Orthosis support

An orthosis support is disclosed that includes a belt having a connector to close the belt in a continuous loop, a belt attachment member receiving the belt, and a strap extending from the belt attachment member. The strap has a first end and a second end and is closable as a loop with at least one of the first and second ends releasably connectable to the strap itself.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a support for an orthosis device, in particular to a belt and strap support for holding the orthosis device in place.

BACKGROUND

Orthosis devices are routinely worn by a wearer to modify, support, align, prevent, replace, or correct bodily deformities/injuries or to improve or assist the functions of body structures of the neuromuscular and skeletal systems. Typically the orthosis is applied to the outside of the body. The orthosis can align the body and the limbs or effect motion by assisting, resisting, blocking, or unloading the body weight.

Not all orthosis devices, however, fit each individual patient perfectly. In fact, some orthoses are prone, upon movement of the body or limb, to slide out of place. For example, walking may cause a knee brace or elbow brace to slip or slide.

SUMMARY

One aspect for supporting an orthosis is disclosed herein, which is identified as an orthosis support. The disclosed orthosis supports may include a belt having a connector to close the belt in a continuous loop, a belt attachment member receiving the belt, and a strap extending from the belt attachment member. The strap has a first end and a second end and is closable as a loop with at least one of the first and second ends releasably connectable to the strap itself. The strap is positionable to loop about at least one component of an orthosis to support the orthosis in a preselected position on a wearer.

In one embodiment, the belt attachment member is movable, preferably slidable, along the belt and includes a belt entrance and a belt exit for receiving the belt on/through the belt attachment member. The belt attachment member has a longitudinal axis, and the belt entrance and belt exit may be slots that are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the longitudinal axis divides the belt attachment member into two portions with the first portion having the belt entrance and the second portion having the belt exit. The two portions may be mirror images of one another.

The belt attachment member also includes a strap passage, such as a slot that the strap passes through. In one embodiment, the slot may be oriented generally perpendicular to the belt entrance and belt exit. In another embodiment, the belt attachment member may include a sleeve that defines the strap passage rather than a slot. The strap passage defined by the sleeve may be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the belt attachment member.

In one embodiment, the strap has a first end and a second end that are both releasably connectable to the strap itself. When the first and second ends are releasably connected to the strap, a closed, continuous loop is formed. The first end and the second ends both include releasable attachment members and the segment of the strap between the first and second ends includes first and second mating releasable attachment members positionable to mate with the first end and the second end, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description will illustrate the general principles of the invention, examples of which are additionally illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

Referring toFIG. 1, an orthosis support, generally designated100, is shown that includes a belt102having a connector104to close the belt, a belt attachment member106receiving the belt102, and a strap108extending from the belt attachment member106. The strap108has a first end112and a second end114. At least one of the first end112and the second end114are connectable to the strap108itself to form a closed loop. The strap108, as shown inFIGS. 7-9, is positionable to loop about at least one component302,302′,402of an orthosis300,300′,400and is closed upon itself to support the orthosis.

As illustrated inFIGS. 7-8, the orthosis may be a knee brace300,300′ or, as illustrated inFIG. 9, may be an elbow brace. The orthosis support100is adjustable to support the respective orthoses300,300′,400in a preselected position. The position chosen is preferably the position that will maximize the function of the orthosis. The strap108may loop under, over, or around a component302,302′,402of the orthoses and be releasable closed by connection to itself by one or both of the first and second ends112,114. As such, the orthosis support100supports the particular orthosis such that slipping and sliding of the orthosis into an undesired position is reduced or eliminated. While the orthoses300,300′,400are illustrated as a knee brace and an elbow brace, the invention is not limited thereto. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the belt102and belt attachment member106may be shaped and configured in alternate embodiments for placement on a wearer in locations other than the waist show inFIG. 7and the diagonal orientation about the torso shown inFIG. 9.

Referring toFIG. 1in more detail, the belt102is adjustable to varying lengths such that the belt may be adjusted to fit the wearer. The connector104of the belt102may be a buckle, a snap, a plastic clasp, or the like to secure the belt in a closed orientation about the wearer. The material for construction of the belt102is not limited. The material should be selected to provide adequate support to the belt attachment member106to maintain the support provided to the orthosis.

The belt attachment member106is movable along the belt102, preferably, generally slidable along the belt102. In one embodiment, the belt attachment member106is a generally plate-like, generally rectangular member, as best seen inFIG. 5. In another embodiment, the belt attachment member106is a generally curvilinear, generally rectangular member, as best seen inFIG. 6.

In order to receive the belt102, the belt attachment member106has a belt entrance122and a belt exit124therein. The belt entrance122and belt exit124are positioned in the belt attachment member106such that they are both generally parallel with a longitudinal axis126of the belt attachment member106. The longitudinal axis126may divide the belt attachment member106into two portions128,129, where the first portion128includes the belt entrance122and the second portion129includes the belt exit124. In one embodiment, the first portion128and the second portion129are mirror images of one another.

The belt entrance122and belt exit124may both be slots through the belt attachment member106. The slots may be dimensionally larger than the width and thickness of the belt102. Such dimensions of the slots can enable the belt attachment member106to be movable or slidable on the belt102.

The belt attachment member106is not particularly limited to being constructed of or including a particular material. In one embodiment, the belt attachment member106may be leather. In another embodiment, the belt attachment member106may be plastic. The plastic may be rigid or flexible. The plastic may be thermoplastic resin, but is not limited thereto. Some suitable example thermoplastic resins include homo-polyethylene resins, ethylene copolymer resins, homo-polypropylene resins, propylene-α-olefin copolymer resin, homo-polystyrene resin, polystyrene resin including rubber-like material, acrylon nitrile butadiene styrene resin (“ABS”), acrylonitrile-styrene resins, AAS (ASA) resin, AES resin (weather and impact strength resin), syndiotactic polystyrene resin. In one embodiment, the belt attachment member106is constructed of or includes an ABS thermoplastic resin. It can be advantageous, but is not required, for the belt attachment member106to be flexible so that it can conform to the contours of the portion of the wearer where it is positioned. However, the flexibility of the belt attachment member106should be such that it still provides consistent support to the orthosis.

The belt attachment member106may be about 2 in to about 6 in wide, preferably about 3 in to about 4 in wide, and about 3 in to about 7 in long, preferably about 4 in to about 5 in long, and may be about ⅛ in to about ¼ in thick. While these dimensions are advantageous to provide a belt attachment member106that is not too cumbersome or bulky to the wearer, the dimension of the belt attachment member106are not to be construed as limited thereto.

The belt attachment member106also includes a strap passage130for the strap108to pass through the belt attachment member106. In one embodiment, the strap passage130is a slot passing through the belt attachment member106. The strap108may loop through the slot and be releasably closed upon itself to form a loop as shown inFIG. 2or may lie open as shown inFIG. 1. The loop of strap108shown inFIG. 2is considered to be a continuous loop even though it has a first end112and a second end114. In one embodiment, the strap passage130may be oriented generally perpendicular to the belt entrance122and belt exit124.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 10, an alternate belt attachment member, generally designated206, is shown that includes a belt entrance222and a belt exit224oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis226and a sleeve221that defines a strap passage230for receiving strap208. The sleeve221may include a front panel234superposed on the end238of the belt attachment member206opposite the belt entrance222and belt exit224. The front panel234is attached to the end238of the belt attachment member206such that it defines a strap entrance232and a strap exit233. The attachment of the front panel234to the end238of the belt attachment member206may be by any connecting means that will retain the panel234while supporting the orthosis. The front panel may be sewn, adhered, crimped, molded, rivoted, bolted, or screwed to the end238of the belt attachment member206, but is not limited thereto. Preferably, the strap entrance232and the strap exit233are positioned opposite one another. In one embodiment, the strap entrance232and the strap exit233are aligned with the longitudinal axis226such that the longitudinal axis of the strap passage230is the longitudinal axis226of the belt attachment member206.

In another embodiment, the front panel234may include a slot240within its interior as the strap exit233′. Accordingly, the attachment of the front panel234to the end238of the belt attachment member206may extend further around the front panel234than the embodiment described above and may not necessarily define a sleeve.

Now referring to strap108illustrated inFIGS. 1-4and7-9, the strap108is releasably connectable to itself to form a loop. The first end112and/or the second end114of the strap108may include a releasable attachment member142and the segment116of the strap108between the first and second ends112,114includes at least one mating releasable member144. In one embodiment, best illustrated inFIGS. 3-4, the first end112includes a first releasable attachment member142, the second end114includes a second releasable attachment member143, and the segment116includes a first mating releasable member144positionable for releasable engagement with the first releasable attachment member142of the first end112and includes a second mating releasable member146positionable for releasable engagement with the second releasable attachment member143of the second end114. The segment116between the first and second ends112,114may include two sections118,119. Each section118,119has similar first and second major surface, but the two sections118,119are connected to one another such that, when the strap is lying open as illustrated inFIG. 4, the first major surface148of the section one118faces the same direction, up inFIG. 4, as the second major surface150of the section two119. Accordingly, the two sections118,119may be separate pieces that define a junction154where they are connected together. The junction154may be or include one or more means of permanently fixing the two pieces together, for example, stitching, adhering, ultrasonic welding, rivets, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the segment116may be a continuous piece made with at least part of opposite sides thereof having the mating releasable members144,146.

In one embodiment, the segment116is elastic and the first and second ends112,114are preferably flexible, but non-elastic. The first and second ends112,114may be separate pieces of material connected to the ends156,158of the segment116. The first end156of the segment116may be connected to the material defining the first end112of the strap. Where the two are connected junction152is formed. Similarly, the second end158of the segment116may be connected to the material defining the second end114of the strap. Where these two are connected junction153is formed. Both junctions152,153may be or include one or more of a sewn seam, a point of adhesion, an ultrasonic weld, rivets, or other means of permanently fixing the two pieces together. Preferably, the first end112is connected to section one118with the first releasable member142facing the same direction as the second mating releasable member146, for example, both face up as shown inFIG. 4. Similarly, the second end114is connected to section two119with the first releasable member143facing the same direction as the first mating releasable member144, but facing the opposite direction as the first end112and section one118. As shown inFIG. 4, the first releasable member143of second end114and first mating releasable member144of section two119face down. In another embodiment, the segment116and the first and second ends112,114may be a monolithic strap made with the releasable members142,143and the mating releasable members144,146oriented as described above.

In one embodiment, the releasable attachment members142,143, for example, are hook-and-loop fastening material (such as VELCRO® fastening material), snaps, and/or hooks to releasably couple the ends112,114of the strap108to itself. The segment116between the first and second ends112,114includes one or more mating releasable attachment members144,146of the appropriate construction positioned to mate with the releasable attachment members142,143. In one embodiment, the first and second ends112,114have the “hook” features of a hook-and-loop fastening material and the segment116has the “loop” features of the hook-and-loop fastening material. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the opposite configuration of the hook-and-loop fastening material relative to the first and second ends112,114and the segment116will work just as well. In one embodiment, the hook-and-loop fastening material includes a portion thereof that is elastic. Preferably, the loop portion of the hook-and-loop fastening material is elastic and the hook portion is flexible, but non-elastic.

The strap108, after having one end thereof fed through the strap passage130, may have either the first end112or the second end114fed under, over, or around a component of an orthosis and thereafter mated with its respective mating releasable member144,146to form the strap108into a closed loop. In one embodiment, the first end112of the strap108overlaps the portion of the strap108having the second end114such that at least some part of the first end112extends beyond the second end114, in particular, beyond the junction153between the second end114and section two119so that the first releasable member142of the first end112is mated with the first mating releasable member144of section two119. In an embodiment where both the first and the second ends112,114include releasable members, once the first end112has been overlapped as just described, the second end114will overlap the portion of the strap108having the first end112, such that at least some part of the second end114extends beyond the first end112, in particular, beyond the junction152of the first end112and section one118so that the second releasable member143of the second end114is mated with the second mating releasable member146of section one118. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the first end112forms part of the outer major surface of the looped strap and the second end114forms part of the inner major surface of the looped strap.

In one embodiment, the first and second ends112,114are of approximately equal length. This is advantageous in providing overlap by both ends112,114onto their respective mating releasable members144,146to provide a closed loop strap and to eliminate any loose ends from being present on the strap that may get caught on something and possibly ripping the strap loose. Sections one and two118,119of the strap108may be approximately equal in length, but this is not essential. Accordingly, in one embodiment section one118may be longer than section119or vice versa. However, both sections118,119should have the mating releasable members144,146positioned adjacent to the junctions formed where each respective section connects to an end of the strap108. For example, the mating releasable member144of section two119should be adjacent to junction153and may begin at the junction153and extend therefrom in a direction away from the second end114. Similarly, the mating releasable member146of section one118should be adjacent to junction152and may begin at the junction152and extend therefrom in a direction away from the first end112.

One benefit to the orthosis support100is its universal application to various wearers and various orthoses. This versatility is related to the presence of the adjustable strap108and adjustable belt102described above. Accordingly, the orthosis support100may be used on patients of different sizes, in particular, of different heights and waist sizes, having different limb lengths, wearing different orthoses, and even orthoses in different positions on the body. The strap108as a result of its means for forming a closed loop may be closed to a selected diameter that once the strap108extends between the belt attachment member106and the orthosis, the strap108provides the needed length to support the orthosis.

In one embodiment, the strap108may be a 1 in by 29 in strap. In another embodiment, the strap108may be a 1 in by 33 in strap. The 29 in strap may be preferable for wearers that are smaller than 5′4″ and the 33 in strap may be preferable for wearers 5′4″ or taller. These examples are not meant to be limiting.

The embodiments described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings include embodiments have a single strap108. However, the orthosis support100is not limited there to. In another embodiment, the orthosis support100includes a plurality of straps108. The straps108may be received in the same strap passage130and/or the belt attachment member106may include a plurality of strap passages130. Depending on the orthosis to be supported a plurality of straps may provide overall greater stability.

While the wearers herein appear in the illustrations ofFIGS. 7-9as humans or models of humans, it is not limited thereto. The orthosis support100may be dimensioned appropriately to support an orthosis on an animal.

Although the invention is shown and described with respect to certain embodiments, it should be clear that modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the specification, and the present invention includes all such modifications.