Orthopedic brace including a protector assembly
AssigneeOssur Hf
InventorsArni Thor Ingimundarson, Palmi Einarsson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A patella protector assembly for use with an orthopedic device, wherein the patella protector assembly has a central shell, an upper shell slidably connected to the central shell, and a lower shell slidably connected to the central shell. The central shell includes a main shell and a flexible perimeter edge portion surrounding at least a section of the perimeter of the main shell. The perimeter edge portion has greater flexibility than the main shell. The upper and lower shells are arranged pivotally and telescopically relative to the central shell such that the central, upper and lower shells together form a continuous shell without gaps therebetween.
Claims15
A patella protector assembly, comprising:
- a central rigid shell defining front and rear surfaces, and having a main shell and a flexible perimeter edge portion integrally secured to the main shell, and surrounding and extending only from the perimeter of the main shell, the perimeter edge portion having greater flexibility than the main shell and being resilient to twisting;
- an upper rigid shell slidably connected along and pivotally mounted to the rear surface of the central shell;
- and
- a lower rigid shell slidably connected along and pivotally mounted to the central shell;
- wherein upper and lower shells are arranged telescopically relative to the central shell such that the central, upper and lower shells together form a continuous shell without gaps there between;
- a frame having proximal and distal frame portions connected by lateral and medial hinges;
- wherein the flexible perimeter edge portion defines opposed wings extending laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of the main shell, the opposed wings secured to the lateral or medial hinges and arranged to resiliently twist relative thereto;
- wherein the wings each define a central opening arranged for securing about the lateral or medial hinges.
A patella protector assembly, comprising:
- a central rigid shell defining front and rear surfaces, and forming a centrally located elongate slot;
- a supplementary rigid shell slidably and pivotally connected to and along the rear surface of the central shell, the supplementary shell including a rigid shell retention element located at a first end thereof, the shell retention element slidably and pivotally connected to the central shell via the elongate slot thereby permitting close sliding and pivoting of the corresponding shell relative to the rear surface of the central shell;
- wherein the central and supplementary shell are correspondingly contoured in cross-section to permit the supplementary shell to pivot at least 90° relative to the central shell without interference by the central shell;
- a frame having proximal and distal frame portions connected by lateral and medial hinges;
- wherein the central rigid shell includes a flexible peripheral edge portion defining opposed wings extending laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of the central shell, the opposed wings secured to the lateral or medial hinges and arranged to resiliently twist relative thereto;
- wherein the wings each define a central opening arranged for securing about the lateral or medial hinges.
An orthopedic brace, comprising:
- a frame having proximal and distal frame portions connected by lateral and medial hinges;
- a protector assembly including:
- a central shell defining front and rear surfaces, and having a rigid main shell and a flexible peripheral edge portion integrally secured to the main shell, and surrounding and extending only from the perimeter of the main shell, the peripheral edge portion having greater flexibility than the main shell, the central shell connected to the proximal and distal frame portions and secured to the lateral and medial hinges;
- wherein the peripheral edge portion defines opposed wings extending laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of the main shell, the opposed wings secured to the lateral or medial hinges and arranged to resiliently twist relative thereto;
- wherein the wings each define a central opening arranged for securing about the lateral or medial hinges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.