Progressive force strap assembly for use with an orthopedic device

• US 9,364,365 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2014
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ossur hf
• Original Assignee: Ossur hf
• Inventors: Omarsson, Bjorn, Ingimundarson, Arni Thor, Petursson, Valgeir, Thorsteinsdottir, Hildur Inga
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/148,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20140213947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 602/16, 602 20- 28, 128/882
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0106 for the knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0123 for the knees A61F5/0106 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0125 the device articulating around a single pivot-point

Abstract

A progressive strap assembly includes an elongate, inelastic body having first and second ends, and an elastic body having first and second ends, the first end of the elastic body anchored to the second end of the inelastic body. The elastic body is arranged to stretch a plurality of lengths and has a maximum stretchable length. A tension limiter is connected to the first and second ends of the elastic body and is arranged to inhibit a predetermined stretchable length of the elastic body short of the maximum stretchable length.

Claims

1. A progressive strap assembly, comprising:

a strap having a length defined by an elongate, inelastic body having first and second portions and an elastic body having first and second ends, the first end of the elastic body anchored to the first portion of the inelastic body, the elastic body arranged to stretch a plurality of lengths and has a maximum stretchable length as the strap is tensioned, wherein combined lengths of the inelastic body and the elastic body form the length of the strap such that the inelastic body is inelastic along its length and the elastic body is elastic along its length;

a tension limiter secured to the first and second ends of the elastic body and generally along the length of the elastic body, the tension limiter being non-stretchable in a longitudinal direction and arranged to inhibit a predetermined stretchable length of the elastic body short of the maximum stretchable length.

2. The progressive strap assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a dosing device coupled to the second end of the elastic body and permitting incremental adjustment of the inelastic body relative thereto.

3. The progressive strap assembly of claim 1, wherein the dosing device includes a tensioning mechanism and an elongate element adjustably secured to a retainer and coupled to the tensioning mechanism, the retainer secured to the second end of the elastic body.

4. The progressive strap assembly of claim 3, wherein the elongate element is maintained within a sleeve belonging to the dosing device.

5. The progressive strap assembly of claim 4, wherein the sleeve defines a plurality of indicia representing loading levels.

6. The progressive strap assembly of claim 1, wherein the tension limiter includes a plurality of stitches in a predetermined pattern, the stitches limiting elongation of the elastic body at the predetermined stretchable length of the elastic body.

7. The progressive strap assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of stitches are arranged in a non-linear configuration when the elastic body is in a relaxed condition, the stitches adapted to stretch and elongate when the elastic body is in a tensioned condition.

8. The progressive strap assembly of claim 1, wherein the tension limiter is an inelastic segment separate from the inelastic body and has first and second ends secured to the first and second ends of the elastic body, the inelastic segment having a length greater than the elastic body when the elastic body is in a relaxed condition.

9. The progressive strap assembly of claim 8, wherein the tension limiter has a width less than a width of the elastic body.

10. The progressive strap assembly of claim 8, further comprising a dosing device connected to the second end of the elastic body and a second end of the tension limiter.

11. The progressive strap assembly of claim 10, further comprising a sleeve connected to the dosing device and through which the second ends of the elastic body and the tension limiter are arranged to slide upon operation of the dosing device.

12. The progressive strap assembly of claim 10, wherein the dosing device includes a track and the second ends of the elastic body and the tension limiter secure to a retainer slidably engaging the track arranged to guide movement of the retainer.

13. The progressive strap assembly of claim 1, wherein the tension limiter is defined by an inelastic segment of the inelastic body overlapping the entire length of the elastic body, the tension limiter having a length greater than the elastic body when the elastic body is in a relaxed condition and is secured to the first and second ends of the elastic body.

14. The progressive strap assembly of claim 13, wherein the inelastic segment forms part of the inelastic body, the second end of the elastic body securing to the second portion of the elastic body.

15. A progressive strap assembly, comprising:

an elongate inelastic body having first and second ends;

an elastic body having first and second ends, the first end of the elastic body anchored to the second end of the inelastic body, the elastic body arranged to stretch a plurality of lengths and has a maximum stretchable length;

a tension limiter connected to the first and second ends of the elastic body, and arranged to inhibit a predetermined stretchable length of the elastic body short of the maximum stretchable length;

wherein the tension limiter has a length greater than the elastic body when the elastic body is in a relaxed condition.

16. The progressive strap assembly of claim 15, wherein the tension limiter is a flexible and inelastic strip of material separate from the inelastic body.

17. The progressive strap assembly of claim 15, wherein the tension limiter is narrower in width and shorter in length than the inelastic body, the tension limiter having a length less than a maximum stretched length than the elastic body.

18. A progressive strap assembly, comprising:

an elongate, inelastic body having first and second portions;

an elastic body having first and second ends, the first end of the elastic body anchored to the first portion of the inelastic body, the elastic body arranged to stretch a plurality of lengths and has a maximum stretchable length;

a tension limiter connected to the first and second ends of the elastic body, and arranged to inhibit a predetermined stretchable length of the elastic body short of the maximum stretchable length;

wherein the tension limiter is defined by an inelastic segment of the inelastic body overlapping the entire length of the elastic body, the tension limiter having a length greater than the elastic body when the elastic body is in a relaxed condition and is secured to the first and second ends of the elastic body.

19. The progressive strap assembly of claim 18, wherein the inelastic segment forms part of the inelastic body, the second end of the elastic body securing to the second portion of the elastic body.