IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
UP-0160398
(2005-06-22)
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등록번호 |
US-7708708
(2010-06-03)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Nordt, III, William E.
- Kovacevich, Ian D.
- Dahlquist, Kevin J.
- Philpott, Tom J.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Nordt Development Co., Ltd.
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
14 인용 특허 :
162 |
초록
▼
A method of donning a potentiating support for a body's hinge joint includes: positioning a garment proximate an area of a body; positioning an expandable and recoverable framework in abutment with the area of the body such that the framework spans a hinge joint of the body, the framework defining a
A method of donning a potentiating support for a body's hinge joint includes: positioning a garment proximate an area of a body; positioning an expandable and recoverable framework in abutment with the area of the body such that the framework spans a hinge joint of the body, the framework defining a plurality of permanent openings extending there through regardless of whether the support is donned; applying tension at points of the framework such that the framework is expanded and the framework is tensioned in its abutment with the area of the body, said step of applying tension being performed by pulling on one or more fastening components that are attached at one or more points to said framework; and affixing each of the fastening components to the garment while applying tension to the framework to secure the expanded framework in its forced abutment with the area of the body.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A method of donning a potentiating support for a hinge joint of a body, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a garment proximate an area of the body; (b) positioning an expandable and recoverable framework in abutment with the area of the body such that the framework span
What is claimed is: 1. A method of donning a potentiating support for a hinge joint of a body, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a garment proximate an area of the body; (b) positioning an expandable and recoverable framework in abutment with the area of the body such that the framework spans a hinge joint of the body, the framework comprising an integrally molded network of interconnected, elastomeric segments, wherein (i) a first subset of the interconnected, elastomeric segments defines a perimeter of the framework, (ii) a second subset of the interconnected, elastomeric segments located within the perimeter of the framework bounds and defines a plurality of permanent openings in the framework, (iii) none of the interconnected, elastomeric segments of the first subset are part of the second subset, and (iv) a particular permanent opening of the plurality of permanent openings in the framework comprises an alignment opening that is dimensioned to receive therein a joint protuberance of the hinge joint, the alignment opening serving to maintain the support in a proper orientation relative to the hinge joint when the support is worn; (c) applying tension at points of the framework such that the framework is expanded and the framework is tensioned in its abutment with the area of the body, said step of applying tension being performed by pulling on fastening components that are attached to the framework; (d) independently affixing each of the fastening components to the garment while applying tension to the framework to secure the expanded framework in its forced abutment with the area of the body; and (e) positioning an alignment member contoured to receive the joint protuberance that is dimensioned to extend within the alignment opening, the alignment member being entirely separable from the framework. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the framework, along its entire boundary with at least one of the permanent openings, is elastically stretchable between a first initial state and extended states; and, when expanded to a the extended state, the framework stores potential energy that is released as kinetic energy upon its return to the initial state; and further comprising the step of flexing the body about the hinge joint whereby the framework is expanded from the initial state to one of the extended states and stores potential energy that is released as kinetic energy upon its return to the initial state. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the framework is permanently attached to the garment; and wherein the fastening components are each removably affixed to the garment such that the fastening components may be separated from the garment and, thereafter, reaffixed. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the framework is removably attached to the garment such that the framework may be separated from the garment and, thereafter, reattached; and wherein the fastening components are each removably affixed to the garment such that the fastening components may be separated from the garment and, thereafter, reaffixed. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the fastening components each are removably attached to the framework. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein, independent of said affixing the fastening components to the garment, the framework is attached directly to the garment proximate opposite sides of the framework. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the framework is attached directly to the garment only proximate opposite sides of the framework. 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the framework is permanently attached directly to the garment proximate opposite sides of the framework. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the framework extends over but does not extend beyond the garment. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said integrally molded network of interconnected, elastomeric segments includes a plurality of generally linear segments of an elastomeric material. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the permanent openings defined in the framework have different configurations and dimensions, including oval and polygonal shapes. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the permanent openings defined in the framework are symmetrically arranged and oriented about an axis of symmetry of the framework. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the framework is configured to be stretched in order to conform to the area of the body to be supported in spanning the hinge joint. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the garment includes a permanent tubular portion designed to fit and completely surround the area of the body. 15. A method of donning a potentiating support for a hinge joint of a body, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a garment proximate an area of a body; (b) positioning a flexible, elastically stretchable framework in abutment with the area of the body such that the framework spans a hinge joint of the body, the framework comprising an integrally molded network of interconnected, elastomeric segments, wherein (i) a first plurality of the interconnected, elastomeric segments defines a perimeter of the framework, (ii) a second plurality of the interconnected, elastomeric segments located within the perimeter of the framework bounds and defines a plurality of permanent openings, (iii) none of the elastomeric segments of the second plurality form part of the first plurality, and (iv) a particular permanent opening of the plurality of permanent openings in the framework comprises an alignment opening that is dimensioned to receive therein a joint protuberance of the hinge joint, the alignment opening serving to maintain the support in a proper orientation relative to the hinge joint when the support is worn; (c) applying tension at points of the framework such that the framework is expanded and the framework is tensioned in its abutment with the area of the body, said step of applying tension being performed by pulling fastening components that are attached to the framework; (d) independently affixing each of the fastening components to the garment while applying tension to the framework to secure the expanded framework in its forced abutment with the area of the body; and (e) positioning an alignment member contoured to receive the joint protuberance that is dimensioned to extend within the alignment opening, the alignment member being entirely separable from the framework. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the framework, along its entire boundary with at least one of the permanent openings, is elastically stretchable between a first initial state and extended states; and wherein, when expanded to a the extended state, the framework stores potential energy that is released as kinetic energy upon its return to the initial state; and further comprising the step of flexing the body about the hinge joint whereby the framework is expanded from the initial state to one of the extended states and stores potential energy that is released as kinetic energy upon its return to the initial state. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the framework is permanently attached to the garment; and wherein the fastening components are each removably affixed to the garment such that the fastening components may be separated from the garment and, thereafter, reaffixed. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the framework is removably attached to the garment such that the framework may be separated from the garment and, thereafter, reattached; and wherein the fastening components are each removably affixed to the garment such that the fastening components may be separated from the garment and, thereafter, reaffixed. 19. The method of claim 15, further comprising removably securing the alignment member to the framework via interlocking engagement of a channel defined by the alignment member with the interconnected segments of the second subset that bound and define the alignment opening. 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the alignment member comprises a ring, whereby pressure is applied to the area of the body by the alignment ring along a perimeter of the alignment member. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising inserting said alignment member through said alignment opening. 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising withdrawing said alignment member through said alignment opening. 23. The method of claim 15, wherein two strut members are attached to the framework such that each strut member spans the hinge joint when the framework is disposed in abutment with the area of the body, the strut members providing a measure of rigidity to the framework in the direction of their respective lengths. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein each respective strut member includes an intermediate portion thereof spanning the hinge joint that is expandable and recoverable between a first initial state and extended states wherein, when expanded to one of the extended states during flexing of the hinge joint, the respective strut member stores potential energy that is released as kinetic energy upon its return to the initial state. 25. A method of donning a potentiating support for a hinge joint of a body, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a garment proximate an area of a body; (b) positioning a flexible, elastically stretchable framework in abutment with the area of the body such that the framework spans a hinge joint of the body, the framework comprising an integrally molded network of interconnected, elastomeric segments, wherein (i) a first plurality of the interconnected, elastomeric segments defines a perimeter of the framework, (ii) a second plurality of the interconnected, elastomeric segments located within the perimeter of the framework bounds and defines a plurality of permanent openings, (iii) none of the elastomeric segments of the second plurality form part of the first plurality, and (iv) wherein said framework is capable of lying generally flat when not tensioned in abutment with the area of the body; (c) applying tension at points of the framework such that the framework is expanded and the framework is tensioned in its abutment with the area of the body, said step of applying tension being performed by pulling fastening components that are attached to the framework; and (d) independently affixing each of the fastening components to the garment while applying tension to the framework to secure the expanded framework in its forced abutment with the area of the body.
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