Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130012856 | CLOSURE SYSTEM FOR BRACES, PROTECTIVE WEAR AND SIMILAR ARTICLES - A closure system for braces, protective wear and similar articles is disclosed. The closure system includes a plurality of opposing lace guide members and a tightening mechanism. The closure system further includes a lace extending through the guide members and coupled to the tightening mechanism. In some embodiments, a quick release apparatus is included to facilitate opening of the closure system. The tightening mechanism in some embodiments includes a control for winding the lace into a housing to place tension on the lace thereby tightening the closure system. | 01-10-2013 |
20140123440 | COUPLING MEMBERS FOR CLOSURE DEVICES AND SYSTEMS - According to one embodiment, a coupling component includes a female component and a male component. The female component includes a main body portion and a coupling aperture. Similarly, the male component includes a main body portion and a coupling member. The coupling member that is mateable with the coupling aperture of the female component to couple the male and female components together. The main body portion of the male component includes a top surface and a relatively planar bottom surface. The coupling member includes a relatively planar top surface and a bottom surface. The relatively planar top surface of the coupling member is offset from the relatively planar bottom surface of the male component. The male and female components are non-releasable from a coupled engagement while under tension via a tension member. | 05-08-2014 |
20140221889 | CLOSURE DEVICES FOR MEDICAL DEVICES AND METHODS - Closure devices that may be used for various articles, such as braces, medical devices, shoes, clothing, apparel, and the like. The closure devices may include a tightening mechanism that may function as a handle that allows an individual to wrap an article around body part, couple the article about the body part, and then tension or tighten the article using a single hand. | 08-07-2014 |
20140257156 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR AUTOMATIC CLOSURE OF MEDICAL DEVICES - According to an embodiment, a brace may include a motorized tensioning device, a tensioning member operationally coupled with the motorized tensioning device to tighten the brace about the limb, and a control unit communicatively coupled with the motorized tensioning device to control adjustment of a tension of the tensioning member. A method for providing therapy with the brace fitted about a limb may include communicating a first instruction from the control unit to the motorized tensioning device to adjust the tension of the tensioning member according to a therapeutic regimen that is designed to aid in recovery of the limb via repetitive movement of the limb. | 09-11-2014 |
20140358054 | STRAPS FOR DEVICES AND METHODS THEREFOR - According to an embodiment, a system for tightening an article about a limb includes a reel based closure system having a tension member that is guided about the article and tensionable to close or tighten the article and a reel based tightening mechanism that is configured to tension the tension member and to maintain the tension member's tension so that the article remains closed or tightened. The system also includes a strap having a first end that is attached to a first edge of the article and a second end that is operably coupled with the reel based closure system so that tensioning of the tension member causes the strap to be tensioned. An intermediate portion of the strap spans a portion of an opening of the article and is slidingly positioned within a ring component that is attached to a second edge of the article. | 12-04-2014 |
20150059206 | GUIDES AND COMPONENTS FOR CLOSURE SYSTEMS AND METHODS THEREFOR - According to an embodiment, a component for attachment to an article includes an upper component that is made of a thermoplastic material having a first melting temperature and a flange member that is molded onto the upper component and made of a thermoplastic elastomer material having a second melting temperature that is lower than the first melting temperature of the upper component. The flange member extends laterally from a bottom end of the upper component so that a bottom surface of the flange member is flush with or positioned axially below a bottom surface of the upper component. The melting temperature of the thermoplastic elastomer material enables the flange member to be directly coupled to the article via heat welding and the like without substantially affecting the upper component. | 03-05-2015 |
20150150705 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PROVIDING AUTOMATIC CLOSURE OF PROSTHETICS AND ORTHOTICS - According to an embodiment, a lacing system for opening and closing an article includes a tensioning device having a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, a first tension member that is coupled with the tensioning device and tensionable thereby, and a second tension member that is coupled with the tensioning device and tensionable thereby. The tensioning device is configured to: effect tensioning of the first tension member to close and tighten the article upon operation of the tensioning device in the first mode of operation and effect tensioning of the second tension member to loosen and open the article upon operation of the tensioning device in the second mode of operation. | 06-04-2015 |
20150151070 | CLOSURE METHODS AND DEVICES FOR HEAD RESTRAINTS AND MASKS - A system for securing a mask about a user's face includes a mask that is configured to fit about the user's face, a padded member that is postionable on the back of the user's head, and at least one strap that extends from the padded member toward the mask. The system also includes a closure system that is coupled with the mask and with the strap. The closure system includes a tension member, a guide that routes the tension member about the mask and/or the strap, and a tensioning device that is operable to tension the tension member and thereby pull the strap and padded member toward the mask to secure and/or tighten the mask about the user's face. | 06-04-2015 |