WO2007077351A2

WO2007077351A2 - Apparatuses designed particularly for making downhill skiing safer and easier

Info

Publication number: WO2007077351A2
Application number: PCT/FR2006/002844
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charles Carsalade
Original assignee: Charles Carsalade
Priority date: 2006-01-05
Filing date: 2006-12-22
Publication date: 2007-07-12
Also published as: WO2007077351A3; FR2895668A1

Abstract

Apparatuses, for the lower limbs, designed particularly for making downhill skiing safer and easier. Said apparatuses also have other sports and orthopaedic applications. They relate to the two technical fields of the sport and also to orthopaedics. The basis of the apparatuses designed for skiing is constituted by a knee support articulated at knee level, which includes an elastic device constituted by rubber elements (16) that are stretched when the knee flexes owing to the rocking of a lever (13) under the influence of a cam constituted by the lower end of the upright (9) connecting the thigh to the knee joint, which has the effect of relaxing the user's muscles and reducing his or her fatigue. This device may be released by lowering the lever (13) (which remains parallel to itself in this manoeuvre thanks to a stop (19) on which its lower end rests at the front), this being through the effect of the lowering of the disc (14) that serves it as pivot via a handle (18) integral therewith. Similar apparatuses may also be used in other sports and also in a variety of orthopaedic uses.

Description

APPARATUS FOR NOTAMLVENT TO SECURE AND FACILITATE

THE PRACTICE OF ALPINE SKIING.

The present invention relates to the two technical fields of sport and orthopedics.

Devices intended for the same purpose, which is to make alpine skiing less dangerous and less tiring and comprising a device that obeys the same basic principles, had already been the subject of the patent FR-A-2,559,394 published on August 16 1985 and the certificate of addition FR-A-2,575,931 published on July 18, 1986 by the same inventor. But the first prototypes made according to these principles had defects that were corrected over time through various successive prototypes. Among the modifications made to the devices, some relate to original devices which bring them an important improvement which justifies to protect them by a new patent A device adapted to devices intended for the same use, was the subject of the patent DE 3616036 Al, published November 19, 1987. In this apparatus, the support provided to the muscles of the thigh is obtained by a simple spring, soϋdaire of the device, which is energized during the flexion of the knee. However, this system has several defects, the main one is that the skier can not cancel the action of the spring when necessary, which is however essential in some cases. The device of my devices on the contrary is provided with this possibility among other advantages.

The invention relates to devices for the lower limbs for certain uses, the most important of which is alpine skiing, which they significantly reduce dangerousness while making the sport easier and less tiring thanks to an original device based on springs. rubber that supports a portion of the body weight of the user, relieving all his muscles and reducing fatigue. Devices based on the same principles, using the same system of assistance by springs and with some minor modifications, can be used for other applications than skiing, for some other sports such as enduro or skydiving, or in the medical or orthopedic fields.

Before describing the new devices with all their improvements we will recall the general principles of all these devices as they already exist in the old patents. To understand their operation we can refer to the drawings for the new devices attached to this application, the principles of operation are identical.

The system consists of two symmetrical devices, one for each lower limb. Each device is comparable to a kind of knee joint articulated at the knee which consists of the following elements: Two properly contoured and contoured plates with a compromise flexibility / rigidity adapted one of which wraps the leg while the other wraps the thigh. These two plates are interconnected by two frames, one internal, the other external, articulated at the knee; for this, the leg plate extends upwardly in the form of a rigid flat plate which contributes to the maintenance of the mechanism of the apparatus together with an external plate associated therewith and which constitutes an independent piece; on the other hand the curved plate surrounding the thigh is secured to two vertical uprights, one internal and the other external, which continue downwards to form a disk pivotally mounted about an axis corresponding to the articulation of the knee that unites the two plates from the lower room. This disc has a lower edge to the cam-shaped contour so that when flexing the knee, it tilts a lever, which stretches an elastic system made by one or more rubber elements. This stretch has the effect of relieving the muscles of the user and thus reduce fatigue. A manual disengaging means is associated with the system. For this, the cylindrical disc which serves as a pivot lever lever itself pivots about a secondary axis on which it is mounted eccentrically so that, thanks to the lever that is secured to it can be lowered, lowering the same blow the lever that stops acting on the spring when flexing the knee.

These are the main features of these devices as described in the original patents and remain in the new device. However the old devices had serious drawbacks which will be mentioned only the main: For these devices to be effective for the purpose, the tension of the rubber springs must be high which has the consequence that, in the disengaged position, the lever has a forward angular displacement responsible for a significant support of its upper end on the cam 12. This induces an annoying friction which increases the forces required for clutch operations and disengagement of the mechanism.

It is therefore necessary to provide a device that meets the basic principles but very improved compared to older devices and especially free from the defect that has just been mentioned. In this case it is the model for skiing. For other uses, the devices have some differences that we will see. The features of the invention will emerge more clearly by examining the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a representation of the profile apparatus, disengaged mechanism and the standing subject, that is to say, as it is when it is placed on the leg. Figure 2 is a representation of the profile apparatus, gear engaged, on the standing subject. Figure 3 is a representation of the profile apparatus, mechanism engaged, lower limb flexion.

Figure 4 is a representation of the profile apparatus, disengaged mechanism, lower limb flexion. FIG. 5 is a representation of the apparatus alone, seen from the front, in its extended configuration,

FIG. 6 is a representation of the apparatus alone, viewed from the rear in its extended configuration,

These figures 1 to 6 relate to the apparatus for skiing. Figures 7 and 8 show modifications of the lower part of the basic apparatus for use in other activities than that of alpine skiing; each of these figures represents one of the profiles.

Each device is asymmetrical in itself being perfectly adapted to the shape of each lower limb and it must always be worn, in the ski area at least, with exceptions, on both lower limbs even if a single knee is deficient. All figures 1 to 6 refer to the apparatus of the left leg. Profiles are therefore external profiles. (This precision is justified by the asymmetrical arrangement of the straps that hold the device on the leg). The invention is therefore in two symmetrical copies between them, one for each lower limb. The base of these devices is based on two articulated knee kneepads that have a number of parts: a curved plate 1 partially wrapping the leg and another 2 wrapping the thigh, and both have curved surfaces suitably adapted and curved and a compromise flexibility / rigidity adapted. The curved plate 1 surrounding the leg opens backwards for the establishment of the apparatus on the leg with which it is secured by two covering ears visible in Figure 6, reinforced by one or more rear adjustable straps 3. By elsewhere it extends upwards on either side of the leg where it is transformed into a rigid flat plate 4 which ensures the maintenance of the mechanism of the device together with an outer plate constituted by the rear part of the independent part 5. The latter has at its lower part a flat front extension, curved to match the curvature of the knee, which has forward a horizontal elongated opening for receiving the head of the upper screw holding the piece 17, said opening allowing it to slide relative to this screw during the installation operations of the device on the leg which require to move the device. The plate 2 surrounding the thigh opens backwards for the establishment and maintenance of the device on the lower limb aided by a system of adjustable straps whose two upper are fixed on said plate while the lowest 7 is fixed on the upright 9 and holds the thigh together with an equally adjustable front strap 8. This plate 2 is secured to two semi-rigid flat uprights 9, one on each side of the thigh, which continue until at the knee or they are transformed into a rigid disk 10 inserted between the two plates 4 and 5 with which it is articulated around an axis 11 integral with these plates. This disk has at its lower part an edge 12 with a particular contour which is transformed at its front part into a cam on which is supported when the mechanism is engaged lever 13 located between the two plates 4 and 5 and which is pivotally mounted around of a cylindrical disc 14. The cam ends in front by a recess 15 for receiving the upper end of the lever 13 when the apparatus, mechanism engaged, is in extension configuration of the leg. As shown in FIG. 3, during the flexion of the knee, the cam acts on this lever that tilts its lower part towards the rear Y, which has the effect of stretching an elastic system which, by opposing the flexion of the knee , relieves the skier of a part of the weight of his body and helps him in the dynamic efforts necessary for the practice of skiing. This elastic system consists of elements 16 made of natural or synthetic rubber, true springs whose shape is identical to that of flattened pipe segments. These elements can: be either single or multiple, made in this case in two to four separate elements. Their anterior edge is held forward thanks to the bypass of an anterior piece of substantially vertical direction 17 integral with the curved plate 1. Said piece can either be removable as is the case for the drawings, or be a part of the one or the other of its ends with the piece 1.

We find the same system on both sides of each leg and can be used: either side of it, the most common case, or one side without inconvenience other than a less effective.

In the practice of skiing, the skier's knees are always more or less flexed, so that the weight of his body is constantly resting on the muscles of his thighs. Added to this is increased pressure on the articular surfaces of the knee. In sum, we can say that skiing is an anti-physiological sport, the body of man was not designed for that. The advantage of this system, therefore, is by transferring a portion of the body weight of the skier to springs, to overcome these disadvantages. It should be noted that the elastic power of the spring system can be adjusted according to the weight of the subject or other parameters which is achieved by adjusting the size and thickness of the elastic members.

However, this system of assistance by elastic suspension can constitute a gene in some cases: during the walk or a ski-in-ski climb by example; that is why it is planned to be able to disengage it. For this purpose the cylindrical disk 14 which serves as a pivot lever 13, pivots itself about an axis 21 eccentric with respect to it so that when it is tilted down with the lever 18 which is secured, it is lowered, at the same time lowering the lever 13 whose upper end is no longer subject to the action of the cam 12 and therefore stops stretching the spring or springs during flexion of the knee. The shaft 21 is secured to the plates 4 and 5 that it helps to hold together together with the axis 11. It must be noted that all the clutch and disengagement maneuvers of the mechanism must always be performed on the leg in extension and so on the subject standing in general.

To all these characteristics of the apparatus just mentioned, the new invention adds important improvements:

A first element is constituted by a gutter open back 19, integral with the plate 1 whose bottom is of approximately vertical direction, or oblique down and back, on which is supported in front the front edge of the lower end of the lever 13. This has a double bayonet curvature in the transverse plane to be inserted more easily in the gutter. This is well shown in Figures 5 and 6. The lever is constantly supported on the bottom of the gutter under the action of the spring, except in the working situation of the springs (Figure 3). Because of this device the lever remains roughly parallel to itself during the clutch and disengagement maneuvers of the mechanism, whereby the tension of the springs varies little. This also has the result of removing the angular support and therefore the friction, the upper end of the lever 13 on the cam 12 during the clutch maneuver which helps to make it easier. At the lower part the contacting surfaces, that is to say the anterior edge of the lever and the bottom of the gutter, have shapes designed to be perfectly adapted and parallel to each other. In addition, being made of plastic material with a low coefficient of friction, they slide easily over one another. All these elements combined result in the clutch and disengagement maneuvers are carried out smoothly and effortlessly, which was not the case in the old system.

The second favorable element is located at the lever 18. It has an external relief relative to the cylindrical disk 14 with which it is a body and its base is constantly in contact during clutch maneuvers and disengagement with a part of the piece 5 which it bypasses. The two ends of this base are stops that come, pressing end of the race on the part 5, limit the rotation of the handle at an angle of about 180 degrees during the clutch maneuver and disengagement mechanism . It follows that the movement of the lever 13 remains within the limits studied which contributes to the proper functioning of the mechanism. To these two improvements must be added a third: it consists of a small projection 20 located on the outer face of the part 9 and which comes into contact with the upper edge of the part 5 when the device is in extension configuration. Its purpose is to prevent the upper part of the device falls forward, especially when it is placed on the lower limb and it limits the opening angle between the two parts of the device to 180 degrees. It also has the role of contributing, together with the lever 18, to adjust the play of the mechanism that appears at the beginning of bending and which corresponds to the angle of rotation that exists before the power of the rubber springs. This game can be adjusted by acting on the conformation of the block formed by the lever 18 and the cylindrical disc 14, in other words by moving more or less forward with respect to this disc the main stop which is found forward when the device is engaged. The game can be set according to the use the device is intended for. Thus for skiing a certain game is favorable while in other uses, including orthopedic it may be better to delete it.

The devices can be presented according to two variants according to the use for which they are intended:

1 / In the ski field, the apparatus is in accordance with the figures ranging from 1 to 6. The lower part of the piece 1 has a simple shape that fits inside the ski boot upper, said rod being sufficiently high and properly tightened when the apparatus is in place to ensure proper maintenance thereof. This lower part of the piece 1 has a vertical vertical slot to allow easier opening of the piece 1 during its establishment on the leg without impairing a certain rigidity required. The wearing of these devices allows sufficient comfort thanks to their studied form and i compromise flexibility / rigidity adapted. Nevertheless, it will undoubtedly be necessary to wear them on a tights specially designed for this purpose. Finally, it should be mentioned that these devices will probably be, for the sake of discretion, under a special type of pants with a large vertical zipper on the outer side. This is no problem, these pants to easily maneuver the mechanism through them.

2 / Apart from downhill skiing the device can be useful in other sports, including enduro, but also cross-country skiing or skydiving or it can protect the knee of the athletes of this sport during the landing . This short list is not exhaustive. Outside the field of sport, the use of these devices with all their mechanisms and advantages can be useful in various situations or pathological conditions. This is for example arthrosis of the knee, sequelae polio or other orthopedic conditions or in the postoperative period for rehabilitation.

In all these areas other than skiing, the upper of the boot being absent or not very effective, it is necessary to modify the lower part of the apparatus by adding another strap as shown on the two internal profiles and 7 and 8. This strap which surrounds the apparatus in front and the leg behind, is closed and adjusted forward by a self-gripping system after passing through a vertical elongate loop located in front of the tubular rivet ensuring the fixation of the strap on the device. The good position of the strap is ensured in three points: the fixing by the rivet of one side, the passage of the strap in a vertical slot of the other and in front thanks to two banks which limit up and down the support zone of the strap. In the back is a part, of generally rectangular contour with rounded corners, slidably mounted on the strap and adapted to serve as a buffer to ensure better comfort at this level. Furthermore, the surface of the strap which is, or which is found in the external position after the passage in the loop, is covered with the male part (hooks) of a self-gripping system represented by the hatched parts in the drawings of which the aim is to give a roughness to the surface of the strap avoiding its sliding and therefore that of the device, in the shoe. This same hook-and-loop surface can also serve to secure the device to an orthopedic shoe comprising the complementary part of the same self-gripping system within its stem.

Interest of the invention: The invention that has just been described with its latest improvements is of great interest in more than one way, particularly in the field of alpine skiing. Other applications are more marginal and the benefits of these devices in their field are self-evident. We will have in view here only the ski area.

On the technical side, these devices combine two major advantages:

- On the one hand they mechanically strengthen the leg, helped by a system of straps performance and this in itself constitutes an important factor of safety, especially during falls or accidents.

- On the other hand, the spring suspension system when it is engaged, relieves as we have seen the muscles of the thigh of the user reducing the fatigue of it and consequently the falls and accidents of which this one is responsible. - - In skiing in bumpy terrain the device behaves like a car suspension absorbing the bumps almost by itself.

- At the same time this system reduces the pressure on the knee joint which protects all the elements that comprise it and in particular its cartilage and patellar tendon. - In addition, in descents, due to the knee flexion, under the double influence of the leg reinforcement and the action of the rubber springs, the device allows a better control of the direction of the skis by avoiding the diversion due to an icy or irregular track, a frequent cause of falls. We see that these devices have many technical advantages.

In practical terms these devices can be used by skiers in various circumstances:

1 First by subjects who have one or two knees or even a whole lower limb more or less deficient for any reason whatsoever and especially in the traumatic sequelae of all types, concerning the cruciate ligaments, the patellar tendon, the consequences knee surgery, etc. In these conditions the device will allow these subjects to continue to practice skiing without risks and without apprehension to aggravate the condition of their knee.

2 A special indication is for competitive skiers where these devices will allow an earlier start of training after surgery on the knee.

3 A less common but not insignificant indication concerns single-legged skiers in whom the sustained practice of skiing puts knee cartilages under severe strain, eventually leading to significant risks of osteoarthritis of the knee. For these subjects, the device worn on the remaining leg relieves the pressure exerted on these cartilages which helps to protect them.

4 In subjects whose physical shape is affected by age or any other cause, these devices will largely prevent the risk of falling, as well as other health-related accidents such as fatigue heart. 5 These devices can also be used by normal and healthy people wanting to practice a relaxed ski, without fatigue and without risks, as well as by subjects who, for professional or personal reasons, do not want to run any risk of interruption of their activities due to a skiing accident. On the other hand, they allow technically average skiers, to have the same performance in terms of choice of tracks or distances traveled as technically superior skiers.

-At the scale of society: the interest of these devices is even greater if we take into account the large number of sportsmen in this world and the frequency of traumatic accidents for which he is responsible and especially knee trauma very penalizing by the suffering, complications and disabilities they cause. But everything suggests that these devices can bring in the world of skiing, for various converging reasons, a sharp reduction in the number of injuries and accidents and as a result generate significant savings for individuals and society.

Do these devices have disadvantages? In practice there are only two:

The first occurs as a result of a fall in the case where the skier is on the ground, elastic mechanism engaged, one or both legs bent and unable to extend, in deep snow for example. Because of the difficulty of disengaging the mechanism on the flexed knee, if the skier in this case is somewhat diminished by fatigue or any other cause, it is unable to disengage the system and disengage itself. The cure for this risk is prevention: you have to ski the mechanism disengaged if you ski in difficult conditions, whether they are the skier, the terrain or the snow, especially if you ski alone. In this case the situation of the skier in case of a fall is identical to that of ordinary skiers, and even better since these devices protect the lower limbs by avoiding fracture or sprain of the knee. The second disadvantage relates to the technical field of ski practice for which the problem arises only if the elastic system is engaged. The force induced by the springs pushes the extension of the leg which has a beneficial effect as a rule by relieving the skier of the weight of his body. But this can be a gene in some cases, for example when triggering certain turns. At this point, it is sometimes necessary to relieve the heel of the ski by initiating a flexion of the knees to which the action of the springs is to some extent opposed. This can be overcome by a slight adaptation of the ski technique, for example by a position more bent forward of the skier when engaging in the turn. Else on the other hand, by moving the fixation 5 to 8 centimeters forward, this effect is attenuated. It only manifests itself in certain conditions of slope or snow for which it is always possible to disengage the elastic device before approaching. To conclude on this subject: the great advantages of the elastic suspension system are much greater in importance to the two disadvantages just mentioned. Embodiment of the apparatus

All parts of the devices are accessible to current techniques and therefore their implementation is perfectly achievable. The main parts will be made of plastic or composite materials. The fasteners will be made of light alloys as well as the fixing brackets of the straps and the rivets. The rubber elements will be made of special synthetic rubbers. In terms of size, these devices are only for adults and they have a great tolerance in size, both for length and width. Nevertheless it will be necessary to provide secondarily two, even three, different sizes. Dimensional deviations will affect both length and width but must respect the dimensions of the parts in the working area of the mechanism.

Claims

The invention consists of new devices providing a significant improvement to devices already patented in 1985 and 1986 by myself, said devices, intended in particular to facilitate and secure the practice of alpine skiing but can also be used for other sporting and orthopedic uses, being constituted by two knee pads, one for each leg, articulated at the knee, opening back to their establishment on the leg and having an elastic device disengageable to take over a portion of the weight of the skier and thus reduce his fatigue.

2 Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized, for the purpose of ensuring them a good support on the leg, in that the curved plate 2 with the appropriate flexibility surrounding the thigh is held fixed thereto by three adjustable straps back, the two higher 6, being fixed on it, the lowest 7, being fixed on the upright 9 and now the thigh tightened with the assistance of an opposite front strap 8 which is opposite and which is also adjustable.

3 Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the resilient device disengageable, consisting of one or more rubber elements 16, energized by the tilting of the lever 13 under the action of the disc 10 acting as a cam during bending of the knee, is designed such that the front edge of the lower end of said lever, is based on an anterior stop 19 and can not move forward when disengaging the mechanism of the device, which greatly facilitates clutch and disengage operations of the machine mechanism. 4 Devices according to! Claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the joystick

18, intended to engage the clutch maneuvering and disengagement mechanism by the tilting of the cylindrical disk 14 which it is secured around the axis 21, eccentric with respect to it, thereby lowering the lever 13, has an external relief relative to the disk 14, with a stop at each end of its base which maintain in the studied limits the displacement of said lever and therefore of the lever 13. 5 Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the independent part 5 which participates in maintaining the mechanism of the apparatus, has at its lower part a flat front extension curved in to marry the outline of the leg, which connects to the upper screw fixing the piece 17 to the piece 1, this connection being slidable through an elongate horizontal opening, which allows to move more easily the device during its establishment on the leg.

6 Apparatus according to claims 1, 3 and 4, characterized in that the vertical flat upright 9, has a small projection 20 on its outer face and forward, intended to serve as a stop to limit to about 180 degrees the angle of opening between the two parts of the device.

7 Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, for the version of the apparatus for skiing, the piece 1 has in front a middle vertical slot at its lower part, whose purpose is to encourage the opening of the device when it is placed on the leg. 8 Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, intended for uses other than alpine skiing, characterized in that they comprise an additional strap at the bottom of the apparatus, closed forward by a self-gripping device, which can to be held in place by a tubular rivet, vertical slot acting as passerby, associated forward two banks limiting the support zone of the strap on its two edges, and coated outside the male part of another self gripping device , in order to ensure a certain roughness to prevent slippage in the shoe and may also serve to secure the device with a special shoe provided on its inner side of the complementary female part of the same self gripping device, so that, apparatus and shoe form body, which can be very useful for certain uses.