Knee brace

Abstract

A knee brace includes a body, a flexible strap, and a handle. The body is configured to support and circumferentially extend around a knee of a subject. The flexible strap includes a body end and a handle end, and the flexible strap is secured to the body at the body end; and a handle secured with the handle end of the flexible strap. The handle may include a rigid member with a gripping feature. The knee brace, or components thereof, may be constructed of an elastic synthetic polymer, such as nylon.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A knee brace, comprising:
 a body configured to circumferentially extend around a knee of a subject;   a flexible strap including a body end and a handle end, the flexible strap secured to the body at the body end; and   a handle secured with the handle end of the flexible strap.   
     
     
         2 . The knee brace of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a plurality of supports configured to circumferentially extend around the knee, the plurality of supports including a superior support, an inferior support, and a center support disposed between the superior support and the inferior support, each of the plurality of supports connected to a leg member extending substantially parallel to a sagittal plane of the subject. 
     
     
         3 . The knee brace of  claim 2 , wherein the body end is secured with the superior support. 
     
     
         4 . The knee brace of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a medial portion and a lateral portion disposed opposite from the medial portion, and wherein the flexible strap is secured to the lateral portion of the body. 
     
     
         5 . The knee brace of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible strap is constructed of an elastic synthetic polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The knee brace of  claim 5 , wherein the elastic synthetic polymer includes nylon. 
     
     
         7 . The knee brace of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a rigid member. 
     
     
         8 . The knee brace of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible strap is releasably secured with the body. 
     
     
         9 . A knee brace, comprising:
 a body configured to circumferentially extend around a knee of a subject, the body including
 a plurality of supports configured to circumferentially extend around the knee, the plurality of supports including a superior support, an inferior support, and a center support disposed between the superior support and the inferior support, each of the plurality of supports connected to a leg member extending substantially parallel to a sagittal plane of the subject; and 
   a flexible strap configured to vertically secure the superior support with a belt or a belt loop.   
     
     
         10 . The knee brace of  claim 9 , wherein the body includes a medial portion and a lateral portion disposed opposite from the medial portion, and wherein the flexible strap is secured to the lateral portion. 
     
     
         11 . The knee brace of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible strap is constructed of an elastic synthetic polymer. 
     
     
         12 . The knee brace of  claim 11 , wherein the elastic synthetic polymer includes nylon. 
     
     
         13 . The knee brace of  claim 9 , further comprising a fastener configured to secure the flexible strap with the belt or the belt loop. 
     
     
         14 . The knee brace of  claim 13 , wherein the fastener comprises a self-locking clasp. 
     
     
         15 . The knee brace of  claim 9 , further comprising an additional flexible strap configured to vertically secure the inferior support with a foot member. 
     
     
         16 . The knee brace of  claim 9 , further comprising an additional flexible strap configured to vertically secure the superior support with a torso member or a shoulder member. 
     
     
         17 . A knee brace, comprising:
 a body configured to circumferentially extend around a knee of a subject, the body including
 a plurality of supports configured to circumferentially extend around the knee, the plurality of supports including a superior support, an inferior support, and a center support disposed between the superior support and the inferior support, each of the plurality of supports connected to a leg member extending substantially parallel to a sagittal plane of the subject; and 
   a flexible strap configured to vertically secure the inferior support with a foot member.   
     
     
         18 . The knee brace of  claim 17 , wherein the foot member is dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a foot of the subject. 
     
     
         19 . The knee brace of  claim 17 , further comprising an additional flexible strap configured to vertically secure the superior support with a belt or a belt loop. 
     
     
         20 . The knee brace of  claim 17 , further comprising an additional flexible strap configured to vertically secure the superior support with a torso member or a shoulder member.