US5074290A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floating pivot hinge and knee brace
Assignee: Exoflex Inc
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Filing: 1990-07-02
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Granted: 1991-12-24
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Expires: 2010-07-02
Abstract
Abstract A knee brace includes a thigh cuff having inner and outer spaced brace arms adapted to extend along the user's thigh toward the knee, a calf cuff including inner and outer spaced brace arms adapted to extend along the user's calf toward the knee, and floating pivot axis hinges rotatably connecting the inner and outer brace arms of each pair. The hinge is formed by a pair of juxtaposed hinge plates, each having a pivot face in opposition to a pivot face ont he juxtaposed plate, with a concave groove in each of the face. A pivot bearing ball is confined between the opposed faces and retained in the concave grooves. A spring, bellville spring, or disk spring biases the hinge plates together when the pivot bearing ball is positioned in the opposed grooves between. The pivot bearing ball provides a floating pivot axis for hinge rotation of said hinge plates and thereby said braces relative to each other, the ball and concave grooves allowing the hinge plates simultaneously to slide and pivot relative to each other. The pivot axis floats between the hinge plates depending on the degree of pivoting and sliding movement in a wearer' s knee joint as a result of flexion thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 David P. Harris
- 👤 Michael E. Berkeley
- 👤 William L. McCune
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:42
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/01; A61F5/0102; A61F5/0123; A61F2005/0132; A61F2005/0146; A61F2005/0165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A floating pivot axis hinge comprising, in combination, a pair of juxtaposed hinge plates, each said plate having a pivot face in opposition to a pivot face on the juxtaposed plate, a concave groove in each of said faces, a pivot bearing ball positioned between said opposed faces and retained in said concave grooves, means normally biasing said hinge plates together when said pivot bearing ball is positioned in opposed grooves between said opposing faces, said pivot bearing ball providing a floating pivot axis for hinge rotation of said hinge plates relative to each other, said concave grooves allowing said hinge plates to slide relative to each other and simultaneously pivot relative to each other about said pivot axis defined by said ball, said pivot axis thereby floating between said hinge plates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A floating pivot axis hinge comprising, in combination, a pair of juxtaposed hinge plates, each said plate having a pivot face in opposition to a pivot face on the juxtaposed plate, a concave groove in each of said faces, a pivot bearing ball positioned between said opposed faces and retained in said concave grooves, means normally biasing said hinge plates together when said pivot bearing ball is positioned in opposed grooves between said opposing faces, said pivot bearing ball providing a floating pivot axis for hinge rotation of said hinge plates relative to each other, said concave grooves allowing said hinge plates to slide relative to each other and simultaneously pivot relative to each other about said pivot axis defined by said ball, said pivot axis thereby floating between said hinge plates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
139 words
A floating pivot axis hinge comprising, in combination, a pair of juxtaposed hinge plates adapted to pivot and slide with respect to each other, each said plate having a pivot face in opposition to a pivot face on the juxtaposed plate, a concave recess in at least one of said faces, a single pivot bearing ball positioned between said opposed faces and retained in said concave recess, and means resiliently biasing said hinge plates together against said pivot bearing ball when said ball is positioned between said opposing faces, said pivot bearing ball thereby providing a floating pivot axis for hinge rotation of said hinge plates relative to each other, said concave recess allowing said hinge plates to slide relative to each other and simultaneously pivot relative to each other about said floating pivot axis defined by said ball.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
139 words
A floating pivot axis hinge comprising, in combination, a pair of juxtaposed hinge plates adapted to pivot and slide with respect to each other, each said plate having a pivot face in opposition to a pivot face on the juxtaposed plate, a concave recess in at least one of said faces, a single pivot bearing ball positioned between said opposed faces and retained in said concave recess, and means resiliently biasing said hinge plates together against said pivot bearing ball when said ball is positioned between said opposing faces, said pivot bearing ball thereby providing a floating pivot axis for hinge rotation of said hinge plates relative to each other, said concave recess allowing said hinge plates to slide relative to each other and simultaneously pivot relative to each other about said floating pivot axis defined by said ball.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A floating pivot axis hinge as defined in claim 2 wherein said concave recess is a groove tapered from a deeper point to a shallower point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A floating pivot axis hinge as defined in claim 3 wherein said concave groove includes an inclined plane bottom surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A floating pivot axis hinge as defined as claim 2 wherein said concave recess is generally oval shaped having its widest point at its center and narrowest points at its ends.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A floating pivot axis hinge as defined in claim 5 wherein said recess is deepest at its widest point and shallowest at its narrowest point.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
208 words
A floating pivot axis hinge arrangement for connecting first and second members for pivotal and partial sliding movement with respect to each other, said hinge arrangement comprising, in combination, first and second members and a hinge, said hinge including a pair of juxtaposed hinge plates adapted to pivot and slide with respect to each other, each said plate having a pivot face in opposition to a pivot face on the juxtaposed plate, a concave recess in at least one of said faces, said recess having a deeper point and a shallower point, a single pivot bearing ball positioned between said opposed faces and retained in said concave recess, and means resiliently biasing said hinge plates together against said pivot bearing ball when said ball is positioned in said recess between said opposing faces, said pivot bearing ball being located at the deeper point of said recess when said members are aligned in parallel co-extensive relationship, said pivot bearing ball providing a floating pivot axis for hinge rotation of said hinge plates and thereby said members relative to each other, said concave recess allowing said hinge plates to slide relative to each other and simultaneously pivot relative to each other about said floating pivot axis provided by said ball.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
208 words
A floating pivot axis hinge arrangement for connecting first and second members for pivotal and partial sliding movement with respect to each other, said hinge arrangement comprising, in combination, first and second members and a hinge, said hinge including a pair of juxtaposed hinge plates adapted to pivot and slide with respect to each other, each said plate having a pivot face in opposition to a pivot face on the juxtaposed plate, a concave recess in at least one of said faces, said recess having a deeper point and a shallower point, a single pivot bearing ball positioned between said opposed faces and retained in said concave recess, and means resiliently biasing said hinge plates together against said pivot bearing ball when said ball is positioned in said recess between said opposing faces, said pivot bearing ball being located at the deeper point of said recess when said members are aligned in parallel co-extensive relationship, said pivot bearing ball providing a floating pivot axis for hinge rotation of said hinge plates and thereby said members relative to each other, said concave recess allowing said hinge plates to slide relative to each other and simultaneously pivot relative to each other about said floating pivot axis provided by said ball.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
A hinge as defined in claim 7 wherein said first member is secured to one of said hinge plates and said second member is secured to the other of same hinge plates and including means on said one of said hinge plates for engaging said second member for limiting pivotally swinging movement of said members relative to each other about said floating pivot axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
A hinge as defined in claim 8 wherein said limiting means comprises a housing secured to one of said hinge plates and having a peripheral wall, means defining a slot in the peripheral wall of said housing for receiving said second member for limiting relative swinging movement thereof with respect to said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
176 words
A floating pivot axis hinge arrangement for an anatomical joint brace including a pair of brace arms and a hinge, said brace arms being adapted to be hinged together by said hinge, said hinge comprising, in combination, a pair of juxtaposed hinge plates adapted to pivot and slide with respect to each other, one of said plates being secured to one brace arm and the other being secured to the other brace arm, each said plate having a pivot face in opposition to a pivot face on the juxtaposed plate, a concave recess in at least one of said faces, said recess having a deeper point and shallower point, a single pivot bearing ball positioned between said opposed faces and retained in said concave recess, and means resilient biasing said hinge plates together against said ball pivot bearing when said ball is positioned between said opposing faces, whereby said pivot bearing ball provides a floating pivot axis for hinge rotation and sliding movement of said hinge plate and thereby said brace arms relative to each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
176 words
A floating pivot axis hinge arrangement for an anatomical joint brace including a pair of brace arms and a hinge, said brace arms being adapted to be hinged together by said hinge, said hinge comprising, in combination, a pair of juxtaposed hinge plates adapted to pivot and slide with respect to each other, one of said plates being secured to one brace arm and the other being secured to the other brace arm, each said plate having a pivot face in opposition to a pivot face on the juxtaposed plate, a concave recess in at least one of said faces, said recess having a deeper point and shallower point, a single pivot bearing ball positioned between said opposed faces and retained in said concave recess, and means resilient biasing said hinge plates together against said ball pivot bearing when said ball is positioned between said opposing faces, whereby said pivot bearing ball provides a floating pivot axis for hinge rotation and sliding movement of said hinge plate and thereby said brace arms relative to each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A hinge as defined in claim 10 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A hinge as defined in claim 10 further including means for limiting pivotally swinging movement of said brace arms relative to each other about said floating pivot axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
A hinge as defined in claim 12 wherein said limiting means comprises a housing defined on one of said brace arms and having a peripheral wall, means defining a slot in the peripheral wall of said housing for receiving the other brace arm, and means formed by said slot defining means for limiting swinging movement of the other brace arm with respect to said one brace arm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
143 words
A floating pivot axis hinge comprising, in combination, a pair of juxtaposed hinge plates adapted to pivot and slide with respect to each other, each said plate having a pivot face in opposition to a pivot face on the juxtaposed plate, a concave depression in at least one of said faces, a single pivot bearing ball positioned between said opposed faces and retained in said concave depression, and means resiliently biasing said hinge plates together against said pivot bearing ball when said ball is positioned in said concave depression between said opposing faces, said pivot bearing ball thereby providing a floating pivot axis for hinge rotation of said hinge plates relative to each other, said concave depression allowing said hinge plates to slide relative to each other and simultaneously pivot relative to each other about said floating pivot axis defined by said ball.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
143 words
A floating pivot axis hinge comprising, in combination, a pair of juxtaposed hinge plates adapted to pivot and slide with respect to each other, each said plate having a pivot face in opposition to a pivot face on the juxtaposed plate, a concave depression in at least one of said faces, a single pivot bearing ball positioned between said opposed faces and retained in said concave depression, and means resiliently biasing said hinge plates together against said pivot bearing ball when said ball is positioned in said concave depression between said opposing faces, said pivot bearing ball thereby providing a floating pivot axis for hinge rotation of said hinge plates relative to each other, said concave depression allowing said hinge plates to slide relative to each other and simultaneously pivot relative to each other about said floating pivot axis defined by said ball.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A floating pivot axis hinge as defined in claim 14 wherein said concave depression is tapered from a deeper central point to shallower peripheral points.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A floating pivot axis hinge as defined in claim 14 wherein said concave depression includes a conical inclined plane bottom surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-23 | 1995-06-24 | 1995-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-23 | 1999-06-24 | 1999-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-23 | 2003-06-24 | 2003-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |