Abstract: A cross-strap tensioning apparatus is disclosed for use with a brace having a proximal portion engageable above a joint of a user and an opposing distal portion engageable below the joint. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus provides first and second cross-straps each extending between and interconnecting the proximal and distal portions of the brace. A terminal end of each of a first anterior strap portion and a spaced apart first posterior strap portion of the first cross-strap, along with a second anterior strap portion and a spaced apart second posterior strap portion of the second cross-strap, provides a cord channel configured for allowing a cord from a tensioning mechanism to extend therethrough in series. During use, as the tensioning mechanism is selectively tightened, the cord urges each of the first anterior strap portion, first posterior strap portion, second anterior strap portion and second posterior strap portion closer together.

Abstract: A cross-strap apparatus is disclosed for use with a brace having an proximal portion engageable above a joint of a user, an opposing distal portion engageable below the joint, and first and second cross-straps extending between and interconnecting the proximal and distal portions, the first and second cross-straps transversely oriented relative to one another and positioned for intersecting one another in an overlapping fashion at a cross-strap intersection substantially at the joint. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus provides a resilient hub portion sized and configured for engagement with each of the first and second cross-straps proximal to the cross-strap intersection.

Abstract: A hinge joint for orthopedic knee braces that enable a wearer or medical professional to quickly and efficiently adjust the lateral corrective force placed on the knee joint so as to apply the force at heel strike (full extension) when it is most needed, but will relax the loading during flexion. The hinge joint, for use in a three point pressure system of a knee brace, has a first part that is connectable to a femoral arm of a knee brace and a second part that is mounted to be able to telescope out of the first part as the leg is extended and to telescope back into the first part as the leg flexes.

Abstract: An image alignment guide for producing images for producing a knee brace has an arm carrying a focal angle tube, a mechanism for positioning the arm against the lateral side of the leg of a patient, and a mechanism for setting the level of the brace. The guide is used in method of preparing such images involving taking images with the image alignment guide against the lateral side of a patient's leg at an anterior-posterior mid-line thereof with the focal angle tube at the side of the knee and at a distance therefrom, respectively, measuring the length of the patient's leg from the patella center to a position on the leg at which a shell of a brace to be produced is to be located, measuring the crest of the tibia using a tibial contour guide and sending all images, readings and measurements obtained to a knee brace manufacturer.

Abstract: A knee brace with a connection mechanism that enables quick and easy secure attachment and detachment of a plastic cuff shell to struts of the brace without the need for separate fasteners and the tools required for them via the use of a novel snap connector which will connect by a simple plug in motion, and which is configured to firmly hold the connected strut and prevent it from rotating relative to the cuff shell once connected while also enabling a quick and easy tool-free disconnection of the strut for exchanging of one cuff for another. The thigh and tibia shells can be interchange without removing any screws, rivets or traditional connectors providing a modular construction with the ability to mix and match different size thigh and calf shells, making it possible for a customer to order the product in kit form, or as separate components thereby enabling easy customization.

Abstract: A knee brace which allows the same bolster pad to be used for either the right or left leg, is adjustable to compensate for the differing angle between men and women and allows individual adjustment for each patient's comfort and brace rotation for proper fit and joint alignment. These characteristics are obtained by a contoured bolster that is selectively mountable at various positions on either side of the shin cross piece depending on whether the brace is for the left or right leg, the bolster always being on the medial side of the shin to contact the flat section on the front of the shin thereby minimizing unwanted rotation of the brace. The bolster pad has a front face with a curvature matched to a curvature of an inner side of the cross piece and a flat on a rear side to contact the front of the shin.

Abstract: A hinge joint for orthopedic knee braces that enable a wearer or medical professional to quickly and efficiently adjust the lateral corrective force placed on the knee joint so as to apply the force at heel strike (full extension) when it is most needed, but will relax the loading during flexion. The hinge joint, for use in a three point pressure system of a knee brace, has a first part that is connectable to a femoral arm of a knee brace and a second part that is mounted to be able to telescope out of the first part as the leg is extended and to telescope back into the first part as the leg flexes.

Abstract: An image alignment guide for producing images for producing a knee brace has an arm carrying a focal angle tube, a mechanism for positioning the arm against the lateral side of the leg of a patient, and a mechanism for setting the level of the brace. The guide is used in method of preparing such images involving taking images with the image alignment guide against the lateral side of a patient's leg at an anterior-posterior mid-line thereof with the focal angle tube at the side of the knee and at a distance therefrom, respectively, measuring the length of the patient's leg from the patella center to a position on the leg at which a shell of a brace to be produced is to be located, measuring the crest of the tibia using a tibial contour guide and sending all images, readings and measurements obtained to a knee brace manufacturer.

Abstract: A knee brace which allows the same bolster pad to be used for either the right or left leg, is adjustable to compensate for the differing angle between men and women and allows individual adjustment for each patient's comfort and brace rotation for proper fit and joint alignment. These characteristics are obtained by a contoured bolster that is selectively mountable at various positions on either side of the shin cross piece depending on whether the brace is for the left or right leg, the bolster always being on the medial side of the shin to contact the flat section on the front of the shin thereby minimizing unwanted rotation of the brace. The bolster pad has a front face with a curvature matched to a curvature of an inner side of the cross piece and a flat on a rear side to contact the front of the shin.

Abstract: A knee brace which allows the same bolster pad to be used for either the right or left leg, is adjustable to compensate for the differing angle between men and women and allows individual adjustment for each patient's comfort and brace rotation for proper fit and joint alignment. These characteristics are obtained by a contoured bolster that is selectively mountable at various positions on either side of the shin cross piece depending on whether the brace is for the left or right leg, the bolster always being on the medial side of the shin to contact the flat section on the front of the shin thereby minimizing unwanted rotation of the brace. The bolster pad has a front face with a curvature matched to a curvature of an inner side of the cross piece and a flat on a rear side to contact the front of the shin.

Abstract: A knee brace is provided with semi-pliable inserts affixed to inner sides of femoral links of the brace at two points with a bottom portion of the insert left free to move inward toward a facing side of the leg. Anterior and posterior straps that are tightenable by the wearer are attached to the semi pliable inserts in a manner enabling pulling on the straps to cause the inserts to dynamically move inward and compress against the thigh so as improve comfort by diffusing and transferring pressure away from a relatively boney side of the knee of the wearer to a softer thigh area of the wearer. The inserts are also adapted to move inward and press into femoral hollows just proximal to the knee joint of the wearer so as to provide support against movement of the brace along the length of the leg of the wearer.

Abstract: A knee brace is provided with semi-pliable inserts affixed to inner sides of femoral links of the brace at two points with a bottom portion of the insert left free to move inward toward a facing side of the leg. Anterior and posterior straps that are tightenable by the wearer are attached to the semi pliable inserts in a manner enabling pulling on the straps to cause the inserts to dynamically move inward and compress against the thigh so as improve comfort by diffusing and transferring pressure away from a relatively boney side of the knee of the wearer to a softer thigh area of the wearer. The inserts are also adapted to move inward and press into femoral hollows just proximal to the knee joint of the wearer so as to provide support against movement of the brace along the length of the leg of the wearer.

Abstract: A knee brace having adjustment mechanisms that are easy and economical to produce while being very user friendly, and which is more comfortable to wear. The brace has a joint mechanism formed of a plurality of plates with notches, openings and range of motion surfaces, the relative positions of which are used as part of a flexion-extension stop arrangement and also as part of an adjustable locking arrangement by which the brace can be locked, temporarily released or indefinitely released. Furthermore the lateral-medial angulation of the femoral strut is able to be adjusted relative to the joint mechanism and tibial strut.

Abstract: An orthopedic knee brace which will allow lateral-medial compensation to be obtained while still enabling the use of known joint mechanism which will constrain the leg to execute the correct natural movement of the knee by separating lateral-medial compensation and anterior posterior movement functions. More specifically, the present invention utilizes a pair of hinges, one of which provides for movement in a posterior-anterior plane and the other which provides for movement in a medial-lateral plane. In this way, any conventional knee joint mechanism may be employed and movement of the leg can be properly constrained to execute a prescribed motion.

Abstract: An orthopedic knee brace which will allow lateral-medial compensation to be obtained while still enabling the use of known joint mechanism which will constrain the leg to execute the correct natural movement of the knee by separating lateral-medial compensation and anterior posterior movement functions. More specifically, the present invention utilizes a pair of hinges, one of which provides for movement in a posterior-anterior plane and the other which provides for movement in a medial-lateral plane. In this way, any conventional knee joint mechanism may be employed and movement of the leg can be properly constrained to execute a prescribed motion.

Abstract: A fluid dampening system for a printing machine has a frame and a printing roll on the frame for holding a circular printing plate. A fluid reservoir is on the frame and a fountain roll is on the frame and is partially immersed in the fluid reservoir. A second roll is on the frame and is normally in surface contact with the fountain roll. A third roll is on the frame and is normally in surface contact with the fountain roll. A plurality of additional rolls are on the frame sequentially in surface contact with each other and with the third roll and the printing roll so that when all of the aforesaid rolls are rotated and in surface contact with each other, fluid will be transferred from the surface of the fountain roll to the surface of the third roll and sequentially on the surface of the additional rolls to the surface of the printing roll.

Abstract: A knee brace is provided which includes a load application device for effectively applying a three point corrective load to the wearer's leg. The load application device includes a load arm pivotally connected to an upper support portion for applying a corrective force to a wearer's thigh and a load arm securing arrangement for adjustably securing the load arm in a desired pivotal position thereby permitting the corrective force to be easily adjusted to adapt to a wide range of leg sizes and shapes. The device also includes a leg support pivotally mounted on the load arm for contacting a wearer's leg and a leg support securing arrangement. Thus, the leg support can be pivotally adjusted to conform to the shape of the wearer's thigh to optimize application of the corrective load while providing a comfortable fit. The load arm and leg support securing arrangements may both be in the form of an arcuate slot and locking pin assembly.

Abstract: A knee brace has a pair of femoral and tibial links and a four bar joint mechanism by which a lateral side one of the femoral links is pivotally connected to a lateral side one of the tibial links and a four bar joint mechanism by which a medial side one of the femoral links is pivotally connected to a medial side one of the tibial links. Each of the joint mechanisms comprises an inner, padded, pivot plate and an outer pivot plate, each of end of which is pivotally connected at a single point to a respective one of the femoral and tibial links. Furthermore, the pad on the inner pivot plate of the medial side joint mechanism carries a spherically cupped femoral condyle pad by which the brace, generally, and the joint mechanism, specifically, can be properly positioned relative to the knee of the wearer.

Abstract: A swing apparatus for an offset press auxiliary print unit which includes a swing arm detachable mounted on the auxiliary print unit and a vertical support member upon which the arm will pivot through a generally horizontal plane. The swing arm is rotatable and is operably connected to a pair of lifting tines through a parallelogram linkage so as to lift the auxiliary print unit to disengage it from the main press and then swing it horizontally clear of the press. A crank operates a worm gear and sprocket arrangement to rotate the arm and raise or lower the tines. In a second embodiment, a pair of brackets are affixed to a swing arm, and the entire arm is raised and lowered to lift the auxiliary print unit. An electric motor is used to raise and lower the arm.

Abstract: A swing apparatus for an offset press auxiliary print unit which includes a swing arm detachably mounted on the auxiliary print unit and a vertical support member upon which the arm will pivot through a generally horizontal plane. The swing arm is rotatable and is operably connected to a pair of lifting tines through a parallelogram linkage so as to lift the auxiliary print unit to disengage it from the main press and then swing it horizontally clear of the press. A crank operates a worm gear and sprocket arrangement to rotate the arm and raise or lower the tines. In a second embodiment, a pair of brackets are affixed to a swing arm, and the entire arm is raised and lowered to lift the auxiliary print unit. An electric motor is used to raise and lower the arm.