Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02293965 2000-O1-OS
L11V18 JOINT BRACE
Technical Field
This invention is related to an adjustable brace for a limb joint.
Back r~ ound
Individuals with arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, sprained wrists or other
injuries
or maladies related to the hand and/or the wrist require something to protect,
stabilize or
immobilize their wrist to minimize the pain associated with wrist movement, or
to hasten
the healing process.
The present invention provides a means of adjusting the length of the straps
for
cinching the brace about the wrist and hand (among other body joints) allowing
one brace
to fit well almost any hand and wrist size. This invention is designed to
assist both the
wearer and his or her assistant (e.g. health care provider).
Prior attempts to improve the convenience of straps with coupling surfaces
include
the following US patents: # 5,740,555 (the '555 Patent for "Glove Designed for
Improved
Fit and Utility"); # 3,279,008 (the '008 Patent for "Ski Band"); # 2,359,148
(the ' 148
Patent for "Wrist Watch Strap"); # 4,030,689 (the '689 Patent for "Canopy
Release
Activating Device for Parachutes"); # 4,273,130 (the ' 130 Patent for
"Constrictor"); #
4,958,758 (the '758 Patent for "Mufti-Looped Cane Retaining Strap"); #
5,603,591 (the
'591 Patent for "Safety Strapping System").
The '555 Patent, '008 Patent, ' 148 Patent, ' 181 Patent, ' 130 Patent, '758
Patent
and '591 Patent do not provide for an outwardly protruding tab at the end of
their
respective straps. In contrast, the present invention allows a wearer with
poor hand
strength and/or dexterity to easily grasp the tab at the end of the strap,
with or without
the use of the thumb, since the tab itself is rigid and outwardly protruding
at its
extremity. The wearer can grasp the tab of the present invention between two
fingers
and remove the strap from the coupling surface with little difficulty.
Unlike the present invention, the '008 Patent, ' 181 Patent, ' 130 Patent,
'758
Patent, and '591 Patent do not provide a mechanism to prevent the end of the
strap from
slipping through the ring through which it is looped. Threading a strap
through a ring
with one hand can be frustrating for individuals with poor hand dexterity and,
indeed, can
be painful for those with arthritis. The present invention provides- for a
mushroom-
shaped tab at the end of the strap to prevent the tab from slipping through
the ring
through which it is looped.
Summary of Invention
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The present invention relates to a brace to immobilize and protect the wrist
(although as explained below, the present invention can be easily adapted for
other body
limb joints and even to inanimate objects). Since the wearer of the brace may
have
decreased manual dexterity in the other hand, the present invention is
designed so that the
brace can be easily slid on, strapped tight, unstrapped and removed, all using
no more
than two fingers. The present invention is designed so that the length of the
straps are
adjustable.
The present invention comprises a tubular piece of material, preferably
elastic
material such as neoprene, with a hole for the wearer to insert his thumb. The
brace is
tightened by means of two straps with mushroom-shaped tabs at the end of each
strap to
prevent the straps from slipping out of the rings through which they are
looped. Each
strap has a coupling surface. The straps are pulled taut and pressed onto the
opposing
coupling surface located on the body of the brace itself. The straps secure to
opposite
sides of the body of the brace.
The straps can be easily secured and unsecured by pulling on the tabs at the
end
of each of the straps. Each tab protrudes outward'~~to allow the wearer to
tighten or
release the straps by grasping the tab by two fingers.
Two stays are bent (e.g. by the assistant to the wearer) to fit the wearer's
hand and
wrist profiles, and then are inserted into respective pockets in the brace.
These stays
create the rigidity necessary to stabilize and protect the wrist.
A strap can be lengthened or shortened (e.g. by the health care provider) by
inserting a stay or another similar implement between the strap and a coupling
surface
located on the underside of a tunnel loop under which the strap runs. When the
stay or
other implement is removed from the tunnel loop, the strap remains secured at
the chosen
length.
The present invention is easily slipped on and removed by the wearer using
only
one finger by utilizing two separate loops located at each end of the brace.
The wearer
can slip a finger of the free hand into one of the loops and use that loop as
leverage to
either slip the brace onto the other hand or slip the brace off the other
hand.
Brief Description of Figures
Advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following
detailed description taken in conjunction with preferred embodiments shown in
the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a back view of the brace (corresponding to the back region of the
hand, with
the palm of the hand facing away);
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Fig. 2 is a front view of the brace (corresponding to the front region of the
hand with the
palm of the hand facing the viewer);
Fig. 3 is a top view of the stay for the back region of the brace;
Fig. 4 is a top view of the stay for the front region of the brace;
Fig. 5 is an angled top view of the tab at the end of a strap;
Fig. 6 is a side view of the tab at the end of a strap;
Fig. 7 is a side view of the brace adapted for a knee;
Fig. 8 is a side view of the brace adapted for an ankle; and
Fig. 9 is a front view of the brace adapted for an elbow.
Detailed Description of the Drawing,g
As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the main body of brace 200 is formed of elasticized
fabric in approximate tubular form. There is a longitudinal slit to define
opposed first
and second semi-tubular portions 102a and 102b joined by gusset 103. Fig. 1
shows
portion 102a as the back region of brace 200 (i.e. corresponding to the back
of the hand)
and Fig. 2 shows portion 102b as the front region of brace 200 (i.e.
corresponding to the
front of the hand). When brace 200 is donned, gusset 103 aligns approximately
with the
ulnar side of the wearer's hand whereas semi-tubular portions 102a and 102b
connect at
the radial side of the wearer's hand.
Hole 126 is provided at one side of the distal region of brace 200 for the
wearer's
thumb. Handle 100, in the form of a loop of fabric, is provided in the distal
region of
brace 200 for easy removal of brace 200 from the wearer's hand by pulling
outwardly
thereon (e.g. by the wearer's other hand). Similarly, handle 101, in the form
of a loop
of fabric, is provided in the proximal region of brace 200 for easy donning of
brace 200
onto the wrist and hand of the wearer by pulling inwardly thereon (e.g. by the
wearer's
other hand).
Brace 200 is provided with pockets 116 and 117 (as shown in dashed form in
Figs.
1 and 2) to house stays 130 and 131 (as shown in Figs. 3 and 4). Stay 130 is
removably
insertable into pocket 116 located on the inside of brace 200 underneath the
back region
thereof. Stay 130 is profiled to complement the contours of the back region of
the
wearer's hand and is bendable appropriately (e.g. by the assistant to the
wearer) so that
the back region of brace 200, with bent stay 130 in pocket 116, is configured
to the
desired 3-dimensional configuration of the wearer's back region. Similarly,
stay 131 is
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removably insertable into pocket 117 located on the inside of brace 200,
underneath the
front region thereof; and stay 131 is also profiled and bendable to ensure
that the front
region of brace 200 properly fits the front of the wearer's hand and wrist.
The fit of brace 200 about the wearer's hand and wrist, is adjustable by the
operation of proximal strap 106 and distal strap 108 on the main body of brace
200, as
explained below.
Slider anchor or cinching ring 105 is secured permanently and conventionally
by
strap 104 to the proximal back region of brace 200. Stxap 106 has one end 114
(the
"cinching end") looping through ring 105 and terminating with anchor tab 107.
Tab 107
is profiled with side flares 141 to prevent escape of cinching end 114 from
ring 105.
Cinching end 114 has coupling component 111, which may be a patch of the hook
tape
of a Velcro~ fastener. Strap 106 has another end 115 (the "adjusting end")
running under
tunnel loop 124 on the proximal front region of brace 200, with one component
119 of
a complementary coupling mechanism (that couples with a coupling component
associated
with tunnel loop 124, described below).
Similarly, slider anchor or cinching ring 110 is secured permanently and
conventionally by strap 109 to the distal front region of brace 200. Strap 108
has one
end 116 (the "cinching end") looping through ring 110 and terminating anchor
tab 112.
Tab 112 is profiled with side flares 141 to prevent escape of cinching end 116
from ring
110. Cinching end 116 has coupling component 113, which may be a patch of the
hook
tape of a Velcro~ fastener. Strap 108 has another end 117 (the "adjusting
end") running
under tunnel loop 125 on the distal back region of brace 200, with one
component 121
of a complementary coupling mechanism (that couples with a coupling component
associated with tunnel loop 125, described below).
Tunnel loop 124 is a strip of fabric attached to the proximal front region of
brace
200 that has a through channel to receive adjusting end 115 of strap 106.
Tunnel loop
124 has on its underside, within said channel, inside coupling component 118
which is
complementary to strap coupling component 119. In particular, coupling
component 118
may be a patch of the loop tape of a Velcro~ fastener and coupling component
119 may
be a patch of the hook tape of a Velcro~ fastener. Tunnel loop 124 has on its
outer
surface, coupling component 122 which is the same as component 119, i.e. a
patch of the
hook tape of a Velcro~ fastener.
Similarly, tunnel loop 125 is a strip of fabric attached to the distal back
region of
brace 200 that has a through channel to receive adjusting end 117 of strap
108.
Tunnel loop 125 has on its underside, within said channel, inside coupling
component 120
which is complementary to strap coupling component 121. In particular,
coupling
component 120 may be a patch of the loop tape of a Velcro~ fastener and
coupling
component 121 may be a patch of the hook tape of a Velcro~ fastener. Tunnel
loop 125
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has on its outer surface, coupling component 123 which is the same as
component 121,
i.e. a patch of the hook tape of a Velcro~ fastener. ,
Strap 106 is adjustable secured relative to semi-tubular portion 102b as
follows.
Stay 130 (or similar instrument or means) is profiled to enter tunnel loop 124
and is
inserted therein. Adjusting end 115 is inserted under stay 130 into tunnel
loop 124 to
keep coupling component 118 separate from coupling component 119. After
adjusting
end 115 is inserted to the desired position, stay 130 is then removed atnd
then coupling
components 118 and 119 are coupled. For subsequent adjustments, strap 106 can
be
released from tunnel loop 124 by wedging coupling component 119 from coupling
component 118 by the insertion of stay 130 therebetween. While stay 130
remains
between coupling components 118 and 119 to keep them uncoupled, strap 106 is
free
within tunnel loop 124 to be to be pulled for the desired displacement in the
desired
direction. Once the desired displacement is achieved, strap 106 can be secured
again to
tunnel 124 by removing stay 130 and by recoupling together coupling components
119
and 118. Thus strap 106 is adjustable relative to semi-tubular portion 102b of
the
proximal region of brace 200 as desired (e.g. for the dimensions of the
proximal region
of the wearer's hand and wrist). Once adjusted and secured to tunnel loop 124,
adjusting
end 115 is protected by tunnel loop from de-coupling therefrom by accidental
or
unintended causes.
Similarly, strap 108 is adjustable secured relative to semi-tubular portion
102a as
follows. Stay 130 (or similar instrument or means) is profiled to enter tunnel
loop 125
and is inserted therein. Adjusting end 117 is inserted under stay 130 into
tunnel loop 125
to keep coupling component 120 separate from coupling component 121. After
adjusting
end 117 is inserted to the desired position, stay 130 is then removed and then
coupling
components 120 and 121 are coupled. For subsequent adjustments, strap 108 can
be
released from tunnel loop 125 by wedging coupling component 121 from coupling
component 120 with the insertion of stay 130 therebetween. While stay 130
remains
between coupling components 120 and 121 to keep them uncoupled, strap 108 is
free
within tunnel loop 125 to be to be pulled for the desired displacement in the
desired
direction. Once the desired displacement is achieved, strap 108 can be secured
again to
tunnel 125 by removing stay 130 and by recoupling together coupling components
120
and 121. Thus strap 108 is adjustable relative to semi-tubular portion 102a of
the distal
region of brace 200 as desired (e.g. for the dimensions of the distal region
of the
wearer's hand and wrist). Once adjusted and secured to tunnel loop _125,
adjusting end
117 is protected by tunnel loop from de-coupling therefrom by accidental or
unintended
causes.
After brace 200 is donned on one hand and after adjusting and securing straps
106
and 108 relative to their respective tunnel loops 124 and 125, as described
above, brace
200 is ready for cinching.
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Strap 106 can be secured by pulling on tab 107 of cinching end 114 in
cooperation
with ring 105 until the desired fit is achieved for the proximal region of
brace 200. Then
coupling component 111 can be coupled to coupling component 119 or coupling
component 122. In other words, the opposed proximal regions of semi-tubular
portions
102a and 102b are cinched.
Similarly, strap 108 can be secured by pulling on tab 112 of cinching end 116
in
cooperation with ring 110 until the desired fit is achieved for the distal
region of brace
200. Then coupling component 113 can be coupled to coupling component 121 or
coupling component 123. In other words, the opposed distal regions of semi-
tubular
portions 102a and 102b are cinched.
Thus it is seen that straps 106 and 108 are adjustable in two ways relative to
semi-
tubular portions 102a and 102b: first, by the conventional cinching mechanism
(i.e.
cinching ends 114 and 116 cooperating with rings 105 and 110); and secondly,
by
adjusting ends 115 and 117 being adjustably secured within tunnel loops 124
and 125.
Fig. 5 shows the gripping surface 140 of distal llap 112a of tab 112 of strap
108,
as being textured with small protuberances or channels to provide a better
friction surface
to assist the wearer to grip tab 112. Fig. 6 shows flap 112a as angled
permanently
upwardly so as to protrude from the surface of the remainder of tab 112 and to
thereby
provide the wearer an easier target to grip when attempting to decouple, for
example,
coupling component 113 from coupling component 121 Tab 107 is formed
identically to
tab 112 and operates identically for corresponding structures of strap 106.
There may be covering 117a (as shown in Fig. 2) on the outer surface of semi-
tubular portion 102b following the contour of stay 131. Covering 117a may be
made of
a material like leather to provide some structural support for pocket 117 and
to provide
a cushion to improve the wearer's grip on objects to handle and to improve the
wearer's
comfort. In an analogous way, covering 116a (as shown in Fig. 1) may be a
patch of the
hook tape of a Velcro~ fastener which extends longitudinally on the outer
surface of semi-
tubular portion 102a following the contour of stay 130 to provide support for
pocket 116
and to be coupling component 123.
The main body of brace 200 may be a sheet of neoprene (or material having
similar rubbery qualities), wrapped cylindrically, with gusset 103, to form an
approximate
tube. There may be outer and inner fabric surfaces attached conventionally to
the
neoprene for the wearer's comfort. Brace 200 is in the order of 6 inches (15
cm) long
with a diameter in the order of 3 to 4 inches (8 cm). Gusset 103 may be a
strip of a
nylon stocking or Lycra, with length of about 5 inches (13 cm) and width of
about 1 inch
(2.5 cm) when stretched. Alternatively (and not shown), brace 200 may be a
continuous
sheet of neoprene or similar material (i.e. without a slit and corresponding
gusset 103).
Accordingly, semi-tubular portions 102a and 102b at their ulnar side are not
discrete and
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are continuous or at least always contiguous. Such an alternative brace 200
can be
adjusted with the strap adjusting invention described above without
substantially affecting
the basic operation, features and advantages thereof.
Straps 106 and 108 are in the order of 1.5 inches (4 cm) long with width of
about
1.5 inches (4 cm), made of high strength woven nylon but other materials are
possible
(fabric or leather) .
Stays 130 and 131 can be made of aluminium or other metal with similar
qualities
of rigidity and malleability.
Tab 112 is formed of rigid plastic and in particular, flap 112a is permanently
in
an angled position. Tab 112 is stitched or otherwise conventionally secured to
cinching
end 116. Tab 107 is formed identically. The above description discloses a
mushroom-
shaped tab 107 which acts as a stop anchor relative to ring 105. It is a
simple design
choice to chose other configurations of flares and rings to prevent escape of
a strap
through a ring.
Although handles 100 and 101 are shown as loops of fabrics, other conventional
alternatives are contemplated, such as a simple cord with a terminal knot.
Although a metal stay has been disclosed, alternative stiffening members or
inserts
made of non-metallic material will suffice, as long as the resulting stay is
of sufficient
rigidity to provide the desired stiffness to the brace but still be relatively
easily shapeable
by hand (e.g. deformable plastic, or plastic reinforced with metallic spine).
The nature of the coupling of a Velcro~ fastener is its great tenacity against
shear
forces to prevent decoupling in a direction coplanar to the coupled components
of the
fastener (or if the components are coupled in a curved configuration, in a
direction
tangential to associated coupled surfaces), but are easily decoupled when one
component
is pulled approximately transversely to the other component. Although a
Velcro~ fastener
has been disclosed for complementary coupling components, other complementary
fastening means are possible.
The above description identifies coupling components 113, 120, 121, 123 and
coupling components 111, 118, 119 and 122, in terms of one or the other of the
hook and
hook tapes of a conventional Velcro~ fastener. It is a simple design choice to
reverse that
one or that other, so that, for example, in contrast to the above description,
coupling
component 111 may be the loop tape of a Velcro~ fastener, and coupling
component 119
may be the loop tape of a Velcro~ fastener.
The ring 105/strap 106 mechanism described above is conventional and can be
replaced with conventional alternatives. For example (not shown), strap 106
may have
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a cinching end 114 that is simply a hook tape of a Velcro~ fastener that
couples with a
complementary loop tape on semi-tubular portion 1026. Furthermore, some
elasticity to
strap 106 may be obtained by providing an elastic portion attached
conventionally.
The above described embodiment is for a wearer's hand and wrist. The invention
can be applied to other joints of the body with appropriate design
modifications (number
of straps, dimensions of straps, the existence or absence of stays and pockets
therefor,
the material of the main body of the brace, etc.). '
For example, there may be embodiments for supporting joints like the knee,
ankle
and elbow, as shown in Figs. 7-9. In Figs. 7-9, reference numerals which are
identical
to those of Figs. 1-6 represent similar or identical elements. Figs. 7-9 are
simplified for
economy of illustration and meant to show the strapping mechanisms shown and
described
above in connection with Figs. 1-6, in other applications.
For another example, there may be a large version for the back of the wearer
(not
shown). And there may be embodiments to support a non joint, like a portion of
the
forearm or the calf. Furthermore, the invention may be easily adapted to
secure the body
of a dog or other like animal. Furthermore, the invention can be easily
adapted for non-
body parts after easy design modifications. For example, to gather and secure
skis or ski
poles, the material of the main body may be stiffer than neoprene and may be
covered
with a contact surface more appropriate for gripping such objects). For the
purposes of
this invention and the claims therefor, a "joint" refers to any approximately
tubular
object, whether a limb joint or not of the body or an inanimate object.
The adjusting of strap 108 is identical to that of strap 106 except that their
respective orientations are opposite relative to brace 200. Other
configurations of straps
may be effective depending on the application. Examples include: a single,
centrally
located, strap for brace 200; both distal and proximal straps being orientated
in the same
direction relative to brace 200; three or more straps, orientated in the same
direction or
varying directions (e.g. as shown in Fig. 7 for the knee).
It will be appreciated that the dimensions given are merely for purposes of
illustration and are not limiting in any way. The specific dimensions may be
varied in
practising this invention, depending on the specific application.
While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in the
illustrated
embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art,
many
modifications of structure, arrangements, proportions, the elements, materials
and
components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are
particularly
adapted for specific environments and operational requirements without
departing from
those principles. The claims are therefore intended to cover and embrace such
modifications within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the
invention.
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