Variable stiffness nickel titanium memory alloy athletic knee brace

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of sports knee pads, in particular to a variable stiffness nickel-titanium memory alloy sports knee pad, which realizes highly personalized dynamic protection adaptation and significantly improves the applicability of the knee pad in different sports scenes. Traditional knee pads are mostly fixed supports and cannot be adjusted according to the specific needs of knee joint protection in different sports. The design allows users to independently move and lock multiple nickel-titanium memory alloy protection plates on the position of the arc-shaped knee pad body through its unique mechanical adjustment structure. Users can accurately arrange the protection plates in the key areas that need the most support according to the sports items such as running that needs patella buffering, ball games that need lateral stability or personal physiological structure. When the position is determined, the spring steel elastic sheet drives the inclined surface block and the triangular limiting teeth in the movable groove to form stable inclined surface engagement, which constitutes a reliable mechanical locking to ensure that it will not shift under high-intensity impact.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of sports knee brace technology, specifically a variable stiffness nickel-titanium shape memory alloy sports knee brace. Background Technology

[0002] Sports knee braces act as silent guardians, providing solid protection for our knee joints during exercise. Through a tight wrap and strong support, they effectively distribute the impact force from the ground during running and jumping, and act as a stable core, guiding the patella along the correct trajectory, thus greatly reducing the risk of sprains and strains caused by sudden stops, turns, or hyperextension. This protection is meticulous. The moderate warmth they provide promotes blood circulation around the knee joint, helping muscles get into the zone faster and slowing down fatigue build-up. Whether it's the intense competition on the basketball court, the repetitive squats in the gym, or the long hikes on mountain trails, a suitable knee brace can give athletes greater confidence and longer endurance, making each exertion more stable and coordinated, allowing for greater focus and enjoyment of the sport.

[0003] However, many existing knee brace products suffer from significant shortcomings in achieving effective protection. First, the most common flaw lies in their static and non-adjustable protective structure, with protective modules or support strips permanently fixed to the knee brace itself. This results in a pre-set, uniform rigidity and pressure distribution, failing to adapt to the significant differences in knee biomechanical requirements across various sports. For example, the patellar stability required for cycling and the all-around impact protection needed for basketball jumps demand drastically different knee brace mechanics, but statically designed knee braces cannot accommodate this transformation, forcing users to purchase specialized knee braces for different scenarios or accept compromises of insufficient or excessive protection in certain situations. Second, another flaw is that even when some products attempt to incorporate adjustable structures, their adjustment mechanisms often rely on simple Velcro or elastic bands. These methods only allow for macroscopic adjustments to the overall tightness of the knee brace, failing to precisely and locally reconfigure the specific locations of critical protective components within the knee brace itself. Therefore, it cannot precisely target high-strength support to specific vulnerable or high-load areas of the user, such as the medial collateral ligament or the inferior pole of the patella; its protective effect remains general and lacks specificity. Furthermore, existing knee braces generally lack adaptive capabilities; their protective performance is determined at the time of wear and cannot respond and optimize in real-time based on the increasing intensity of exercise and dynamic changes in the knee joint state during use. This limits their effectiveness and safety in complex and variable sports environments. In view of this, we propose a variable stiffness nickel-titanium shape memory alloy sports knee brace. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a variable stiffness nickel-titanium shape memory alloy sports knee brace, which solves the core defects of existing knee braces, such as fixed and unadjustable protective structure, inability to accurately position support, and lack of adaptive optimization according to the movement state.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A variable stiffness nickel-titanium shape memory alloy sports knee brace includes a knee brace body, the knee brace body being arc-shaped; it also includes a control component for adapting to different sports and changing the protective effect; the control component includes a movable groove, the movable groove being formed inside the knee brace body, the movable groove having limiting teeth fixedly connected inside, the limiting teeth being triangular in shape and several sets thereof, and the limiting teeth being symmetrically arranged around the knee brace body as the center; a retaining strip is inserted into the movable groove, and a nickel-titanium shape memory alloy protective plate is fixedly connected to the surface of the retaining strip.

[0006] Preferably, the card strip has grooves on both sides, an elastic sheet is inserted into and fixedly connected to the inner side of the groove, and an inclined card block is fixedly connected to the surface of the elastic sheet.

[0007] Preferably, the inclined plate block is triangular in shape, and the inclined surface of the inclined plate block faces the inclined surface of the limiting tooth, which is also triangular.

[0008] Preferably, a limiting rod is provided at the top of the card strip, the two ends of the limiting rod are inclined surfaces, and a limiting block is fixedly connected to the bottom of the limiting rod.

[0009] Preferably, the limiting block is inserted into the grooves opened on both sides of the card strip, and the limiting block is located between the groove and the elastic sheet.

[0010] Preferably, the control component further includes a first strap and a second strap. The end of the first strap near the knee brace body is fixedly connected to the knee brace body, and the end of the second strap near the knee brace body is fixedly connected to the knee brace body. Reinforcing ribs are provided at the connection points of the first strap and the second strap to the knee brace body.

[0011] Preferably, the first strap is provided with a Velcro closure at one end near the second strap, and the second strap is provided with a Velcro closure at one end near the first strap.

[0012] Preferably, the elastic sheet is made of spring steel, and in its natural state, the inclined locking block protrudes from the surface of the locking strip and engages with the limiting teeth.

[0013] Preferably, the nickel-titanium shape memory alloy protective plate is made of multiple pieces, which are arranged at intervals along the arc of the knee pad body, and each protective plate is independently connected to a locking strip.

[0014] Preferably, a toggle block is fixedly connected to the top of the limiting rod, and the width of the toggle block is greater than the opening width of the movable groove.

[0015] By employing the above technical solution, the present invention provides a variable stiffness nickel-titanium shape memory alloy sports knee brace. It possesses at least the following beneficial effects: 1. This invention achieves highly personalized dynamic protection adaptation, significantly improving the applicability of knee braces in different sports scenarios. Traditional knee braces are mostly fixed supports, unable to be adjusted to meet the specific needs of different sports for knee joint protection. This design, through its unique mechanical adjustment structure, allows users to independently move and lock the positions of multiple nickel-titanium shape memory alloy protective plates on the curved knee brace body. Users can precisely place the protective plates in the key areas that require the most reinforced support, based on sports such as running requiring patellar cushioning, ball games requiring lateral stability, or their own physiological structure. Once the position is determined, the spring steel elastic sheet drives the inclined block to form a stable inclined engagement with the triangular limiting teeth in the movable groove, constituting a reliable mechanical lock, ensuring that it will not shift under high-intensity impact, greatly improving the targetedness and practical value of the protection.

[0016] 2. This invention constructs a responsive protection system that synergistically integrates passive mechanical structures and smart material properties, achieving real-time optimization of protective performance. The beneficial effects of this knee brace deeply integrate adjustable mechanisms and smart materials. The nickel-titanium shape memory alloy protective plate is its core component. Triggered by body temperature or exercise-induced heat, this material undergoes a phase transition, significantly increasing its modulus and automatically transforming from a relatively soft state to a high-stiffness, high-damping state, providing real-time enhanced support and impact absorption for the joint. This adaptive characteristic complements the adjustability. Simultaneously, the adjustment mechanism itself is stable and reliable; the locking force provided by the elastic plate ensures the stability of the protective plate's base position, providing a stable mechanical basis for the material's intelligent response. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are provided to further illustrate the invention, constitute a part of this application: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a top-view magnified structural diagram of the present invention; Figure 3 This is an enlarged structural diagram of the knee brace body in this invention; Figure 4 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the knee brace body in this invention; Figure 5This is a schematic diagram of the unfolded structure of the card strip and the knee brace body in this invention; Figure 6 This is an enlarged schematic diagram of the card strip and the nickel-titanium shape memory alloy protective plate in this invention.

[0018] In the diagram: 1. Knee brace body; 2. Control components; 21. Strap 1; 22. Velcro 1; 23. Strap 2; 24. Velcro 2; 25. Reinforcing rib; 26. Movable groove; 27. Limiting tooth; 28. Locking strip; 29. ​​Nickel-titanium shape memory alloy protective plate; 210. Limiting rod; 211. Actuating block; 212. Elastic sheet; 213. Angled locking block; 215. Groove. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] A variable stiffness nickel-titanium shape memory alloy sports knee brace, such as Figure 1 - Figure 6As shown, the knee brace body 1 is arc-shaped. It also includes a control component 2 for adapting to different movements and changing the protective effect. The control component 2 includes a movable groove 26 located inside the knee brace body 1. Limiting teeth 27 are fixedly connected inside the movable groove 26. The limiting teeth 27 are triangular in shape and there are several sets of them, symmetrically arranged around the knee brace body 1. A retaining strip 28 is inserted into the movable groove 26, and a nickel-titanium shape memory alloy protective plate 29 is fixedly connected to the surface of the retaining strip 28. Grooves 215 are formed on both sides of the retaining strip 28. Elastic sheets 212 are inserted and fixedly connected to the inner side of the grooves 215. Inclined retaining blocks 213 are fixedly connected to the surface of the elastic sheets 212. The inclined retaining blocks 213 are triangular in shape, and their inclined surfaces face the inclined surfaces of the triangular limiting teeth 27. The top of the retaining bar 28 is provided with a limiting rod 210, the two ends of the limiting rod 210 are beveled, and the bottom of the limiting rod 210 is fixedly connected to a limiting block 210. The limiting block 210 is inserted into the grooves 215 opened on both sides of the retaining bar 28, and the limiting block 210 is located between the grooves 215 and the elastic sheet 212. The user operation control component 2 is specifically adjusted for each individual nickel-titanium shape memory alloy protective plate 29. Since the nickel-titanium shape memory alloy protective plate 29 is movably inserted into the movable groove 26 inside the knee pad body 1 through the locking strip 28, and the two sides of the locking strip 28 are fixedly connected to the inclined locking block 213 through the spring steel elastic sheet 212 in the groove 215, in the natural state of the elastic sheet 212, the inclined locking block 213 protrudes from the surface of the locking strip 28 and matches and meshes with the inclined surface of the triangular limiting tooth 27 fixedly connected in the movable groove 26. Thus, without the action of external force, the locking strip 28 and the connected protective plate 29 are locked in a specific position in the movable groove 26 through the meshing action of the inclined locking block 213 and the limiting tooth 27. When the position of the protective plate 29 needs to be adjusted, the user presses down on the toggle block 211. The toggle block 211 causes the limiting rod 210, which is fixedly connected to it, to move downward. The inclined design at both ends of the limiting rod 210 causes it to press the elastic piece 212 located in the groove 215 on both sides of the clip 28 during the downward movement. Specifically, the limiting block 210 at the bottom of the limiting rod 210 inserts into the groove 215 and acts on the elastic piece 212, forcing the elastic piece 212 to undergo elastic deformation, thereby causing the inclined clip 213 to retract towards the inside of the groove 215 and disengage from the engagement with the limiting tooth 27. The control component 2 also includes a first strap 21 and a second strap 23. The end of the first strap 21 near the knee brace body 1 is fixedly connected to the knee brace body 1, and the end of the second strap 23 near the knee brace body 1 is fixedly connected to the knee brace body 1. Reinforcing ribs 25 are provided at the connection points of the first strap 21 and the second strap 23 with the knee brace body 1. The end of strap 21 near strap 23 is provided with Velcro 22, and the end of strap 23 near strap 21 is provided with Velcro 24.The user first wears the knee brace body 1 on the knee using straps 21 and 23. The Velcro straps 22 and 24 on strap 21 and 23 are used to secure the brace. The reinforcing ribs 25 at the connection between the straps and the knee brace body 1 enhance the connection's strength. The elastic plate 212 is made of spring steel. In its natural state, the inclined locking block 213 protrudes from the surface of the locking strip 28 and engages with the limiting teeth 27. Multiple nickel-titanium shape memory alloy protective plates 29 are arranged at intervals along the arc of the knee brace body 1. Each protective plate 29 is independently connected to a locking strip 28. A toggle block 211 is fixedly connected to the top of the limiting rod 210. The width of the toggle block 211 is greater than the opening width of the movable groove 26. The user can slide the locking strip 28 along the movable groove 26 to move the nickel-titanium memory alloy protective plate 29 to the new desired position. After the position is determined, the user releases the toggle block 211, and the limiting rod 210 moves upward and resets under the restoring force of the elastic plate 212, relieving the pressure on the elastic plate 212. The elastic plate 212 returns to its natural state, and the inclined locking block 213 protrudes again and engages with the new limiting tooth 27, thereby locking the locking strip 28 and the protective plate 29 back into the new position. By independently adjusting the position of the multiple nickel-titanium memory alloy protective plates 29 arranged along the arc of the knee brace body 1, the user can flexibly change the local protection characteristics and overall stiffness distribution of the knee brace to achieve customized protection for different sports.

[0021] In use, the variable stiffness nickel-titanium shape memory alloy sports knee brace of this invention involves the user first wrapping the knee brace body 1 around the knee, securing it with straps 21 and 23, and then quickly tightening it by fastening Velcro 22 and 24. The reinforcing ribs 25 at the connection points ensure tear resistance at the connection points between the straps and the knee brace body during exercise, providing a stable foundation for subsequent precise adjustments. When it is necessary to change the protective effect according to different sports intensities or types, such as jogging, basketball, or skiing, the core lies in the adjustment control component 2. This operation is specific to each individual nickel-titanium shape memory alloy protective plate 29, enabling fine-tuning of the local rigidity and flexibility of the knee brace. The adjustment mechanism begins with the precision locking structure within the movable groove 26: In its natural state, because the elastic plates 212 made of high-elasticity spring steel are embedded in the grooves 215 on both sides of the locking strip 28, their inherent restoring force causes the triangular inclined locking block 213 fixed thereon to continuously protrude from the surface of the locking strip and engage with the inclined surface of the limiting tooth 27, which is also triangular. This engagement of inclined surfaces creates a one-way or two-way ratchet effect, that is, when the locking strip 28 is subjected to a force along the groove direction, the inclined locking block 213 will instantly retract and quickly spring back due to the squeezing with the inclined surface of the limiting tooth 27, making a "click" sound and completing a movement of one tooth pitch. Alternatively, the design can be symmetrically set to require manual unlocking, ensuring absolute stability of the position under impact and preventing the protective plate from accidentally shifting due to vibration. When active and precise position adjustment is required, the user needs to operate each protective plate individually. That is, press down on the toggle block 211 with your finger. The toggle block 211 drives the limit rod 210 fixedly connected to it to move downward. The limit blocks 210 on both sides of the bottom of the limit rod 210 then penetrate into the groove 215 of the locking strip 28 and directly press the inner side of the elastic sheet 212. At this time, the elastic sheet 212 undergoes elastic deformation under pressure, like a pair of tweezers that are being pressed, forcing the inclined locking block 213 connected to its outer end to retract into the groove, thereby completely disengaging from the engagement state with the limit teeth 27 in the movable groove 26 and releasing all mechanical locking of the locking strip 28. Next, the user can freely and smoothly slide the locking strip 28 within the track of the movable groove 26, thereby moving the nickel-titanium shape memory alloy protective plate 29 fixed thereto to any preset position on the curved surface of the knee pad. Since the width of the actuating block 211 is greater than the opening of the movable groove 26, it also serves as a guide for vertical movement and a limit for travel, preventing the limit rod 210 from being excessively pressed down or disengaged. After determining the new position, the user releases the actuating block 211, the external pressure disappears, and the compressed spring steel elastic sheet 212 immediately releases its stored elastic potential energy, returning to its original natural shape. This powerful restoring force, on the one hand, pushes the inclined locking block 213 back out, so that it reliably engages with the inclined surface of the limit tooth 27 at the current position, achieving rigid locking; on the other hand, it also pushes the limit rod 210 back up to the initial height, completing a complete adjustment cycle.Ultimately, by independently and specifically adjusting the distribution of multiple nickel-titanium shape memory alloy protective plates 29 arranged at intervals along the arc of the knee brace body 1, users can not only change the overall support range of the knee brace, but also utilize the inherent properties of nickel-titanium shape memory alloy—changing its modulus and shape recovery force at specific temperatures, such as near body temperature or when heat is generated due to exercise—combined with mechanical adjustment, to achieve dynamic adaptation from uniform protection to targeted reinforcement such as the sides of the patella and ligament areas. This provides truly personalized, adaptive, and highly reliable knee joint protection for different sports modes such as running, jumping, and twisting.

[0022] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0023] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A variable stiffness nickel-titanium shape memory alloy sports knee brace, comprising a knee brace body (1), characterized in that: The knee brace body (1) is arc-shaped; It also includes a control component (2) for adapting to different movements and changing the protective effect; The control component (2) includes a movable groove (26), which is located on the inner side of the knee brace body (1). The movable groove (26) is fixedly connected to a limiting tooth (27). The limiting tooth (27) is triangular in shape and there are several sets of limiting teeth (27). The limiting teeth (27) are symmetrically arranged with the knee brace body (1) as the center. A retaining strip (28) is inserted into the movable groove (26), and a nickel-titanium memory alloy protective plate (29) is fixedly connected to the surface of the retaining strip (28).

2. The variable stiffness nickel-titanium shape memory alloy sports knee brace according to claim 1, characterized in that: The card strip (28) has grooves (215) on both sides, and an elastic piece (212) is inserted into and fixedly connected to the inner side of the groove (215). An inclined card block (213) is fixedly connected to the surface of the elastic piece (212).

3. A variable stiffness nickel-titanium shape memory alloy sports knee brace according to claim 2, characterized in that: The inclined plate (213) is triangular in shape, and the inclined plate (213) faces the inclined plate of the limiting tooth (27), which is also triangular.

4. A variable stiffness nickel-titanium shape memory alloy sports knee brace according to claim 2, characterized in that: The top of the card strip (28) is provided with a limiting rod (210), the two ends of the limiting rod (210) are inclined surfaces, and the bottom of the limiting rod (210) is fixedly connected to a limiting block (210).

5. A variable stiffness nickel-titanium shape memory alloy sports knee brace according to claim 4, characterized in that: The limiting block (210) is inserted into the groove (215) opened on both sides of the card strip (28), and the limiting block (210) is located between the groove (215) and the elastic sheet (212).

6. A variable stiffness nickel-titanium shape memory alloy sports knee brace according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control component (2) also includes a first strap (21) and a second strap (23). The first strap (21) is fixedly connected to the knee brace body (1) at one end, and the second strap (23) is fixedly connected to the knee brace body (1) at one end. Reinforcing ribs (25) are provided at the connection points of the first strap (21) and the second strap (23) with the knee brace body (1).

7. A variable stiffness nickel-titanium shape memory alloy sports knee brace according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first strap (21) is provided with a Velcro closure (22) at one end near the second strap (23), and the second strap (23) is provided with a Velcro closure (24) at one end near the first strap (21).

8. A variable stiffness nickel-titanium shape memory alloy sports knee brace according to claim 2, characterized in that: The elastic sheet (212) is made of spring steel. In its natural state, the inclined block (213) protrudes from the surface of the locking strip (28) and engages with the limiting tooth (27).

9. A variable stiffness nickel-titanium shape memory alloy sports knee brace according to claim 1, characterized in that: The nickel-titanium shape memory alloy protective plate (29) consists of multiple pieces, which are arranged at intervals along the arc direction of the knee pad body (1). Each protective plate (29) is independently connected to a clip (28).

10. A variable stiffness nickel-titanium shape memory alloy sports knee brace according to claim 4, characterized in that: The top of the limiting rod (210) is fixedly connected to a toggle block (211), and the width of the toggle block (211) is greater than the opening width of the movable groove (26).

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