US 4,116,236 AGranted

Knee brace with kneecap-encircling flexible resilient pad

AssigneeSurgical Applicance Industries, Inc.

InventorWilliam J. Albert

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Abstract

A knee brace including an elastic sleeve stretchable only in a circumferential direction having an opening in the front thereof for accommodating the kneecap of a wearer when in knee-encircling relation thereto. A resilient flexible circumferentially relatively inelastic annular, or alternatively inverted U-shaped, pad is loosely mounted to the interior of the elastic sleeve in the region generally surrounding the kneecap opening with the upper and opposite sides of the pad adjacent at least the top and opposite sides of the sleeve kneecap opening, respectively, to limitedly variably positionably locate the pad relative to the sleeve kneecap opening to permit the pad to self-align centrally of the wearer's kneecap notwithstanding limited misalignment between the sleeve kneecap opening and the wearer's kneecap. The circumferential relatively inelasticity of the resilient pad, particularly the portion thereof which is integral with the pad side sections, resists rearward movement and dislocation relative to the wearer's kneecap of the opposite side pad sections when the wearer's knee is fixed. Flat helical spring stays located exteriorly of the elastic sleeve and confined by inelastic fabric pockets sewn to the exterior of the sleeve are positioned over the side portion of the pad between side edges of the kneecap and the ligaments located in the side of the knee to enhance the compression applied to the knee when the knee is flexed.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An improved knee brace comprising:

a one piece, continuous, generally cylindrical sleeve formed of elastic material stretchable in a circumferential direction and dimensioned to cover the leg area at the knee joint, said sleeve having a forward section with an opening therein to accommodate the kneecap area of the wearer, a rear section, and oppositely disposed side sections intermediate said forward and rear sections,
a flexible interior pocket disposed in the interior of the sleeve surrounding said kneecap opening adjacent at least the top and sides of said opening, said flexible pocket being secured to said sleeve,
a one piece inverted U-shaped resilient flexible pad disposed in said interior pocket and having integral upper and opposite side sections to surround the upper and lateral portions of the wearer's kneecap, respectively, said pad being relatively inelastic compared to said sleeve in a direction circumferentially encircling said knee to resist rearward movement and dislocation relative to the wearer's kneecap of said opposite side pad sections when the wearer's knee is flexed,
a plurality of longitudinal strips formed of an inelastic material stitched to the forward and side sections of said sleeve on the exterior surface thereof and extending substantially the full length of said sleeve, said strips cooperating with said sleeve to form a plurality of pockets, said pockets disposed on each side of the wearer's knee and being laterally spaced from each other to collectively overlie opposite sides of the wearer's knee from the edges of the kneecap to the ligaments running along the sides of the knee, and
a plurality of flexible pressure elements, each of said pressure elements comprising two interleaved and overlapping flattened helical springs and end caps for holding said springs in assembled relation, each of said springs being mounted within one of said pockets and extending over a substantial portion of the length of said sleeve.

2 more elements

An improved knee brace comprising:

a one piece, continuous, generally cylindrical sleeve formed of elastic material stretchable in a circumferential direction and dimensioned to cover the leg area at the knee joint, said sleeve having a forward section with an opening therein to accommodate the knee cap area of the wearer, a rear section, and oppositely disposed side sections intermediate said forward and rear sections,
a inverted U-shaped resilient flexible pad having integral upper and opposite side sections to surround the upper and lateral portions of the wearer's kneecap, respectively, said pad being relatively inelastic compared to said sleeve in a direction circumferentially encircling said knee to resist rearward movement and dislocation relative to the wearer's kneecap of said opposite side pad sections when the wearer's knee is flexed, and
means to loosely mount said pad in the interior of said sleeve in the region generally surrounding said kneecap opening with the upper and opposite sides of said pad adjacent at least the top and sides of said opening, respectively, to limitedly variably positionally locate said pad relative to said kneecap opening in said sleeve to permit said pad to self-align centrally of the wearer's kneecap notwithstanding limited misalignment between said kneecap opening and said wearer's kneecap.

An improved knee brace comprising:

a one piece, continuous, generally cylindrical sleeve formed of elastic material stretchable in a circumferential direction and dimensioned to cover the leg area at the knee joint, said sleeve having a forward section with an opening therein to accommodate the kneecap area of the wearer, a rear section, and oppositely disposed side sections intermediate said forward and rear sections,
an annular resilient flexible pad having integral upper, lower and opposite side sections to substantially fully surround the upper, lower and opposite lateral portions of the wearer's kneecap, respectively, said pad being relatively inelastic compared to said sleeve in a direction circumferentially encircling said knee to resist rearward movement and dislocation relative to the wearer's kneecap of said opposite side pad sections when the wearer's knee is flexed, and
means to loosely mount said annular pad in the interior of said sleeve in the region generally surrounding said opening, to limitedly variably positionally locate said pad relative to said kneecap opening in said sleeve to permit said pad to self-align centrally of the wearer's kneecap notwithstanding limited misalignment between said kneecap opening and said wearer's kneecap.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.