Abstract:
A modular a lower body support device is shown herein. An adjustable frame supports the bodyweight of a user such that the knee of the user rests within a knee frame, the shin of the user rests within a bend frame, and the ankle of the user rests within an ankle frame; a knee pad insert is removably attachable to the frame, and a skid plate insert is removably attachable to the knee pad insert; straps and slots are used to fasten the user to the frame; the user may sit on an integrated seat while kneeling, or may wear the device while ambulatory.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This independent application is related to application Ser. No. 11/343,427, filed Jan. 30, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,303,516, dated Dec. 4, 2007. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention is directed toward the field of modular lower body support devices. More particularly, this invention relates to a modular lower body support device providing replaceable knee pad and skid plate inserts. 
     2. Discussion of Prior Art 
     Many occupations require workers to assume kneeling positions in order to attend the task for which they are employed. Unfortunately, assuming a kneeling position for an extended period, or repeatedly, causes those in such a position discomfort, cramping, muscle fatigue, or other similar problems. 
     Many devices have been proposed over the years to alleviate the discomforts associated with working in kneeling positions. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 1,296,522 to Holsey shows a simple knee pad device. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 1,547,166 to Davidison shows a slightly more sophisticated knee pad. However, neither device provides much in the way of actual support or cushioning. That is, even though the knee is elevated above whatever surface on which the knee pad rests, the user&#39;s weight still stresses the knee directly. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 2,627,301 to Emmett, a knee board is shown. Although this device implements a recognizable pad to cushion the knee, it does not allow much mobility to a standing user. As such, its utility is diminished. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,309 to Mengshoel another knee board device is illustrated. Through a variety of configurations, Mengshoel discloses a more portable device than previously shown. Additionally, the device has provision for a seat element, which takes some stress off the user&#39;s knees. However, the user&#39;s weight still passes through the user&#39;s ankles. Moreover, in the J-shaped ankle configuration the user&#39;s leg may separate from the pad, especially when employed in a dynamic occupational setting. Additionally, the O-shaped ankle configuration, the ability of the user to equip the device is impaired. That is, putting one&#39;s foot through the O-shaped ankle configuration is difficult. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,071 to Richards, a complicated knee pad device is shown. Said device includes a frame with a knee pad section, a seat section, and a mid-shin floor engaging member. This device is hampered by its obvious complexity. Moreover, it is designed with an integrated knee pad, limiting the user to employing that knee pad exclusively. Additionally, this device is not particularly stable, being prone to side-to-side rolling or pivoting. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,507 to Earl, a kneeler is shown. This kneeler allows a certain amount of the user&#39;s weight to pass through the seat incorporated in the frame of the device. However, a user of the device cannot walk around with this device attached to their legs. As such, the user would have to carry such device with them, greatly diminishing its utility. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 7,303,516 to Petersen, a lower body support device is shown. Said device allows a user to choose a knee pad and strap it onto a frame through a fastening means. It also features a removable seat for supporting the weight of the user. Despite these advantages, the lower body support device does not provide its own replaceable knee pad insert, which would be easy to install and remove; and, would be certain to fit onto the frame. Moreover, it does not provide a replaceable skid plate insert for use under the aforesaid replaceable knee pad insert. 
     As such, there is a void in the prior art in the field of lower body support devices. The prior art lacks a modular device which provides an easily replaceable knee pad insert, together with a replaceable skid plate insert, which may be integrated into a suitably comfortable and sturdy lower body support frame. The present invention fills this void. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a modular lower body support device with replaceable knee pad insert and replaceable skid plate insert is shown herein. The lower leg of the user is positioned such that the knee of the user rests within the area defined by a knee frame, the shin of the user rests within the area defined by a bend frame, and the ankle of the user rests in the region of an ankle frame. A knee pad insert adjoining means on the knee frame allows for the securing of a knee pad insert, which is designed to attach onto the knee pad insert adjoining means. A seating means, which may be a seat insert, is secured to the top of the ankle frame. The user wears one leg support device on each leg. 
     While resting on a surface, the bottom of the knee frame and the bottom of the ankle frame, and possibly the bottom of the replaceable skid plate insert, contact said surface. Preferably, the buttocks of the user rest on the seating means, which transfers a significant portion of the weight of the user to the surface via the frames. The ankle frame, bend frame, and knee frame greatly limit the possibility of side-to-side motion. Additionally, the user may stand and walk while employing the modular lower body support device. 
     Furthermore, the overall length of the device may be adjusted. Such adjustment allows increased user comfort. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     Accordingly, the objects and advantages of the invention are: 
     A) to provide a modular lower body support device which accepts a knee pad insert to fit within the knee frame of the device; 
     B) to provide a modular lower body support device which may be worn and employed by a user while kneeling, standing, or walking; 
     C) to provide a modular lower body support device which transfers a significant portion of the weight of the user through the device and away from the knee and joints of the user; 
     D) to provide a modular lower body support device which allows improved stability while employed in a kneeling position; and 
     E) to provide a modular lower body support device which may be adjusted in regard to length to more comfortably fit a user. 
     Further objects and advantages are to provide a modular lower body support device with a replaceable knee pad insert which may be easily replaced when said knee pad insert is no longer useful in the discretion of the user. Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an Isometric View of the Preferred Embodiment of the Modular Lower Body Support Device. 
         FIG. 2  is an Isometric View of the Modular Lower Body Support Device. 
         FIG. 3  is an Isometric View of the Modular Lower Body Support Device with Knee Pad Insert Disconnected. 
         FIG. 3A  is an Isometric View of the Modular Lower Body Support Device with Knee Pad Insert Connected in Unlocked Position. 
         FIG. 3B  is an Isometric View of the Knee Pad Insert and Knee Pad Straps. 
         FIG. 4  is an Isometric View of the Knee Pad Insert. 
         FIG. 5  is an Isometric View of the Skid Plate Insert. 
         FIG. 6  is a Top View of the Skid Plate Insert Adjoined to the Knee Pad Insert. 
         FIG. 7  is an Isometric View of an Alternative Embodiment with Seating Means Removed. 
         FIG. 8  is an Isometric View of the Modular Lower Body Support Device illustrating the Third and Fourth Ankle Frame Slots. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
     
         
         
           
              Knee frame 
               12  Bend frame 
               14  Ankle frame 
               16  Seat 
               20  Cushioning seat pad 
               22  Hinge 
               24  Framing means 
               26  Seating means 
               28  Knee fastening means 
               30  Ankle fastening means 
               32  Leg fastening means 
               36  Cushioning shin pad 
               40  First frontal bracket 
               42  Second frontal bracket 
               44  First frontal tab 
               46  Second frontal tab 
               48  Rear double bracket 
               50  First rear tab 
               52  Second rear tab 
               56  Cushioning knee pad 
               58  First bend frame side 
               60  Second bend frame side 
               62  First ankle frame side 
               64  Second ankle frame side 
               66  Frame lengthening means 
               72  Knee pad insert 
               74  Knee pad insert adjoining means 
               76  Skid plate insert 
               78  First knee pad insert slot 
               80  Second knee pad insert slot 
               82  First knee pad strap 
               84  Second knee pad strap 
               86  First ankle frame slot 
               88  Second ankle frame slot 
               90  First ankle frame strap 
               94  First key slot 
               96  Second key slot 
               98  First key 
               100  Second key 
               102  Threaded hole 
               104  Threaded fastener 
               106  Securing fastener 
               108  Exposed threads 
               110  Third ankle frame slot 
               112  Fourth ankle frame slot 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     In its most simple configuration the modular lower body support device comprises six basic elements. First, there is a framing means  24  to support the leg of the user. Second there is a seating means  26  providing a region on which the user may sit. Once seated, a substantial amount of the user&#39;s body weight is transferred through the device, away from the user&#39;s leg, and onto the surface upon which the device rests. Third, there is a knee pad insert adjoining means  74  on the framing means  24  allowing for the securing of a knee pad insert  72 . The fourth basic element is the aforesaid knee pad insert  72 , which may be fitted with a skid plate insert  76 . Fifth, is the leg fastening means  32 , which preferably comprises a knee fastening means  28  and an ankle fastening means  30 , for securing the user to the device. Sixth, is the frame lengthening means  66 , which allows the user to adjust the overall length of the device for increased user comfort. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the framing means  24  is divided into three parts. As shown in  FIG. 1 , these parts are the knee frame  10 , the bend frame  12 , and the ankle frame  14 . 
     Knee frame  10  receives the knee of the user. Knee frame  10  is designed to accommodate both the knee of the user as well as a knee pad insert  72 . The knee pad insert  72  attaches to the knee frame  10  via the knee pad insert adjoining means  74 . Additionally, skid plate insert  76  may be attached to the bottom of the knee pad insert  72 . This is discussed in detail below. 
     Bend frame  12  receives the shin of the user. As may be seen in  FIG. 1 , bend frame  12  connects knee frame  10  to ankle frame  14 . 
     Ankle frame  14  receives the ankle of the user. Ankle frame  14  is designed to receive the bend frame  12 . The upper portion of ankle frame  14  connects to a seating means  26 , preferably a seat  16 , on which a user may sit. In the preferred embodiment, seat  16  may be opened via a hinge  22 , allowing easy access to the user for positioning the user&#39;s shin onto bend frame  12  and the user&#39;s ankle onto the ankle frame  14 . 
     As initially indicated above, in the preferred embodiment of the device, a frame lengthening means  66  is used to adjust the overall length of the device. Preferably, the frame lengthening means  66  is adjusted as follows. 
     A first ankle frame side  62  and a second ankle frame side  64 , as well as a first bend frame side  58  and a second bend frame side  60 , are fitted with a plurality of threaded holes  102  for adjusting the overall length of the device. That is, the user may adjust the overall length of the device by aligning the threaded holes  102  in the bend frame sides,  58  and  60 , with the threaded holes  102  in the ankle frame sides,  62  and  64 , respectively; and, thereafter threading a threaded fastener  104  through the aligned threaded holes  102  on each respective side, first and second. 
     Additionally, once the threaded fasteners  104  are in place, it is preferable to tighten a securing fastener  106  to the exposed threads  108  of the threaded fastener  104  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Although one threaded fastener  104  per side is sufficient, preferably two threaded fasteners  104  may be used per side. 
     As stated earlier, leg fastening means  32  preferably comprises knee fastening means  28  and ankle fastening means  30 . Knee fastening means  28  and ankle fastening means  30  for securing the user to the device are implemented at the knee pad insert  72  and the ankle frame  14 , respectively. Knee fastening means  28  and leg fastening means  30  are discussed in turn below. 
     For knee fastening means  28 , a first knee pad insert slot  78  on the side of knee pad insert  72  accepts a first knee pad strap  82 , which is placed through said first knee pad insert slot  78 , folded over and stitched, leaving a length of first knee pad strap  82  available for use for fastening. Similarly, a second knee pad insert slot  80  on the other side of knee pad insert  72  accepts a second knee pad strap  84 , which is placed through said second knee pad insert slot  80 , folded over and stitched, leaving a length of second knee pad strap  84  available for use for fastening with the strap length from first knee pad strap  82 . That is, after the user positions the user&#39;s knee on the knee pad insert  72 , which itself is attached to knee frame  10  via the knee pad insert adjoining means  74 , then the user connects the lengths of first knee pad strap  82  and second knee pad strap  84 , and tightens as the user sees fit. For illustration, see  FIGS. 3B and 6 . 
     For ankle fastening means  30 , a first ankle frame slot  86  on the side of ankle frame  14  accepts a first ankle frame strap  90 , which is placed through said first ankle frame slot  86 , folded over and stitched, leaving a length of first ankle frame strap  90 . First ankle frame strap  90  is then fed through a second ankle frame slot  88 , folded over and attached to itself, preferably with hook and loop fasteners. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, knee pad insert  72  is attached to knee pad insert adjoining means  74 . As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , knee pad insert  72  has a first key slot  94  and a second key slot  96 . Correspondingly, as can be seen on  FIG. 3 , knee pad insert adjoining means  74  has a first key  98  and a second key  100 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , knee pad insert  72  may be rotated such that the first and second key slots,  94  and  96 , are positioned to encounter the first and second keys,  98  and  100 , respectively. Initially, the first key  98  is inserted into the first key slot  94 . Then, second key  100  is inserted into second key slot  96 . Once the keys and slots are joined, the knee pad insert  72  is in its unlocked position within the knee pad insert adjoining means  74 , which is shown in  FIG. 3A . Thereafter, knee pad insert  72  may be rotated to the position shown in  FIG. 2 , which is the locked position. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, skid plate insert  76  is attached to knee pad insert  72 . As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , skid plate insert  76  has a first frontal bracket  40  and a second frontal bracket  42 . Correspondingly, as can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the knee pad insert  72  has a first frontal tab  44  and a second frontal tab  46 . Additionally, skid plate insert  76  has a rear double bracket  48 , and knee pad insert  72  has a first rear tab  50  and a second rear tab  52 . 
     Skid plate insert  76  is attached to knee pad insert  72  by first holding the two pieces in a vertical plane with a slight offset, placing skid plate insert  76  slightly behind knee pad insert  72 . Second, the pieces are brought into contact with the slight offset, so that first frontal bracket  40  and second frontal bracket  42  are positioned before first frontal tab  44  and second frontal tab  46 , respectively; and, first rear tab  50  and second rear tab  52  are positioned behind the extended portions of rear double bracket  48 . Then, knee pad insert  72  is pushed forward so that first frontal tab  44  and second frontal tab  46  pass under first frontal bracket  40  and second frontal bracket  42 , respectively; and, first rear tab  50  and second rear tab  52  pass under the rear double bracket  48  at their respective sides. This configuration is shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, cushioning pads are incorporated onto the device. More specifically, as seen in  FIG. 1 , cushioning knee pad  56  is adjoined to knee pad insert  72 ; cushioning shin pad  36  is adjoined to ankle frame  14 ; and cushioning seat pad  20  is adjoined to seat  16 . Preferably, industrial strength epoxy is used to attach the cushioning pads to the device. 
     Alternative Embodiments 
     While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Many variations are possible and some are as follows. 
     First, the materials used in the modular lower body support device can be wood, metal, plastic, composite, or other materials commonly used in the knee pad, body armor, or similar industries. Different materials allow differing strengths and weaknesses which would be used to match consumer preferences, needs, and budget restraints. 
     Second, seating means  26  may be attached to the framing means  24  in many ways common in the prior art. Such ways of attachment include, but are not limited to, hinges, caps, clips, clamps, straps, screws, or latches. 
     Indeed, seating means  26  could be detached or otherwise removed from the device. Such alternative embodiment is shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Third, knee pad insert adjoining means  74  could employ numerous mounting methods common in the prior art. Such mounting methods include, but are limited to, straps, clamps, screws, latches, buttons, hook and loop fasteners, or bolts. 
     Fourth, many different ways exist in the prior art to attach cushioning pads to devices. Although industrial strength epoxy is the preferred manner of attachment, different processes common in the prior art may be used, including, but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, glues, rivets, buttons, stitches, or snap-on connectors. 
     Fifth, instead of using threaded holes  102 , threaded fasteners  104 , and a securing fastener  106  for frame lengthening means  66 , numerous fastening means commonly used could be adopted for application herein. For instance, without limitation, a plurality of hook and loop fasteners could be implemented, a series of holes and laces could be used, or tightening clamps could be mounted on the device. 
     Sixth, instead of using slots and straps, the knee fastening means  28  and ankle fastening means  30  could use numerous other fastening means commonly found in the prior art. For example, without limitation, the device could easily adopt a hook and lace system, a hole and lace system, or a clamping system. 
     Seventh, a single strap and slot combination could be used for the leg fastening means  32  instead of implementing both the knee fastening means  28  and ankle fastening means  30 . Moreover, a single pairing of other fastening devices commonly found in the prior art could be used for the leg fastening means  32 . 
     Eighth, a second strap could be implemented for ankle fastening means  30 . That is, instead of putting first ankle frame strap  90  through second ankle frame slot  88 , a second strap could be placed through second ankle frame slot  88 , folded over, and stitched, leaving an extra length which would be tied, fastened, or otherwise linked to first ankle frame strap  90 . 
     Ninth, moreover, at least two more slots, third ankle frame slot  110  and fourth ankle frame slot  112 , could be implemented in ankle frame  14 . See  FIG. 8 . In such an alternative embodiment, another strap, or more, would be used to further secure the leg of the user to the device. 
     The embodiments above-discussed are to be considered illustrative and not restrictive. Many more embodiments may be configured using combinations of the embodiments above-discussed. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 
     CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
     The utility of modular lower body support device is apparent. In the preferred embodiment, the device provides an easily replaceable knee pad insert, together with a replaceable skid plate insert, which may be integrated into a suitably comfortable and sturdy lower body support frame. 
     Clearly, implementing the knee pad inserts ensures that the user will have knee pads which fit within the tolerances of the invention. Moreover, once a knee pad insert wears out, the user may simply replace the knee pad insert without having to replace the entire device. 
     Additionally, allowing the user to adjust the length of the device increases its utility. More users will be able to use the device comfortably by adjusting the relative length of the device. 
     The above-discussion is to be considered illustrative and not restrictive. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.