Knee brace

Claim 2

A knee brace for support and protection of a knee joint comprising inner and outer bracing structures, each said bracing structure comprising two substantially rigid generally planar and elongated arms, upper securing means securing one said arm of each said bracing structure parallel to the wearer''s upper leg above the knee for movement with the upper leg and limited motion parallel to the upper leg, lower securing means securing the other said arm of each said bracing structure parallel to the wearer''s lower leg below the knee for movement with the lower leg and limited motion parallel to the lower leg, each said bracing structure having a first said arm bifurcated to provide two generally parallel plate portions, and a second said arm having an end portion providing a smoothly curved edge, said end portion being received between saiD plate portions for articular motion of said second arm relative to said first arm within a plane parallel to the planes of said plate portions, said plate portions preventing motion of said second arm out of said plane, said second arm end portion having a hemispheric slot having a curved front edge and a straight back edge and said first arm bifurcated end having a pin passing through said slot and connected said arms together, said slot being substantially larger than said pin diameter, said articular motion being determined by the normal flexion and extension of the wearer''s knee and comprising any combination consistent therewith of rotation of said second arm about any axis through said first arm bifurcated end and said second arm end portion and normal to said plane, and translation of said second arm as a whole with respect to said first arm in any direction within said plane.

Claim 3

A knee brace for support and protection of a knee joint comprising inner and outer bracing structures, each said bracing structure comprising two substantially rigid generally planar and elongated arms, upper securing means securing one said arm of each said bracing structure parallel to the wearer''s upper leg above the knee for movement with the upper leg and limited motion parallel to the upper leg, lower securing means securing the other said arm of each said bracing structure parallel to the wearer''s lower leg below the knee for movement with the lower leg and limited motion parallel to the lower leg, each said bracing structure having a first said arm bifurcated to provide two generally parallel plate portions, and a second said arm having an end portion providing a smoothly curved edge, said end portions being received between said plate portions for articular motion of said second arm relative to said first arm within a plane parallel to the planes of said plate portions, said plate portions preventing motion of said second arm out of said plane, said knee brace further including an elastic cuff adapted to be worn adjacent the knee joint, said upper and lower securing means including pockets secured to said cuff and retaining said arms to maintain said second arm end portion between said first arm plate portions and permitting limited translation of one arm relative to the other, said articular motion being determined by the normal flexion and extension of the wearer''s knee and comprising any combination consistent therewith of rotation of said second arm about any axis through said first arm bifurcated end and said second arm end portion and normal to said plane, and translation of said second arm as a whole with respect to said first arm in any direction within said plane.

Claim 4

A knee brace for support and protection of a knee joint comprising inner and outer bracing structures, each said bracing structure comprising two substantially rigid generally planar and elongated arms, upper securing means securing one said arm of each said bracing structure parallel to the wearer''s upper leg above the knee for movement with the upper leg and limited motion parallel to the upper leg, lower securing means securing the other said arm of each said bracing structure parallel to the wearer''s lower leg below the knee for movement with the lower leg and limited motion parallel to the lower leg, each said bracing structure having a first said arm bifurcated to provide two generally parallel plate portions, and a second said arm having an end portion providing a smoothly curved edge, said end portions being received between said plate portions for articular motion of said second arm relative to said first arm within a plane parallel to the planes of said plate portions, said plate portions preventing motion of said second arm out of said plane, said knee brace further including an elastic cuff adapted to be worn adjacent the knee joint, said upper and lower securing means including pockets secured to said cuff and retaining said arms to maintain said second arm end portion between said first arm plate portions and permitting limited translation of one arm relative to the other, said articular motion being determined by the normal flexion and extension of the wearer''s knee and comprising any combination consistent therewith of rotation of said second arm about any axis through said first arm bifurcated end and said second arm end portion and normal to said plane, and translation of said second arm as a whole with respect to said first arm in any direction within said plane.

Claim 5

The knee brace of claim 2 wherein said pockets retaining said outer bracing structure upper and lower arms each have two attaching means spaced along said arm, said upper securing means including an upper strap secured in perpendicularly fixed relation to said pocket retaining said inner bracing structure upper arm and removably securable in perpendicularly fixed relation to said pocket retaining said outer bracing structure upper arm, said lower securing means including a lower strap secured in perpendicularly fixed relation to said pocket retaining said inner bracing structure lower arm and removably securable in perpendicularly fixed relation to said pocket retaining said outer bracing structure lower arm, said upper strap providing a back portion removably securable to said two attaching means in said outer bracing structure upper arm pocket, and two front portions each removably securable to a said attaching means on said outer bracing structure upper arm pocket, and said lower strap providing a back portion removably securable to said two attaching means on said outer bracing structure lower arm pocket, and two front portions each removably securable to said attaching means on said outer bracing structure lowEr arm pocket.