TWI388357B - Limit fittings and joint protectors for joint protectors - Google Patents

Description

Limiting device and joint protector for joint protector

The present invention relates to a joint brace, and more particularly to a limit device disposed in a joint brace for limiting the range of motion angle of the joint and a joint brace having the limit device.

The joints of the extremities are an indispensable part of human activities. Because of the frequent activities, they are also vulnerable parts of the human body. When the joint is injured, it is necessary to use the protective gear to fix the joint to avoid the joint movement angle is too large, causing secondary injury, which is caused by joint ligament injury or muscle strain.

A common joint protector is a tight-fitting elastic sleeve that can be worn over a joint of a limb to tighten the joint to fix the joint, but the effect of limiting the range of motion is poor. Another utility model that utilizes two supporting pieces to form a rotating shaft device can have an effect of better limiting the joint movement angle by the rotating shaft device, but the rotating shaft device has a large volume and a heavy weight, so that the user wears a heavy load. It takes a lot of effort.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a position limiting device for a joint brace that is relatively lightweight and that limits the range of articulation angles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a joint brace having the aforementioned limit device.

Therefore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the limiting device for the joint protector of the present invention comprises: two oppositely inserted flexible members, each flexible member having a limiting portion and a plurality of limiting portions An elongated sheet that is spaced apart and parallel in the same direction, and two adjacent sheets are arranged face to face. The limiting portion has a plurality of sheets respectively connected to the respective sheets, an outer sheet located on one side of the sheets in parallel with the sheets, and two connected to the sheets and the outer sheets respectively The side walls of the opposite sides of the sheet. The free ends of the respective pieces of the two flexible members are inserted into each of the adjacent sheets and the corresponding spaced spaces defined by the outer sheets to be mutually constrained.

Preferably, the two flexible members are respectively made of plastic materials having different elastic coefficients.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the joint protector of the present invention comprises: a second limiting device and a tight binding member. The tight binding member comprises a body and two receiving pockets disposed on the body and respectively accommodating the two limiting devices.

According to the function of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the limiting device has the advantages of simple structure and light weight, and the limiting device has better flexibility in the lamination direction of the sheet, that is, has one-way flexibility to limit the joint. The range of angles of the activity. Further, the two flexible members can be respectively made of plastic materials having different elastic coefficients, that is, the two flexible members have different flexibility, and can be combined with flexible members with different flexibility to adjust the limit. The overall flexibility of the device to meet the needs of different users or the same user at different rehabilitation stages.

The above and other technical contents, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a first preferred embodiment of the joint protector 1 of the present invention comprises: a second limiting device 2 and a tight binding member 3.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 2, each of the limiting devices 2 includes: two oppositely inserted flexible members 4, each of the flexible members 4 has a limiting portion 41 and a plurality of the limiting portions 41 are in the same direction. The elongated strips 42 are spaced apart and extend in parallel, and the two adjacent panes 42 are arranged face to face. The limiting portion 41 has a plurality of sheets 411 integrally connected to the respective sheets 42 , an outer sheet 412 located on one side of the sheets 411 in parallel with the sheets, and two connected to the sheets The side walls 413, 414 of the opposite sides of the sheet 411 and the outer sheet 412, and an end stop wall 415 connected to the ends of the sheets 411 and the outer sheet 412. In this embodiment, one of the two side walls 413, 414 of each of the flexible members 4 is a flat wall 414, and the outer surface of the flat wall 414 and one side of the fixed end 421 of the sheets 42 Located on the same plane, that is, the side of the flexible member 4 having the flat wall 414 is flat for being in close proximity to the limb joint 9 (see FIG. 1), and further, the sheets of each flexible member 4 42 The adjacent flat end 422 is fitted with the flat wall 414 of the other flexible member 4 to reduce the width to form a narrow portion 423, so that the narrow portion 423 can be received in the limiting portion 41 of the other flexible member 4. The other side retaining wall 413 is a protrusion in this embodiment. Of course, the side retaining wall 413 can also be formed in the form of a flat wall.

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 6, the free end 422 of each of the two flexible members 4 is inserted into the corresponding space defined by the adjacent two flexible sheets 4 and the adjacent sheets 411 and 412. Limit each other. That is, the narrow portion 423 of each of the flexible member 4 sheets 42 is inserted into the limiting portion 41 of the other flexible member 4, and the sheet 411, the outer sheet 412, the side wall 413 of the limiting portion 41, 414 and the limiting space formed by the end wall 415 are mutually restricted, and each of the pieces 42 of each flexible member 4 is respectively located in the space between the sheets 42 of the other flexible member 4, and the other The sheets 42 of the flexible member 4 are staggered, and a gap remains between the sheets 42. Therefore, referring to FIG. 7, the position limiting device 2 can have a large degree of curvature in the direction in which the sheets 42 are stacked by the flexibility of the sheet body 42, that is, has a unidirectional flexibility.

In addition, the two flexible members 4 can be respectively made of plastic materials having different elastic coefficients, that is, the two flexible members 4 can have different softness and hardness, and the limit can be adjusted by the combination of the two flexible members 4. The overall hardness (i.e., flexibility) of the device 2 is such that it meets the needs of different users or the same user at different rehabilitation stages. Suitable plastic materials include, for example, nylon (Nylon), polypropylene (PP), thermoplastic rubber (TPR), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polyoxymethylene (POM), and the like.

Referring to FIG. 1 , FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 , the tightening member 3 includes a body 31 and two receiving pockets 32 disposed on the body 31 and respectively accommodating the two limiting devices. The body 31 is wrapped around a limb joint 9 and has two open sides 311 which are respectively located at the two body parts 91, 92 to which the limb joint 9 is connected, and the tight fitting member 3 further includes two bodies disposed on the body 31 and adjacent to each other. The two fixing sides 33 of the two opening sides 311 and the two fixing belts 33 can respectively fix the two opening sides 311 of the main body and the two ends of the two limiting devices 2 to the two body parts 91 and 92 to which the limb joints 9 are connected. The limiting device 2 has one side 21 of the flat wall 414 disposed toward the limb joint 9 . By the unidirectional flexibility of the limiting device 2, the limb joint 9 can be prevented from twisting, and the limiting device 2 can be adjusted and flexed. The curvature is to limit the range of motion of the limb joint 9 to achieve the purpose of protecting the limb joint 9. Moreover, the limiting device 2 has a simple structure and light weight, is convenient for the user to wear, and can reduce the load of the user. In the present embodiment, the knee joint is exemplified, but it can also be used for an ankle joint or an elbow joint.

Referring to FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10, the second preferred embodiment of the limiting device 2' of the present invention is substantially the same as the limiting device 2 of the first preferred embodiment, except for the limit of the second preferred embodiment. The device 2' further includes a stopping mechanism for engaging each of the flexible members 4' with the other flexible member 4'. The blocking mechanism includes a connecting portion disposed in each of the flexible members 4' at a position relatively far from the outer sheet. a first stopping portion 431' at the end of the sheet 42' of the 412' sheet 411', and a limiting portion 41' disposed on the other flexible member 4' and cooperating with the first stopping portion 431' The second stop portion 432'. In this embodiment, the first stopping portion 431' is a hook, and the second stopping portion 432' is a groove provided on the flat wall 414' and adjacent to the outer sheet 412', and the hook It can slide in the corresponding groove. Thereby, when the deflection device 2' has a large deflection range, the displacement of the outermost sheet 42' can be restricted to prevent the sheet 42' from coming off the limiting portion 41', that is, off the outer page. The range of the piece 412' is blocked.

In summary, the limiting device 2, 2' of the joint protector 1 of the present invention has unidirectional flexibility and can adjust the degree of flexibility to limit the angular range of the movement of the limb joint 9 to meet different usage requirements. Moreover, the structure is simple, the weight is light, the user can wear it, and the load of the user can be reduced, so that the object of the present invention can be achieved.

The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, that is, the simple equivalent changes and modifications made by the scope of the invention and the description of the invention are All remain within the scope of the invention patent.

1. . . Joint protector

2. . . Limiter

3. . . Tight bundle

31. . . Ontology

311. . . Open side

32. . . Capacitor bag

33. . . Fixing strap

4. . . Flexible parts

41. . . Limiting department

411. . . Page

412. . . Outer page

413. . . Side wall

414. . . Side (flat) retaining wall

415. . . End wall

42. . . Sheet

421. . . Fixed end

422. . . Free end

423. . . Narrow part

2'. . . Limiter

4’. . . Flexible parts

41’. . . Limiting department

411’. . . Page

412’. . . Outer page

414’. . . Flat wall

42’. . . Sheet

431’. . . First stop

432’. . . Second stop

Figure 1 is a schematic view showing the relationship between a preferred embodiment of the joint protector of the present invention and a limb joint;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a limiting device of the preferred embodiment;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of Figure 2 illustrating the combination of the two flexible members of the limiting device;

4 and 5 are different angle views illustrating the flexible member;

Figure 6 is a side view showing the limiting device;

Figure 7 is a schematic view showing the flexing state of the limiting device when the limb joint is bent;

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a second preferred embodiment of the position limiting device of the present invention;

Figure 9 is a combination diagram of Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is another perspective view showing a flexible member of the second preferred embodiment.

2. . . Limiter

4. . . Flexible parts

41. . . Limiting department

411. . . Page

412. . . Outer page

415. . . End wall

42. . . Sheet

421. . . Fixed end

422. . . Free end

423. . . Narrow part

Claims (9)

A limiting device for a joint protector, comprising: two oppositely inserted flexible members, each of the flexible members having a limiting portion and a plurality of lengths extending from the limiting portion in the same direction and extending in parallel a strip-shaped sheet, and the two adjacent sheets are arranged face to face, the limiting portion has a plurality of sheets respectively integrally connected with the sheets, and one of the sheets spaced apart from the sheets is located at the pages An outer sheet on one side of the sheet, and two side retaining walls respectively connected to the opposite sides of the sheet and the outer sheet; the free ends of the sheets of the two flexible members are inserted into the other flexible member Two adjacent pages and outer sheets define respective spaced spaces to be mutually constrained. The limiting device for a joint protector according to claim 1, wherein each of the limiting portions further has an end stop wall connected to the end portions of the sheets and the outer sheet. The position limiting device for a joint protector according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the two side retaining walls of each of the flexible members is a flat wall, and the outer surface of the flat wall It is in the same plane as one side of the fixed end of the sheets. The position limiting device for a joint protector according to claim 3, wherein the adjacent free ends of the respective pieces of the flexible member are matched with the flat wall of the other flexible member to reduce the width. A narrow portion is formed, the narrow portion being received in the limit portion of the other flexible member. A limiting device for a joint protector according to claim 4, further comprising a stopping mechanism for each of the flexible member to cooperate with another flexible member, the stopping mechanism comprising a a first stopping portion of each of the flexible members that is located at a distal end of the sheet portion that is farthest from the outer sheet, and a limiting portion that is disposed at the other flexible member and the first blocking portion Cooperating second stop. The position limiting device for a joint protector according to claim 5, wherein the first stopping portion is a hook, and the second stopping portion is a groove provided in the flat wall a slot, and the hook is slidable within the corresponding groove. The position limiting device for a joint protector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the two flexible members are respectively made of plastic materials having different elastic coefficients. A joint protection device comprising: a limit device according to any one of claims 1 to 7; and a tightening member comprising a body and two bodies disposed on the body and respectively receiving the two limit positions The receiving pocket of the device. The joint protector according to claim 8 , wherein the body is wrapped around a limb joint and has two open sides which are respectively located at two body parts to which the joint of the limb is connected, and the tight The beam member further includes two fixing straps disposed on the body and adjacent to the two opening sides, and the two fixing straps can respectively fix the two open sides of the body and the two ends of the two limiting devices respectively to the joint of the limb joint Two body parts.