Kneeling support device and system

Abstract

A kneeling support device is disclosed that attaches to a user's leg and extends from the knees down to the instep of the foot to help reduce the amount of pressure on the feet and toes of a user while kneeling. The device comprises a base component that is configured in a curved contour that wraps around the front of a user's leg and foot. The curved contour of the base component creates a recess on the base component, which contours to a user's leg. The outer surface of the base component comprises at least one padding layer to cushion a user's knees and shins while kneeling. The end of the base component near the foot comprises a cutout component that curves around a user's foot to provide comfort and support to the toes and feet while kneeling. A bridge assembly assists the user to navigate across joists.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kneeling support system that provides a user with comfort and support when kneeling for extended periods of time, the kneeling support system comprising:
 a bridge assembly having first and second brackets;
 a bridge span positioned between the first and second brackets, the bridge span being substantially rigid and having a load-bearing capacity of at least 250 lbs; and 
   a kneeling support device comprising:
 base component having a length of 14 to 27 in. and a width of 3.5 to 9 in., the base component being sized and shaped to span the distance from the user's knee to the user's talus bone; 
 a recessed cavity on a superior portion of the base component, the recessed cavity being sized and shaped to engage the shin and knee of the user during use; 
 at least one strap coupled to the base component, the at least one strap being configured to secure the kneeling support device to the leg of the user during use; and 
 a padding member comprising a traction component configured to be positioned below a user's knee during use, the traction component having a concave section of the padding member, wherein the traction component is sized and shaped to compressively seat on the bridge span thereby transferring at least a portion of the user's weight onto the bridge assembly during use. 
   
     
     
         2 . The kneeling support system of  claim 1 , wherein the padding member is formed largely of a polymer foam, and the traction component includes a concave groove to reduce slipping off a 1.5 in. edge of dimensional lumber. 
     
     
         3 . The kneeling support system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second brackets include a compression component having a plurality of protrusions operable to align the bracket on dimensional lumber while simultaneously providing a compression fit straddling the dimensional lumber. 
     
     
         4 . The kneeling support system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 at least one structural support coupled to the base component, wherein the at least one structural support is a fiber-reinforced polymer that increases the rigidity of the base component.   
     
     
         5 . The kneeling support system of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed cavity slopes upwards from the location of the user's knee towards the location of the user's talus bone, thereby engaging a larger percentage of the padding member against the floor during use. 
     
     
         6 . A kneeling support system that provides a user with comfort and support when kneeling for extended periods of time, the kneeling support system comprising:
 a bridge assembly having first and second brackets;
 a bridge span positioned between the first and second brackets, the bridge span being substantially rigid and having a load-bearing capacity of at least 250 lbs; and 
   a kneeling support device comprising:
 a base component having a support member removably coupled to a padding member, the base component having both a superior portion and an inferior portion located between a lateral side and a medial side, an upper end, and a lower end, the outermost opposite edges of the upper and lower ends being 17.5 to 26 in. apart, wherein the padding member is primarily located in the inferior portion and the support member is primarily located in the superior portion of the base component; 
 a cutout located at the lower end of the base component, the cutout having an arch-like shape with a span over 3 in. and a rise of 1 to 7 in.; 
 a recessed cavity in the support member located primarily in the superior portion, the recessed cavity being at least 1.5 in. deep and extending 55-85% of the length from the apex of the cutout to the outermost edge of the upper end, wherein the recessed cavity includes a plurality of ventilation grooves; and 
 a traction component located at the upper end and on the padding member, the traction component forming a concave groove at least 1.8 in. wide by at least 3 in. long by at least 0.2 in. deep at the deepest portion of the concave groove. 
   
     
     
         7 . The kneeling support system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 at least one structural support coupled to the base component substantially along the long axis of the kneeling support device, wherein the at least one structural support increases the rigidity of the base component.   
     
     
         8 . The kneeling support system of  claim 7 , wherein the structural support includes a thermoset polymer, a thermoplastic polymer, or a metal. 
     
     
         9 . The kneeling support system of  claim 8 , wherein the support system includes a fiber-reinforced polymer. 
     
     
         10 . The kneeling support system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first bracket or the second bracket includes a compression component configured to releasably and compressively straddle a piece of dimensional lumber. 
     
     
         11 . The kneeling support system of  claim 10 , wherein the compression component includes a plurality of protrusions operable to align the bracket on the dimensional lumber in addition to providing a compression fit on the dimensional lumber. 
     
     
         12 . The kneeling support system of  claim 6 , wherein the ventilation grooves comprise a plurality of grooves oriented within 30° of orthogonal to intersecting grooves. 
     
     
         13 . The kneeling support system of  claim 6 , wherein both the support member and the padding member are formed largely of closed-cell polyethylene foam, the padding member having a higher density and rigidity than the support member. 
     
     
         14 . A kneeling support system that provides a user with comfort and support when kneeling for extended periods of time, the kneeling support system comprising:
 a bridge assembly having first and second brackets;
 a bridge span positioned between the first and second brackets, the bridge span being substantially rigid and having a load-bearing capacity of at least 250 lbs; and 
   a kneeling support device comprising:
 base component having a support member removably coupled to a padding member, the base component being sized and shaped to span the distance from the user's knee to the user's talus bone, the base component having both a superior portion and an inferior portion located between a lateral side and a medial side, an upper end, and a lower end, wherein the padding member is primarily located in the inferior portion and the support member is primarily located in the superior portion of the base component; 
 a cutout located at the lower end of the base component, the cutout having an arch-like shape sized and shaped to mate with and partially envelop the ankle of the user; 
 a recessed cavity in the support member located primarily in the superior portion, the recessed cavity being sized and shaped to engage the shin and knee of the user during use, wherein the recessed cavity includes a plurality of ventilation grooves; 
 at least one strap coupled to the base component, the at least one strap being configured to secure the kneeling support device to the leg of the user during use; 
 a traction component located at the upper end and on the padding member, wherein the traction component is sized and shaped to compressively seat on the bridge span with the user's knee located over the traction component and transferring at least a portion of the user's weight onto the bridge assembly during use; and 
 at least one structural support coupled to the base component substantially along the long axis of the kneeling support device, wherein the at least one structural support increases the rigidity of the base component. 
   
     
     
         15 . The kneeling support system of  claim 14 , wherein the bridge span adjusts in length to change the distance between the first bracket and the second bracket. 
     
     
         16 . The kneeling support system of  claim 15 , wherein each of the first and second brackets include a compression component having a plurality of protrusions operable to align the bracket on dimensional lumber while simultaneously providing a compression fit straddling the dimensional lumber. 
     
     
         17 . The kneeling support system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of protrusions reduce contortion of each of the first and second brackets when the bridge assembly bears the weight of the user. 
     
     
         18 . The kneeling support system of  claim 17 , wherein the bridge span, the first bracket, and the second bracket are constructed primarily of an aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         19 . The kneeling support system of  claim 15 , wherein the cutout and the recessed cavity are sized and shaped to position the user's knee over the traction component. 
     
     
         20 . The kneeling support system of  claim 14 , wherein the recessed cavity slopes upwards from the upper end towards the cutout at the lower end, thereby engaging a larger percentage of the padding member against the floor during use.