Patent ID: 8172781
Filing Date: 2012-05-08
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A method for setting a rotation limit on a hinge for an orthopedic brace and for transitioning the hinge between a rotation locked position to lock the hinge against rotation and a rotation unlocked position to permit rotation of the hinge within the rotation limit, the method comprising: providing a hinge including a first rotation plate having a first peripheral edge, a second rotation plate having a second peripheral edge, a pivotal connector connecting said first and second rotation plates, and a rotation limiting mechanism having a series of rotation limiting teeth proximate said first peripheral edge, a rotation limiting face proximate said second peripheral edge, and a rotation limiter; selectively positioning said rotation limiter with respect to said series of teeth to set said rotation limiter at a rotation limitation point; engaging said rotation limiting face with said rotation limiter upon rotation of said second rotation plate relative to said first rotation plate in a first rotation direction opposite a second rotation direction to substantially prevent rotation of said second rotation plate in said first rotation direction past said rotation limiter at said rotation limitation point; further providing said hinge with a rotation locking mechanism including, a series of lock notches proximate said second peripheral edge, a rotation lock member, a lock actuator connected to said rotation lock member and having a lock actuator width, a pair of edges spaced a distance apart in opposing alignment with one another across a displacement channel slidably receiving said lock actuator, wherein at least one of said edges is formed by an expansion rail and said displacement channel is substantially radially fixed relative to said pivotal connector, said distance apart has a narrowed point less than said lock actuator width, and said narrowed point defines a first side on one side of said narrowed point and a second side on an opposing side of said narrowed point; selectively positioning said rotation lock member at a rotation locked position with respect to said series of lock notches, thereby selectively substantially locking said first and second rotation plates against rotation relative to one another in said first and second rotation directions; selectively positioning said rotation lock member at a rotation unlocked position with respect to said series of lock notches, thereby selectively substantially permitting rotation of said first and second rotation plates relative to one another in said first and second rotation directions; radially slidably displacing said lock actuator and said rotation lock member relative to said pivotal connector to transition said rotation lock member between said rotation locked position and said rotation unlocked position; engaging and elastically displacing said expansion rail at said narrowed point with said lock actuator to widen said narrowed point when radially slidably displacing said lock actuator relative to said pivotal connector through said narrowed point between said first side and said second side of said narrowed point, wherein positioning said lock actuator on said first side enables said rotation locked position of said rotation lock member and positioning said lock actuator on said second side enables said rotation unlocked position of said rotation lock member.