WO2008061300A1

WO2008061300A1 - Knee brace with self-tracking patella guard

Info

Publication number: WO2008061300A1
Application number: PCT/AU2007/001784
Authority: WO
Inventors: Geoff Maloney
Original assignee: Pod I.P. Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-11-20
Filing date: 2007-11-20
Publication date: 2008-05-29

Abstract

A knee brace including upper and lower leg frames positionable above and below a knee having a patella, the upper and lower leg frames being pivotally connected together by a pair of hinges positionable on opposite sides of the knee, wherein a patella guard positionable over the patella is connected between the hinges separately from the upper and lower leg frames, so that in use the patella guard maintains position over the patella independently of relative pivotal movement of the upper and lower leg frames.

Description

KNEE BRACE WITH SELF-TRACKING PATELLA GUARD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a knee brace with a self-tracking patella guard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dual-hinged knee braces generally include upper and lower leg frames pivotally connected together by a pair of complicated mechanical hinges. Such knee braces provide support for a knee but leave its patella unprotected from impact. It has previously been proposed to connect an impact-absorbing patella guard directly to one of the pivoted leg frames of the brace. This arrangement has been proposed because the complicated mechanical hinges both lack suitable connection points and cannot absorb impact. The problem with connecting the patella guard to a pivoted brace frame is that, as the user of the knee brace bends the knee, the patella guard follows the frame to which it is connected and thereby slides away from the patella it is intended to protect.

A requirement accordingly exists for a knee brace with a patella guard that is capable of maintaining position over the patella when the brace pivots as the knee bends.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a knee brace including upper and lower leg frames positionable above and below a knee having a patella, the upper and lower leg frames being pivotally connected together by a pair of hinges positionable on opposite sides of the knee, wherein a patella guard positionable over the patella is connected between the hinges separately from the upper and lower leg frames, so that in use the patella guard maintains position over the patella independently of relative pivotal movement of the upper and lower leg frames. The patella guard can be releasably connected between the hinges.

The patella guard can have opposed side edges extending between opposed top and bottom arcuate edges, wherein the side edges of the patella guard are releasably connected to respective front edges of the hinges via releasable fasteners, such as plastic fir tree fasteners.

An upper leg guard can be respectively connected to a lower edge of the upper leg frame and the top edge of the patella guard to extend therebetween, and a lower leg guard can be respectively connected to an upper edge of the lower leg frame and the bottom edge of the patella guard to extend therebetween. The upper and lower leg guards can be respectively connected to the patella guard and the upper and lower leg frames by push-on fixes.

Each hinge can have a body with two spaced apertures connected by an opening, two arms having ends receivable in the apertures, and a resilient connector passing through the opening to connect the ends of the arms in the apertures so that in use independent extension and flexion of the arms is controlled by respective abutment surfaces on the arms and in the apertures, wherein at least one abutment surface insert is removably mounted in at least one of the apertures to thereby limit independent extension and/or flexion of at least one of the arms.

The at least one abutment surface insert can be removably mounted in at least one of the apertures via a fir tree fastener that is fittingly insertable through a hole in the body. The fir tree fastener can be integrally formed on a rear portion of the at least one abutment surface insert.

Each hinge can include a plurality of interchangeable abutment surface inserts, wherein independent extension and/or flexion of at least one of the arms is selectively limited by interchanging the abutment surface inserts. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dual-hinged knee brace of an embodiment of the invention having hinges that are releasably connectable to a self-tracking patella guard;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the patella guard and one of the hinges; Figure 3 a is a side view of one of the hinges fitted with an abutment surface insert, and Figures 3b-3d are side sections of the hinge fitted with interchangeable abutment surface inserts having different angles of extension;

Figures 4 and 6 are exploded perspective views showing releasable connection of the patella guard between the hinges;

Figure 5 is a sequence of end sections showing the releasable connection of the patella guard between the hinges; and Figures 7-10 are perspective views of the knee brace and the patella guard in straight and bent positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, the knee brace 10 of the embodiments to be described generally includes upper and lower leg frames 12, 14 pivotally connected together by a pair of bi- pivotal hinges 16a, 16b. The upper and lower leg frames 12, 14 have a generally arcuate cross-section to conform to a human leg (not shown). Upper and lower cuffs 12a, 14a are respectively provided at upper and lower ends of the upper and lower leg frames 12, 14. The upper and lower leg frames 12, 14 are attachable to the human leg via straps 56 (shown in Figures 7 and 9) having releasable fasteners, for example, hook and loop fasteners. The straps 58 are received in eyelets provided at the ends of upper and lower cuffs 12a, 14a. Additional eyelets 12b, 14b for receiving the attachment straps are pivotally provided on the upper and lower leg frames 12, 14 between the upper and lower cuff bands 12a, 14a and the hinges 16a, 16b. The upper and lower leg frames 12, 14 are made of a composite or plastic material with sufficient rigidity and lightweight, for example, glass reinforced nylon or a carbon composite material. The upper and lower cuffs 12a, 12b are made of a plastic material with sufficient rigidity and resilience to closely fit around a leg, for example, glass reinforced nylon with a thermoplastic overmould. Other equivalent materials may also be used.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of a self-tracking patella guard 22 that is removably connected to the bi-pivotal hinges 16a, 16b of the knee brace 10. Each hinge 16a, 16b has a body 24 with two spaced apertures 26, 28 connected by an opening 30. The front edge of the body 24 of each hinge 16a, 16b has a slot 18 with a transverse through hole 20 for releasably connecting the patella guard 22 between the hinges 16a, 16b. The hinge 16a, 16b also includes two arms 32, 34 having their respective ends receivable in the apertures 26, 28. A resilient connector 36 passes through the opening 30 to connect the ends of the arms 32, 34 in the apertures 26, 28. The resilient connector 36 includes a resilient member 36a moulded over a pretensioned spine 36b. The opposed ends of the resilient connector 36 are releasably connected to the ends of the arms 32, 34 via screws 38, 40. In use, independent extensions and flexions of the arms 32, 34 relative to the body 24 are controlled by generally convex-concave abutment surfaces on the arms 32, 34 and in the apertures 26, 28, thereby enabling the knee brace 10 to simulate the natural anatomical movement of a knee. The hinges 16a, 16b and their abovementioned components are described in detail in the applicant's WO 2006/053391 which is hereby incorporated by reference. As described in WO 2006/053391, the body 24 and arms 32, 24 of the hinges 16a, 16b are made of a plastic material with sufficient rigidity, for example, nylon. Other equivalent materials may also be used.

Optionally, each hinge 16a, 16b can include an abutment surface insert 42 that is removably mounted in one of the apertures 28 via an integral fir tree fastener 44 which is fittingly insertable in a through hole 46 in the body 24. As with the hinge body 24, the abutment surface insert 42 is made of a plastic material with sufficient rigidity, for example, nylon. Other equivalent materials may also be used. The abutment surface insert 42 can be removed from the aperture 28 by removing the screw 38 to release the arms 32, 34 from the apertures 26, 28, and then pushing the fir tree fastener 44 out of the through hole 46 from the aperture 26. In use, the abutment surface insert 42 engages with the abutment surface in the aperture 28 to thereby limit independent extension of the arm 32 relative to the body 24. Figure 3a is a side view of a hinge 16a, 16b fitted with abutment surface insert 42, while Figures 3b-3d are section views showing interchangeable abutment surface inserts 42a, 42b, 42c having mutually different concave-convex abutment surfaces to limit independent extension of one of the arms 32 at different selected angles of extension relative to the body 24. The hinges 16a, 16b, and hence the knee brace 10, may therefore be tailored to different needs of users by selectively fitting no abutment surface insert 42, or interchanging different interchangeable abutment surface inserts 42a, 42b, 42c in the aperture 28. Although not illustrated, other equivalent abutment surface inserts may also be fitted in one or both of the apertures 26, 28 to thereby selectively limit independent flexion and/or extension of one or both of the arms 32, 34, and hence the knee brace 10.

Referring to Figures 4-6, the patella guard 22 has opposed side edges extending between opposed top and bottom arcuate edges, with a generally convex outer surface and a generally concave inner surface dimensioned to fit over the patella of a human knee (not shown). The patella guard 22 is moulded of a plastic material with sufficient rigidity and resilience to protect the patella and absorb impact energy, for example, glass reinforced nylon. The inner surface of the patella guard 22 is provided with a pad or liner (not shown) made of an energy absorbing material, for example, high density neoprene or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam. Other equivalent materials may also be used. A pair of rearward projections 47 each having through holes are provided on the side edges of the patella guard 22 to engage respective front edges of the bodies 24 of the hinges 16a, 16b. Referring to Figure 5, one of the projections 47 is received in the front slot 18 in the hinge body 24, while the other projection 47 slides over the inner surface of the hinge body 24. The patella guard 22 is then releasably connected to the front of the hinge body 24 by aligning the through holes in the projections 47 with the through hole 20 in the hinge body 24, and then fittingly inserting a plastic fir tree fastener 49 in the aligned through holes. Other equivalent releasable fasteners may also be used. Although not illustrated, the patella guard 22 can be disconnected from each hinge body 24 by pushing the fir tree fastener 49 outwardly from the aligned through holes. Other equivalent releasable connections between the patella guard 22 and the hinges 16a, 16b may also be used, for example, snap-fits, push-fits, etc.

Referring to Figures 4, 6 and 8, an upper leg guard 48 is respectively connected to a lower edge of the upper leg frame 12 and the top edge of the patella guard 22, and a lower leg guard 50 is respectively connected to an upper edge of the lower leg frame 14 and the bottom edge of the patella guard 22. The upper and lower leg guards 48, 50 are respectively connected to the patella guard 22 and the upper and lower leg frames 12, 14 by push-on fixes 54 that attach to posts 52 provided on the inner surfaces of the patella guard 22 and the upper and lower leg frames 12, 14. Other equivalent fasteners may also be used. The upper and lower leg guards 48, 50 consist of flaps 48a, 50a connected to cuffs 48b, 50b. The flaps 48a, 50a and the cuffs 48b, 50b are made of a plastic material with sufficient resilience and flexibility to closely fit around the upper and lower legs, and close the gaps between the patella guard 22 and the upper and lower leg frames 12, 14, for example, nylon with a thermoplastic overmould. Other equivalent materials may also be used.

Referring to Figure 7, 9 and 10, the upper and lower leg frames 12, 14 of the assembled knee brace 10 are positionable above and below a knee (not shown), while the patella guard 22 is positionable over the patella of the knee. In use, the patella guard 22 maintains position over, and remains spaced from, the underlying patella during relative pivotal movement of the upper and lower leg frames 12, 14, as shown in Figures 9 and lOThis self-tracking functionality of the patella guard 22 ensures that the patella remains positioned over the patella so that it is protected from impact independently of the relative pivotal movement of the upper and lower leg frames 12, 14. The patella guard 22 can absorb impact energy and disperse absorbed impact energy laterally outwards toward the hinges 16a, 16b. Further, the spaced relationship of the patella guard 22 over the patella increases airflow and ventilation around the underlying patella compared to conventional patella guards that directly contact the underlying patella.

The embodiments have been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the claims which follow.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A knee brace including upper and lower leg frames positionable above and below a knee having a patella, the upper and lower leg frames being pivotally connected together by a pair of hinges positionable on opposite sides of the knee, wherein a patella guard positionable over the patella is connected between the hinges separately from the upper and lower leg frames, so that in use the patella guard maintains position over the patella independently of relative pivotal movement of the upper and lower leg frames.

2. A knee brace according to claim 1, wherein the patella guard is releasably connected between the hinges.

3. A knee brace according to claim 2, wherein the patella guard has opposed side edges extending between opposed top and bottom arcuate edges, and wherein the side edges of the patella guard are releasably connected to respective front edges of the hinges via releasable fasteners.

4. A knee brace according to claim 3, wherein the releasable fasteners are plastic fir tree fasteners.

5. A knee brace according to claim 3 or 4, wherein an upper leg guard is respectively connected to a lower edge of the upper leg frame and the top edge of the patella guard to extend therebetween, and wherein a lower leg guard can be respectively connected to an upper edge of the lower leg frame and the bottom edge of the patella guard to extend therebetween.

6. A knee brace according to claim 5, wherein the upper and lower leg guards are respectively connected to the patella guard and the upper and lower leg frames by push-on fixes.

7. A knee brace according to any preceding claim, wherein each hinge has a body with two spaced apertures connected by an opening, two arms having ends receivable in the apertures, and a resilient connector passing through the opening to connect the ends of the arms in the apertures, so that in use independent extension and flexion of the arms is controlled by respective abutment surfaces on the arms and in the apertures, and wherein at least one abutment surface insert is removably mounted in at least one of the apertures to thereby limit independent extension and/or flexion of at least one of the arms.

8. A knee brace according to claim 7, wherein the at least one abutment surface insert is removably mounted in at least one of the apertures via a fir tree fastener that is fittingly insertable through a hole in the body.

9. A knee brace according to claim 8, wherein the fir tree fastener is integrally formed on a rear portion of the at least one abutment surface insert.

10. A knee brace according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein each hinge includes a plurality of interchangeable abutment surface inserts, and wherein independent extension and/or flexion of at least one of the arms is selectively limited by interchanging the abutment surface inserts.