SHORT LOWER LIMB BRACE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a short lower limb brace which does not have a lug interfering with a shoe, is lightweight, and has a good fitting feeling, also by which the ankle joint can be freely rotated to move the ankle, of which the structure is simple, and of which the manufacture is easy. SOLUTION: This short lower limb brace has a structure not for supporting the leg from the lower side, but for hanging the leg by arranging an attaching body on the shin and instep side of the foot. The attaching body is divided into two, a shin attaching body and an instep attaching body, so that the ankle joint can be rotated. The two attaching bodies are not connected with a rotary bearing which is arranged on the extension of the rotating axis of the ankle joint, but with a newly devised movable connecting mechanism arranged between the shin attaching body and the instep attaching body, i.e., in front of the ankle joint, so that the shin attaching body and the instep attaching body are movable. Also, a force generating mechanism for hanging the leg is arranged in the same manner, and the instep attaching body is hung at a position which is determined to the shin attaching body. The movable connecting mechanism and the force generating mechanism are formed into simple structures using an elastic member. Thus, the short lower limb brace makes walking smoother. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT