Patent ID: 6773411
Filing Date: 2004-08-10
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A knee brace for rehabilitating an injured knee, comprising:A) a tubular sleeve assembly made of an elastic webbing material, said sleeve assembly being designed to fit over a leg and extend from below the knee upwardly to the thigh of said leg, said tubular sleeve assembly also having first and second stitching, said first stitching being horizontal behind said knee to facilitate bending of said knee and said second stitching being vertical behind said knee to facilitate manufacturing of said tubular sleeve assembly; B) an elongated pocket assembly attached to said sleeve assembly, said elongated pocket assembly being positioned on said sleeve assembly longitudinally over the patella of said knee when said sleeve assembly is worn on said leg, said elongated pocket assembly having at least one vertical channel, said at least one vertical channel selectively housing at least one elongated strip having a predetermined bending resistance so as to impede bending of said leg at said knee, said elongated strip is removable, enabling a patient to remove and insert additional said elongated strips of various gauges to adjust said predetermined bending resistance of said knee brace, said predetermined bending resistance of said knee brace increases, support to knee, meniscus, ligaments, and muscles of said leg increases, resulting in lesser stress to the knee and as said predetermined bending resistance to said knee brace decreases, said support to said knee, said meniscus, said ligaments, and said muscles of said leg decreases, resulting in greater stress to said knee; and C) a strap assembly secured to said sleeve assembly adjacent to said elongated pocket assembly and extending around said leg, and having fastening means secured thereon for fastening said strap assembly to said sleeve assembly, said strap assembly when tightened extending above said patella for placement ease and comfort.