US 5,125,400 AGranted

Ankle brace having multiple inflatable aircells

AssigneeAircast, Inc.

InventorGlenn W. Johnson, Jr.

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A pneumatic brace comprising at least one outer shell member and at least first and second pressurizable chambers juxtaposed therewith in an overlapping manner for providing a supporting cushion between said outer shell member and a body part or limb. One of said chambers is coextensive with substantially the entire inner surface of said one outer shell member for engagement with a corresponding portion of said body part or limb, while the other of said chambers is coextensive with a portion of said first chamber. In one preferred embodiment, the first and second chambers comprise separate inflatable airbags of different size disposed on said outer shell member with the smaller airbag positioned coextensively with the bottom portion of the larger airbag and between said larger airbag and said inner surface of said outer shell member. In alternatively preferred embodiments, the first and second chambers are integrally formed from a single inflatable liner having two compartments divided by a common wall, at least one of said compartments being selectively inflatable through integral valve means formed at least in part by said common wall.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An ankle brace comprising an outer shell member, said shell member having a pair of opposed elongated sidewall support members attached together at the distal ends thereof by a flexible web, a pair of supporting cushion members on said sidewall members, and fastening means adapted to fasten said sidewall members about the leg with the cushion members between the sidewall members and the leg and with the flexible web passing under the sole of the foot,

wherein each sidewall member has a transverse and longitudinal extent sized to confront only the opposed sides of the leg, respectively,
wherein at least one of said supporting cushion members in said pair comprises a first inflatable aircell, said first aircell being substantially of the same transverse and longitudinal dimensions as its corresponding sidewall member, and
means for achieving both graduated compression with the greatest pressure in the ankle region, and pulsating pressure during ambulation, said means comprising a second inflatable aircell, said second aircell being of lesser extent than said first aircell and being juxtaposed in an overlapping manner with said first aircell on the distal end portion of said corresponding sidewall member adjacent said flexible web, said second inflatable aircell having substantially the same transverse extent as said sidewall member distal end portion and having a longitudinal extent substantially less than the longitudinal extent of said first aircell such that said second aircell and the overlapped portion of said first aircell are adapted to confront the side of the leg in the region of the ankle and the non-overlapped portion of said first aircell is adapted to confront the side of the leg above the ankle when said shell member is fastened about said leg by said fastening means.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/794,856Filed 21 Nov 1991 · continuation
Priority: 16 Dec 1985
Granted: 30 Jun 1992
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G05G 7/00
Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with one
A61F 5/012
Specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations: inflatable
H01H 3/58
Mechanisms for coupling or uncoupling operating parts, driving mechanisms, or contacts: using friction, toothed, or other mechanical clutch
H01H 3/3047
Using spring motor: adapted for operation of a three-position switch, e.g. on-off-earth

Family

Serial809,198Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 16 Dec 1985
Serial87,567Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Aug 1987
Serial363,410Parent of this continuation · filed 31 May 1989
Serial522,069Parent of this continuation · filed 11 May 1990
Serial668,792Parent of this continuation · filed 25 Feb 1991
US 5,125,400 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.