Knee joint hinge for brace

Patent 5286250 Issued on February 15, 1994. Estimated Expiration Date:

June 1, 2012. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3779654

3902482

Stabilizing knee hinge
Patent #: 4463751
Issued on: 08/07/1984
Inventor: Bledsoe

Knee orthosis and joint construction therefor
Patent #: 4655201
Issued on: 04/07/1987
Inventor: Pirmantgen

Multiaxis controlled motion knee orthosis
Patent #: 4723539
Issued on: 02/09/1988
Inventor: Townsend

Multiaxis controlled motion knee orthosis
Patent #: 4773404
Issued on: 09/27/1988
Inventor: Townsend

Lightweight, compact orthotic device for controlling knee instabilities
Patent #: 4802466
Issued on: 02/07/1989
Inventor: Meyers , et al.

Multiaxis controlled motion knee orthosis
Patent #: 4890607
Issued on: 01/02/1990
Inventor: Townsend

Variable axis knee brace
Patent #: 5009223
Issued on: 04/23/1991
Inventor: DeFonce

Anatomically correct knee brace hinge Patent #: 5107824
Issued on: 04/28/1992
Inventor: Rogers, et al.

Inventors

Application

No. 890800 filed on 06/01/1992

US Classes:

602/16, With hinge or pivot602/26Knee

Examiners

Primary: Apley, Richard J.
Assistant: Dvorak, Linda C. M.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Foley & Lardner

International Class

A61F 005/00

Abstract

A hinge having first and second plates each having a plurality of cam slots therein and being connected to upper and lower portions of a brace. The hinge also includes cam pin followers which are connected to the first and second plates and the lower portion of the brace such that they cooperate with the cam slots allowing the lower portion of the brace to rotate through a predetermined angular range relative to the upper portion of the brace with a constantly changing axis of rotation.

Other References

"External Knee Joint Design Based on Normal Motion", the Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, vol. 22, No. 1, 1985, BPR 10-41 pp. 9-22, by P. S. Walker, Ph.D.; H. Kurosawa, M.D.; J. S. Rovick, M.A.; R. A. Zimmerman, B.