Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6461318
-
Patent Number
6,461,318
-
Date Filed
Monday, January 29, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 8, 200221 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
- Stetina Brunda Garred & Brucker
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 602 5
- 602 16
- 602 23
- 602 26
- 602 27
- 128 882
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An exteriorly positionable anatomical brace for protecting a uniting pivoting joint disposed between a first limb structure and a second limb structure of a living being. The brace includes a first cuff partially encompassable about the first limb structure and a second cuff partially encompassable about the second limb structure with each cuff being a generally U-shape structure with two lateral arms. A respective quick-release cuff retainer secures each cuff on each limb, and includes opposing first and second limb wraps for positioning around the limb. At least one limb wrap has a proximal portion provided with at least one externally accessible releasable connector for attaching the limb wrap to the respective lateral arm, while both limb wraps have distal portions interfacedly connected with each other with a tightenable interfacing retainer member. A pivotable brace joint member connects the first and second cuffs and is situated adjacent the pivoting joint to be stabilized.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to braces for human joint support, and in particular to an exteriorly positionable anatomical brace having cuffs situated about respective limb structures on either side of a uniting pivoting joint such as a knee joint where each cuff is retained in place by cuff retainers having externally accessible and quickly engageable and releasable connectors.
Both injury and disease can affect the health, well-being, and operability of various joints of the human body. Chief among such joints are the knee and elbow where disease such as osteo-arthritis can curtail normal activity or where an injury such as a sports-related abuse or impact can prevent or severely limit continued activity. One manner of protecting joints is to fit the wearer with an appropriate brace whereby a pivotal support member is positioned adjacent the affected joint and held in place usually by cuff members situated around limb structure sites above and below the supported joint. As is apparent, the cuff members are responsible for stabilizing the support member and therefore must be well secured to their associated limbs.
To accomplish such securement, present cuff members are typically provided with one or more straps that are tightened around each limb structure and retained by buckles, hook-and-loop connections, or the like. Each time a user places or removes the brace, such user must reach for, locate, and manipulate the retention straps in an effort to either properly tighten the cuff members or to remove them. When a brace is in place in association with the supported joint, the retention straps many times are situated in a difficult-to-reach location which many times is behind the cuff members. Such placement means that the user is subjected at best to difficult donning and removal of the brace, and at worst to an improperly placed retention strap which interferes with brace usefulness.
In view of these drawbacks, it is apparent that a need is present for an easily, and therefore effectively, positionable brace. Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an exteriorly positionable anatomical brace having readily accessible quick connect and disconnect retention members that inherently position and maintain retention members advantageously.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a brace wherein required retention member tightness, once established, is replicated each time the brace is placed.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a brace wherein a resilient liner is disposed against interior walls of the brace for user comfort.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent throughout the description thereof which now follows.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an exteriorly positionable anatomical brace for protecting a uniting pivoting joint disposed between a first limb structure and a second limb structure of a living being. The brace comprises a first cuff partially encompassable about the first limb structure and a second cuff partially encompassable about the second limb structure with each cuff being a generally U-shape structure with two lateral arms for juxtapositioning with respective adjacent limb structure sites. A respective cuff retainer secures each cuff on each respective limb, and comprises opposing first and second limb wraps extending toward each other from each respective lateral arm for positioning around the limb. At least one of the two opposing limb wraps has a proximal portion provided with at least one externally accessible releasable connector for attaching the limb wrap to the respective lateral arm, and each limb wrap has a distal portion. These distal portions of the first and second wraps are interfacedly connected with each other with a tightenable interfacing retainer member. Finally, a pivotable brace joint member connects the first and second cuffs and is situated adjacent the pivoting joint to be protected. In this manner the maintenance of brace placement and effectiveness is achieved by providing cuff retainers that are connectable and disconnectable from the encompassing cuff without requiring assembly and disassembly of the cuff retainers themselves.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1
is a side perspective view of an exteriorly positionable knee brace with cuffs in place on a leg;
FIG. 2
is a side perspective view of the upper cuff and limb wrap of the brace of
FIG. 1
in disassociated relationship; and
FIG. 3
is a rear perspective view of the upper cuff and limb wrap of
FIG. 2
in place on a leg.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawing figures, an exteriorly positionable anatomical brace
10
is shown in place on a leg
12
of a human being. The brace
10
has a first cuff
14
encompassed about the limb structure above the knee joint
18
and a second cuff
20
encompassed about the limb structure below the knee joint
18
. Each cuff
14
,
20
is a generally U-shape structure, which non-limitedly can be fabricated of a polymer plastic, for juxtapositioning with respective adjacent limb structure sites. While
FIGS. 2 and 3
show only the upper cuff
14
, it is to be understood that the following description thereof regarding limb wraps defined below applies equally to the lower cuff
20
.
Thus, as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3
, the cuff
14
has lateral arms
24
,
26
, with each arm
24
,
26
having respectively attached thereto respective first and second limb wraps
28
,
30
generally extendable toward each other from each lateral arm
24
,
26
for positioning around the limb and functioning collectively as a cuff retainer. Each limb wrap
28
,
30
is preferably constructed of a sewn fabric as known in the art and is attached proximally to the respective arms
24
,
26
. At least one limb wrap
28
is so attached by two releasable connectors
32
,
34
having finger-operable releases
36
,
38
for disengaging the limb wrap
28
from the corresponding lateral arm
24
. As especially shown in
FIG. 2
, preferred connectors
32
,
34
each comprise a tab member
40
with an outwardly spring-biased wall
42
with a finger-accessible extension
44
, and a slot
46
. While the slots
46
here shown are disposed on the cuff
14
and the tab members
40
are disposed on the limb wraps
28
,
30
, it is, of course, to be understood that such tab member and slot placement can be reversed. In operation, each tab member
40
is inserted into a respective receiving slot
46
where a hook
48
of its spring-biased wall
42
engages and is retained by a notch (not shown) in the adjacent wall
52
of the slot
46
. Disengagement of the tab member
40
is accomplished by inwardly-directed finger pressure on the extension
44
which causes disengagement of the hook
48
from the notch and withdrawal of tab member
40
.
Distal portions
54
,
56
of the wraps
28
,
30
are interfacedly connected with each other, when the brace
10
is in place on a user, by a tightenable interfacing retainer member here non-limitedly exemplified as a length of lace
58
intertwined through a plurality of eyelets
60
disposed through the distal portions
54
,
56
of the wraps
28
,
30
in substantially the same manner as a shoe is laced. The interior surfaces of the cuffs
14
,
20
and limb wraps
28
,
30
preferably are provided with a resilient liner
62
such as a soft rubber which can be attached with hook and loop connection to thereby permit easy removal and replacement as necessary. A pivotable brace joint member
66
connects the first and second cuffs
14
,
20
for placement adjacent the joint to be protected.
In operation, the brace
10
is placed at the limb site of a user and the cuffs
14
,
20
with limb wraps
28
,
30
attached are positioned about the involved limb structures. Upon first placement of the brace
10
, the laces
58
are then tightened to appropriate tightness such that the cuffs
14
,
20
are properly maintained and protection is provided for the limb-connecting joint. Once such lacing is accomplished the first time, relacing is not required during brace use. Specifically, when the user wishes to remove the brace, the user simply presses inwardly on the extensions
44
of the tab members
40
along the cuff
14
and the limb wrap
28
separates from the cuff
14
for easy brace removal. Subsequent re-positioning of the brace
10
merely requires placement thereof as previously situated on the limbs and re-connection of the earlier disengaged tab members
40
into respective slots
46
. This re-connection requires no contact with, or re-adjustment of, the laces
58
, and thereby assures proper brace placement without awkward and very possibly incorrect orientation of brace retention members.
While an illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.
Claims
- 1. An exteriorly positionable anatomical brace for protecting a uniting pivoting joint disposed between a first limb structure and a second limb structure of a living being, the brace comprising:a) a first cuff partially encompassable about the first limb structure and a second cuff partially encompassable about the second limb structure, wherein each said cuff is a generally U-shape structure with two lateral arms for juxtapositioning with respective adjacent limb structure sites; b) a respective cuff retainer for securing each cuff on each respective limb, each said retainer comprising opposing first and second limb wraps extending toward each other from each respective lateral arm for positioning around the limb, with at least one said limb wrap having a proximal portion provided with at least one externally accessible releasable connector for attaching the limb wrap to the respective lateral arm and with each limb wrap having a distal portion, whereby distal portions of said first and second wraps are interfacedly connected with each other with a tightenable interfacing retainer member; and c) a pivotable brace joint member connecting the first and second cuffs.
- 2. An exteriorly positionable anatomical brace as claimed in claim 1 wherein the limb wraps are constructed of a sewn fabric.
- 3. An exteriorly positionable anatomical brace as claimed in claim 1 wherein the releasable connector comprises cooperating male and female connector members with a finger-operable release for disengaging said connector members.
- 4. An exteriorly positionable anatomical brace as claimed in claim 3 wherein the male and female connector members are a tab and a slot, wherein the tab member has an outwardly spring biased side wall for retaining said tab within the slot and an outwardly finger-accessible extension of said side wall for moving said side wall inwardly and releasing the tab from the slot.
- 5. An exteriorly positionable anatomical brace as claimed in claim 1 wherein the distal portions of the first and second wraps have a plurality of respective opposing eyelets therethrough and wherein the interfacing retainer member comprises a length of lace intertwined through said eyelets and having ends thereof releasably attachable to each other.
- 6. An exteriorly positionable anatomical brace for protecting a uniting pivoting joint disposed between a first limb structure and a second limb structure of a living being, the brace comprising:a) a first cuff partially encompassable about the first limb structure and a second cuff partially encompassable about the second limb structure, wherein each said cuff is a generally U-shape structure with two lateral arms for juxtapositioning with respective adjacent limb structure sites; b) a respective cuff retainer for securing each cuff on each respective limb, each said retainer comprising opposing first and second limb wraps extending toward each other from each respective lateral arm for positioning around the limb, with at least one said limb wrap having a proximal portion provided with at least one externally accessible releasable connector for attaching the limb wrap to the respective lateral arm and with each limb wrap having a distal portion, whereby distal portions of said first and second wraps are interfacedly connected with each other with a tightenable interfacing retainer member; c) a resilient liner disposed against interior walls of each cuff and each cuff retainer; and d) a pivotable brace joint member connecting the first and second cuffs.
- 7. An exteriorly positionable anatomical brace as claimed in claim 6 wherein the limb wraps are constructed of a sewn fabric.
- 8. An exteriorly positionable anatomical brace as claimed in claim 6 wherein the releasable connector comprises cooperating male and female connector members with a finger-operable release for disengaging said connector members.
- 9. An exteriorly positionable anatomical brace as claimed in claim 8 wherein the male and female connector members are a tab and a slot, wherein the tab member has an outwardly spring biased side wall for retaining said tab within the slot and an outwardly finger-accessible extension of said side wall for moving said side wall inwardly and releasing the tab from the slot.
- 10. An exteriorly positionable anatomical brace as claimed in claim 6 wherein the distal portions of the first and second wraps have a plurality of respective opposing eyelets therethrough and wherein the interfacing retainer member comprises a length of lace intertwined through said eyelets and having ends thereof releasably attachable to each other.
US Referenced Citations (63)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1491569 |
Jul 1969 |
DE |
2432766 |
Mar 1975 |
DE |
297766 |
Apr 1989 |
EP |
8404240 |
Nov 1984 |
WO |