Leg support device for skiing

Claim 2

A leg support device securable to the leg of a skier, comprising: upper support means positionable to engage the rearward portion and sides of the skier''s leg above the knee, and including means for securing said upper support means to the skier''s leg; lower support means positionable about the skier''s leg below the knee, and including means for securing said lower support means to the skier''s leg; and spring means interconnecting the sides of said upper and lower support means, said spring means being in an essentially unstressed condition when the device is thus secured to the skier''s leg and the leg is only slightly bent, and being in a stressed condition when the leg and the spring means are relatively sharply bent, which stressed condition tends to relatively straighten said spring means.

Claim 3

The device according to claim 1, wherein said spring means comprises a pair of beam spring members, one arranged at each side of said support means.

Claim 4

The device according to claim 2, wherein said beam spring members comprise spring bars maintained generally parallel with the skier''s leg when said device is secured thereto.

Claim 5

The device according to claim 1, wherein said upper support means comprises a substantially rigid concave plate positionable about the rearward portion of the skier''s leg immediately above the knee.

Claim 6

The device according to claim 4, wherein said means for securing said concave upper leg plate to said skier''s leg comprises lacing means securable to each edge of said upper leg plate for passing over the forward portion of said skier''s leg above the knee.

Claim 7

The device according to claim 4, wherein said means for securing said concave upper plate to said skier''s leg comprises a plurality of straps each secured to each edge of said plate for passing over the forward portion of said skier''s leg above the knee, and adjustable buckle means interposed intermediate the length of each said strap.

Claim 8

The device according to claim 1, wherein said lower support means comprises a substantially rigid concave plate securable to the skier''s leg below the knee and includes lacing means securable to each edge of said concave lower leg plate for passing over the forward portion of said skier''s leg subjacent the knee.

Claim 9

For use by securement to the legs of a skier, a pair of leg support devices as claimed in claim 1.

Claim 10

A leg support device securable to the leg of a skier, comprising: upper support means positionable to engage the rearward portion and sides of the skier''s leg above the knee, and including means for securing said upper support means to the skier''s leg; lower support means positionable about the skier''s leg below the knee, and including means for securing said lower support means to the skier''s leg; and spring means interconnecting the sides of said upper and lower support means, said spring means having an essentially unstressed condItion when the device is thus secured to the skier''s leg and the leg is only slightly bent, and having a stressed condition tending to support a portion of the weight of the skier when the skier is in a crouched position.

Claim 11

A leg support device securable to the leg of a skier, comprising: upper support means positionable to engage the rearward portion and sides of the skier''s leg above the knee, and including means for securing said upper support means to the skier''s leg; lower support means positionable about the skier''s leg below the knee, and including means for securing said lower support means to the skier''s leg; and spring means interconnecting the sides of said upper and lower support means, said spring means having an essentially unstressed condItion when the device is thus secured to the skier''s leg and the leg is only slightly bent, and having a stressed condition tending to support a portion of the weight of the skier when the skier is in a crouched position.

Claim 12

A leg support device securable to each leg of a skier, comprising: upper support means including a substantially rigid concave plate positionable about the rearward portion of the skier''s leg above the knee, and means for securing said upper support means to the skier''s leg, and further including spring member coupling means mounted on said upper support means; lower support means including a substantially rigid concave plate positionable about the rearward portion of the skier''s leg below the knee and means for securing said lower support means to the skier''s leg, and further including spring member coupling means mounted on said lower support means; and beam spring members interconnecting the coupling means on said upper and lower plates and arranged on both sides of the skier''s leg when said device is secured thereto.

Claim 13

A leg support device securable to each leg of a skier, comprising: upper support means including a substantially rigid concave plate positionable about the rearward portion of the skier''s leg above the knee, and means for securing said upper support means to the skier''s leg, and further including spring member coupling means mounted on said upper support means; lower support means including a substantially rigid concave plate positionable about the rearward portion of the skier''s leg below the knee and means for securing said lower support means to the skier''s leg, and further including spring member coupling means mounted on said lower support means; and beam spring members interconnecting the coupling means on said upper and lower plates and arranged on both sides of the skier''s leg when said device is secured thereto.

Claim 14

The device according to claim 10, wherein the intermediate portions of said beam spring members located between said upper and said lower plates are permanently slightly bent so that the skier tends to maintain his knees in flexed position when said device is positioned on the skier''s leg.

Claim 15

The device according to claim 10, wherein said coupling means comprises U-shaped brackets mounted on each side of each of said upper and lower plates, each of said brackets having projecting ear portions for removably securing said beam spring members to said plates.

Claim 16

The device according to claim 10, wherein said coupling means mounted to said upper plate comprises two concave members securely mounted about the upper and lower portions of said plate, each of said members terminating at each end in a channel through which a beam spring member passes.

Claim 17

The device according to claim 10, wherein said coupling means mounted to said lower plate comprises tubular members disposed along each edge of said lower plate through which said beam spring members pass, each of said beam spring members having swaged fittings disposed immediately above and below said tubular member to prevent slippage of said beam spring member therethrough.

Claim 18

For use by securement to the legs of a skier, a pair of leg support devices as claimed in claim 10.

Claim 19

A leg support device securable to each leg of a skier, comprising: upper support means comprising a substantially rigid concave plate positionable about the rearward portion of the skier''s leg immediately above the knee and including means for securing such to the skier''s leg, and further including a projecting tongue portion extending toward the skier''s waist when said device is so secured; lower support means positionable about the skier''s leg below the knee including means for securing said lower support means to the skier''s leg; and spring means interconnecting said upper and lower support means, the said spring means being in a stressed condition when relatively sharply bent, which stressed condition tends to relatively straighten said spring means, the said projecting tongue portion of the upper support means engaging the rearmost portion of the skier''s leg to provide maximum leverage under such stressed condition.

Claim 20

A leg support device securable to each leg of a skier, comprising: upper support means comprising a substantially rigid concave plate positionable about the rearward portion of the skier''s leg immediately above the knee and including means for securing such to the skier''s leg, and further including a projecting tongue portion extending toward the skier''s waist when said device is so secured; lower support means positionable about the skier''s leg below the knee including means for securing said lower support means to the skier''s leg; and spring means interconnecting said upper and lower support means, the said spring means being in a stressed condition when relatively sharply bent, which stressed condition tends to relatively straighten said spring means, the said projecting tongue portion of the upper support means engaging the rearmost portion of the skier''s leg to provide maximum leverage under such stressed condition.

Claim 21

A leg support device securable to each leg of a skier, comprising: upper support means positionable about the skier''s leg above the knee including means for securing such to the skier''s leg; lower support means comprising a substantially rigid concave cuff positionable about the rearward ankle portion of the skier''s leg exterior to the skier''s boot, and including means for securing said lower support means thereto; and spring means interconnecting said upper and lower support means, said spring means being in a stressed condition when relatively sharply bent, wHich stressed condition tends to relatively straighten said spring means.

Claim 22

A leg support device securable to each leg of a skier, comprising: upper support means positionable about the skier''s leg above the knee including means for securing such to the skier''s leg; lower support means comprising a substantially rigid concave cuff positionable about the rearward ankle portion of the skier''s leg exterior to the skier''s boot, and including means for securing said lower support means thereto; and spring means interconnecting said upper and lower support means, said spring means being in a stressed condition when relatively sharply bent, wHich stressed condition tends to relatively straighten said spring means.

Claim 23

The device according to claim 17, wherein said means for securing the lower concave cuff to the rearward ankle portion of said skier''s leg exterior to the skier''s boot comprises a strap secured to each edge of said cuff for passing over the forward portion of said skier''s boot, and adjustable buckle means interposed intermediate the length of said strap.