Importance

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Abstract

A hinged knee brace assembly includes upper and lower mounting members positionable above and below a wearer's knee, respectively. The mounting members include projecting connector link portions joined together along a transverse bending axis of the knee, on opposite sides thereof, by respective hinges. Each hinge comprises a stop plate member including a circumferentially extending track and a lug plate member having a projecting lug receivable in the track and engageable with stop surfaces at opposite ends thereof, to limit knee-bending movement. A first retaining member of each hinge has a noncircular projecting hub which projects through corresponding apertures in the lug plate member and the adjacent connector link portion of the lower mounting member to cause the lug plate member and connector link to move as a unit. Similarly, a second retaining member of each hinge causes the stop plate member and the adjacent connector link portion of the upper mounting member, and an associated outer plate member, to move as a unit. The parts at each hinged connection are connected together by a securing screw, the screw-threaded movement of which is limited to prevent clamping of the parts together so as to prevent the hinged connection from functioning properly. The upper mounting member includes a support member fixed thereto and having a lower free end, for insertion in a pocket of the wearer's clothing, to support the knee brace assembly on the wearer.

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First Claim