Protective braces for joints and associated methods
OwnerShane D. Draperinventor
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Abstract
A brace for use in supporting a joint of a body of a subject is configured to provide the joint with a normal range of motion or a substantially normal range of motion while preventing abnormal and/or pathologic motion that might damage the joint or a connective band (e.g., a ligament, tendon, fascia, etc.) associated with the joint. The brace may include one or more engagement elements that engage a body part or body parts adjacent to the joint and one or more straps that are attached to the engagement element(s) at a location or locations that approximate the location(s) of one or more connective bands associated with the joint. The present invention also includes articles of clothing into which a brace is incorporated, as well as methods for supporting a joint.
Claims18
A brace for a joint of a body of a subject, comprising:
- at least one engagement element for securing the brace to a body part of a subject adjacent to a joint of a body of the subject;
- and
- at least one support strap extending from a first location of the at least one engagement element to a second location of the at least one engagement element, a position of the at least one support strap on the brace approximating a location of at least one connective band relative to the joint in the body of the subject,
- the at least one engagement element and the at least one support strap configured and arranged to enable full range of motion of the joint while preventing abnormal motion of the joint.
A joint support apparatus, comprising:
- an article of clothing;
- and
- a brace incorporated into the article of clothing, the brace comprising:
- at least one engagement element for securing the brace to a body part of a subject adjacent to a joint of a body of the subject;
- and
- at least one support strap extending from a first location of the at least one engagement element to a second location of the at least one engagement element, a position of the at least one support strap on the brace approximating a location of at least one connective band relative to the joint in the body of the subject,
- the at least one engagement element and the at least one support strap configured and arranged to enable full range of motion of the joint while preventing abnormal motion of the joint.
A method for supporting a joint, comprising:
- securing a flexible brace over the joint, the flexible brace enabling a normal range of motion of the joint;
- applying an abnormally high, potentially injurious load to the joint, the flexible brace absorbing and redistributing at least a portion of the load to a body part adjacent to the joint, while reducing a load applied to the joint or at least one connective band associated with the joint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.