Orthotic clubfoot device and method
AssigneeD-Bar Enterprises, LLC
InventorJoe E. Fodor, SR.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dual-adjustable orthotic device to treat clubfoot and methods for using same. The device comprises a pair of paddles, adapted to attach footwear, attached at opposing ends of an adjustable torque bar the device has independent configuration systems to adjust the angle at which the paddles are oriented to the bar, and to adjust the torque loading applied to the paddles. These systems facilitate the independent adjustment of the device settings without changing the tensioning mechanism, stocking multiple devices, or having to disassemble and reassemble the tensioning structures.
Claims11
An orthotic device comprising:
- a torque bar;
- a paddle;
- and
- a housing assembly attached to a first end of said torque bar and having said paddle attached to said housing assembly, said housing assembly comprising:
- a first adjusting system comprising a first pair of toothed elements intermeshing in a plurality of positions, each position in said plurality corresponding to a rotational angle of said paddle;
- and
- a second adjusting system comprising a second pair of toothed elements intermeshing in a second plurality of positions, each position in said second plurality corresponding to an amount of torque applied to said paddle.
A method for adjusting an orthotic device comprising:
- providing an orthotic device comprising:
- a torque bar;
- a paddle;
- and
- a housing assembly affixed to a first end of said torque bar and having paddle attached to said housing assembly, said housing assembly comprising:
- a first adjusting system comprising a first pair of tooth elements intermeshing in a plurality of positions, each position in said plurality corresponding to a rotational angle of said paddle;
- and
- a second adjusting system comprising a second pair of toothed elements intermeshing in a second plurality of positions, each position in said second plurality corresponding to an amount of torque applied to said paddle;
- intermeshing said first pair of toothed elements in a first position in said plurality of positions, said first position causing said paddle to be oriented to said housing assembly at a first rotational angle corresponding to said first position;
- disengaging said first pair of toothed elements from each other;
- rotating at least one toothed element in said first pair of toothed elements to a second position in said plurality of positions, said second position causing said paddle to be oriented to said housing assembly at second rotational angle corresponding to said second position;
- and
- intermeshing said first pair of toothed elements in said second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.