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US 10,744,021 B1Granted
Device for, and method of, protecting knees from external forces
OwnerRichard Naceinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The solution to protecting the human knee from external forces is to surround the knee with a brace that includes adjustable air bladders to absorb external forces before the external forces pass into the knee and cause internal knee injury. Such a brace includes a pair of struts that are bifurcated by hinges, the adjustable air bladders placed between the knee and the hinges.
Claims9
A method of protecting a human knee of a lower leg from external forces, the method comprising the steps of:
- surrounding the lower leg with a force dissipation brace comprising:
- a lateral air bladder on a side of the human knee;
- a medial air bladder on an opposite side of the human knee;
- the lateral air bladder and medial air bladder each including an inlet/outlet nozzle to permit adjustment of internal air pressure;
- the internal air pressure of the lateral air bladder and medial air bladder affecting the behavior of the lateral air bladder and medial air bladder with respect to external forces;
- the lateral air bladder held in place by the combination of:
- a lateral strut divided by a lateral hinge;
- the medial air bladder held in place by the combination of:
- a medial strut divided by a medial hinge;
- the lateral strut connected to the medial strut by an anterior thigh cuff and an anterior shin cuff;
- the lateral strut and medial strut enclosing the lower leg with an anterior thigh strap, an anterior shin strap, a posterior thigh strap, a posterior upper shin strap, and a posterior lower shin strap;
- tightening the anterior thigh strap, anterior shin strap, posterior thigh strap, posterior upper shin strap, and posterior lower shin strap to hold the lower leg within the force dissipation brace;
- inflating the medial air bladder to compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee;
- inflating the lateral air bladder to compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee;
- additionally inflating the medial air bladder to further compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee;
- additionally inflating the lateral air bladder to further compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee;
- exposing the brace to an external force;
- the external force applied to the medial strut;
- the external force spreading up and down the medial strut, causing deformation of the medial strut;
- the deformation of the medial strut causing deformation of the medial bladder;
- the deformation of the medial bladder causing the medial bladder to pass through a cycle of absorbing, dissipating, and spreading the force of impact;
- whereby the human knee is protected from injury.
19 more elements
A method of protecting a human knee of a lower leg from external forces, the method comprising the steps of:
- surrounding the lower leg with a force dissipation brace comprising:
- a lateral air bladder on a side of the human knee;
- a medial air bladder on an opposite side of the human knee;
- the lateral air bladder and medial air bladder including an inlet/outlet nozzle to permit adjustment of internal air pressure;
- the internal air pressure of the lateral air bladder and medial air bladder affecting the behavior of the lateral air bladder and medial air bladder with respect to external forces;
- the lateral air bladder held in place by the combination of:
- a lateral strut divided by a lateral hinge;
- the medial air bladder held in place by the combination of:
- a medial strut divided by a medial hinge;
- the lateral strut connected to the medial strut by an anterior thigh cuff and an anterior shin cuff;
- the lateral strut and medial strut enclosing the lower leg with an anterior thigh strap, an anterior shin strap, a posterior thigh strap, a posterior upper shin strap, and a posterior lower shin strap;
- a medial guide channel crossing the medial hinge;
- a medial elastic member connecting the medial strut across the medial hinge;
- the medial elastic member causing the medial strut to move toward a straight position and away from a bent position;
- thereby encouraging unbending of the human knee;
- a lateral guide channel crossing the lateral hinge;
- a lateral elastic member connecting the lateral strut across the lateral hinge;
- the lateral elastic member causing the lateral strut to move toward a straight position and away from a bent position;
- tightening the anterior thigh strap, anterior shin strap, posterior thigh strap, posterior upper shin strap, and posterior lower shin strap to hold the lower leg within the force dissipation brace;
- inflating the medial air bladder to compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee;
- inflating the lateral air bladder to compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee;
- additionally inflating the medial air bladder to further compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee;
- additionally inflating the lateral air bladder to further compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee;
- exposing the brace to an external force;
- the external force applied to the medial strut;
- the external force spreading up and down the medial strut, causing deformation of the medial strut;
- the deformation of the medial strut causing deformation of the medial bladder;
- the deformation of the medial bladder causing the medial bladder to pass through a cycle of absorbing, dissipating, and spreading the force of impact;
- whereby the human knee is protected from injury.
26 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.