Device for, and method of, protecting knees from external forces

Abstract

The solution to protecting the human knee from external forces is to surround the knee with a brace that includes adjustable air bladders to absorb external forces before the external forces pass into the knee and cause internal knee injury. Such a brace includes a pair of struts that are bifurcated by hinges, the adjustable air bladders placed between the knee and the hinges.

Claims

1. A method of protecting a human knee of a lower leg from external forces, the method comprising the steps of: surrounding the lower leg with a force dissipation brace comprising: a lateral air bladder on a side of the human knee; a medial air bladder on an opposite side of the human knee; the lateral air bladder and medial air bladder each including an inlet/outlet nozzle to permit adjustment of internal air pressure; the internal air pressure of the lateral air bladder and medial air bladder affecting the behavior of the lateral air bladder and medial air bladder with respect to external forces; the lateral air bladder held in place by the combination of: a lateral strut divided by a lateral hinge; the medial air bladder held in place by the combination of: a medial strut divided by a medial hinge; the lateral strut connected to the medial strut by an anterior thigh cuff and an anterior shin cuff; the lateral strut and medial strut enclosing the lower leg with an anterior thigh strap, an anterior shin strap, a posterior thigh strap, a posterior upper shin strap, and a posterior lower shin strap; tightening the anterior thigh strap, anterior shin strap, posterior thigh strap, posterior upper shin strap, and posterior lower shin strap to hold the lower leg within the force dissipation brace; inflating the medial air bladder to compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee; inflating the lateral air bladder to compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee; additionally inflating the medial air bladder to further compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee; additionally inflating the lateral air bladder to further compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee; exposing the brace to an external force; the external force applied to the medial strut; the external force spreading up and down the medial strut, causing deformation of the medial strut; the deformation of the medial strut causing deformation of the medial bladder; the deformation of the medial bladder causing the medial bladder to pass through a cycle of absorbing, dissipating, and spreading the force of impact; whereby the human knee is protected from injury.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: inflating the lateral air bladder more than the medial air bladder, thereby opening a medial side of the human knee.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: inflating the medial air bladder more than the lateral air bladder, thereby opening a lateral side of the human knee.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the brace further comprises: a medial guide channel crossing the medial hinge; a medial elastic member connecting the medial strut across the medial hinge; the medial elastic member causing the medial strut to move toward a straight position and away from a bent position; thereby encouraging unbending of the human knee; a lateral guide channel crossing the lateral hinge; a lateral elastic member connecting the lateral strut across the lateral hinge; the lateral elastic member causing the lateral strut to move toward a straight position and away from a bent position; thereby encouraging unbending of the human knee.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of exposing the brace to an external force further comprises the step of: the external force causing motion of the human knee that causes compression of the lateral air bladder.

6. A method of protecting a human knee of a lower leg from external forces, the method comprising the steps of: surrounding the lower leg with a force dissipation brace comprising: a lateral air bladder on a side of the human knee; a medial air bladder on an opposite side of the human knee; the lateral air bladder and medial air bladder including an inlet/outlet nozzle to permit adjustment of internal air pressure; the internal air pressure of the lateral air bladder and medial air bladder affecting the behavior of the lateral air bladder and medial air bladder with respect to external forces; the lateral air bladder held in place by the combination of: a lateral strut divided by a lateral hinge; the medial air bladder held in place by the combination of: a medial strut divided by a medial hinge; the lateral strut connected to the medial strut by an anterior thigh cuff and an anterior shin cuff; the lateral strut and medial strut enclosing the lower leg with an anterior thigh strap, an anterior shin strap, a posterior thigh strap, a posterior upper shin strap, and a posterior lower shin strap; a medial guide channel crossing the medial hinge; a medial elastic member connecting the medial strut across the medial hinge; the medial elastic member causing the medial strut to move toward a straight position and away from a bent position; thereby encouraging unbending of the human knee; a lateral guide channel crossing the lateral hinge; a lateral elastic member connecting the lateral strut across the lateral hinge; the lateral elastic member causing the lateral strut to move toward a straight position and away from a bent position; tightening the anterior thigh strap, anterior shin strap, posterior thigh strap, posterior upper shin strap, and posterior lower shin strap to hold the lower leg within the force dissipation brace; inflating the medial air bladder to compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee; inflating the lateral air bladder to compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee; additionally inflating the medial air bladder to further compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee; additionally inflating the lateral air bladder to further compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee; exposing the brace to an external force; the external force applied to the medial strut; the external force spreading up and down the medial strut, causing deformation of the medial strut; the deformation of the medial strut causing deformation of the medial bladder; the deformation of the medial bladder causing the medial bladder to pass through a cycle of absorbing, dissipating, and spreading the force of impact; whereby the human knee is protected from injury.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: inflating the lateral air bladder more than the medial air bladder, thereby opening a medial side of the human knee.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: inflating the medial air bladder more than the lateral air bladder, thereby opening a lateral side of the human knee.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: the external force causing motion of the human knee that causes compression of the lateral air bladder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the device for protecting a knee from external forces.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the device for protecting a knee from external forces.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the device for protecting a knee from external forces.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a rear view of the device for protecting a knee from external forces.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a view of an undamaged knee.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a view of a knee with an LCL tear.

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a view of a knee with an MCL tear.

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates a knee within the device for protecting a knee from external forces.

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates an inflation pump for the device for protecting a knee from external forces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.

(12) Referring to FIG. 1-4, front, isometric, side, and rear views are shown of the device for protecting a knee from external forces.

(13) The force dissipation brace 1 includes a lateral strut 10 and medial strut 20.

(14) The lateral strut 10 is formed from a lateral upper segment 11 and lateral lower segment 12 that meet at lateral hinge 13. A lateral bladder 14 separates the lateral hinge 13 from the knee 102 (see FIG. 8).

(15) A lateral elastic member 16 connects lateral upper segment 11 and lateral lower segment 12 across lateral hinge, the lateral elastic member 16 held within lateral guide channel 18.

(16) The medial strut 20 is formed from a medial upper segment 21 and medial lower segment 22 that meet at medial hinge 23. A medial bladder 24 separates the medial hinge 23 from the knee 102 (see FIG. 8).

(17) A medial elastic member 26 connects medial upper segment 22 and medial lower segment 22 across medial hinge 23, the medial elastic member 26 held within medial guide channel 28.

(18) The force dissipation brace 1 encloses the front of the lower leg 100 (see FIG. 8) using fixed-length anterior thigh cuff 40 and anterior shin cuff 42, and adjustable-length anterior thigh strap 44 with anterior shin strap 46.

(19) The force dissipation brace encloses the back of the lower leg 100 (see FIG. 8) using adjustable-length posterior thigh strap 50, posterior upper shin strap 52, and posterior lower shin strap 54.

(20) Referring to FIG. 5, a view of an undamaged knee is shown.

(21) The lower leg 100, formed from femur 104, tibia 106, and fibula 108 is divided by knee 102. The knee 102 is protected by a patella (knee cap) 110.

(22) Crossing the knee are multiple ligaments. Internal to the knee 102 are ACL 120 and PCL 122. On the inside of the knee 102 is MCL 124, and on the outside of the knee 102 is LCL 126.

(23) Referring to FIG. 6, a view of a knee with an LCL tear is shown.

(24) Again shown are lower leg 100 formed from femur 104, tibia 106, and fibula 108, divided by knee 102.

(25) MCL 124 and LCL 126 are placed at either side of the knee 102.

(26) A medial force 160 against the knee 102 causes stretching on the opposite side of the knee, stretching the LCL 126 and causing a tear.

(27) Referring to FIG. 7, a view of a knee with an MCL tear is shown.

(28) Again shown are lower leg 100 formed from femur 104, tibia 106, and fibula 108, divided by knee 102.

(29) MCL 124 and LCL 126 are placed at either side of the knee 102.

(30) A lateral force 162 against the knee 102 causes stretching on the opposite side of the knee, stretching the MCL 124 and causing a tear.

(31) Referring to FIG. 8, a knee within the device for protecting a knee from external forces is shown.

(32) With the lower leg 100 and knee 102 surrounded by the force dissipation brace 1, the knee 102 is protected against a lateral force 162. An external force, such as lateral force 162, contacts the lateral hinge 13. The force is spread from the lateral hinge 13 to the lateral strut 10, up and down to the anterior thigh cuff 40 and anterior shin cuff 42. Deformation of the lateral strut 10 causes compression of the lateral bladder 14, which cyclically compresses and decompresses, absorbing the incoming force.

(33) Finally, any force that is passed to the knee 102 causes compression of the opposite bladder, or here the medial bladder 24, preventing excessive stretching of the MCL 124, which could cause tearing.

(34) Referring to FIG. 9, an inflation pump for the device for protecting a knee from external forces is shown.

(35) The body 61 of the pump 60 is formed from a compressible, resilient, and air-tight material. Compression of the body 61 pushes air out of the discharge nozzle 64. The body 61 then self-inflates, drawing air in through the suction nozzle 62.

(36) The pump 60 is used to add and remove air from the lateral bladder 14 and medial bladder 24.

(37) Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result.

(38) It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description.

(39) It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.