US3826251A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Locking knee joint for orthopedic leg brace
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-01-04
•
Granted: 1974-07-30
•
Expires: 1993-01-04
Abstract
Abstract A pivoted knee joint for an orthopedic leg brace provides for both pivoting and relative sliding movement. When the user''s weight is placed on the braced leg and the leg is substantially straight, the joint is locked against pivoting but is freely pivotable when the leg is lifted. If the weight of the user is placed on the leg while the leg is partially bent at the knee, the joint locks against pivoting to prevent collapse of the user.
Inventors
- 👤 C Ross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:01
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/01; A61F5/0102; A61F5/0123; A61F2/00; A61F2/50; A61F2/60; A61F2/64; A61F2/642; A61F2/646; A61F2005/0132; A61F2005/0158; A61F2005/016
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A joint between upper and lower portions of an orthopedic knee brace, said portions having laterally spaced elongated members adapted to receive a user''s knee therebetween and means for securing said brace to a leg of the wearer with the wearer''s knee between said members, comprising: at least one elongated lower member having a longitudinal slot therethrough adjacent the upper end thereof; the corresponding elongated upper member having a first transverse pin adjacent its lower end slidably positioned in said longitudinal slot; cooperating means on said members guiding said members for only relative pivotal movement about the axis of said pin and only when said pin is at the upper end of said slot and permitting substantial downward movement of said pin in said slot only when said members are substantially longitudinally aligned; and interengageable means on said leg members, movable into engagement when said pin moves downwardly in said slot, to hold said leg members against relative pivoting in either direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A joint between upper and lower portions of an orthopedic knee brace, said portions having laterally spaced elongated members adapted to receive a user''s knee therebetween and means for securing said brace to a leg of the wearer with the wearer''s knee between said members, comprising: at least one elongated lower member having a longitudinal slot therethrough adjacent the upper end thereof; the corresponding elongated upper member having a first transverse pin adjacent its lower end slidably positioned in said longitudinal slot; cooperating means on said members guiding said members for only relative pivotal movement about the axis of said pin and only when said pin is at the upper end of said slot and permitting substantial downward movement of said pin in said slot only when said members are substantially longitudinally aligned; and interengageable means on said leg members, movable into engagement when said pin moves downwardly in said slot, to hold said leg members against relative pivoting in either direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A joint as described in claim 1 including resilient means urging said interengageable means to disengage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A joint as defined in claim 2 wherein said interengageable means includes a longitudinally facing socket on one of said members and detent means on the other member seatable in said socket, said resilient means comprising a spring pressed plunger extending into said socket from the bOttom thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A joint as defined in claim 1 wherein said cooperating means include, an arcuate slot in said upper member, concentric to said first transverse pin and a second transverse pin on said lower member, slidable in said slot; said slot having a generally radial slot portion at one end thereof extending generally upwardly from said second transverse pin when said members are substantially longitudinally aligned.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A joint as defined in claim 3 including a surface portion on said one member for guiding said detent means into said socket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A joint as defined in claim 4 wherein the lower end of said upper member comprises laterally spaced plate portions and the upper end of said lower member comprises a single plate portion slidably and rotatably received between said spaced plate portions; said first transverse pin extending between said spaced plate portions and said arcuate slot being formed in at least one of said spaced plate portions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A joint as defined in claim 1 wherein said members are respectively provided with openings therethrough that are in alignment when said members are longitudinally aligned whereby a locking member may be selectively positioned in said aligned openings to lock said members against relative movement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A joint as defined in claim 1 including cooperating locking means on said members positioned to be freely movable past each other when said members pivot about each other with said first transverse pin at the upper end of said longitudinal slot but being brought into locking engagement when said first transverse pin moves a small distance downwardly in said longitudinal slot during relative pivoting of said members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US688936A
Cited
US2395120A
Cited
US2575802A
Cited
US2679650A
Cited
US2883982A
Cited
US3172127A
Cited
US3453663A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-29 | 1978-01-28 | 1978-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-29 | 1982-01-28 | 1982-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-29 | 1986-01-28 | 1986-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |