EP1324733A1

EP1324733A1 - Joint brace

Info

Publication number: EP1324733A1
Application number: EP01966163A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thorsten Herzberg; Hugh Andrews; Stefan G. A. Bodenschatz; Richard G. Taylor
Original assignee: Beiersdorf AG
Current assignee: Beiersdorf AG
Priority date: 2000-08-24
Filing date: 2001-08-23
Publication date: 2003-07-09
Also published as: EP1324733A4; AU8670001A; AU2001286700B2; WO2002015831A1

Abstract

A joint brace (10) for the wrist, knee ankle or elbow includes an elastic cylindrical portion (11), a strap (12) attached to the cylindrical portion, and a stiffener (13) on the cylindrical portion acting to keep the cylindrical portion from moving relative to the joint to which it is applied. A method for supporting a joint which includes using the joint brace.

Description

JOINT BRACE

This invention relates to a joint brace and the use thereof.

In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the present invention, specifically, an embodiment wherein the joint brace is a wrist brace:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example of such a wrist brace according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a drawing depicting the underside of the hand of a user showing the generally cylindrical portion of such exemplary wrist brace positioned over the wrist of the user;

Figure 3 is a drawing depicting a cross-section of the generally cylindrical portion of such exemplary wrist brace during the process of folding (indicated by the dashed line and arrow) one portion of the generally cylindrical portion, which comprises a stiffener, against a remaining portion of the generally cylindrical portion; and

• Figure 4 is a drawing depicting the topside of the hand of the user showing such exemplary wrist brace fully applied to the wrist of the user. Referring now to the embodiment shown in the drawings, it can be seen that the

exemplified wrist brace 10 comprises a generally cylindrical portion 11 attached at some point to

strap 12. The generally cylindrical portion is made of elastic material and has a circumference C

and a height H sufficient to embrace the wrist of a user. The generally cylindrical portion also

has a central axis A, and the strap is joined to the generally cylindrical portion along a line

substantially parallel to central axis A. The strap generally has a length L which is sufficient to

wrap the strap about the wrist of a user in the manner as will be explained in greater detail

hereinbelow. Both the generally cylindrical portion and the strap could be made out of neoprene,

neoprene blends, woven or knit elasticized material. The neoprene material could be laminated ^'

with suitable textile products to provide the generally cylindrical portion with a soft lining to

provide comfort.

On an end opposite that to which the strap is joined to the generally cylindrical portion,

the strap comprises a first part 14 of a two-part fastener system. The strap also comprises on a

surface thereof a second part of said two-part fastener system, so that said first part of said two-

part fastener system can be fastened to said second part of said two-part fastener system to secure

said strap about the wrist of said user. The first part of said two-part fastener system could

comprise hook or loop fasteners, in which case, the second part of said two-part fastener system

would comprise mating loop or hook fasteners.

Referring now to Figure 2, the exemplified wrist brace is applied by slipping the hand

through the generally cylindrical portion 11 so that the generally cylindrical portion becomes positioned over the wrist of the user. The generally cylindrical portion 12 comprises a sewn in,

boxed portion 13, comprising a stiffener (not illustrated), which, as depicted in Figure 3, is then

folded against a remaining portion of the generally cylindrical portion 11, and acts to keep the

generally cylindrical portion from moving relative to the wrist of the hand of the user while the

strap is being wrapped around that wrist of the user. The stiffener could be of plastic, metal,

paper or other suitable material, and can be positioned along the underside of the wrist to provide

support thereto. As depicted in Figure 4, the strap 12 is then wrapped around that wrist of the

user and secured upon itself by means of fastener 14.

Although the foregoing embodiment relates to a Wist brace, the invention include braces

for application to any body joint, for example, knees, ankles, elbows, etc., and, as with the

described wrist brace, all such braces provide user adjustable compression to the joint being

supported. In all of the inventive embodiments, the sizes of the generally cylindrical portion and

the strap are a simple matter of design choice.

It should be understood that the preceding is merely a detailed description of one embodiment of this invention and that numerous changes to the disclosed embodiment can be

made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the

invention. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention.

Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the appended claims and their

equivalents.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A joint brace comprising:

a) a generally cylindrical portion of elastic material having a circumference C and a height H sufficient to embrace the joint of a user; and

b) a strap having a length L sufficient to wrap said strap about the joint of a user, said strap being joined on one end thereof to said generally cylindrical portion along a line parallel to a central axis of said generally cylindrical portion;

wherein the generally cylindrical portion comprises a portion comprising a stiffener, which when folded against a remaining portion of the generally cylindrical portion keeps the generally cylindrical portion from moving relative to the joint of the user while the strap is being wrapped around the joint of the user.

2. The joint brace according to claim 1, wherein said strap comprises on an end opposite said one end a first part of a two-part fastener system and said strap comprises on a

surface thereof a second part of said two-part fastener system, so that said first part of said two- part fastener system can be fastened to said second part of said two-part fastener system to secure said strap about the joint of said user.

3. The joint brace according to claim 2, wherein the first part of said two-part

fastener system comprises hook or loop fasteners, and the second part of said two-part fastener

system comprises mating loop or hook fasteners.

4. A method for supporting a joint of a user comprising:

a) providing a joint brace according to any one of claims 1-3;

b) placing the generally cylindrical portion around the joint of a user;

c) folding the portion comprising the stiffener, against a remaining portion of the generally cylindrical portion; and

d) wrapping the strap of said joint brace about the joint of said user.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said strap comprises on an end opposite said one end a first part of a two-part fastener system and said strap comprises on a

surface thereof a second part of said two-part fastener system, and the method comprises

fastening said first part of said two-part fastener system to said second part of said two-part

fastener system to secure said strap about the joint of said user.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the first part of said two-part fastener

system comprises hook or loop fasteners, and the second part of said two-part fastener system

comprises mating loop or hook fasteners.