Multi-adjustable knee brace

• US 5,086,761 A
• Filed: 03/26/1990
• Issued: 02/11/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Performance Wrap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Patrick T. Ingram
• Inventors: Ingram, Patrick T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Application Number:
  US07/498,909
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 128/77, 128/80 R, 128/80 C, 128/157, 128/165, 128/155, 128/166, 2/22, 2/24
• US Class Current: 602/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0106 for the knees

Abstract

A multi-adjustable knee brace or wrap for use during athletic or other activity to prevent the kneecap from slippage out of operable location and to reduce strain on damaged ligaments and/or muscle tissue. The knee brace includes a tubular, adjustable, stretchable sleeve configured to snugly embrace the knee and to attach to the knee without having to slide the knee brace over the foot and calf; a pair of stretchable straps anchored to the front of the sleeve and disposed for criss-cross wrapping across the front of the kneecap and around to the back of the knee; a pair of soft, non-rigid hooks anchored to the sleeve and disposed for hooking each of the elastic straps in criss-cross relation; and, VELCRO-type material above and below the knee of the sleeve and on the end portion'"'"'s of each of the ealstic straps for adjustable anchoring of the ends of each of the elastic strips on the sleeve.

Claims

1. A knee brace or wrap for use during athletic or other activity to prevent or reduce knee damage, said knee brace comprising:

sleeve means for snugly embracing the knee joint region of a user'"'"'s leg and adjacent sections of the upper limb and lower limb extending therefrom, said sleeve means containing an opening positionable directly over the front of the kneecap;

first and second strap means, said strap means criss-crossing one another and intersecting directly over the front of the kneecap;

each strap means having an aperture positionable directly over the front of the kneecap for providing tension that encompasses the kneecap;

said strap means each being anchored above and below said sleeve means opening to said sleeve means at points above and below the aperture of each strap respectively; and

adjustment means for adjusting the tension of said first and second strap means across the kneecap and sides of the knee and to the back of the knee.

2. A knee brace as set forth in claim 1,

said sleeve means further comprising first and second side portions adjacent respective sides of the kneecap and extending longitudinally along the user'"'"'s leg;

said first and second strap means each further comprising a first and second strap end;

said first strap end of said first strap means being adjustably anchored by said adjustment means to said first side portion of said sleeve means adjacent a section of the upper limb;

said first strap end of said second strap means being adjustably anchored by said adjustment means to said first side portion of said sleeve means adjacent a section of the lower limb;

said second strap end of said first strap means being adjustably anchored by said adjustment means to said second side portion of said sleeve means adjacent a section of the upper limb;

and said second strap end of said second strap means being adjustably anchored by said adjustment means to said second side portion of said sleeve means adjacent a section of the lower limb.

3. A knee brace a set forth in claim 1, said sleeve means comprising:

an elongate length wrap-able about the knee joint and knee region of a user; and

,

adjustable fastenable means positioned behind the knee for adjusting tension of said sleeve means and securing said elongate length about the knee region of a user.

4. A knee brace as set forth in claim 1, said adjustment means comprising:

tensioning means for tensioning said strap means to criss-cross with intersection directly across the kneecap, said tensioning means being anchored to said sleeve means; and

,

fastening means for fastening said strap means under tension to said sleeve means.

5. A knee brace as set forth in claim 3, said sleeve means including

an inner portion

an outer portion

a first end and

a second end;

said second end overlaying said first end,

said inner portion at said second end including a first hook and loop material portion,

said outer portion at said first end including a second hook and loop material portion,

said adjustable fastening means comprising said first and second hook and loop material portion,

said material portion being mateable with second hook and loop material portion behind the knee joint and creating an opening behind the knee joint located between mateable portions.

6. A knee brace as set forth in claim 4, said tensioning means comprising

a first and second soft, non-rigid hook anchored to said second side portion of said sleeve means adjacent the upper limb and lower limb, respectively,

said first strap being loopable about said second soft, non-rigid hook, and,

said second strap being loopable about said first soft, non-rigid hook.

7. A knee brace as set forth in claim 4, each of said first and second strap ends of said first and second strap including a first portion of hook and loop material

said sleeve means being made of hook and loop material oriented for mateable engagement with said first and second strap ends.

8. A knee brace as set forth in claim 5, said soft, non-rigid hooks comprising of soft, non-rigid material designed to reverse direction of tension on said first and second straps.