87 results about "Leg braces" patented technology

An exoskeleton bracing system includes: a trunk support for affixing to the trunk of a disabled person and leg braces for connecting to the legs of the person, each leg brace including limb segment braces. Motorized joints are adapted to provide relative angular movement between the limb segment braces of the leg braces and between the leg braces and the trunk support. One or more ground force sensors are designed to sense ground force exerted on each of the leg braces. The system also includes a controller for receiving sensed signals from said one or more ground force sensors, with an algorithm for identifying a stance from the sensed signals and, based on the identified stance, actuating the motorized joints to perform an action relating to a mode of locomotion selected from a set of predefined actions corresponding to the identified stance.

Embodiments of the invention relate to walking / running braces and to devices for enhancing locomotion, specifically human bipedal locomotion. More particularly, it relates to a controlled mechanical device which provides support of the torso via the hip sockets, reduces the metabolic energy associated with walking / running and reduces the incidence of falls caused by insufficient leg thrust. Embodiments of the invention also relates to reducing the strain and metabolic energy consumption associated with walking / running with a heavy backpack or other significant carried load.

A knee rehabilitation exercise device with a right and left leg brace, a rear knee strap, an upper leg strap assembly, a lower leg strap assembly, a portable rear brace assembly and an elastic resistance band. The left and right leg brace members are each comprised of an upper member and a lower member rotatably pinned together at the area of the knee joint. The left and right leg braces are attached to the upper and lower leg strap assembly. The rear knee strap is attached to the left and right leg braces at the knee joint. When a user places the elastic band onto L hooks mounted on the upper and lower strap assembly and the rear brace assembly is placed between the rear of the user's knee and the elastic band, a resistive stretching is caused when the user straightens his leg which exercises and strengthens the user's leg muscles in the area of the knee joint.

A motorized wheelchair machine with stand-up support capability having independent front drive motors and wheels, drive wheels with axle centerline in vicinity of arches of user's feet, allowing more instinctive and natural maneuvering, simplified lift system using a linear actuator and collapsing parallelogram lifting frame design, for reduced cost and greater comfort. A preferred embodiment includes an onboard electrical cell charger, extendable and retractable charger cord compatible with standard household electrical outlets and an interlock switch that prevents use of the drive motors while charger is plugged into an electrical power receptacle and a novel leg-brace device.

Embodiments of the invention relate to walking / running braces and to devices for enhancing locomotion, specifically human bipedal locomotion. More particularly, it relates to a controlled mechanical device which provides support of the torso via the hip sockets, reduces the metabolic energy associated with walking / running and reduces the incidence of falls caused by insufficient leg thrust. Embodiments of the invention also relates to reducing the strain and metabolic energy consumption associated with walking / running with a heavy backpack or other significant carried load.

The present invention relates to the production of lower extremity supportive products, including boot, shoes, sandals, leg braces, etc. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for providing a three-dimensionally customized lower extremity product. The method includes measuring and recording data related to a three-dimensional representation of a customer's lower extremities in an activity-specific optimal stance. The three-dimensional representation includes specific anatomical position information including extensions, flexions, rotations, inversions, eversions, etc. The three-dimensional representation also includes surface information including foot shape, ankle shape, sole shape, etc. The measurement and recordation is performed at a convenient location such as in close proximity to the customer's residence or at an airport terminal. The customized lower extremity product is then manufactured at an independent location. The manufactured customized lower extremity product is customized according to the data so as to support the customer's lower extremity in the activity-specific optimal stance. In addition, the customized lower extremity product may be delivered to a location that facilitates customer pickup.

The present invention relates to a therapeutic knee brace system including a leg brace for support, a retainer for securing the therapeutic knee brace system to a knee joint therapy site, a brace joint providing a limited range of flexion to the knee brace, and an active thermal exchange bladder coupled to a contrast therapy system for delivering a therapy fluid at a select temperature, pressure and rate. Thermal exchange bladder is removable, and the pressure may be constant or dynamic. The angle of flexion may be selected by the therapy recipient, and the range of flexion of the brace joint is configurable. The knee brace may communicate range and instant angle of flexion of the brace joint to a continuous passive motion (CPM) device, and communication may be mechanical, electronic or wireless. A knee brace coupler attaches to a CPM coupler on the CPM device to selectively couple the therapeutic knee brace system to the CPM device.

An orthosis having at least one adjustable joint for articulating two hinged parts of the orthosis, the joint comprises a tensor for carrying the load applied between the two hinged parts. Compression surfaces coupled to the hinged parts are constructed to apply compression forces to a compression element when the angle between the two parts widens. Preferably the compression element comprises a block of resilient material. The joint allows adjustability of the unloaded angle between the hinged parts by varying the dimensions of the block, while selecting blocks having different compressional characteristics such as modulus of elasticity allows varying the degree of resistance to widening the angle between the two hinged parts. The joint is particularly advantageous in constructing an articulating leg brace.

A joint hinge and a leg brace having the joint hinge that includes a spring loaded spherical joint for coupling a proximal portion and a distal portion of the joint hinge. The spherical joint includes a dome on one portion coupled to a mating cup on the other portion. A wide-headed pin, typically a shoulder screw, captivates the cup against the sphere. A spring washer may be included to provide a preloading force to mate the cup to the dome. The spherical portion may be pressed or stamped into one portion of the hinge or fabricated separately and attached. In one embodiment, the dome is fabricated of sintered bearing material and may be impregnated with lubricant. The spherical joint functions in conjunction with an adjustable flexion range limiting system that include rods that are threaded and easy to screw in and out as the patient's range of motion changes.

An inventive stepladder of tripod structure with an actuating mechanism that extends the rear legs and front step assembly in a coordinated manner to assume the tripod footprint. The actuating mechanism may include a vertical center post; a sliding collar journaled on the center post to coordinate the extension and retraction of the rear legs and step assembly; an A-brace for extending and retracting the step assembly and further serving as an auxiliary work platform for the uppermost step in the step assembly; leg braces for extending and retracting the rear legs, and a stop block attached to the lower end of the center post. A locking pin may be provided to secure the position of the sliding collar along the center post. The stop block may function to relieve shear stress on the locking pin and to provide support for a user's weight on the A-brace.

Knee braces generally have been rigid in both the knee bending direction and in the knee straightening direction unless a manually operated release is incorporated in them to allow the knee to bend. Desirably a braced knee joint should effectively duplicate the compound, complex, actions of a normal knee. The key to knee braces is the knee joint housing. The housing herein carries a number of cam action pawls, with teeth adapted to engage the internal teeth of a ratchet ring mounted in the housing. Cam action return springs and the shape of the cam action pawl teeth allow rotation of the ratchet ring in a leg straightening direction while still supporting a load. The leg can then be extended during walking while at the same time being prevented by the cam action pawls from buckling in the knee bending direction.

A unique abdominal bench with a pivoting torso section has a number of pivots, rods, and levers that allow the fixed seat section of the abdominal bench to remain a constant distance from the pivoting torso section during an abdominal exercise. The leg section of the abdominal bench pivots towards the abdomen, as does the torso section when the torso is raised. The leg section is pivotably connected to the torso section through a number of rods, pivots and levers such that the gap between the seat and torso section remains the same. A push rod is connected to the pivoting leg brace and is in turn connected to a torso bracket through several guide rods and a dog-leg lever. The push rod, guide rods and the dog-leg lever allow the torso section to remain a constant distance from the fixed seat section. Allowing the torso and seat section to remain a constant distance eliminates the pressure on the lower body of the exerciser and will not cause any movement of the lower body of the exerciser with respect to the torso section.

A harness provides comfortable yet secure fastening of the device to the animal. The harness may include a tail strap passing above the animal's tail, a leg strap passing below the anus, back straps passing over the back and connecting the tail and leg straps adjacent the anal region, a chest strap joined to the back straps and encircling the chest, leg loops joined to the leg strap encircling an upper thigh portion of the hind legs, and leg braces joining the back straps to the leg loops. A plurality of fastening devices are positioned on the harness for fastening a collection bag adjacent the animal's anal region. The leg loops may be at least partially formed by a distinct, continuous strip that forms at least part of a respective back strap. The back straps may overlap between the tail and chest straps.

Powered orthosis systems and methods are disclosed. An orthosis system includes a frame, a trunk brace adapted to be secured to a user's trunk, a trunk joint coupling the trunk brace to the frame, an upper leg brace adapted to be secured to a user's upper leg, a hip joint coupling the upper leg brace to the trunk brace, a lower leg brace adapted to be secured to a user's lower leg, a knee joint coupling the lower leg brace to the upper leg brace, and a controller. The hip joint or knee joint includes an actuator operable to rotate the adjacent braces relative to each other. The controller is programmed to operate the actuator. An orthosis method includes securing a user to the orthosis system, enabling the user to walk while secured to the orthosis system, and actuating the hip or knee actuator to rotate the adjacent braces.

A stackable building structure frame of the shelter type whereby to shelter shopping carts. The stackable building structure frame can be secured in a collapsed condition whereby to facilitate transport, storage and the erection of such building structures. The frame is comprised of reinforced connecting plates secured to opposed corners of a roof frame and to a vertical support post secured thereto. The connecting plates permit the vertical posts, which constitute the side walls of the structures, to be folded under the roof assembly. The vertical posts are secured to the connecting plates by a pair of connections one of which is a hinge connection. These vertical posts are interconnected in a folded condition by connecting vertical leg braces which are also the adjustable legs for the vertical posts. Stacking corner support legs are detachably secured to opposed corners of the collapsed building structure frame to permit stacking of these collapsed frames one on top of each other.

A method of controlling an exoskeleton bracing system to walk includes identifying an expected current stance, receiving a tilt signal from a tilt sensor, and receiving a ground force signal from ground force sensors. Motorized joints are actuated to forwardly extend a leg brace when the expected stance includes standing with the leg braces together, the tilt signal indicates tilting forward, and the ground force signal indicates leaning on an opposite leg brace. Motorized joints are actuated to extend a trailing leg brace forward beyond a forwardly extended leg brace when the expected stance includes a forwardly extended leg brace and a trailing leg brace, the tilt signal indicates tilting forward, and the ground force signal indicates leaning on the forwardly extended leg brace. Motorized joints are actuated to converge both leg braces to a standing stance when the ground force signal indicates leaning on a trailing leg brace.

The invention discloses a multi-functional basketball dribbling sparring device comprising a simulation human body, an arm movable mechanism, a height adjustment mechanism, a human body movement mechanism and a control mechanism. The simulation human body comprises an upper body, a lower body and simulation arms; the upper body and the lower body are capable of being telescopically connected; the simulation arms are hinged with human body shoulders through the arm movable mechanism; a leg brace is arranged at the bottom of the lower body; a chassis is disposed at the lower end of the leg brace; the arm movable mechanism located on the upper portion of the simulation human body comprises a two-arm spacing adjustment mechanism and an arm stretching adjustment mechanism; the height adjustment mechanism is located on the central axis portion of the simulation human body; the human body movement mechanism positioned at the bottom of the chassis comprises a mobile walking mechanism; a receiver is mounted on the lower body. The multi-functional basketball dribbling sparring device has the advantages of effectively reducing the burden on a coach, simulating actions of opponents below a variety of circumstances; providing rich diversity of basketball training, being beneficial to training and deployment of basketball tactics, and improving dribbling level of basketball players.

A support stand for a barbecue stove includes two table members, a plurality of support feet and at least one leg brace assembly pivotally connecting the table members to the support feet. Each leg brace assembly has a hinge, an actuating device and a driving device and connects the table members to the support feet. A user can operate the leg brace assembly to detach the driving device from the actuating device and can hold handles of the table members to set the table members upright so that the driving device can move downward quickly and the support stand will be collapsible quickly. The table members further include a plurality of receptacles formed thereon and adapted for receiving the feet of the barbecue stove so that the barbecue stove can be disposed on the table members stably.

A basket assembly for use with a three-wheel pushcart having a leg brace. The assembly includes a clamp for attachment to the brace. The clamp has a block with a notch for receiving the top of the brace. The block also has a first bore extending from its top to its bottom and opening into the notch and a second bore extending from one side of the block to the other. A clamping plate, for engagement with the bottom of the leg brace, is secured to the block by means of a first threaded fastener passing through the first bore. A supporting bracket is attached to the clamp and has a pair of laterally spaced members. Each of the members has a lower segment, with a forwardly facing hook at its bottom, joined to an upper segment with an apertured flange. A second threaded fastener extends through each apertured flange and the second bore to attach the bracket to the clamp. A cross brace extends between the laterally spaced members and carries a locking member having a slot. A basket is releasably attached to the supporting bracket and has an openwork box adapted for support by the forwardly facing hooks. A handle is pivotally connected to the box and has an L-shaped end that is insertable through the slot of the locking member when the handle is oriented in a first position. Pivoting the handle to a second position pivots the L-shaped end to prevent its withdrawal from the slot and selectively locks the basket upon the supporting bracket.

The present invention provides a wheelbarrow having a collapsible frame assembly. The wheelbarrow also includes a hopper and a wheel. The frame assembly includes a wheel brace assembly, a first adjustable leg assembly, a second adjustable leg assembly, a first handle member and a second handle member. The wheel brace assembly is narrow relative to the hopper. The first adjustable leg assembly and the second adjustable leg assembly are pivotally coupled to the wheel brace assembly. The first and second leg assemblies are each structured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the first and second leg assemblies are structured to be closer to the centerline of the wheelbarrow, and / or frame assembly, so that the width of the legs / brace sub-assembly is relatively narrow.

The invention discloses a supporting and protecting device of a large obliquity thick coal bed leaving small coal pole along the roadway driving, which comprises an outrigger, a triangle fixing bracket, a supporting leg brace and a fixing anchor. The outrigger is I-shaped, and a triangle fixing bracket is welded on the top and the bottom ends of the outrigger. The fixing anchors of the top and the bottom ends of the outrigger pass the anchor hole on the triangle fixing bracket. One section of anchor enters the roadway top and the stable terrane of the soleplate, and the other end is hung with a splint which fixes the top and the bottom ends of the outrigger on the roadway coal wall to form a strong supporting and protecting whole together with the metal net, the high-strength pre-stress anchor and the metal band. The materials of the device can be easily gained, the construction is easy, and the supporting and protecting are safe and reliable, thus effectively improving the reliability and safety of the whole support and protection, solving the roadway supporting and protecting technological problem of large obliquity thick coal bed, producing good effect that prevents the coal bed from sliding, and providing high practical value.

A knee rehabilitation exercise device comprised of a right and left leg brace, a rear knee strap, an upper leg strap assembly, a lower leg strap assembly, a portable rear brace assembly and an elastic resistance band. The left and right leg brace members are each comprised of an upper member and a lower member rotatably pinned together at the area of the knee joint. The left and right leg braces are attached to the upper and lower leg strap assembly. The rear knee strap is attached to the left and right leg braces at the knee joint. When a user places the elastic band onto L hooks mounted on the upper and lower strap assembly and the rear brace assembly is placed between the rear of the user's knee and the elastic band, a resistive stretching is caused when the user straightens his leg which exercises and strengthens the user's leg muscles in the area of the knee joint.

A nonflaccid brace for construction stilts is disclosed. In one embodiment, the brace is employed as a lower leg brace. In another embodiment, the brace is employed as an ankle brace. In another embodiment, the brace is employed with one or more nonflaccid closures. An ankle brace for construction stilts is disclosed. In one embodiment, the ankle brace is positioned across the foot pad from the upright carrying the leg brace. A quick connect coupling for stilts is disclosed. The coupling can be employed to close the leg brace, the ankle brace, and / or the foot straps of the stilts.