Knee protector
US4768500A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 10, 1987 |
| Grant date | Sep 6, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 10, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2005/0139
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An athletic knee protector is disclosed wherein a bowed leaf spring hinge structure is supported on load distribution pads or cuffs attached to the thigh and shin of the wearer and is spaced laterally from the lateral side of the knee to protect the knee of an athlete against injury from lateral forces and impacts such as are likely to occur in football. The bowed leaf spring hinge structure absorbs such forces and impacts and redistributes them at locations spaced substantially above and below the knee proximate the strong bones of the leg. Preloading of knee ligaments in the lateral/medial direction is avoided, and lateral forces and impacts are better distributed, by connecting the pads or cuffs to the hinge structure with a free rocking or pivoting action in the lateral/medial direction. Also, the pads or cuffs are made more adaptable to the curvature of the leg by a variable flexibility in the anterior/posterior direction so that attachment and working loads applied to the leg are spread out more uniformly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.