Patent ID: 7044925

Claim:
A hinge system for a knee brace having upper and lower struts each defining an end portion disposed toward a knee joint, the hinge system comprising: a flexion-extension regulating device having an upper member and a lower member attached to each other in a manner defining a gap therebetween for accommodating the end portion of the upper strut; an elongated main slot formed through the upper and lower members and providing a fixed boundary for prescribing a range of motion; and a motion limiting member being pivotally connected to the lower member and further being pivotally connected to the end portion of the lower strut, the motion limiting member having a motion limiter disposed within the main slot which is caused to move therealong when the upper and lower struts pivot about the knee joint wherein confinement of the motion limiter within the fixed boundary ensures that the knee joint flexes and extends within the prescribed range of motion.