Patent Application
20220133518
The present invention relates to an orthotic device and more particularly, an orthotic foot brace with both bilateral and unilateral support and auto lift functions.
Foot drop is an abnormal situation in which the dropping of the foot happens due to weakness, irritation, nerve damage, or paralysis of the muscles in the anterior portion of the lower leg.
Current orthotic devices to assist people with foot drop utilize springs or are fixed position devices, both limit motion and prevent the freedom of natural movement and flexion.
As can be seen, there is a need for a device that helps to reduce trips and falls due to foot drop while allowing the wearer to have more natural movement and stability through unilateral and bilateral support in addition to foot-lifting assistance.
The present invention embodies a gas charged shock drive rack and pinion system plus a swinging foot plate adapted to allow freedom, natural movement and flexion of the foot and ankle.
By using a unique shock system with inherent unilateral side support and a pinion type of motion to lift the foot, a natural swinging of the foot is produced during normal heel to toe walking. Additionally, when the present invention is assembled, the present invention provides the bilateral support of the lower extremities for safer, more natural movement of the foot and ankle.
In one aspect of the present invention, an orthotic foot brace provides both bilateral and unilateral support combined with auto lift functionality through an orthotic device providing the following: a foot plate; a brace; and one or more rack and pinion combinations operatively associating the brace to a heel portion of the foot plate.
In another aspect of the present invention, the orthotic device may also include wherein said heel portion is dimensioned and adapted to accommodate a heel of a human user; a heel wall extending from a periphery of the heel portion, wherein the pinion of each rack and pinion combination is attached to the heel wall; a shock attached to the brace, the shock having a compensation chamber that slidably receives a piston portion of the rack of the rack and pinion combination, wherein the brace is at least one rigid body fixed relative to a lower leg of the human user, wherein the brace further comprises one or more straps that engage said lower leg.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Broadly, the present invention designs provide an orthotic foot brace giving bilateral and unilateral support to the leg and ankle combined with auto lift function for the toe area of the foot.
Referring now to
The leg brace 40 may include two opposing rigid bodies 12 (or two opposing rigid surfaces of the same body) on each side a lower leg of a human wearer 24, wherein the rigid bodies/surfaces 12 are fixed relative to said lower leg of a human wearer 24. In certain embodiments, straps 20 keep the rigid bodies 12 fixed relative to the lower leg of a human wearer 24.
A shock 14 will be fixed to the exterior of each body 12. Slidably received in a compensation chamber 30 defined by the shock 14 is piston portion of the rack 16, wherein the piston portion slides when urged by the rotation of the pinion 18. The piston portion may or may not have rack teeth. The shock 14 may provide a rod 28 within the compensation chamber 30 along with one or more rod guides 32, a seal 34 and a piston rod seal 36, wherein in some embodiments, the pinion 18 may be eliminated as the direct connection of the piston portion to the hinged foot plate 22 or the heel cup still allows for a smooth and fluid motion. In these embodiments, the piston portion may have a circular shape at the end with a hold for a direct screw mounting or for a roll pin mount.
In some embodiments, the pinion 18 may protrude from vertical heel walls, where the heel walls extend from a rear portion of the foot plate 22 forming a ‘heel cup’. A pinion mount 26 may rotatably connect the pinion 18 to said vertical heel walls. By directly or indirectly spanning between the leg brace 40 and the foot plate 22, the racks 14 on each side of the ankle of the user provide lateral support for the ankle.
The present invention is designed so that when a user puts weight on a heel portion of the foot plate 22 that is on a supporting surface, as illustrated in
Referring the
A method of using the present invention may include the following. The orthotic device 10 disclosed above may be provided. A wearer may lace the foot into the foot plate and heal cup like a shoe and then tighten the straps across the upper part of the lower leg and just above the ankle. Then the user may slide their foot into the shoe of choice and walk as normal as the present invention operates as explained above.
Additionally, the shock can be separated out and used in almost any industry or setting that currently uses or might need a shock. Because of the slim line and flat design, the inventive concept of the shock can go places typical round shocks do not fit properly. Thus, allowing any design to be tightened up and look sleeker.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
