Floating center splint or hinge

A floating center, variable radius splint, for permitting angular motion of a body joint to which said splint is connected through a preselected angular range terminating at a preselectable maximum and preventing joint motion outside said range, comprising:

• a. a longitudinally extending spine adapted to flexibly bend, in response to joint motion, in a first transverse direction;
• b. means, connected to said spine adjacent respective ends thereof, for limiting spine flexure to an adjustably predetermined maximum of said angular range, including:
• 1. a plurality of first members cantilevered from said spine in said first transverse direction, spaced apart one from another when said spine is unflexed and abuttingly contacting adjacent ones with another upon spine flexure in said first transverse direction to a preselected angle corresponding to the preselected angular range maximum;
• 2. a plurality of second members cantilevered from said spine in said first transverse direction oppositely from said first cantilevered members, spaced apart one from another when said spine is unflexed and abuttingly contacting adjacent ones with another upon spine flexure in the direction of projection of said second cantilevered members, oppositely to the direction in which said spine is adapted to flex.

A floating center, variable radius splint, for either permitting angular motion of a body joint to which said splint is connected to commence at an adjustably preselectable minimum angle or preventing angular motion of said body joint to which said splint is connected from continuing past an adjustably preselectable maximum angle, comprising:

• a. a longitudinally extending spine adapted to flexibly bend, in response to joint motion, in a first transverse direction;
• b. means, connected to said spine adjacent respective ends thereof, for either imparting adjustably predetermined initial flex to said spine thereby permitting angular motion of a body joint to which said splint is connected to commence at an adjustably preselectable minimum angle or limiting spine flexure to an adjustably predetermined maximum thereby preventing angular motion of said body joint to which said splint is connected from continuing past an adjustably preselectable maximum angle, including:
• 1. a filament extending generally parallel with and displaced laterally from said spine;
• 2. means selectably engaging said filament at a continuum of positions along filament longitudinal length, for adjustably varying effective filament length connected to said spine and including means for releasably locking said filament against longitudinal movement relative to said spine;
• wherein said means selectably engaging said filament along a continuum of positions is located proximate an end of said spine;
• wherein said means for either imparting initial flex to said spine or limiting spine flexure further comprises means for slideably engaging said filament proximate said remaining end of said spine.