Limb engaging band for orthotic device

A limb encircling band for an orthotic device includes a generally stiff, form-retaining first member which is provided with an arcuate configuration to encircle a portion of a limb, and that includes a buckle member secured to one end thereof. A flexible, resilient second member is secured in longitudinally offset fashion from one end of the first member so that the second member extends beyond the other end of the first member. A hook and pile fastening belt is secured to the free end of the second member, and is adapted to engage the buckle joined to the first end of the first member. The first member may be bent to conform to the shape of the portion of the limb which it encompasses, and the free end of the second member may be cut to any desired length so that the band assembly may fully encompass the limb.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
An orthotic device often consists of a pair of rigid supporting members 
which are disposed on opposite sides of a limb. These supporting members 
are generally secured to the limb by means of belts or straps which are 
secured to the supporting members and wrap about the limb as tightly as 
necessary to secure the limb to the structural members. 
In the prior art, the belts which secure the orthotic device to the limb 
have often comprised leather straps which are provided with a well-known 
buckle and pin fastener. These leather straps have been fitted to the limb 
of the wearer of the orthotic device by punching an appropriate series of 
holes in the tongue of the strap so that the strap may be loosened or 
tightened as desired by the wearer. Unfortunately, leather readily absorbs 
moisture, and in doing so the flexibility and length of the leather strap 
may change markedly. Thus after the orthotic device has been worn for a 
time, it has often been necessary to tighten the straps and compensate for 
the increased length caused by absorption of persperation. The necessity 
for tightening the straps with the orthotic brace may be a source of 
inconvenience or embarrassement to the wearer of the brace. 
In more recent times, hook and pile fastening means have been employed in 
conjunction with a strap and buckle to secure the orthotic brace to a limb 
in an infinitely adjustable manner. Although such a fastening system has 
many advantages over leather straps, it suffers a disadvantage in that the 
hook and pile web material itself lacks the rigidity to provide sufficient 
support to the limb. Rigidifying members have been employed in conjunction 
with the hook and pile fastening web, in order to overcome this 
deficiency. However, the rigidifying members are not easily fitted to 
limbs of differing widths and thicknesses. As a result, generally rigid 
belt assemblies employing hook and pile fasteners have been provided in a 
range of sizes to suit individuals of differing physiques. Manufacturing 
and maintaining inventories of these various belt assemblies is an added 
cost in the production of orthotic devices. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The present invention generally comprises a limb encircling strap assembly 
which secures an orthotic device to a limb. A salient feature of the 
present invention is that it is adaptable to limbs of differing contours 
and diameters, so that the need to produce and stock strap assemblies of 
different lengths and widths is obviated. 
The strap assembly includes an inner web contacting member which comprises 
a long narrow web formed of resilient, flexible material. The inner 
surface of the inner member is smooth, while the outer surface is provided 
with a longitudinally extending channel. Secured in a portion of the 
channel is a rigidifying member, comprising a long narrow web of stiff 
deformable material. One end of the rigidifying member extends beyond the 
respective end of the inner member, and is provided with a buckle secured 
to the distal end thereof. 
The rigidifying member is disposed in an arcuate configuration to partially 
encircle a portion of the limb. The rigidifying member extends only to the 
approximate middle of the inner member, so that the medial portion and 
other end portion of the inner member is substantially resilient and 
flexible. Joined to the other end portion of the inner member is a hook 
and pile fastening strap which is adapted to engage the buckle that is cut 
off the end of the strap and secured to the confronting end of the 
rigidifying member. The hook and pile strap extends from a medial end 
portion of the inner member, so that the distal end portion of the inner 
member forms a tongue which may be employed to encircle limbs of large 
diameter. For limbs of smaller diameter, the tongue may be trimmed to fit 
the configuration of the limb, so that the buckle may be brought into 
confronting and abutting relationship with the remainder of the tongue 
when the hook and pile strap is secured tightly to the buckle. In this 
manner the assembly may be fitted to limbs having varying diameters, 
musculature, and configurations. It should be noted that the rigidifying 
member is secured to the longitudinally extending brace members of an 
orthotic device, so that the strap assembly of the present invention may 
secure the orthotic device to the limb.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference to the accompanying figures, the present invention comprises 
a strap assembly 11 which is intended for use with an orthotic device, 
such as the orthotic leg brace 12 shown in FIG. 1. The strap assembly 11 
is secured to the longitudinally extending bracing members 13 and 14 of 
the device 12, with rivets 16 or similar fasteners extending from each 
member 13 and 14 to the strap assembly 11. The strap assembly 11 is 
adapted to encircle the limb disposed within the orthotic device 12, 
securing the device firmly to the limb. 
The strap assembly 11 includes an inner member 17 which generally comprises 
a long narrow panel of resilient flexible material such as foam plastic or 
the like. The interior surface of the member 17 which engages the surface 
of the limb is smooth, and the edges of the member 17 are rounded to 
prevent chafing or binding. The exterior surface of the member 17 is 
provided with a longitudinally extending groove 18, and a pair of opposed 
slots 19 extend laterally from the groove 18, as shown in FIG. 3. 
The strap assembly also includes a rigidifying member 21 which comprises a 
long, narrow strip of rigid, deformable material such as steel or 
aluminum. The member 21 is offset longitudinally from the member 17, so 
that an end portion 23 extends beyond the end 24 of the member 17. 
Furthermore, the member 21 is substantially shorter in longitudinal extent 
than the member 17, so that the other end 22 of the member 21 extends only 
to a medial portion of the member 17, as shown in FIG. 2. 
The member 21 provides a rigidity to the portion of the strap assembly 
which encircles the calf portion of the leg. In this manner it aids and 
overcomes the deficiencies of non-rigid prior art orthotic strap 
assemblies. Furthermore, the rigidifying member 21 is deformable so that 
this rigid portion of the strap assembly may be bent to conform to the 
configuration of the calf portion of the leg of the wearer of the orthotic 
brace 12. It should also be noted that the rivets 16 extend from the 
members 13 and 14 to the rigidifying member 21. This means of assembly to 
the orthotic device provides great structural strength, and assures that 
the orthotic device will be joined securely to the leg of the wearer. 
Joined to a distal end portion of the inner member 17 adjacent to the 
distal end 26 thereof is a hook and pile fastening strap 27. The strap 27 
has one end secured in the slots 19 of the member 17, while the other end 
is provided with separate hook and pile portions which are self-adhering 
when impinging upon each other. Such fastening straps are known in the 
prior art. The distal end of the strap 27 is provided with a buckle 28. 
The buckle 28 is cut from the strap 27 and secured to member 13 by rivets 
16 during the fitting process, and is engaged by the strap 27. This 
engagement is accomplished by bending the freely extending portion of the 
member 17, as shown in phantom in FIG. 4, into a closed loop so that the 
end 26 confronts and generally abuts the buckle 28. 
The portion of the inner member 17 between the distal end 26 thereof and 
the point where the fastening strap 27 joins the member 17 is generally 
described as tongue 29. It may be appreciated that limbs having smaller 
diameters do not require the entire extent of the member 17 in order to be 
completely encompassed and snugly engaged by the strap assembly. 
Recognizing this fact, the tongue portion 29 and overall length of the 
inner member is intended to be selectively trimmed in length during the 
fitting process for the orthotic device, so that the remaining length of 
the member 17 may almost encircle the limb of the wearer. In this 
configuration, the fastening strap 27 may then be employed to engage the 
buckle 28 to draw the distal end of the tongue 29 into confronting and 
abutting relationship with the buckle 23. The force provided by the 
fastening strap 27 causes the strap assembly to snugly engage the limb so 
that the orthotic device is secured to the limb. That is, the strap 27 is 
passed through the buckle 28 and pulled with sufficient tension to draw 
the strap assembly snugly about the limb. The hook portion 31 of the strap 
is then brought into an engagement with the confronting pile portion 32 of 
the strap. The self-adhesion of the hook and pile portions retain the 
strap assembly in the desired snug configuration. 
It may be appreciated that the tongue portion 29 may be trimmed to fit a 
wide range of limb sizes, shapes, musculatures and the like. Furthermore, 
the fastening strap 27 is infinitely adjustable to provide the fit and 
comfort desired by the wearer. In conjunction with the rigidifying member 
21, which is deformable to the contour of the rear portion of the limb, 
the strap assembly of the present invention provides a means for securing 
the orthotic device to the limb which is more easily adjustable, and 
suitable for a wide range of sizes and shapes, and more comfortable than 
strap assemblies for orthotic devices known in the prior art.