KNEE-ACL SUPPORT BREECHES SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

A system and method of knee-ACL support breeches for supporting the knees against non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, without interfering in desired movement, by resisting anterior translation of the proximal end of the tibia, thereby reducing stress on the ACL and other knee components. A pair of calibrated-elastic bands are attached at one end to a belt about the waist and at the other end to a strap around each lower knee. The calibrated-elastic bands are incorporated into a pair of breeches or pants which hold the bands tightly against the buttocks and backs of the thighs. In use, when the knee is flexed, the resulting bulging of the hamstrings and other muscles, tendons, and ligaments place an added strain on the relevant calibrated-elastic band, thereby tightening the band and dampening and resisting anterior movement of the attached lower-knee strap, in turn dampening and resisting anterior movement of the proximal end of the tibia, thereby reducing strain on the ACL and other knee components. The knee-ACL support breeches also promote the holding of the knee in a rotationally neutral position, and larger knee-flexion-angle positions during deceleration, both of which positions reduce strain placed on the ACL.

Claims

1. A knee-ACL support breeches system for supporting the knees of an athlete against non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, the knee-ACL support breeches comprising: (i) a belt adapted to provide an anchor point relative to the hips of the athlete; (ii) two calibrated-elastic bands, designated left and right, each attached at an upper end to said belt, with a long dimension running generally perpendicular to said belt, adapted in length to closely fit and conform to the buttocks and posterior thigh of the athlete to the location of the posterior portion of the proximal end of the tibia in the posterior lower portion of the knee joint, and adapted in elasticity to exert a slight restraining pressure and a limited amount of stretch in the long dimension; (iii) two lower-knee straps, designated left and right, each attached to a lower end of a said calibrated-elastic band, adapted to closely encircle the lower portion of the knee joint and the proximal end of the tibia; and (iv) a pair of breeches attached at an upper end to said belt and attached at each lower end to said left and right lower-knee straps, and in contact with said two calibrated-elastic bands such that said bands are held closely and tightly to the back of the athlete's thighs; where, in use, upon flexion of the athlete's knee, the bulging of the hamstrings and related structures of the thigh place added strain upon said calibrated-elastic band, thereby tightening said calibrated-elastic band, transferring an added strain to said lower-knee strap, and applying an added strain to the lower knee and upper tibia, where said added strain operates to dampen and resist anterior translation of the lower knee and upper tibia, thereby supporting and reducing strain upon the ACL.

2. The knee-ACL support breeches of claim 1, where, in use, said knee-ACL support breeches further promote the holding of the knee in a rotationally neutral position.

3. The knee-ACL support breeches of claim 1, where, in use, said knee-ACL support breeches further promote the holding of the knee in larger knee-flexion-angle positions during deceleration.

4. The knee-ACL support breeches of claim 1, where said calibrated-elastic band further comprises a strip of rubber approximately one-eighth of an inch, or three millimeters, thick, and from two to three inches, or fifty to seventy-five millimeters, wide.

5. The knee-ACL support breeches of claim 1, where said calibrated-elastic band further comprises a length of non-elastic webbed belting joined to a length of elastic material.

6. The knee-ACL support breeches of claim 1, where said belt further comprises a length of non-elastic webbed belting.

7. The knee-ACL support breeches of claim 1, where said lower-knee strap further comprises a length of non-elastic webbed belting.

8. The knee-ACL support breeches of claim 1, where said pair of breeches is further attached to said two calibrated-elastic bands.

9. The knee-ACL support breeches of claim 1, where said pair of breeches is further attached to said two calibrated-elastic bands by stitching.

10. The knee-ACL support breeches of claim 1, where said pair of breeches is further attached to said two calibrated-elastic bands along the entire length of said calibrated-elastic bands.

11. A knee-ACL support breeches method for supporting the knees of an athlete against non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, the knee-ACL support breeches method comprising: (i) providing to the athlete knee-ACL support breeches, comprising: (a) a belt adapted to provide an anchor point relative to the hips of the athlete; (b) two calibrated-elastic bands, designated left and right, each attached at an upper end to said belt, with a long dimension running generally perpendicular to said belt, adapted in length to closely fit and conform to the buttocks and posterior thigh of the athlete to the location of the posterior portion of the proximal end of the tibia in the posterior lower portion of the knee joint, and adapted in elasticity to exert a slight restraining pressure and a limited amount of stretch in the long dimension; (c) two lower-knee straps, designated left and right, each attached to a lower end of a said calibrated-elastic band, adapted to closely encircle the lower portion of the knee joint and the proximal end of the tibia; and (d) a pair of breeches attached at an upper end to said belt and attached at each lower end to said left and right lower-knee straps, and in contact with said two calibrated-elastic bands such that said bands are held closely and tightly to the back of the athlete's thighs; where, in use, upon flexion of the athlete's knee, the bulging of the hamstrings and related structures of the thigh place added strain upon said calibrated-elastic band, thereby tightening said calibrated-elastic band, transferring an added strain to said lower-knee strap, and applying an added strain to the lower knee and upper tibia, where said added strain operates to dampen and resist anterior translation of the lower knee and upper tibia, thereby supporting and reducing strain upon the ACL; (ii) training and conditioning the athlete in proper flexion and neutral rotation of the knee using the added strain applied to the lower knee and upper tibia by said knee-ACL support breeches; and (iii) preventing injury to the ACL of the athlete by dampening and restraining forces tending toward anterior translation of the lower knee and upper tibia by said knee-ACL support breeches.

12. The knee-ACL support breeches method of claim 11, where, in use, said knee-ACL support breeches further promote the holding of the knee in a rotationally neutral position.

13. The knee-ACL support breeches method of claim 11, where, in use, said knee-ACL support breeches further promote the holding of the knee in larger knee-flexion-angle positions during deceleration.

14. The knee-ACL support breeches method of claim 11, where said calibrated-elastic band further comprises a strip of rubber approximately one-eighth of an inch, or three millimeters, thick, and from two to three inches, or fifty to seventy-five millimeters, wide.

15. The knee-ACL support breeches method of claim 11, where said calibrated-elastic band further comprises a length of non-elastic webbed belting joined to a length of elastic material.

16. The knee-ACL support breeches method of claim 11, where said belt further comprises a length of non-elastic webbed belting.

17. The knee-ACL support breeches method of claim 11, where said lower-knee strap further comprises a length of non-elastic webbed belting.

18. The knee-ACL support breeches method of claim 11, where said pair of breeches is further attached to said two calibrated-elastic bands.

19. The knee-ACL support breeches method of claim 11, where said pair of breeches is further attached to said two calibrated-elastic bands by stitching.

20. The knee-ACL support breeches method of claim 11, where said pair of breeches is further attached to said two calibrated-elastic bands along the entire length of said calibrated-elastic bands.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a posterior perspective view of the knee-ACL support breeches system and method in use;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the knee-ACL support breeches system and method in use;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the knee-ACL support breeches system and method in use;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a frontal view of the knee-ACL support breeches system and method in use;

[0029] FIG. 5 is a posterior view of the knee-ACL support breeches system and method in use;

[0030] FIG. 6 is a right-side view of the knee-ACL support breeches system and method in use; and

[0031] FIG. 7 is a left-side view of the knee-ACL support breeches system and method in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] Referring to FIG. 1 and all of the figures generally, the knee-ACL support breeches 10 of the invention are shown.

[0033] A belt attached to the top opening of a pair of breeches 6 provides an anchor point relative to the hips of the athlete. The belt should be made of a material having little or no stretch, and should be fitted closely to the athlete's waist and hips. Buckles, snaps, hook-and-loop, or other such known fasteners can be provided to facilitate the wearing and the fitting of the belt.

[0034] Attached to the belt 1 are two calibrated-elastic bands, designated left calibrated-elastic band 2 and right calibrated-elastic band 3, corresponding to the legs of the athlete wearing the breeches. Each calibrated-elastic band is attached at an upper end to the belt 1, at locations on the belt corresponding to the athletes back, at the hips and above the buttocks.

[0035] The lower ends of the calibrated-elastic bands are attached to lower-knee straps, designated left lower-knee strap 4 and right lower-knee strap 5. Each lower-knee strap encircles the lower portion of the athlete's knee, which is the portion encompassing the proximal end of the tibia where it meets the distal end of the femur in the knee joint. Non-contact injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee are primarily caused by the anterior translation, or the slipping forward, of the top of the tibia in relation to the bottom of the femur, straining the ACL, which is attached to both bones. The position of the lower-knee strap 4, 5 is meant to provide a location upon which to apply dampening or resisting force to counter such anterior translation of the tibia. The lower-knee straps 4, 5 should be made of a material having little or no stretch, and should be fitted closely to the athlete's lower knee. Buckles, snaps, hook-and-loop, or other such known fasteners can be provided to facilitate the wearing and the fitting of the lower-knee straps 4, 5.

[0036] Each lower-knee strap 4, 5 is attached to the lower end of the corresponding calibrated-elastic band 2, 3, and also to the corresponding lower opening of the pair of breeches 6.

[0037] The breeches 6 hold the calibrated-elastic bands 2, 3 tightly and in conformation to the buttocks and posterior thigh of the athlete. The calibrated-elastic bands can be placed on the inside or the outside of the breeches, or into a sleeve sewn into the breeches. Attachment of the bands to the breeches by a method such as sewing helps prevent the bands from moving and loosening.

[0038] The length of the calibrated-elastic bands 2, 3 should be essentially the same length as the body surface between the belt 1 and the lower-knee straps 4, 5 at the attachment points to each. Adjustment of the width of the calibrated-elastic bands 4, 5 might be a consideration in calibration, depending upon the material and method of construction chosen. Prototype embodiments of the invention using strips of rubber similar to an automobile-tire inner tube, approximately (3 mm) thick and from 2 to 3 (50-75 mm) wide were shown to be effective.

[0039] Each calibrated-elastic band 2, 3 is made of a material having a controlled amount of stretch in the long dimension, which runs from the belt 1 to the lower-knee straps 4, 5. The desired amount of stretch is one that will offer a slight amount of resistance to normal operation of the knee, which provides a benefit in training or encouraging the athlete to use the knee properly, but without so much resistance as to interfere with movement and use of the leg and knee. The desired amount of stretch is also one that has a hard limit calibrated to exhibit essentially no stretch at the point where anterior translation of the tibia and injury to the ACL would occur. The calibrated-elastic bands 2, 3 can be made of one continuous length of elastic material or of joined pieces of material having different elastic properties.

[0040] In use, with the athlete's knee not flexed but extended, the calibrated-elastic band 2, 3 will pull slightly between the essentially anchored belt 1 and the lower-knee strap 4, 5, resulting in a slight pulling upward and backward of the lower knee. Such slight pulling is not enough to restrict movement, but can be beneficial in training, conditioning, or otherwise urging the proper positioning of the leg when beginning flexion of the knee.

[0041] Upon flexion of the athlete's knee, the bulging of the hamstrings and related structures of the thigh place added strain upon the calibrated-elastic band, thereby tightening the calibrated-elastic band, and transferring an added strain to the lower-knee band, which applies an added strain to the lower knee and upper tibia. This increased pulling of the lower knee is also beneficial in training or conditioning for the reasons disclosed above. If too much strain is threatened to be placed on the ACL because of too little angle of flexion of the knee or because of a non-neutral rotation of the knee or similar causes, the hard limit on the elasticity of the calibrated-elastic band 2, 3 is reached, and the force tending to cause an anterior translation of the tibia and resulting strain upon the ACL is countered, dampened, and resisted by the knee-ACL support breeches 10.

[0042] Many other changes and modifications can be made in the system and method of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.