Device for, and method of, protecting knees from external forces
View Patent ↗The solution to protecting the human knee from external forces is to surround the knee with a brace that includes adjustable air bladders to absorb external forces before the external forces pass into the knee and cause internal knee injury. Such a brace includes a pair of struts that are bifurcated by hinges, the adjustable air bladders placed between the knee and the hinges.
1. A method of protecting a human knee of a lower leg from external forces, the method comprising the steps of:
surrounding the lower leg with a force dissipation brace comprising:
a lateral air bladder on a side of the human knee;
a medial air bladder on an opposite side of the human knee;
the lateral air bladder and medial air bladder each including an inlet/outlet nozzle to permit adjustment of internal air pressure;
the internal air pressure of the lateral air bladder and medial air bladder affecting the behavior of the lateral air bladder and medial air bladder with respect to external forces;
the lateral air bladder held in place by the combination of:
a lateral strut divided by a lateral hinge;
the medial air bladder held in place by the combination of:
a medial strut divided by a medial hinge;
the lateral strut connected to the medial strut by an anterior thigh cuff and an anterior shin cuff;
the lateral strut and medial strut enclosing the lower leg with an anterior thigh strap, an anterior shin strap, a posterior thigh strap, a posterior upper shin strap, and a posterior lower shin strap;
tightening the anterior thigh strap, anterior shin strap, posterior thigh strap, posterior upper shin strap, and posterior lower shin strap to hold the lower leg within the force dissipation brace;
inflating the medial air bladder to compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee;
inflating the lateral air bladder to compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee;
additionally inflating the medial air bladder to further compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee;
additionally inflating the lateral air bladder to further compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee;
exposing the brace to an external force;
the external force applied to the medial strut;
the external force spreading up and down the medial strut, causing deformation of the medial strut;
the deformation of the medial strut causing deformation of the medial bladder;
the deformation of the medial bladder causing the medial bladder to pass through a cycle of absorbing, dissipating, and spreading the force of impact;
whereby the human knee is protected from injury.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
inflating the lateral air bladder more than the medial air bladder, thereby opening a medial side of the human knee.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
inflating the medial air bladder more than the lateral air bladder, thereby opening a lateral side of the human knee.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the brace further comprises:
a medial guide channel crossing the medial hinge;
a medial elastic member connecting the medial strut across the medial hinge;
the medial elastic member causing the medial strut to move toward a straight position and away from a bent position;
thereby encouraging unbending of the human knee;
a lateral guide channel crossing the lateral hinge;
a lateral elastic member connecting the lateral strut across the lateral hinge;
the lateral elastic member causing the lateral strut to move toward a straight position and away from a bent position;
thereby encouraging unbending of the human knee.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of exposing the brace to an external force further comprises the step of:
the external force causing motion of the human knee that causes compression of the lateral air bladder.
6. A method of protecting a human knee of a lower leg from external forces, the method comprising the steps of:
surrounding the lower leg with a force dissipation brace comprising:
a lateral air bladder on a side of the human knee;
a medial air bladder on an opposite side of the human knee;
the lateral air bladder and medial air bladder including an inlet/outlet nozzle to permit adjustment of internal air pressure;
the internal air pressure of the lateral air bladder and medial air bladder affecting the behavior of the lateral air bladder and medial air bladder with respect to external forces;
the lateral air bladder held in place by the combination of:
a lateral strut divided by a lateral hinge;
the medial air bladder held in place by the combination of:
a medial strut divided by a medial hinge;
the lateral strut connected to the medial strut by an anterior thigh cuff and an anterior shin cuff;
the lateral strut and medial strut enclosing the lower leg with an anterior thigh strap, an anterior shin strap, a posterior thigh strap, a posterior upper shin strap, and a posterior lower shin strap;
a medial guide channel crossing the medial hinge;
a medial elastic member connecting the medial strut across the medial hinge;
the medial elastic member causing the medial strut to move toward a straight position and away from a bent position;
thereby encouraging unbending of the human knee;
a lateral guide channel crossing the lateral hinge;
a lateral elastic member connecting the lateral strut across the lateral hinge;
the lateral elastic member causing the lateral strut to move toward a straight position and away from a bent position;
tightening the anterior thigh strap, anterior shin strap, posterior thigh strap, posterior upper shin strap, and posterior lower shin strap to hold the lower leg within the force dissipation brace;
inflating the medial air bladder to compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee;
inflating the lateral air bladder to compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee;
additionally inflating the medial air bladder to further compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee;
additionally inflating the lateral air bladder to further compress the force dissipation brace against the human knee;
exposing the brace to an external force;
the external force applied to the medial strut;
the external force spreading up and down the medial strut, causing deformation of the medial strut;
the deformation of the medial strut causing deformation of the medial bladder;
the deformation of the medial bladder causing the medial bladder to pass through a cycle of absorbing, dissipating, and spreading the force of impact;
whereby the human knee is protected from injury.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of:
inflating the lateral air bladder more than the medial air bladder, thereby opening a medial side of the human knee.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of:
inflating the medial air bladder more than the lateral air bladder, thereby opening a lateral side of the human knee.
9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of:
the external force causing motion of the human knee that causes compression of the lateral air bladder.