Patent ID: 8162867

Claim:
A body support for spanning a hinge joint of a body comprising an elastically stretchable framework, the framework comprising an integrally molded network of interconnected elastomeric segments, (a) wherein a first subset of the interconnected, elastomeric segments extends along a perimeter of the framework; (b) wherein a second subset of the interconnected, elastomeric segments located within the perimeter of the framework bounds and defines a permanent opening in the framework comprising an alignment opening that is dimensioned to receive therein a joint protuberance of the hinge joint, the alignment opening serving to maintain the body support in a proper orientation relative to the hinge joint when the body support is worn; (c) wherein none of the interconnected, elastomeric segments of the first subset are part of the second subset; (d) wherein the framework comprises a left side, a right side, a top side, and a bottom side, a maximum width measurement of the framework, measured from the left side to the right side when not stretched, being less than a maximum height measurement of the framework, measured from the top side to the bottom side when not stretched; and (e) wherein the framework is sized and dimensioned to abut the area of the body and span the hinge joint without overlapping itself; (f) wherein the framework is capable of lying generally flat; (g) wherein the body support further comprises two strut members extending generally along the left and right sides of the framework and attached to the framework such that each strut member spans the hinge joint of the body when the framework is disposed in abutment with the area of the body, the strut members providing a measure of rigidity to the framework in the direction of their respective lengths.