Abstract:
A hamstring brace for supporting the hamstring muscle either during recovery from an injury or during strenuous activity to prevent an injury includes a waistband, adjustable elastic bands, an adjustable lateral support band, and optionally an adjustable stirrup assembly. Multiple ring pairs are provided on the waistband to permit lateral adjustment of the elastic bands along the waistband. The leg strap assembly also includes a spacer strap and lateral patellar support straps that work in combination with the lateral support band to attach the hamstring brace below the knee without putting direct pressure on the patella. Multiple straps and clips provide maximum adjustability.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to braces and more particularly pertains to a new hamstring brace for supporting the hamstring muscle either during recovery from an injury or during strenuous activity to prevent an injury. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of braces is known in the prior art. More specifically, braces heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, not withstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pats. No. 1,269,829; 4,180,261; 2,166,809; 4,252,112; 5,145,027; 2,740,969; 1,548,711; 5,445,114; 2,433,262; 5,256,119; 5,615,750; 1,262,804; 4,709,692; 2,344,031; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 166,758. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new hamstring brace. The inventive device includes a waistband, adjustable elastic bands, an adjustable lateral support band, and an adjustable stirrup assembly. 
     In these respects, the hamstring brace according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of supporting the hamstring muscle either during recovery from an injury or during strenuous activity to prevent an injury. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of braces now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new hamstring brace construction wherein the same can be utilized for supporting the hamstring muscle either during recovery from an injury or during strenuous activity to prevent an injury. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new hamstring brace apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the braces mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new hamstring brace which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art braces, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a waistband, adjustable elastic bands, an adjustable lateral support band, and an adjustable stirrup assembly. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new hamstring brace apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the braces mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new hamstring brace which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art braces, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new hamstring brace that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new hamstring brace that is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new hamstring brace which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such hamstring brace economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new hamstring brace which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new hamstring brace for supporting the hamstring muscle either during recovery from an injury or during strenuous activity to prevent an injury. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new hamstring brace which includes a waistband, adjustable elastic bands, an adjustable lateral support band, and an adjustable stirrup assembly. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new hamstring brace that supports the knee joint while diminishing stress on the hamstring muscle. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new hamstring brace that provides elastic support to the hamstring muscle to facilitate increased motor function of the leg after an injury. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a hamstring brace that facilitates recovery from a hamstring injury. 
     Still even another object of the present invention is to provide a hamstring brace that enhances the mobility of a person with a hamstring injury. 
     Even yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hamstring brace that provides support of the hamstring muscle and reduces stress on the hamstring muscle to decrease the chance of injury to the hamstring muscle during strenuous activity. 
     Yet still another object of the invention is to provide a hamstring brace for facilitating freedom of movement and recovery for health related problems normally restricting movement of the legs, particularly but not limited to stroke victims suffering partial paralysis. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new hamstring brace according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the interchangeable elastic bands present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a rear view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new hamstring brace embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the hamstring brace  10  generally comprises a waistband  12 , a plurality of elastic bands  14  coupled to the waistband  12 , a leg strap assembly  20  coupled to the elastic bands  14  including a lateral support band  28 . In various embodiments of the invention, the elastic bands may comprise a combination of the following types of materials as desired: elastic cloth, bungee cord, and isometric tubing or bands. 
     The leg strap assembly  20  is designed for attachment to the leg of the user such that the lateral support band  28  is positioned below a knee of the user. Thus tension in the elastic bands  14  provides an upward force on the lateral support strap  28  such that the waistband  12  partially supports the weight of the user&#39;s leg during movement whereby stress on the hamstring muscle is reduced. 
     The waistband  20  preferably includes an inelastic strap  16  coupled to a padding member  18  designed for positioning between the user and the inelastic strap  16  when the waistband is worn. 
     For adjustable attachment to the waist of the wearer the inelastic strap has a loop  17  at a first end and hook and loop fasteners  19  positioned at a second end. The waistband is securable by inserting the second end through the loop  17  and folding the second end over on itself to engage the hook and loop fasteners  19  to each other. 
     The elastic bands  14  generally include a frontal elastic band  14 A and a posterior elastic band  14 B. It is most preferable for the posterior elastic band  14 B to have a greater length than the frontal elastic band  14 A to permit room for the leg strap assembly  20  to encircle the patella as described below without putting direct pressure on the patella. Accordingly, the posterior elastic band  14 B preferably has greater elasticity relative to the frontal elastic band  14 A to compensate for the difference in length of the elastic bands  14 A and  14 B. Additionally, the elastic bands  14  are selectable from bands  14  having various lengths and elasticity to adjust the relative tension between the frontal elastic band  14 A and the posterior elastic band  14 B to accommodate the preferences of the user. The bands  14  may also be interchanged to reduce the elasticity of both bands as an injury to the hamstring heals and less support is needed. 
     The leg strap assembly  20  includes at least one frontal leg strap  22  but most preferably includes a pair of frontal leg straps  22  coupled to the frontal elastic band  14 A. The knee accommodating assembly  30  is coupled to the frontal leg straps  22  by a first clip member  31  adjustably coupled to the each frontal leg strap  22  and a second clip member  32  for engaging the first clip member  31 . A pair of lateral patellar support straps  33  are coupled to the second clip members  32 , and a spacer strap  34  extends between the lateral patellar support straps  33 . The spacer strap  34  is adapted for positioning above the patella of the user. The lateral patellar support straps  33  are adapted for positioning on opposing sides of the patella of the user. The lateral support band  28  is coupled to the lateral patellar support straps  33  such that the lateral support band  28 , the lateral patellar support straps  33  and the spacer strap  34  generally surround the patella. 
     Similarly, at least one posterior leg strap  36  is coupled to the posterior elastic band  14 B, but preferably a pair of posterior leg straps  36  are used. First clips  31  and second clips  32  are similarly used to couple the posterior leg straps  36  to respective posterior support straps  37 . The lateral support band  28  is coupled to the posterior support straps  37  and includes hook and loop fasteners  27  and a lateral support band ring  29  for adjustably securing the lateral support band  28  around the leg of the wearer below the knee. 
     Optionally, a stirrup assembly  50  is attachable to the leg strap assembly  20 . The stirrup assembly  50  is designed for receiving a foot of the user to provide additional support to the lower leg. The stirrup assembly  50  includes a stirrup member  52 , a pair of frontal stirrup straps  54 , a frontal stirrup strap stabilizing strap  53  extending between the frontal stirrup straps  54 , a pair of posterior stirrup straps  56 , and a posterior stirrup strap stabilizing strap  55  extending between the posterior stirrup straps. Alternately, the stirrup stabilizing straps  53  and  55  can be positioned to extend between upper portions of the stirrup member  52  as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     A further option is to include an adjustable shoulder strap  60  that is coupled to the waistband  12 . The shoulder strap  60  is designed for distributing a portion of the tension on the waistband  12  to a shoulder of the user to reduce hip strain. 
     To provide lateral adjustment of the elastic bands  14 A and  14 B, the method for coupling the bands  14 A and  14 B to the waistband  12  includes a first plurality of ring pairs  70  generally horizontally aligned on the waistband  12 . The frontal elastic band  14 A is then couplable to the waistband  12  by inserting each frontal connecting strap  42  through one selectable pair of rings  71  whereby the position of the frontal elastic band  14 A is laterally adjustable by coupling the frontal connecting straps  42  to a selected pair of the first plurality of ring pairs  70 . 
     Similarly, the posterior elastic band  14 B is adjustable using a second plurality of ring pairs  74  horizontally aligned on the waistband  12  and a pair of posterior connecting straps  44  coupled to the posterior elastic band  14 B. 
     It has also been found that the preferred width of elastic band is between 3 and 5 inches and the clips are preferably between 1 to 3 inches in width. Further, although pairs of clips are preferred proximate the base of the elastic bands  14 A and  14 B, a single frontal leg strap and single posterior leg strap may be used with some reduction in adjustability but enhanced simplicity of fitting the brace to the user. 
     The pair of connecting straps  42  has been employed to facilitate smaller lateral adjustments between ring pairs  71  along the waistband. Alternatively, a single broad connecting strap may be used. It remains preferable to use rings along the waistband because they are less susceptible to breakage than the clips when they are accidentally struck and the rings are less likely to injure an arm or hand of the wearer if the arm or hand comes into accidental contact with the unused rings. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.