Patent ID: 7704218

Claim:
A knee brace having anterior and posterior sides divided by an anterior-posterior plane, and lateral and medial sides divided by a lateral-medial plane generally perpendicular to the anterior-posterior plane, the brace adapted for placement over a posterior side of a leg of a wearer of the brace, the brace comprising: a first posterior frame member having front and rear surfaces, and including a first end portion, a central portion connecting to the first end portion, and a second end portion defined by at least one arm branching from the central portion, the first frame member central portion and first end portion arranged to align with a wearer's tibia along the lateral-medial plane thereof on the posterior side of a wearer's leg; a second posterior frame member connected to the first frame member, the second frame member having front and rear surfaces, and including a first end portion connected to the first end portion of the first frame member, a central portion connecting to the first end portion, and a second end portion defined by at least one arm branching from the central portion, the second frame member central portion arranged to align with a wearer's femur along the lateral-medial plane thereof on the posterior side of a wearer's leg; and a posterior resilient hinge connecting the first and second frame members, and located at or near the first end portion of the first frame member, the hinge bendable across its length while accommodating movement of the knee and arranged to urge the first and second frame members into a predetermined alignment by resisting flexion of a knee, the hinge arranged to correspond to a wearer's posterior side of a knee and align along the lateral-medial plane thereof, the hinge itself formed separately and removable from the first and second frame members, an entire length of the hinge being substantially parallel to the first end portions of the first and second frame members and substantially aligned in length to the leg of the wearer when the brace is in an upright position.