Knee brace having differential flexibility posterior and anterior panels
AssigneeOrtho-Care, Inc.
InventorMichael A. Springs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved knee-supporting sleeve (10) is provided having posterior and proximal anterior panels (12, 20) formed of thin relatively highly stretchable material, with a distal anterior panel (22) formed of less stretchable composite materials. The sleeve (10) thus provides maximum-support and joint conformity, together with good breathability and thermal properties. The sleeve (10) also has a patella-receiving opening (42) and an adjacent buttress (52) housed within a selectively openable compartment (44) to trim and/or shift buttress (52) therein, so that a desirable "lateral J" buttress may be provided for either a left or right knee.
Claims20
A knee-supporting sleeve comprising:
- a posterior panel formed of a first material;
- a proximal anterior panel formed of a second material;
- and
- a distal anterior panel formed of a third material,
- said posterior, proximal anterior and distal anterior panels being interconnected to present an elongated, tubular body adapted to fit over the knee area, with said posterior panel adapted to engage the posterior portions of the lower thigh, knee and upper calf, said proximal anterior panel adapted to engage the portions of the lower thigh above the knee, and said distal anterior panel adapted to engage the patella and anterior portions of the knee and the portions of the upper shin below the knee,
- said first and second materials having greater stretchability than said third material,
- said distal anterior panel presenting a patella-receiving opening therethrough with said material surrounding said opening,
- there being a patella-supporting buttress carried by said distal anterior panel and disposed at least partially about said opening.
A knee-supporting sleeve comprising:
- an elongated, tubular body presenting a sidewall having inner and outer surfaces and a patella-receiving opening therethrough;
- a compartment on the outer surface of said sidewall of said body adjacent said opening;
- and
- an elongated knee buttress received within said compartment and shiftable therein,
- said compartment being openable for allowing access to said buttress therein in order to allow shifting, trimming and/or adjustment of said buttress relative to said compartment, whereby said buttress can be selectively shifted, trimmed and positioned as a right or left patella buttress.
A knee-supporting sleeve comprising:
- a posterior panel formed of a first material;
- a proximal anterior panel formed of a second material;
- and
- a distal anterior panel formed of a third material,
- said posterior, proximal anterior and distal anterior panels being interconnected to present an elongated, tubular body adapted to fit over the knee area, with said posterior panel adapted to engage the posterior portions of the lower thigh, knee and upper calf, said proximal anterior panel adapted to engage the portions of the lower thigh above the knee, and said distal anterior panel adapted to engage the patella and anterior portions of the knee and the portions of the upper shin below the knee,
- said first and second materials having greater stretchability than said third material,
- said distal anterior panel presenting a patella-receiving opening therethrough with said third material surrounding said opening,
- said posterior panel and said proximal anterior panel each having a stretchability throughout the respective lengths thereof which is greater than the stretchability of said distal anterior panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.