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US 10,092,438 B2Granted
Adjustable leg brace systems and methods
OwnerDana Salsberyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Leg braces configured to assist in straightening of a user's leg are shown and described. Each of the leg braces includes an anterior brace configured to be braced against an anterior portion of the leg proximal to the knee joint, having a selectively expandable and contractible bladder and an anterior brace attachment mechanism for attaching the anterior brace to a posterior brace. In some examples, each of the leg braces further includes the posterior brace configured to be braced against a posterior portion of the leg, the posterior brace having a rigid elongate base, an upper posterior brace attachment mechanism, and a lower posterior brace attachment mechanism for attaching the posterior brace to the leg below the knee joint.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a posterior brace configured to be braced against a posterior portion of a leg, the posterior brace comprising:
- an elongate base, the elongate base being a substantially rigid elongate base;
- an upper posterior brace attachment mechanism for attaching the posterior brace to a first region of the leg above a knee joint;
- and
- a lower posterior brace attachment mechanism for attaching the posterior brace to a second region of the leg below the knee joint;
- and
- an anterior brace configured to be braced against an anterior portion of the leg at the knee joint, the anterior brace comprising:
- a bladder that is selectively expandable and selectively contractible, the bladder having an inner surface that is configured to be proximal to the knee joint of the leg, wherein:
- the bladder is operable to put pressure on the knee joint to urge the leg towards an extended position;
- and
- the inner surface of the bladder is configured to cover the entire knee joint such that when the bladder is filled the bladder urges the entire knee joint into a straight position, and
- an anterior brace attachment mechanism for attaching the anterior brace to the posterior brace.
9 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- an anterior brace configured to be braced against an anterior portion of a leg at a knee joint and attachable to a posterior brace braced against a posterior portion of the leg, the anterior brace comprising:
- a bladder that is selectively expandable and selectively contractible, the bladder comprising an inner surface that is configured to be proximal to the knee joint of the leg, wherein the bladder is operable to put pressure on the knee joint to urge the leg towards an extended position;
- an expansion and contraction regulation mechanism for selectively expanding and contracting the bladder;
- a shell configured to support the bladder, the shell being comprised of a rigid material and being disposed proximal to an outer surface of the bladder, the outer surface of the bladder opposing the inner surface of the bladder;
- and
- an anterior brace attachment mechanism for attaching the anterior brace to the posterior brace, the anterior brace attachment mechanism being attached to the shell, the anterior brace attachment mechanism being configured to limit movement of the shell when the bladder is in an expanded state, and thereby compress the shell against the bladder and compress the bladder against the anterior portion of the leg, wherein the inner surface of the bladder is configured to cover the entire knee such that when the bladder is filled the bladder urges the entire knee into a straight position.
3 more elements
A device comprising:
- a posterior brace configured to be braced against a posterior portion of a leg, the posterior brace comprising:
- an elongate base, the elongate base being a substantially rigid elongate base;
- an upper posterior brace attachment mechanism for attaching the posterior brace to a first region of the leg above a knee joint;
- and
- a lower posterior brace attachment mechanism for attaching the posterior brace to a second region of the leg below the knee joint;
- and
- an anterior brace configured to be braced against an anterior portion of the leg at the knee joint and attachable to the posterior brace, the anterior brace comprising:
- a bladder that is selectively expandable and selectively contractible, the bladder comprising an inner surface that is configured to be proximal to the knee joint of the leg, wherein:
- the bladder is operable to put pressure on the knee joint to urge the leg towards an extended position;
- and
- the inner surface of the bladder is configured to cover the entire knee such that when the bladder is filled the bladder urges the entire knee into a straight position;
- an anterior brace attachment mechanism for attaching the anterior brace to the posterior brace;
- an expansion and contraction regulation mechanism for selectively expanding and contracting the bladder;
- and
- a shell configured to support the bladder, the shell being comprised of a rigid material and being disposed proximal to an outer surface of the bladder, the outer surface of the bladder opposing the inner surface of the bladder.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.