Adjustable knee brace

Abstract

A knee brace with an articulation assembly connectable with a first cuff movable with respect to the articulation assembly about a first location defining a first pivot axis between the first cuff and articulation assembly, and movable about a second location defining a first rotation axis between the first cuff and articulation assembly. The knee brace may have a second cuff connectable with the articulation assembly and movable with respect to the articulation assembly about a third location defining a second pivot axis between the second cuff and articulation assembly. The second cuff is movable about a fourth location defining a second rotation axis between the second cuff and articulation assembly. The first pivot axis and first rotation axis may intersect each other or be offset from intersecting each other, the second pivot axis and second rotation axis may intersect each other or be offset from intersecting.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A brace wearable on an extremity of a wearer, the extremity having a joint, the brace comprising:
 a first cuff placeable on the extremity; and   an articulation assembly connected with the first cuff at a first location defining a first pivot axis, wherein an angle of inclination between the articulation assembly and the first cuff is adjustable, and wherein the brace defines an envelope about the joint when on the wearer's extremity, wherein the envelope does not increase with adjustment of the angle of inclination.   
     
     
         2 . A brace according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second cuff placeable on the extremity, the articulation assembly being connected with the second cuff at a third location defining a second pivot axis, and at a fourth location defining a second rotation axis. 
     
     
         3 . A brace wearable on an extremity of a wearer, the extremity having a joint, the brace comprising:
 a first cuff placeable on a first part of the extremity;   a second cuff placeable on a second part of the extremity; and   an articulation assembly connected with the first cuff, wherein the first cuff is movable with respect to the articulation assembly about a first location defining a first pivot axis between the first cuff and articulation assembly, and wherein the first cuff is movable with respect to the articulation assembly about a second location defining a first rotation axis between the first cuff and articulation assembly, and wherein the second cuff is movable with respect to the articulation assembly about a third location defining a second pivot axis between the second cuff and articulation assembly, and wherein the second cuff is movable with respect to the articulation assembly about a fourth location defining a second rotation axis between the second cuff and articulation assembly, wherein the first pivot axis and the first rotation axis are offset from intersecting each other, and wherein the second pivot axis and the second rotation axis are offset from intersecting each other, neither of the first pivot axis nor the second pivot axis being located at a location that is between and equidistant from the first and second rotation axes.   
     
     
         4 . A brace according to  claim 3 , wherein the articulation assembly further comprises:
 a base;   a first mount connected to the base at the first location, and connected to the first cuff at the second location;   a second mount connected to the base at the third location, and connected to the second cuff at the fourth location; and   an adjuster manipulable to cause at least one of the first cuff or the second cuff to pivot about the first pivot axis or the second pivot axes, respectively.   
     
     
         5 . A brace according to  claim 4 , wherein the adjuster comprises:
 a wedge movable along a surface of one of the first and second mount to cause one of the first cuff or second cuff to pivot about the first pivot axis or second pivot axis, respectively;   a stud engaged with a part of the wedge such that manipulation of the stud causes movement of the wedge along the surface of the one of the first or second mount; and   a head manipulable to cause manipulation of the stud.   
     
     
         6 . A brace according to  claim 3 , wherein the articulation assembly further comprises a base, and wherein the first cuff further comprises a second part defining a first plane, and wherein the second cuff further comprises a second part defining a second plane, wherein the base defines a third plane, and wherein the first rotation axis intersects the first plane at a fixed angle, and intersects the third plane at a variable angle, and wherein the second rotation axis intersects the second plane at a fixed angle, and intersects the third plane at a variable angle. 
     
     
         7 . A brace according to  claim 6 , wherein the articulation assembly further comprises an adjuster, and wherein the variable angle is variable by the adjuster. 
     
     
         8 . A brace according to  claim 4 , wherein the first and second mount each further respectively comprise a first boss and a second boss, and wherein the articulation assembly further comprises a first rotation pin connectable with first boss to connect the first mount and the first cuff together at the second location, and a second rotation pin connectable with the second boss to connect the second mount and the second cuff together at the fourth location. 
     
     
         9 . A brace according to  claim 4 , wherein the first and second mount each further respectively comprise a first tab and a second tab, and wherein the articulation assembly further comprises a first pivot pin connectable with the first tab to connect the first mount and the first cuff together at the first location, and a second pivot pin connectable with the second tab to connect the second mount and the second cuff together at the third location. 
     
     
         10 . A brace wearable on an extremity of a wearer, the extremity having a joint, the brace comprising:
 a first cuff placeable on the extremity; and   an articulation assembly connected with the first cuff, wherein the first cuff is movable with respect to the articulation assembly about a first location defining a first pivot axis between the first cuff and articulation assembly, and wherein the first cuff is movable with respect to the articulation assembly about a second location defining a first rotation axis between the first cuff and articulation assembly, wherein the first pivot axis and the first rotation axis are offset from intersecting each other;   wherein the articulation assembly further comprises:
 a base; 
 a mount connected to the base at the first location, and connected to the first cuff at the second location; and 
 an adjuster manipulable to cause the first cuff to pivot about the first pivot axis. 
   
     
     
         11 . A brace according to  claim 10 , wherein the first pivot axis is located at a location between the rotation axis and the joint. 
     
     
         12 . A brace according to  claim 3 , wherein the first cuff is movable with respect to the articulation assembly in a first pivot direction about the first location defining the first pivot axis between the first cuff and articulation assembly, and wherein the first cuff is movable with respect to the articulation assembly in a first rotation direction about the second location defining the first rotation axis between the first cuff and articulation assembly, and wherein the second cuff is movable with respect to the articulation assembly in the second pivot direction about the third location defining the second pivot axis between the second cuff and articulation assembly, and wherein the second cuff is movable with respect to the articulation assembly in a second rotation direction about the fourth location defining the second rotation axis between the second cuff and articulation assembly. 
     
     
         13 . A brace according to  claim 10 , wherein the first cuff is movable with respect to the articulation assembly in a first pivot direction about the first location defining the first pivot axis between the first cuff and articulation assembly, and wherein the first cuff is movable with respect to the articulation assembly in a first rotation direction about the second location defining the first rotation axis between the first cuff and articulation assembly.