Knee brace with articulating brace hinge axis

Abstract

An activity knee brace is disclosed in which the hinge axis of the brace articulates to overlie during knee flexure the moving center of pivot of the condylar of the femur with respect to the plateau of the fibula tibia. The brace consists of a thigh portion, a lower leg portion, and a hinge axis therebetween. The thigh portion supports the brace in the thigh. The lower leg portion supports the brace to the lower leg. The hinge axis is designed to overlie the point of pivot of the knee. Articulating of the activity brace hinge axis occurs from the thigh portion. The thigh portion is braced at the upper end of the thigh. The thigh portion is braced at the lower end at the medial supracondylar area by pad and adjustable strap system contacting and locating on the supracondylar hollow on the inside of the upper leg. The pads at the lower thigh portion of the brace are mounted at a pivotal axis. This pivotal axis is offset with respect to the hinge axis at a distance approximately 11/8th inches. During movement of the brace knee between extension and flexion, the pivotal movement of the supracondylar pads causes the hinge axis of the brace to articulate. The disclosed articulation imparted to the hinge axis of the brace tracks in large the moving point of pivot of the knee. Consequently, an activity brace is disclosed having improved reinforcement of the knee at a simple hinge axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An improved knee brace comprising: a thigh brace portion mountable to the user's upper leg, said thigh brace portion including medial and lateral struts, said struts extending rigidly from said thigh brace portion downwardly to and through a hinge axis;   a lower leg portion, said lower leg portion including medial and lateral struts extending upwardly from said lower leg portion to and towards a hinge axis on either side of said leg;   a simple hinge mounted between said upper and lower struts on both sides of said knee brace, said simple hinge enabling pivot of said thigh brace portion relative to said lower leg portion along a first substantially horizontal hinge axis between positions of extension and flexion when mounted to the knee of a wearer;   medial and lateral condylar pads pivotally secured to the thigh brace portion of pivotal movement generally along a second substantially horizontal medial and lateral pivot pad axis, parallel to but offset from said first substantially horizontal hinge axis of said simple hinge, said second substantially horizontal medial and lateral pivotal pad axis spaced apart from the above the first substantially horizontal axis of said hinge of said brace by a distance enabling articulation of said simple hinge axis from said thigh brace portion to follow the changing center of pivot of said knee during extension and flexion of said knee.   
     
     
       2. The invention of claim 1 and wherein said offset between said first substantially horizontal hinge axis and said second substantially horizontal medial and lateral pivot pad axis is in the range of 7/8 of an inch to 13/8 inches. 
     
     
       3. In a knee brace having, a thigh brace portion mountable to the user's upper leg, said thigh brace portion including medial and lateral struts, said struts extending rigidly from said thigh brace portion downwardly to and through a hinge axis;   a lower leg portion, said lower leg portion including medial and lateral struts extending upwardly from said lower leg portion to and towards a hinge axis on either side of said leg;   a simple hinge mounted between said upper and lower struts on both side of said knee brace, said simple hinge enabling pivot of said thigh brace portion relative to said lower leg portion along a first substantially horizontal hinge axis between position of extension and flexion when mounted to the knee of said wearer; the improvement to said knee brace including;   medial and lateral condylar pads pivotally secured to the thigh brace portion of pivotal movement generally along a second substantially horizontal medial and lateral pivot pad axis, parallel to but offset from said hinge axis of said simple hinge, said second substantially horizontal medial and lateral pivot pad axis spaced apart from and above the first substantially horizontal axis of said hinge of said brace by a distance enabling articulation of said simple hinge axis from said thigh brace portion to follow the changing center of pivot of said knee during extension and flexion of said knee.   
     
     
       4. The invention of claim 1 and wherein said offset between said first substantially horizontal hinge axis and said second substantially horizontal medial and lateral pivot pad axis is in the range of 7/8" to 13/8". .Iadd.5. An improved knee brace comprising: a thigh brace portion mountable to the user's upper leg, said thigh brace portion including medial and lateral struts, said struts extending rigidly from said thigh brace portion downwardly to and through a hinge axis;   a lower leg portion, said lower leg portion including medial and lateral struts extending upwardly from said lower leg portion to and towards a hinge axis on either side of said leg;   a hinge mounted between said upper and lower struts on both sides of said knee brace, said hinge enabling pivot of said thigh brace portion relative to said lower leg portion along a first substantially horizontal hinge axis between positions of extension and flexion when mounted to the knee of a wearer;   medial and lateral condylar pads pivotally secured to the thigh brace portion for pivotal movement generally along an substantially horizontal medial and lateral pivot pad axis, said pads configured to conform to the user's medial and lateral supracondylar hollows;   said medial and lateral condylar pads inwardly deflected toward the femur above the femur condyle for capture to the respective medial supracondylar hollow and lateral supracondylar depression to restrain brace downward movement above the knee joint at a point superior to the center of pivot of condyle of the femur over the plateau of the tibia;   strap means passed around said medial and lateral condylar pads to exert when tightened on said medial and lateral condylar pads to produce a snug fit with said medial and lateral supracondylar hollow to restrain pistoning movement of said thigh brace portion towards the joint of the user's knee.