Abstract:
An orthotic joint stabilizing assembly includes an assembly hinge; a first support and a second support carried by and pivotal with respect to each other about the assembly hinge; a hinge tension adjusting assembly including an eccentric tension adjusting cam carried by the assembly hinge, the tension adjusting cam adjustable between a plurality of tensioning positions; and a cam adjustment knob carried by the tension adjusting cam, the cam adjustment knob selectively engageable and disengageable with respect to the tension adjusting cam and operable to selectively lock the tension adjusting cam in a selected one of the plurality of tensioning positions. A hinge tensioning spring is carried by the first support and the second support and engages the tension adjusting cam of the hinge tension adjusting assembly. The hinge tensioning spring applies tension to the assembly hinge.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 13/373,478, filed Nov. 15, 2011 and entitled “ORTHOTIC JOINT STABILIZING ASSEMBLY”. 
     FIELD 
     Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to orthotic devices. More particularly, illustrative embodiments of the disclosure relate to an orthotic joint stabilizing assembly which is particularly suitable for stabilizing a knee of a patient having compromised leg strength in a full extension position. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Some medical conditions can result in reduced control or strength of a person&#39;s limbs and compromise the function of limb joints. For example, stroke patients may have a compromised ability to straighten the legs at the knees due to reduced control or strength of the quadriceps muscles. This reduced ability to straighten the legs at the knees may be manifested, for example, when the person attempts to stand from a sitting position and the legs buckle at the knees. 
     Accordingly, an orthotic joint stabilizing assembly which is particularly suitable for stabilizing the knee of a patient having compromised leg control or strength in a full extension position is needed. 
     SUMMARY 
     Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to an orthotic joint stabilizing assembly. An illustrative embodiment of the orthotic joint stabilizing assembly includes an assembly hinge; a first support and a second support carried by and pivotal with respect to each other about the assembly hinge; a hinge tension adjusting assembly including an eccentric tension adjusting cam carried by the assembly hinge, the tension adjusting cam adjustable between a plurality of tensioning positions; and a cam adjustment knob carried by the tension adjusting cam, the cam adjustment knob selectively engageable and disengageable with respect to the tension adjusting cam and operable to selectively lock the tension adjusting cam in a selected one of the plurality of tensioning positions. A hinge tensioning spring is carried by the first support and the second support and engages the tension adjusting cam of the hinge tension adjusting assembly. The hinge tensioning spring applies tension to the assembly hinge. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will now be made, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a pair of exemplary stabilizing assembly units of an illustrative embodiment of the orthotic joint stabilizing assembly, installed in a leg brace (illustrated in phantom) with the leg brace fitted on the leg (illustrated in phantom) of a patient to stabilize the knee of the patient in a full extension position in exemplary application of the orthotic joint stabilizing assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of an exemplary stabilizing assembly unit, with a hinge tension adjusting assembly adjusted to an intermediate tensioning position; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an exemplary stabilizing assembly unit, with the hinge tension adjusting assembly adjusted to a maximum tensioning position; 
         FIG. 3A  is a side view of an exemplary stabilizing assembly unit, with the stabilizing assembly unit disposed in a partially bended configuration and  FIG. 3B  is an enlarged sectional view taken along section line  3 B in  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view an exemplary stabilizing assembly unit, with the hinge tension adjusting assembly adjusted to a minimum tensioning position; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of an exemplary stabilizing assembly unit, with a hinge angle adjusting assembly adjusted to a bended configuration; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary hinge tension adjusting assembly of an illustrative embodiment of the orthotic joint stabilizing assembly, taken along section lines  6 - 6  in  FIG. 4 , with the hinge tension adjusting assembly deployed in a fixed configuration; and 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary hinge tension adjusting assembly, taken along section lines  6 - 6  in  FIG. 4 , with the hinge tension adjusting assembly deployed in an adjusting configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the illustrative embodiments described herein are not exhaustive and embodiments or implementations other than those which are described herein and which fall within the scope of the appended claims are possible. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. Relative terms such as “upper” and “lower” herein are used with reference to relative positions of various elements with respect to each other in exemplary application of the orthotic joint stabilizing assembly and are not intended to be used in a limiting sense. 
     Referring to the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of an orthotic joint stabilizing assembly, hereinafter assembly, is generally indicated by reference numeral  1 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the assembly  1  may include at least one stabilizing assembly unit  2  which in some applications may be installed in a leg brace  90  (illustrated in phantom) placed on the leg  50  of a user and extends adjacent to the user&#39;s knee  53  and may stabilize the user&#39;s knee  53  in a full extension position. In some applications, a pair of stabilizing assembly units  2  may be installed in the leg brace  90  on respective sides of the user&#39;s knee  53 , as illustrated. The assembly  1  may be suitable for stabilizing the knee  53  of a user having a reduced or compromised ability to maintain the knee  53  in a full extension position due to any of a variety of medical ailments or conditions. In some applications, leg braces  90  may be placed on both legs  50  of the user with at least one assembly  1  installed in each leg brace  90  and may stabilize the knees  53  of both legs  50  in the full extension position. 
     Each stabilizing assembly unit  2  of the assembly  1  may include a generally elongated upper support  3  and a generally elongated lower support  6 . An assembly hinge  10  may pivotally attach the lower support  6  to the upper support  3 . An upper spring attachment tab  4  and a lower spring attachment tab  7  may be provided on the upper support  3  and the lower support  6 , respectively, for purposes which will be hereinafter described. The upper support  3  and the lower support  6  may be steel, aluminum, composite fiber material and/or any other suitable material and may be fabricated using cutting, machining, stamping, casting, molding and/or other fabrication techniques according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 , the assembly hinge  10  may include a base hinge plate  11  which terminates the upper support  3  and a cap hinge plate  12  which terminates the lower support  6 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the cap hinge plate  12  may be disposed adjacent to the base hinge plate  11 . A hinge pin  14  may extend through registering hinge pin openings (not illustrated) in the base hinge plate  11  and the cap hinge plate  12 , respectively, to pivotally attach the cap hinge plate  12  to the base hinge plate  11 . Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIG. 3A , the upper support  3  and the lower support  6  may be capable of pivoting to any desired angle with respect to each other about the assembly hinge  10 . 
     A hinge tension adjusting assembly  26  is provided on the assembly hinge  10 . The hinge tension adjusting assembly  26  applies a selected magnitude of tension to the assembly hinge  10  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the hinge tension adjusting assembly  26  may include a tension adjusting cam  27 . The hinge pin  14  may eccentrically mount the tension adjusting cam  27  on the assembly hinge  10 . A hinge pin opening  29  may extend through the tension adjusting cam  27  in offset relationship to the geometric center of the tension adjusting cam  27 . Accordingly, the tension adjusting cam  27  may have a wide cam side  27   a  which is distal to the hinge pin  14 , a narrow cam side  27   b  which is proximal to the hinge pin  14  and a pair of intermediate cam sides  27   c  which extend from the wide cam side  27   a  to the narrow cam side  27   b . A circumferential spring groove  28  may be provided in the outer edge or surface of the tension adjusting cam  27 . A cam adjustment pin  30  may extend from the tension adjusting cam  27  for insertion into a selected one of multiple cam adjustment openings  34  in the cap hinge plate  12  of the assembly hinge  10 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 , the cam adjustment openings  34  may be arranged in a generally circular or semicircular pattern adjacent to the tension adjusting cam  27 . Accordingly, the tension adjusting cam  27  can be set or locked at a selected tensioning position relative to the cap hinge plate  12 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 , by rotating the tension adjusting cam  27  about the hinge pin  14  followed by insertion of the cam adjustment pin  30  into a selected one of the cam adjustment openings  34  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. 
     The hinge tension adjusting assembly  26  may further include a cam adjustment knob  38  which may threadably engage the hinge pin  14  and normally seats against the tension adjusting cam  27 . As further illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the cam adjustment knob  38  may include an internally-threaded hinge pin opening  39  which threadably receives and engages the hinge pin  14 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the cam adjustment knob  38  may normally be threaded on the hinge pin  14  against the tension adjusting cam  27  to bias the tension adjusting cam  27  against the cap hinge plate  12  and seat the cam adjustment pin  30  into the selected cam adjustment opening  34  in the cap hinge plate  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the cam adjustment knob  38  can be selectively unthreaded on the hinge pin  14  to disengage the tension adjusting cam  27  such that the cam adjustment pin  30  can be removed from the cam adjustment opening  34 , the tension adjusting cam  27  rotated relative to the hinge pin  14  and the cam adjustment pin  30  inserted into another selected one of the cam adjustment openings  34 . Thus, the cam adjustment pin  30  and the cam adjustment openings  34  may facilitate selective positioning of the tension adjusting cam  27  at minimum, intermediate and maximum tensioning positions, as will be hereinafter described. The tension adjusting cam  27 , the cam adjustment pin  30  and the cam adjustment knob  38  of the hinge tension adjusting assembly  26  may be steel, aluminum, composite fiber material and/or any other suitable material and may be fabricated using cutting, machining, stamping, casting, molding and/or other fabrication techniques according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. 
     As further illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 , each stabilizing assembly unit  2  may include a hinge tensioning spring  42  which tensions the assembly hinge  10  and imparts resistance to pivoting of the upper support  3  and the lower support  6  relative to each other. Therefore, the hinge tensioning spring  42  may normally bias the upper support  3  and the lower support  6  in the straight position illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In some embodiments, the hinge tensioning spring  42  may include a generally elongated strip of flexible metal or, as illustrated in  FIG. 3B , may be a coiled spring  42   a , having an upper spring end  43  ( FIG. 2 ) and a lower spring end  44 . The upper spring end  43  of the hinge tensioning spring  42  may be attached to the upper spring attachment tab  4  on the upper support  3 . The lower spring end  44  of the hinge tensioning spring  42  may be attached to the lower spring attachment tab  7  on the lower support  6 . The hinge tensioning spring  42  engages the tension adjusting cam  27  of the hinge tension adjusting assembly  26 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the hinge tensioning spring  42  may insert into the spring groove  28  in the outer edge or surface of the tension adjusting cam  27 . 
     The hinge tensioning spring  42  imparts resistance to pivoting of the upper support  3  and the lower support  6  at the assembly hinge  10 . When the upper support  3  and the lower support  6  are oriented in a straight configuration, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the tension adjusting cam  27  of the hinge tension adjusting assembly  26  may induce a spring bend  45  in the hinge tensioning spring  42  at the point of engagement, thereby breaking the initial resistance to bending or pivoting of the assembly hinge  10  which the hinge tensioning spring  42  would otherwise impart to the assembly hinge  10 . Thus, the spring bend  45  may at least partially facilitate initial pivoting of the upper support  3  or the lower support  6  with respect to the assembly hinge  10  while imparting progressively increasing tension or resistance to pivoting as the angle between the upper support  3  and the lower support  6  decreases and the hinge tensioning spring  42  is stretched. 
     The hinge tension adjusting assembly  26  can be operated to selectively vary the magnitude of tension which the hinge tensioning spring  42  applies to the assembly hinge  10 . Accordingly, the tension adjusting cam  27  can be selectively adjusted to the maximum tensioning position illustrated in  FIG. 3  such that the hinge tensioning spring  42  engages the wide cam side  27   a  of the tension adjusting cam  27 , which maximizes stretching or tensioning of the hinge tensioning spring  42  and thus, maximizes the magnitude of tension which the hinge tensioning spring  42  applies to the assembly hinge  10 . Conversely, the tension adjusting cam  27  can be selectively adjusted to the minimum tensioning position illustrated in  FIG. 4  such that the hinge tensioning spring  42  engages the narrow cam side  27   b  of the tension adjusting cam  27 , which minimizes stretching or tensioning of the hinge tensioning spring  42  and thus, minimizes the magnitude of tension which the hinge tensioning spring  42  applies to the assembly hinge  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the tension adjusting cam  27  can be selectively adjusted to the intermediate tensioning position such that the hinge tensioning spring  42  engages one of the intermediate cam sides  27   c  of the tension adjusting cam  27 , which stretches or tensions the hinge tensioning spring  42  to a magnitude which is between that of the minimum tensioning position ( FIG. 4 ) and the maximum tensioning position ( FIG. 3 ). Thus, the hinge tensioning spring  42  applies a magnitude of tension which is between that of the maximum tensioning position and the minimum tensioning position to the assembly hinge  10 . 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that hinge tensioning springs  42  of various thicknesses and tension may be selectively interchangeable with each other on the upper support  3  and the lower support  6  depending on the desired resistance to bending or pivoting which is to be imparted to the assembly hinge  10 . Generally, the thicker the hinge tensioning spring  42 , the greater the initial resistance which must be overcome by the tension adjusting cam  27  to induce the spring bend  45  and facilitate pivoting of the upper support  3  and/or the lower support  6  at the assembly hinge  10 . It will be recognized and understood that the hinge tensioning spring  42  which is illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5  is exemplary only and that any spring design which is consistent with the purpose of resisting pivoting or bending of the upper support  3  and/or the lower support  6  with respect to the assembly hinge  10  may be used in implementation of the orthotic joint stabilizing assembly  1 . 
     As further illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 , a hinge angle adjusting assembly  18  may be provided on the assembly hinge  10 . The hinge angle adjusting assembly  18  may include multiple hinge angle adjusting openings  19  which extend through the base hinge plate  11 . A hinge angle adjustment pin  20  engages a selected one of the hinge angle adjusting openings  19 . A hinge angle abutment flange  21  may extend from the cap hinge plate  12 . Upon biasing of the assembly hinge  10  via the hinge tensioning spring  42 , the hinge angle abutment flange  21  may engage the hinge angle adjustment pin  20 . Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the hinge angle adjustment pin  20  stops or retains the upper support  3  and the lower support  6  at a selected angle relative to each other depending on which of the hinge angle adjusting openings  19  the hinge angle adjustment pin  20  engages. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, in exemplary application, a pair of assemblies  1  may be used in conjunction with each of a pair of leg braces  90  (one of which is illustrated in phantom) to stabilize both knees  53  (illustrated in front view) of a user in a full extension position. Stabilization of the user&#39;s knees  53  may be necessary to enable the user to stand without buckling of the user&#39;s knees  53 . The user may have a reduced or compromised ability to maintain the user&#39;s knees  53  in a full extension position due to any of a variety of medical ailments or conditions. For example, stroke patients may have a compromised ability to maintain the knees  53  in a full extension position while standing. 
     The leg brace  90  may have a conventional design and may generally include an upper leg brace portion  91  which is fitted on the upper leg  51  and a lower leg brace portion  92  which is fitted on the lower leg  52 . Exemplary leg braces  90  which are suitable for implementation of the assembly  1  are well-known in the art and include those manufactured by RCAI (Restorative Care of America) and the Donjoy Corp., for example and without limitation. The stabilizing assembly units  2  are positioned on opposite sides of the user&#39;s leg  50  with the assembly hinges  10  of the respective stabilizing assembly units  2  positioned adjacent to respective sides of the user&#39;s knee  53 , as illustrated. Accordingly, the assembly  1  stabilizes the knee  53  of the user in a full extension position particularly as the user stands from a sitting position. The user may facilitate bending of the knee  53  by contracting the hamstring muscles in the user&#39;s leg  50 , causing the upper support  3  and/or the lower support  6  to pivot with respect to the assembly hinge  10  against the bias imparted by the hinge tensioning spring  42 . The tension adjusting cam  27  of the hinge tension adjusting assembly  26  may induce a spring bend  45  in the hinge tensioning spring  42 , overcoming the initial resistance to bending which is normally imparted by the hinge tensioning spring  42  and facilitating bending of the assembly hinge  10  as was heretofore described with respect to  FIGS. 2-5 . The hinge tension adjusting assembly  26  can be operated to selectively apply the various magnitudes of tension to the hinge tensioning spring  42  by selective positioning of the tension adjusting cam  27 , as was heretofore described with respect to  FIGS. 2-5 , depending on the needs of the patient. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.