Multifunctional knee protector

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a multi-functional knee protector having a stabilizer receiving sleeve on each side, allowing swapping in and out of stabilizers having varying degrees of stability to accommodate the stability required for different rehabilitation stages.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a knee brace for supporting the knee of a wearer. Background Art

[0002] The human knee joint is made up of several bones, ligaments and tendons. It's an amazing combination that allows for every degree of freedom of movement while standing, walking or running, while supporting all the body weight on it.

[0003] Due to the complexity of its structure and attachments, the knee joint can be injured from excessive lateral (side-to-side) motion. As you age, knee components can wear and weaken, making injury more likely.

[0004] A knee brace is a device that provides support around the knee area and selectively limits movement in the lateral direction. When the knee is weak, injured, or has undergone surgery, many people choose to use a knee brace for added protection from further injury or while recovering from an injury or surgery.

[0005] Knee braces come in many forms. For example, after surgery or injury, a knee brace may be worn that significantly restricts lateral movement. As rehabilitation progresses, different knee braces may be selected to provide greater freedom of movement, less weight, and greater comfort. The user may ultimately choose an elastic, stretchable device that remains in place around the knee area but does not provide the additional stability against lateral movement that, for example, a more rigid stabilizer might provide.

[0006] In most cases, after a serious injury or knee surgery, the user will go through a series of different knee braces before choosing to abandon the brace support. As a result, the user usually ends up purchasing a series of knee braces because each knee brace is limited to a specific support effect. Utility Model Content

[0007] Disclosed herein is a knee brace that combines the lightness of an elastic, stretchable knee brace with the support of lateral motion stability. In addition, due to its structure, a single brace that is universal in terms of stability can replace a series of braces.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a knee brace is provided, comprising: a sleeve surrounding the knee; a right stabilizer receiving sleeve; a left stabilizer receiving sleeve; and a stabilizer element operably inserted into the right stabilizer receiving sleeve and the left stabilizer receiving sleeve.

[0009] Optionally, in the above knee brace, the sleeve surrounding the knee is made of elastic, stretchable fabric.

[0010] Optionally, in the above knee brace, the right stabilizer receiving sleeve and the left stabilizer receiving sleeve are operable to enclose one of the stabilizer elements within the tubular housing.

[0011] Optionally, in the above knee brace, when attached to the sleeve around the knee, the right and left stabilizer receiving sleeves are oriented so that the axes of their tubular receiving sleeves are substantially vertical when a person wears the brace and stands.

[0012] Optionally, in the above-described knee brace, the stabilizer element is operably inserted into the tubular shells of the left stabilizer receiving sleeve and the right stabilizer receiving sleeve, and the length and waist of the stabilizer element will completely fit within these tubular shells.

[0013] Optionally, in the above knee brace, the stabilizer element is rigid and does not bend.

[0014] Optionally, in the above knee brace, the stabilizer element is semi-rigid and bendable.

[0015] Optionally, in the above knee brace, the right stabilizer receiving sleeve and the left stabilizer receiving sleeve are permanently attached to the sleeve surrounding the knee.

[0016] Optionally, in the above-mentioned knee brace, the right stabilizer receiving sleeve and the left stabilizer receiving sleeve are attached to and detached from the sleeve surrounding the knee using an adhesive fixing device.

[0017] Optionally, in the above knee brace, the right stabilizer receiving sleeve and the left stabilizer receiving sleeve are positioned on the sleeve surrounding the knee so that they are located on opposite sides of the sleeve surrounding the knee directly adjacent to the location of the surrounded knee bone interface.

[0018] Optionally, in the above knee brace, the stabilizer element is inserted through an opening in a top portion of the stabilizer receiving sleeve, which top portion is the uppermost portion of the attached stabilizer receiving sleeve when the user is standing.

[0019] Optionally, in the above knee brace, the stabilizer element is inserted through an opening in a bottom portion of the stabilizer receiving sleeve, the bottom portion being the lowest portion of the attached stabilizer receiving sleeve when the user is standing.

[0020] Optionally, in the above knee brace, the stabilizer element is inserted through an opening in a side surface of the stabilizer receiving sleeve, the opening in the side surface being parallel to the axis of the tubular shell.

[0021] Versatility is a direct result of the stabilizer sleeve structures, which are positioned in strategic locations for optimal lateral support and can be easily and quickly adjusted to obtain different degrees of support using a variety of stabilizer element structures that can be inserted or removed from these sleeves.

[0022] A user may start out using a high stability brace immediately after an injury or surgery, then remove and replace it with a series of light stabilizing elements. Eventually, the brace may be worn without the addition of stabilizers, and the stabilizer sleeves may even be removed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 The human knee is shown composed of various bones, tendons, and ligaments.

[0024] Figure 2 Shows the types of motion that the knee joint can support.

[0025] Figure 3 An exemplary knee brace with a built-in stabilizer is shown.

[0026] Figure 4 An exemplary knee brace is shown that includes an elastic, stretchable sleeve around the knee without additional stability.

[0027] Figure 5 A perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown showing a sleeve and stabilizer sleeve structure around a knee.

[0028] Figure 6 A front view of an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown showing stabilizer sleeves on the right and left sides of a sleeve around the knee.

[0029] Figure 7 A left side view of a user of an embodiment of the brace is shown showing the position of the left side stabilizer sleeve for optimal support of left lateral movement of the knee.

[0030] Figure 8 A user's right side view of an embodiment of the brace is shown showing the location of the right side stabilizer sleeve for optimal support of right lateral movement of the knee.

[0031] Fig. 9 One of several different strength stabilizers is shown inserted into a stabilizer sleeve of a knee brace.

[0032] Fig.10 Depicted is a removable stabilizer sleeve using a hook-and-loop like mounting fixture. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The human knee is an amazing joint made up of a set of bones, ligaments, and tendons that allows for free movement whether standing, walking, or running. In addition, it is strong enough to support all body weight above the knee while standing, walking, or running.

[0034] The knee is a complex mechanical device consisting of a rigid structure (bones) and flexible attachments (ligaments and tendons). Like any mechanical device, it can break if stresses are exceeded. Depending on the nature of the injury, a brace may be prescribed, or surgery may be necessary followed by a brace.

[0035] A brace that allows walking but limits lateral movement is called a functional brace. Functional braces can be made of a combination of metal structure and compressible structure, which enables them to fit in place around the knee, stay securely in place, and provide a stability structure that limits lateral movement.

[0036] After injury or surgery, most people require effective support to prevent lateral movement. As healing and rehabilitation progress, the level of stabilization may be reduced to allow for greater freedom of movement, less weight, and greater comfort.

[0037] For many people recovering from a knee injury or surgery, it may be necessary to obtain more than one brace to allow for a gradual decrease in support and increase in lateral motion and comfort.

[0038] Typically, the last type of brace that a person may use is made essentially of an elastic, stretchable material that goes over the foot, pulls over the calf, and surrounds the knee with a moderate degree of support that is lightweight and reduces discomfort. The original brace may be a heavy, essentially metal device that provides significant support, but can be heavy and uncomfortable.

[0039] An embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is a universal knee brace that is operable to provide the low weight and structure of an elastic, stretchable type brace with the stabilizing elements of a heavy brace. In addition, the device does not use fixed stabilizing elements, but rather uses stabilizer sleeves that allow for the insertion and removal of elements with various support properties. Thus, the same brace can be used for a longer period of time while providing different support needs at different stages of treatment.

[0040] The following description and drawings are intended to further describe the background and details of the present disclosure. These drawings are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0041] exist Figure 1, an internal view of a human knee is shown, including multiple bones, ligaments, and tendons. The bones provide the rigid structure, and the ligaments and tendons provide the flexible attachment structure.

[0042] like Figure 2 As shown, the knee structure is designed to allow for a variety of movements. Typically, knee injuries occur when the knee is pushed past its limits in a lateral direction. For example, during a sports game, a player is hit from the side by another player, forcing the knee to bend sideways, potentially causing ligament and tendon tears.

[0043] Figure 3 An exemplary knee brace made of a combination of rigid (metal) elements, compressible elements (rubber or foam), and adjustable strap elements is shown. It is positioned above and below the knee, held in place by its rigid structure and straps, and limited in lateral movement by its side stabilizers 301 and 302. Note that the stabilizers are essentially mirror images of each other. Stabilizer 301 is designed to be on the user's left side, and stabilizer 302 is designed to be on the user's right side.

[0044] Figure 4 A knee brace is shown which includes an elastic stretchable fabric formed into a sleeve 401 around the knee. This brace is designed to be pulled over the foot and calf, into position around the knee, and once positioned is held in place by compression of the elastic material. The sleeve material will provide some support, but the emphasis is on light weight and greater comfort.

[0045] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 5 Shown are a sleeve around the knee 501 and a left stabilizer receiving sleeve 502. The stabilizer receiving sleeve is operable to conform in shape to the sleeve around the knee at the attachment location and is made of a slightly less flexible material than the fabric of the sleeve around the knee. That is, the stabilizer sleeve is not rigid and will flex with lateral movement of the knee. Its primary purpose is to provide a fixture for inserting a stabilizer and holding it in place in an optimal support position.

[0046] Figure 6 A front view of a sleeve around the knee is shown with the user's left stabilizer receiving sleeve 502 and right stabilizer receiving sleeve 601 located on their respective sides. Note that 502 and 601 are mirror images of each other.

[0047] exist Figure 7 In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 , the left stabilizer receiving sleeve 502 is located on the left side closer to the front of the sleeve around the knee. This corresponds to the optimal position relative to the knee bone position 701, providing the best lateral movement stability on the left side.

[0048] exist Figure 8, the right stabilizer receiving sleeve is located on the right side closer to the front of the sleeve around the knee. This corresponds to the optimal position relative to the knee bone position 701, providing the best lateral movement stability on the right side.

[0049] Stabilizer sleeves 502 and 601 are operable to allow various stabilizers to be inserted through the upper portion 901 shown. This is exemplary. The sleeve is also operable to allow insertion from the bottom, front or side. The front opening and the side opening will be longer than the top opening and the bottom opening, and will include closing devices such as but not limited to snaps, buttons or zippers. Exemplary various stabilizers 901, 902 and 903 are shown. This is shown in different profiles, but should not be considered to limit the size and shape of these stabilizers. The length and width are limited by the length and width of the tubular shell of the stabilizer sleeve, but the stabilizer can be made into various shapes. The stabilizer material can be any material that provides the desired stabilizing properties. The stabilizer can be rigid to provide a higher degree of lateral motion restriction, or slightly flexible to provide a lesser degree of lateral motion restriction. The sleeve plus various stabilizers enable the knee brace of the present disclosure to provide a variable degree of stability, which can meet the minimum stability from the early injury / surgery time to the late rehabilitation stage. Therefore, a single knee brace can provide all the stability required at any stage of knee injury / surgery recovery.

[0050] In these exemplary cases, the stabilizer containing sleeves are shown as separate components of the knee brace. They can also be integrated components, integrated into the structure of the sleeve around the knee and operable to allow insertion and removal of the various stabilizer elements.

[0051] The stabilizer receiving sleeve may be permanently attached in place on the sleeve surrounding the knee, making the stabilizer receiving sleeve a non-removable component. Fig.10 As shown, the stabilizer sleeve may be attached to the around-the-knee sleeve using attachment means such as hook-and-loop fasteners 1001 and 1002 attached to the surface of the around-the-knee sleeve 1001 and the back of the stabilizer sleeve 1002. Other attachment means may be used that provide sufficient adhesion when attached to prevent separation during normal use of the brace.

[0052] The method of using the knee brace of the present disclosure involves first pulling a sleeve around the knee over the foot and calf to a position where the top of the sleeve is above the knee and the bottom of the sleeve is below the knee. Next, the sleeve is rotated so that each stabilizer receiving sleeve is positioned approximately the same distance in front of the user's knee. Once properly positioned, a pair of stabilizers that meet the desired stability characteristics are then inserted into the tubular housing of each stabilizer receiving sleeve, depending on the desired stage of rehabilitation and stabilization. As reduced stability is required in the later stages of rehabilitation, a pair of stabilizers with high stability can be removed and a pair of stabilizers with lower stability can be inserted. In this way, a single knee brace can accommodate different stability needs during most or all stages of recovery from injury or surgery.

[0053] All drawings and descriptions are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. The sleeve around the knee can be implemented using any fabric with sufficient elasticity and stretch. The stabilizer sleeve can be made of any material that can be formed into the desired shape and size, which is operable to allow the insertion and removal of compatible stabilizer elements, and when inserted, the stabilizer elements will remain substantially in place with minimal horizontal or vertical displacement. The stabilizer sleeve material should be less flexible than the sleeve material around the knee, but should not be rigid, thereby allowing the non-rigid stabilizer to bend as needed to provide the desired level of lateral movement support.

Claims

1. A knee protector, characterized in that: include: a sleeve around the knee; The right stabilizer houses the sleeve; The left stabilizer houses the sleeve; as well as A stabilizer element is operably inserted into the right stabilizer receiving sleeve and the left stabilizer receiving sleeve.

2. The knee brace according to claim 1, wherein: The sleeve around the knee is made of elastic, stretchable fabric.

3. The knee brace according to claim 1, wherein: The right stabilizer receiving sleeve and the left stabilizer receiving sleeve are operable to enclose one of the stabilizer elements within the tubular housing.

4. The knee brace according to claim 3, wherein: When attached to the sleeve around the knee, the right and left stabilizer receiving sleeves are oriented so that the axes of their tubular receiving sleeves are substantially vertical when a person is wearing the brace and standing.

5. The knee brace according to claim 1, wherein: The stabilizer element is operably inserted into the tubular housings of the left stabilizer receiving sleeve and the right stabilizer receiving sleeve, and the length and waist of the stabilizer element will fit completely within these tubular housings.

6. The knee brace according to claim 1, wherein: The stabilizer elements are rigid and do not bend.

7. The knee brace according to claim 1, wherein: The stabilizer element is semi-rigid and is able to bend.

8. The knee brace according to claim 1, wherein: The right side stabilizer receiving sleeve and the left side stabilizer receiving sleeve are permanently attached to the sleeve around the knee.

9. The knee brace according to claim 1, wherein: The right and left stabilizer receiving sleeves are attached to and detached from the sleeve around the knee using an adhesive fixture.

10. The knee brace of claim 1, wherein: The right side stabilizer receiving sleeve and the left side stabilizer receiving sleeve are positioned on the sleeve surrounding the knee such that they are located on opposite sides of the sleeve surrounding the knee directly adjacent to the location of the surrounded knee bone interface.

11. The knee brace according to claim 5, wherein: The stabilizer element is inserted through an opening in the top of the stabilizer receiving sleeve, which is the uppermost portion of the attached stabilizer receiving sleeve when the user is standing.

12. The knee brace according to claim 5, wherein: The stabilizer element is inserted through an opening in the bottom of the stabilizer receiving sleeve, which is the lowest portion of the attached stabilizer receiving sleeve when the user is standing.

13. The knee brace of claim 5, wherein: The stabilizer element is inserted through an opening in the side of the stabilizer receiving sleeve, which opening is parallel to the axis of the tubular housing.

Images