GB2326098A

GB2326098A - Lockable knee brace

Info

Publication number: GB2326098A
Application number: GB9711928A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Ian Davis; Kenneth Paul Davis
Original assignee: DAVIS DESIGNS Ltd; Directaid Ltd
Current assignee: DAVIS DESIGNS Ltd; Directaid Ltd
Priority date: 1997-06-09
Filing date: 1997-06-09
Publication date: 1998-12-16
Also published as: GB9711928D0

Abstract

A hinge for a lockable knee brace comprising first and second hinge members 1 and 2 rotatably connected together and means for locking the two hinge members together in a selected orientation characterised in that the locking means comprises a pivotal lever mounted on one hinge member 10 having a latch 12 to be received in a slot 13 and movable between a locking position and an unlocking position and being retained in both positions as desired by means of a retaining mechanism 16 on the lever.

Description

Lockable Hinge The present invention relates to an orthopaedic knee brace and more particularly to the construction of a hinge in such a brace.

Orthopaedic knee braces are commonly used during rehabilitation following either injury or surgery and normally include two adjustable hinges one on either side of a braced knee. Knee braces serve two purposes. Firstly, the brace has to support the knee at all times but especially during movement.

Secondly, the brace should limit knee movements inflexion or extension within the limits beyond which injury to the knee may occur.

Flexion is defined as flexing of the knee from the extended position to a position where the foot and angle is bent towards the thigh. Extension is defined as being the opposite movement. An extended leg is normally straight with virtually no bending at the knee joint.

Knee braces have been the subject of much design attention. Principally attention has been directed to producing a design which is capable of readily adjusting the flexion/extension available to a patient. This is particularly important due to the fact that the amount of movement permitted will vary as recovery proceeds. However, it is accepted that there are certain instances when the leg should be maintained in an extended position and braced in that position.

While this is relatively simple to arrange, what is most difficult is to further provide for the leg to be bent when the user is sitting and therefore does not require the need to be braced.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a knee hinge which is capable of being locked in position but is readily capable of being unlocked to permit the hinge to move.

The present invention provides a hinge for an orthopaedic knee brace comprising first and second hinge members rotatably connected together and means for locking the two hinge members together in a selected orientation characterised in that the locking means comprises a member movable between a locking position and an unlocking position and being retained in both positions as desired.

Preferably, the locking member is in the form of a pivotal lever attached to one of the hinge members and provided with a latch portion for engaging the other hinge member. The first hinge member and the pivotal lever are provided with inter-engaging projections and recesses for maintaining the pivoted lever in one or other of the first or second positions. This can be achieved using a screw threaded member or a spring loaded member on the pivoted arm which is received in a slot in the edge of the first hinge member.

In order that the present invention be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a part of a first embodiment of a hinge according to the present invention: and Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a part of a further embodiment of a hinge according to the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 1. a hinge for an orthopaedic rehabilitation knee brace comprises first and second hinge members 1 2 pivotally connected together for a relative movement about a post 3. Each hinge member has a generally circular portion la 2a with relatively straight portions lb 2b extending therefrom. These straight portions are adapted for connection to members which will be attached to the calf and thigh so as to provide the necessary connection to the leg.

In order to limit the amount of movement of the hinge, and, indeed, to ensure that the movement in tlexion is in the correct direction, an arcuate slot 5 is provided in the hinge member 1 and receives a pin 6 fixed to the hinge member 2. The extent of the slot 5 determines the maximum flexure available from the hinge.

The location of alternative positions for the pin 6 or for further pins (not shown) is indicated by the reference numeral 7.

As shown in Fig. 1, when the pin 6 is at one extremity of the slot 5, the hinge members are in position so that the leg to which the hinge is attached would be fully extended. The hinge can be locked in this position by means of a latch arm 10 one end of which is pivotally mounted to the hinge member 2 by means of a hinge pin 11. The latch arm 10 is provided with a latch projection 12 which is received in a slot 13 provided at a suitable location around the periphery of the generally circular portion la of the hinge member 1. Retention of the latch arm 10 in the appropriate position can be achieved in any suitable way for example a spring loaded retaining member 15 may be biased towards a position so that it engages with a locking ledge 14 provided on the hinge member 2 in order to prevent pivoting of the arm or there may be a screw threaded arrangement whereby the retaining member 15 can be screwed down into position in engagement with the ledge 14 using a manually operable retaining mechanism 16.

The advantage of the present arrangement is that the latch arm 10 may also be retained in a non-operative position. This is achieved by utilizing the retaining mechanism 16 to retract the member 15 from the ledge 14, allowing the arm 10 to pivot around the pivot point 11 and then to insert the retaining member into a recess 17 positioned so that the latching projection 12 is held remote from the periphery of the generally circular portion la of the hinge member 1.

This general arrangement can be applied to a different type of hinge and this different type of hinge is shown in more detail in Fig. 2 where the same reference numerals as used in Fig. 1 are applied to refer to the same parts.

However, this hinge is a more complicated hinge and details of it are provided in copending UK Application 9706584.1 filed 1st April 1997.

It would be appreciated that the locking mechanism can be applied to any other design of hinge as appropriate.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. In an orthopaedic knee brace comprising first and second hinge members rotatably connected together and means for locking the two hinge members together in a selected relative orientation, the improvement comprising a locking member movable between a locking position and an unlocking position and latching means for retaining the locking member in a selected one of said locking and unlocking positions.

2. A brace according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is in the form of a lever pivotally mounted on one of said hinge members and is provided with a locking portion for engagement with a selected portion of the other hinge member.

3. A brace according to claim 2, wherein the lever is provided with the selectively operable latching means.

4. A brace according to claim 3, wherein the selectively operable latching arrangement comprises a retaining member received in a slot in the lever and movable therein by means of a manually operable part.

5. A brace according to claim 4, wherein the retaining member is resiliently biased towards a position where the lever will be latched in the selected position.

6. A brace according to claim 2, wherein the other hinge member is provided with two spaced apart abutment surfaces defining the locking and unlocking position of the lever.