for sequentially;

causing said adjustment member, during a first movement thereof relative to said base means, to engage a selected one of said duality of stop members and move it away from an initial position thereof on said base means,

permitting the adjustment member-moved stop member to be manually moved to a second position on said base means, and

locking the manually moved stop member on said base means in said second position in response to a second movement of said adjustment member relative to said base means;

first attachment means for anchoring an end portion of one of said leg support members in each of said first and second dualities thereof to the base means of its associated hinge means; and

second attachment means for connecting an end portion of the other said leg support members in each of said first and second dualities thereof to the base means of its associated hinge means for pivotal motion relative thereto between and into motion-limiting engagement with the first and second stop members carried thereby,

said base means including a pair of base members each having formed therein an arcuate extension slot having a circumferentially spaced series of notches formed along a side surface thereof, and an arcuate flexion slot having a circumferentially spaced series of notches formed along a side surface thereof,

said duality of stop members comprising an extension pivot stop member and a flexion pivot stop member each sandwiched between said base plates,

said adjustment means including a dial member carried by one of said base members for rotation relative thereto, and

said cooperating means including;

a locking element secured to said extension pivot stop member and having opposite end portions carried in said extension slots and adapted to enter and be circumferentially locked in selected notches thereof,

a locking element secured to said flexion pivot stop member and having opposite end portions carried in said flexion slots and adapted to enter and be circumferentially locked in selected notches thereof,

an annular flange on said dial member having an internal side surface adapted to engage said locking elements and captively retain them in notches of said extension and flexion slots,

a depression formed in said internal side surface of said annular flange and adapted to radially receive an outer end of one of said locking elements, and

a spring member carried by said dial member, said spring member being adapted to engage and resiliently urge said outer end of one of said locking elements into said depression and resiliently retain it in said depression for rotational movement with said dial member.

20. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 19 further comprising:

a series of observation holes formed in said dial member and through which the positions of said locking elements relative to said base members may be visually observed.

21. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 19 further comprising:

locking means for selectively locking said dial member against rotation relative to said base members.

22. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 21 wherein said locking means include:

a pair of aligned locking slots formed in said base members,

a locking member sandwiched between said base members and movable relative thereto, said locking member having a locking element carried at opposite ends in said locking slots so that said locking member may be moved between first and second positions relative to said base members, said locking element of said locking member having an outer end projecting outwardly from the base member upon which said dial member is mounted,

an external notch formed in the periphery of said dial member and defined by outwardly projecting side portions of said dial member, said external notch being adapted to receive said projecting outer end of said locking element on said locking member,

said projecting outer end of said locking element on said locking member, when received in said external notch with said locking member held in said first position, cooperating with said side portions to prevent rotation of said dial member relative to said base members,

spring means for resiliently biasing said locking member toward said first position and permitting said locking member to be moved to said second position by engagement of either of said outwardly projecting side portions with said projecting outer end of said locking element on said locking member to thereby permit said outwardly projecting side portions to be rotated past said projecting outer end of said locking element on said locking member against the biasing force of said spring means, and

holding means for selectively holding said projecting outer end of said locking member locking element in said external notch on said dial member.

23. The motion restraining knee brace apparats of claim 22 wherein:

said holding means include a pair of aligned openings formed through said base plates and adapted to receive a blocking member which blocks movement of said locking member from said first position toward said second position.

24. Motion restraining knee brace apparatus comprising:

an elongated thigh support member positionable along a lateral side of a thigh portion of a human leg;

an elongated calf support member positionable along said lateral side of a calf portion of the leg;

connecting means for operatively securing said thigh and calf support members to the leg; and

hinge means, positionable adjacent a knee portion of the leg, pivotally interconnecting facing end portions of said thigh and calf support members, said hinge means being selectively adjustable to limit the relative pivotal movement of the interconnected thigh and calf support members to a predetermined angular range extending between an extension limit angle and a flexion limit angle, said hinge means including;

base means having arcuate track means formed therein, said track means having a first radial portion, and a second radial portion having a circumferentially spaced series of radially extending notches formed therein,

first and second circumferentially spaced stop members having locking portions carried in said track means for circumferential movement around said first radial portion thereof, said locking portion being radially movable into selected ones of said notches to thereby circumferentially lock said first and second stop members in a desired relative orientation on said base means,

first attachment means for anchoring one of said facing end portions of said thigh and calf support members to said base means,

second attachment means for connecting the other of said facing end portions of said thigh and calf support members to said base means for pivotal motion relative thereto between and into motion limiting engagement with said first and second stop members,

dial means, carried by said base means for rotation relative thereto, for selectively repositioning said first and second stop members on said base means, said dial means having an arcuate retaining surface adapted to retain said locking portions in first and second ones of said notches, said retaining surface having a depression formed therein and adapted to radially receive either of said locking portions when said depression is rotated into circumferentially alignment with the locking portion, and to carry the received locking portion around said first radial portion of said track means into circumferentially alignment with a third one of said notches upon further rotation of said dial means so that the stop member associated with the received locking portion may be manually moved to position the received locking member in said third one of said notches and the dial means further rotated to cause said retaining surface to retain the received locking portion in said third one of said notches, and

spring means, carried by said dial means for rotation therewith, for engaging a selected one of said locking portions and resiliently urging it outwardly from one of said notches and into said depression formed in said retaining surface.

25. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 24 further comprising:

a series of observation holes formed in said dial means and through which the positions of said locking portions of said stop members relative to said base means may be visually observed.

26. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 24 further comprising:

locking means for selectively locking said dial means against rotation to said base means.

27. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 26 wherein:

said locking means include a locking member carried by said base means for movement relative thereto between a first position and a second position, spring means for biasing said locking member toward said first position, cooperating means on said locking member and said dial means for locking said dial means when said locking member is held in said first position, and holding means for selectively holding said locking member in said first position.

28. Motion restraining knee brace apparatus comprising:

first and second thigh support members positionable along opposite lateral sides of a thigh portion of a human leg;

first and second calf support members positionable along opposite lateral sides of a calf portion of the leg;

first hinge means, positionable adjacent a knee area of the leg, for pivotally interconnecting said first thigh and calf support members on one lateral side of the leg;

second hinge means, positionable adjacent a knee area of the leg, for pivotally interconnecting said second thigh and calf support members on the opposite lateral side of the leg;

first connecting means for operatively securing said first and second thigh support members to the leg;

second connecting means for operatively securing said first and second calf support members;

connector means secured to said thigh and calf support members for movement therewith; and

elongated flexible restraining means slidable looped through said connector means to form a continuous, flexible motion restraining network positioned entirely behind said leg, said network having a criss-crossed central portion positionable to extend longitudinally along a posterior portion of the leg extending from above the knee to below the knee, and first and second end portions adapted to extend transversely along opposite ends of said posterior portion, said central and end portions of said network being adapted to be progressively tightened against the leg during extension thereof, and to be maintained in essentially identical tension.

29. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 28 wherein:

said connector means include a first pair of connector members having openings therethrough and being secured to said first and second thigh support members, and a second pair of connector members having openings therethrough and being secured to said first and second calf support members.

30. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 29 wherein:

said elongated flexible restraining means comprises a pair of restraining straps and adjustable buckle means for intersecuring free end portions of said restraining straps.

31. Motion restraining knee brace apparatus comprising:

a duality of elongated, essentially rigid thigh support members positionable along opposite lateral sides of a thigh portion of a human leg;

a duality of elongated, essentially rigid calf support members positionable along opposite lateral sides of a calf portion of the leg;

hinge means, positionable adjacent a knee portion of the leg, for pivotally interconnecting the thigh and calf support members positionable on the same lateral side of the leg, said hinge means being selectively adjustable to limit the relative pivotal movement of the interconnected thigh and calf support members to a predetermined angular range extending between a leg extension limit angle and a leg flexion limit angle;

connecting means for operatively securing said thigh and calf support members to the leg; and

flexible restraining means, carried by said thigh and calf support members, for inhibiting extension of the leg beyond said extension limit angle, said flexible restraining means being positionable entirely posteriorly of the leg, configured to longitudinally span and exert pressure against a posterior longitudinal portion of the leg extending from longitudinally above the knee to longitudinally below the knee and to laterally span and exert pressure against opposite ends of said posterior longitudinal portion, and being operative to be progressively and uniformly loosened along said posterior longitudinal portion by said thigh and calf support members as the leg is flexed toward said leg flexion limit angle, and to be progressively and uniformly tightened against said posterior longitudinal portion by said thigh and calf support members as the leg is extended toward side leg extension limit angle.

32. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 31 wherein:

said apparatus further comprises first and second pairs of connector members respectively secured to said thigh support members and to said calf support members, and

said flexible restraining means include restraining strap means slidably looped through said first and second pairs of connector members to form a generally hourglass-shaped restraining strap network.

33. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 32 wherein:

said restraining strap means include first and second restraining straps, and buckle means for adjustably intersecuring adjacent free end portions of said first and second restraining straps.

34. The motion restraining knee brace of claim 31 wherein said connecting means include:

first strap means interconnectable between said thigh support members and adapted to generally encircle said thigh portion of the leg, and

second strap means interconnectable between said calf support members and adapted to generally encircle said calf portion of the leg,

said first and second strap means each having anterior and posterior portions whose length are independently adjustable to thereby precisely position and hold said thigh and calf support members in desired anterior-posterior orientations along said thigh and calf portions of the leg.

35. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 34 wherein:

said apparatus further comprises first strap connector means carried by one of said thigh support members, and second strap connector means carried by one of said calf support members,

said first strap means include a first connection strap having a central portion anchored to the other of said thigh support members, said first connection strap having a pair of free end portions with outer ends which may be passed through said first strap connector means, and first tightening means for adjustably tightening each of said free end portions against the leg, and

said second strap means include a second connection strap having a central portion anchored to the other of said calf support members, said second connection strap having a pair of free end portions with the outer ends which may be passed through said second strap connector means, and second tightening means for adjustably tightening each of said pair of free end portions of said second connection strap against the leg.

36. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 35 wherein:

said first strap connector means include a first pair of connector members having openings formed therethrough,

said second strap connector means include a second pair of connector members having openings formed therethrough, and

said first and second tightening means include cooperating hook and pile surfaces formed on said outer ends and said free end portions of said first and second connection straps.

37. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 36 wherein:

said first pair of connector members are positioned adjacent a longitudinally outer end of said one of said thigh support members, and

said second pair of connector members are positioned adjacent a longitudinally outer end of said one of said calf support members.

38. The motion restraining knee brace apparatus of claim 37 wherein said connecting means further comprise:

adjustably tightenable first anterior strap means interconnected between said thigh support members and positioned between said first pair of connector members and said first and second hinge means, and

adjustably tightenable second anterior strap means interconnected between said calf support members and positioned between said second pair of connector members and said first and second hinge means.