# US 9,750,630 B2 · Pneumatic knee brace with removable stays

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- Number: US 9,750,630 B2
- Document ID: US9750630B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/874,620
- Filed: 2013-05-01
- Published: 2014-11-06
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2013-05-01
- Applicants: Brian E Kilbey
- Inventors: Brian E Kilbey
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750630B2

## CPC

- A61F 5/0123: {for the knees (A61F5/0106 takes precedence)}
- A61F 5/0106: {for the knees}
- A61F 5/012: {inflatable}
- A61F 5/0109: {Sleeve-like structures}
- A61F 2007/0039: {Leg or parts thereof}
- A61F 2007/0042: {Knee}
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

A reconfigurable knee brace which is particularly suitable for cold therapy. The brace includes a large wrap which fits over the front of the leg and wraps around the knee. Two or more securing straps are provided to hold the wrap in place. Once in position, an internal air bladder can be inflated to secure the fit. The user inflates the air bladder using an included squeeze pump and selectively deflates the bladder using a release button. One or more removable stays are positioned on the left and right lateral sides of the knee. When the stays are in position, the knee is held in place and cannot flex or extend. However, the stays are made removable. Once the stays are removed, the knee is able to flex and extend (though it is still stabilized by the encircling wrap).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A knee brace, comprising:
a. a wrap, having an anterior medial axis, a right side, a left side, an inward facing surface, and an outward facing surface;
b. a plurality of straps attached to said wrap, said straps configured to encircle a knee of a patient and attach said wrap thereto;
c. said wrap including a selectively inflatable air bladder;
d. at least one cold pack attached to said inward facing surface;
e. a right lateral stay;
f. a left lateral stay;
g. said right and left lateral stays being removable;
h. said wrap being changeable between a first configuration in which said right and left lateral stays are present and a second configuration in which said right and left lateral stays are absent;
i. said first configuration restricting flexion of said knee and said second configuration allowing flexion of said knee;
j. a separate posterior brace selectively attachable to said wrap, including,
i. a pad stiffened by at least one stay,
ii. a left lower pad strap configured to attach to said wrap,
iii. a right lower pad strap configured to attach to said wrap,
iv. a left upper pad strap configured to attach to said wrap, and
v. a right upper pad strap configured to attach to said wrap.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The knee brace as recited in claim 1, wherein:
a. said wrap includes an inner panel and an outer panel;
b. said inflatable air bladder is located in between said inner panel and said outer panel; and
c. said inner panel, said outer panel, and said air bladder are joined together by heat staking.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The knee brace as recited in claim 1, further comprising a hand pump for inflating said inflatable air bladder.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The knee brace as recited in claim 3, further comprising a release for selectively deflating said inflatable air bladder.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The knee brace as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
a. a second right lateral stay;
b. a second left lateral stay; and
c. said second right and second left lateral stays being removable.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The knee brace as recited in claim 1, wherein:
a. said inward facing surface of said wrap is covered in loop material; and
b. said at least one cold pack includes at least one hook panel positioned to interface with said loop material on said inward facing surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The knee brace as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of straps includes a friction strip.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The knee brace as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
a. said plurality of straps including a loop covering;
b. a first anchor, having a first loop on a first end, and a second loop on a second end;
c. said first anchor including a hook panel, with said first anchor being attached to said wrap by said hook panel on said first anchor engaging said loop covering on said plurality of straps;
d. said first loop on said first anchor being configured to receive said left lower strap of said posterior brace; and
e. said second loop on said first anchor being configured to receive said right lower strap of said posterior brace.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The knee brace as recited in claim 8, further comprising:
a. a second anchor, having a first loop on a first end, and a second loop on a second end;
b. said second anchor including a hook panel, with said second anchor being attached to said wrap by said hook panel on said second anchor engaging said loop covering on said plurality of straps;
c. said first loop on said second anchor being configured to receive said left upper strap of said posterior brace; and
d. said second loop on said second anchor being configured to receive said right upper strap of said posterior brace.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The knee brace as recited in claim 1, further comprising a knee relief.

### Claim 11

A knee brace, comprising:
a. a wrap, having an anterior medial axis, a right side, a left side, an inward facing surface, and an outward facing surface;
b. a plurality of straps attached to said wrap, said straps configured to encircle a knee of a patient and attach said wrap thereto;
c. said wrap including a selectively inflatable air bladder;
d. at least one cold pack attached to said inward facing surface;
e. said wrap being changeable between a first configuration in which said wrap restricts flexion of said knee and a second configuration in which said wrap allows flexion of said knee;
f. a separate posterior brace selectively attachable to said wrap, including,
i. a pad stiffened by at least one stay,
ii. a left lower pad strap configured to attach to said wrap,
iii. a right lower pad strap configured to attach to said wrap,
iv. a left upper pad strap configured to attach to said wrap, and
v. a right upper pad strap configured to attach to said wrap;
g. a right lateral stay;
h. a left lateral stay;
i. said right and left lateral stays being removable; and
j. said right and left lateral stays being present in said first configuration and absent in said second configuration.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The knee brace as recited in claim 11, further comprising:
a. said plurality of straps including a loop covering;
b. a first anchor, having a first loop on a first end, and a second loop on a second end;
c. said first anchor including a hook panel, with said first anchor being attached to said wrap by said hook panel on said first anchor engaging said loop covering on said plurality of straps;
d. said first loop on said first anchor being configured to receive said left lower strap of said posterior brace; and
e. said second loop on said first anchor being configured to receive said right lower strap of said posterior brace.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The knee brace as recited in claim 12, further comprising:
a. a second anchor, having a first loop on a first end, and a second loop on a second end;
b. said second anchor including a hook panel, with said second anchor being attached to said wrap by said hook panel on said second anchor engaging said loop covering on said plurality of straps;
c. said first loop on said second anchor being configured to receive said left upper strap of said posterior brace; and
d. said second loop on said second anchor being configured to receive said right upper strap of said posterior brace.