Orthopedic brace and component for use therewith

1. An orthopedic device, comprising:

a rigid frame defining lateral and medial sides, the frame including a plurality of structural elements;

at least one strap connecting to the lateral and medial sides of the frame; and

a resilient subshell connected to and extending flexibly and laterally outwardly from the frame, the subshell having a main body and a perimeter edge portion secured along the periphery of the main body, the perimeter edge portion being formed from a material having a lower hardness than a hardness of a material used to form the main body, wherein a first end of the at least one strap is connected to least one end portion of the subshell;

a ventilated padding corresponding in shape to the at least one subshell;

wherein the subshell defines a plurality of elongate slots arranged at predetermined locations, the slots corresponding to the ventilated padding to allow a passage of air through both the subshell and the padding.

2. The orthopedic device according to claim 1 , wherein the subshell defines at least one slot, the first end of the at least one strap looped about the at least one slot for connecting the first end thereof with the subshell.

3. The orthopedic device according to claim 2 , wherein the subshell includes a slot edge portion extending about at least a portion of the at least one slot, the slot edge portion having a greater hardness than the main body, thereby serving as a reinforcement to reduce or prevent chafing of the at least one strap against the subshell.

4. The orthopedic device according to claim 1 , wherein the subshell defines at least one elongate slot, the subshell having at least one reinforcement element protruding outwardly from the subshell and located about the at least one slot.

5. The orthopedic device according to claim 1 , the subshell having at least one enlarged end portion sized greater than and flaring from a mid-span portion of the subshell.

6. The orthopedic device according to claim 1 , wherein the perimeter edge portion defines an end portion having a reduced, transitional thickness and extending beyond the periphery of the subshell.

7. The orthopedic device according to claim 1 , wherein the perimeter edge portion is directly secured and interlockingly formed along the peripheral edge of the main body.

8. A knee brace, comprising:

a rigid frame defining lateral and medial sides, the frame including proximal and distal frame assemblies comprising rigid frame supports connected by lateral and medial joints;

a proximal strap extending between lateral and medial sides of the proximal frame assembly;

a resilient proximal subshell connected to and extending flexibly outwardly from the proximal frame assembly, the proximal subshell having a main body and a perimeter edge portion secured along the periphery of the main body, the perimeter edge portion being formed from a material having less hardness than a material used to form the main body;

wherein lateral and medial ends of the proximal strap are respectively directly connected to lateral and medial end portions of the proximal subshell;

wherein the proximal frame assembly defines an upper proximal central portion, the proximal subshell being centrally secured onto the upper proximal central portion, the lateral and medial end portions of the proximal subshell extending outwardly from lateral and medial sides of the upper proximal central portion, respectively, so as to arcuately bend from the upper proximal central portion of the proximal frame assembly.

9. The knee brace according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a distal subshell connected to and extending flexibly outwardly from the distal frame assembly, the distal subshell defining upper lateral and medial end portions extending arcuately from the distal frame assembly;

an upper distal strap having lateral and medial ends directly connected to the upper lateral and medial end portions, respectively, thereby connecting to lateral and medial sides of the distal frame assembly.

10. The knee brace according to claim 9 , wherein the distal subshell forms a concave curved crest located along an upper central section between the lateral and medial end portions thereof.

11. The knee brace according to claim 9 , wherein the distal frame assembly includes distal lateral and medial supports upon which the lateral and medial end portions of the distal subshell are adjustably secured.

12. The knee brace according to claim 9 , wherein the distal subshell defines lower lateral and medial end portions spaced by a lower central section and extending from a lower central portion of the distal subshell, the lower central portion secured to a lower distal central support of the distal frame assembly, the lower lateral and medial end portions extending flexibly outwardly from the lower distal central support;

wherein the upper lateral and medial end portions are spaced by lateral and medial clearances, respectively, from the lower lateral and medial end portions.

13. The knee brace according to claim 12 , further comprising:

a lower distal strap having lateral and medial ends directly connected to the lower lateral and medial end portions, respectively, thereby connecting to the lateral and medial sides of the distal frame assembly.

14. The knee brace according to claim 12 , wherein the lower central section is anchored to the lower distal central support;

wherein the distal frame assembly includes distal lateral and medial supports upon which the lateral and medial end portions of the distal subshell are adjustably secured.

15. The knee brace according to claim 12 , wherein the distal subshell has a main body and a perimeter edge portion secured along the periphery of the main body, the perimeter edge portion being formed from a material softer than a material used to form the main body.

16. An orthopedic device, comprising:

a rigid frame;

a subshell connected to and extending flexibly outwardly from the rigid frame, the subshell defining first and second end portions wherein the first end portion is pinned to the rigid frame, and the second end portion arcuately extends relative to the rigid frame;

an elongate strap having at least one end directly connected to the second end portion, the strap urging the second end portion to bend relative to the rigid frame;

wherein the subshell has a main body and a perimeter edge portion secured along the periphery of the main body, the perimeter edge portion being formed from a material softer than a material used to form the main body;

wherein the subshell defines an opening overlapping a portion of the rigid frame, a tightenable fastener secured to the rigid frame and extending through the opening permitting adjustment of the subshell relative to the rigid frame.

17. The orthopedic device according to claim 16 , wherein the subshell defines an aperture generally located at the first end portion, the subshell further comprising a guard encircling the aperture and having a lip spaced above the main body and extending over a portion of the main body towards the aperture.

18. The orthopedic device according to claim 17 , wherein the guard is formed from a material more resilient than the material used to form the main body.