Orthopedic appliance with weight activated brake and variable extension assist
First Claim
1. An orthopaedic appliance comprising:
- an upper strut assembly hingably engaged with a lower strut assembly by a hinge means for rotational motion of the lower strut assembly from a first position, forming an approximate straight angle with the upper strut assembly, to a second position, forming an acute angle therewith, the lower strut assembly further being adapted for linear translation toward and away from the hinge means;
a means for braking engaged with the hinge means and adapted for providing resistance to the rotating of the lower strut assembly when the lower strut assembly translates toward the hinge means;
a means for urging motion engaged with the hinge means and adapted for providing an urging force directed for urging the lower strut assembly toward the first position, the magnitude of the urging force corresponding to a camming surface contour of a camming surface means of the means for urging motion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A weight bearing strut assembly is capable of supporting the human frame in the act of walking and further enables a leg to which it is strapped to bend in a normal manner as the leg is brought forward during each step, and to lock when the leg is straightened as necessary to shift weight thereupon. The strut assembly includes a braking mechanism activated as load is placed upon the strut assembly, and an urging mechanism which is activated when the load is removed, and the strut assembly is bent but moving toward the straight leg attitude. Under these conditions, the urging mechanism drives the strut assembly quickly into a co-linear arrangement so as to assure that the strut assembly is ready to take a compressive load.
79 Citations
7 Claims
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1. An orthopaedic appliance comprising:
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an upper strut assembly hingably engaged with a lower strut assembly by a hinge means for rotational motion of the lower strut assembly from a first position, forming an approximate straight angle with the upper strut assembly, to a second position, forming an acute angle therewith, the lower strut assembly further being adapted for linear translation toward and away from the hinge means; a means for braking engaged with the hinge means and adapted for providing resistance to the rotating of the lower strut assembly when the lower strut assembly translates toward the hinge means; a means for urging motion engaged with the hinge means and adapted for providing an urging force directed for urging the lower strut assembly toward the first position, the magnitude of the urging force corresponding to a camming surface contour of a camming surface means of the means for urging motion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification