# US 10,765,180 B2 · Strap tightener assembly for an orthopedic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,180 B2 - Document ID: US10765180B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/417,393 - Filed: 2017-01-27 - Published: 2017-05-18 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-13 - Assignees: Ossur Hf - Applicants: Ossur HF - Inventors: Arni Thor Ingimundarson; Sindri Pall Sigurdsson; Janaki Ram-srinivasaRao Chetlapalli; Jason Robert Taylor; Shireen Maria Palsson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765180B2 ## CPC - A44B 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass - A44B 13/0052: {Strips of hook or eye fasteners} - A61F 5/0102: {specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations} - A61F 5/0123: {for the knees (A61F5/0106 takes precedence)} - A44B: BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE (fastenings specially adapted for footwear A43C) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A strap tightener assembly has a base, a tightening device mounted on the base and movable relative thereto, and a strap assembly coupled to the tightening device. The tightening device provides incremental movement of the strap assembly relative to the base at a plurality of predefined settings. A cover extends over the strap assembly and connects to the base so that the base and the cover form a channel permitting movement of the strap assembly therethrough. The cover defines an elongate slot extending along a portion of a length of the cover, and the strap assembly has an indicator identifying the relative location of the strap assembly to the cover. A strap is securable to the strap assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A strap tightener assembly, the assembly comprising: a base having first and second ends; a tightening device mounted on the base near the first end and movable relative thereto; a cable rotatably secured and windable about the tightening device, the tightening device arranged for incrementally winding a cable extending therefrom at a plurality of predefined settings, the cable having a first end coupled to the tightening device and arranged to move linearly relative to the base from the second end to the first end by adjustment of the tightening device; a strap assembly including a strap formed from a textile and having a first end connected to a second end of the cable; a cover having first and second ends with the first end facing the tightening device and the second end of the cover receiving the strap assembly, the cover extending over the strap assembly and connected to the base, the base and the cover forming a channel permitting movement of the cable and the first end of the strap therethrough; wherein the cover is formed from a flexible, polymeric material; wherein the cable is confined to movement within the channel; the cable is rotatably secured and windable about the tightening device, and extends substantially only within the channel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The strap tightener assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a cable retainer secured to the cable and the strap is mounted to the cable retainer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The strap tightener assembly according to claim 2, wherein the cable retainer includes a flat and flexible strap extension having more rigidity than the strap, the strap extension having generally the same width as the strap. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The strap tightener assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base includes an engaging element protruding from the first end thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The strap tightener assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cover defines an elongate slot extending along a portion of a length of the cover, the strap assembly having an indicator identifying the relative location of the strap assembly to the cover and visually apparent through the elongate slot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The strap tightener assembly according to claim 5, wherein the indicator slidably fits within the elongate slot of the cover. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The strap tightener assembly according to claim 6, wherein the cover includes a plurality of indicia representing a scale along a path which the indicator slides relative to the cover. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The strap tightener assembly according to claim 7, wherein the cover defines a plurality of openings along a back surface thereof, the base having a plurality of protrusions interlockingly engaging the cover at the plurality of openings. ### Claim 9 A strap tightener assembly, the assembly comprising: a base having first and second ends; a tightening device mounted on the base near the first end and movable relative thereto, the tightening device having incremental control at a plurality of predefined settings; a strap assembly having a first end coupled to the tightening device and arranged to move linearly relative to the base from the second end to the first end by adjustment of the tightening device, the strap assembly including a strap formed from a textile material; a cover extending over the strap assembly, the cover having first and second ends with the first end facing the tightening device and the second end receiving the strap assembly and connected to the base, the base and the cover forming a channel permitting movement of the strap assembly therethrough, the cover defining an elongate slot extending along a portion of a length of the cover, the strap assembly having an indicator identifying the relative location of the strap assembly to the cover and the indicator being positioned within the elongate slot; a cable rotatably secured and windable about the tightening device, the cable securing to the first end to the strap assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The strap tightener assembly according to claim 9, wherein the indicator slidably fits within the elongate slot of the cover. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The strap tightener assembly according to claim 9, wherein the cover includes a plurality of indicia representing a scale along a path which the indicator slides. ### Claim 12 A strap tightener assembly, the assembly comprising: a base being flexible and having first and second ends; a tightening device rotatably mounted on the base near the first end and movable relative thereto, the tightening device having incremental control at a plurality of predefined settings; a strap assembly having a first end coupled to the tightening device and arranged to move linearly relative to the base from the second end to the first end by adjustment of the tightening device; a cover having first and second ends with the first end facing the tightening device and the second end of the cover receiving the strap assembly, the cover extending over the strap assembly and connected to the base, the base and the cover forming a channel permitting movement of the strap assembly therethrough, the cover defining an elongate slot extending along a portion of a length of the cover, the strap assembly having an indicator identifying the relative location of the strap assembly to the cover; a cable rotatably secured and windable about the tightening device, the cable securing to the first end to the strap assembly; wherein the strap assembly further comprises a cable retainer secured to the cable and the strap assembly is mounted to the cable retainer, the cable retainer defining first and second holes and a channel through which the cable extends, the cable retainer arranged to slide and be maintained within the channel formed between the cover and the base. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The strap tightener assembly according to claim 12, wherein the indicator slidably fits within the elongate slot of the cover. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The strap tightener assembly according to claim 12, wherein the strap assembly includes a strap formed from a textile material and having an elongate shape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The strap tightener assembly according to claim 12, wherein the cover and the base are formed from a polymeric material which is flexible when the strap assembly is tightened and sufficiently resilient to return to the original shape when tension is released.