US4974583A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Leg and ankle brace
Assignee: BSN Medical Inc
•
Filing: 1990-04-10
•
Granted: 1990-12-04
•
Expires: 2010-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A fracture brace for leg and ankle treatment includes a shoe having a support surface for supporting the sole of a patient's foot, side walls extending generally perpendicularly to the support surface and an outer sole member. The side walls of the shoe include a receptacle having an outer wall spaced apart from the side wall of the shoe and end walls disposed generally perpendicularly to the shoe side wall and the outer wall. The side walls of the shoe include a spring disposed within the receptacle. The brace further includes side plates each having first and second ends for selective interconnection to the receptacle. The second ends of the side plates are adapted to be received and locked between the spring and the outer wall of the receptacle to prevent removal therefrom.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael W. Freitas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/01; A61F5/04; A61F5/05; A61F5/058; A61F5/05841; A61F5/0585
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A fracture brace for leg and ankle treatment of a patient comprising: a shoe including a support surface for supporting the sole of the patient's foot, side walls extending generally perpendicularly to said support surface and an outer sole member, said side walls including an aperture; side plates each having first and second ends, said second ends thereof for selective interconnection to said side walls of said shoe, said second ends thereof adapted to be received and locked to said side wall apertures to prevent removal therefrom; and said side wall apertures including spring means for engaging said second ends of said side plates to prevent removal of said side plates from said apertures.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A fracture brace for leg and ankle treatment of a patient comprising: a shoe including a support surface for supporting the sole of the patient's foot, side walls extending generally perpendicularly to said support surface and an outer sole member, said side walls including an aperture; side plates each having first and second ends, said second ends thereof for selective interconnection to said side walls of said shoe, said second ends thereof adapted to be received and locked to said side wall apertures to prevent removal therefrom; and said side wall apertures including spring means for engaging said second ends of said side plates to prevent removal of said side plates from said apertures.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fracture brace of claim 1 wherein said side plate second ends include locking members for engaging said spring means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
85 words
The fracture brace of claim 2 wherein said locking members each include: a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness being less than said first thickness and a shoulder disposed therebetween, said first portion being engageable with said spring means for temporarily deflecting said spring means upon insertion of said side plate into said side wall aperture, said spring means expanding after said side plate has been fully inserted into said side wall aperture to engage said shoulder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fracture brace of claim 3 wherein said side wall aperture includes a shoulder for engaging said locking member shoulder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The fracture brace of claim 1 wherein said side plates include hinge means extending along the length thereof for allowing said side plate to conform to the shape of the leg of the patient.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The fracture brace of claim 1 wherein said side plates include slots for receiving straps for attaching said side plates to the leg of the patient.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fracture brace of claim 1 wherein said side plates further include ribs extending along the length thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
127 words
A fracture brace for leg and ankle treatment of a patient comprising: a shoe including a support surface for supporting the sole of the patient's foot, side walls extending generally perpendicularly to said support surface and an outer sole member; a receptacle formed in said side walls, each having an outer wall spaced apart from said shoe side wall and end walls generally perpendicularly disposed to said shoe side wall and said outer wall; said shoe side walls including a spring disposed within said receptacles; and side plates each having first and second ends, said second ends thereof for selective interconnection to said receptacles, said second ends thereof adapted to be received and locked between said spring and said outer walls to prevent removal from said shoe.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
A fracture brace for leg and ankle treatment of a patient comprising: a shoe including a support surface for supporting the sole of the patient's foot, side walls extending generally perpendicularly to said support surface and an outer sole member; a receptacle formed in said side walls, each having an outer wall spaced apart from said shoe side wall and end walls generally perpendicularly disposed to said shoe side wall and said outer wall; said shoe side walls including a spring disposed within said receptacles; and side plates each having first and second ends, said second ends thereof for selective interconnection to said receptacles, said second ends thereof adapted to be received and locked between said spring and said outer walls to prevent removal from said shoe.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fracture brace of claim 8 wherein said side plates second ends including locking members for engaging said springs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fracture brace of claim 9 wherein said receptacle outer walls includes shoulder means for engaging said locking members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The fracture brace of claim 8 wherein said side plates further include hinge means extending along the length thereof for allowing said side plates to conform to the shape of the leg of the patient.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The fracture brace of claim 11 wherein said side plates further include slots for receiving straps for attaching said side plates to the leg of the patient.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fracture brace of claim 12 wherein said side plates further include a plurality of ribs extending along the length thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2410560A
Cited
US3732861A
Cited
US3805773A
Cited
US3850167A
Cited
US4102337A
Cited
US4136404A
Cited
US4217893A
Cited
US4280489A
Cited
US4320748A
Cited
US4378793A
Cited
US4414965A
Cited
US4572169A
Cited
SU1287875A1
Cited
US4771768A
Cited
US4766890A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-12-03 | 1994-06-04 | 1994-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-03 | 1998-06-04 | 1998-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-03 | 2002-06-04 | 2002-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |