The present invention provides a novel means of joint and body protection
using engineered textiles to provide dynamic kinematic control within the
device itself and for the underlying body part. The apparatus may be used
in apparel or orthosis wherein a textile is organized about the proximal
and distal aspects of a joint or body part and uses the mechanical and
material characteristics of the engineered textile to dynamically control
the kinetics of the body part and more specifically to prevent the body
part from reaching extremes in range of motion. The engineered textiles
can be designed to provide non-uniform increases in stiffness in any
direction. The engineered textile may incorporate strain or strain rate
dependant materials in which case stiffness properties would vary
non-uniformly with velocity and/or acceleration within the device
allowing for protection from blunt trauma, blast, or ballistic events
anywhere on the body. A further aspect of the present invention is to
provide a novel means of dynamically fitting and anchoring apparel,
orthosis, body protection devices or other objects that need to be
securely fixed to the body anatomy during joint flexion or extension, by
using motion at a body joint to actuate a closure mechanism and bracing
system that actively closes upon the body anatomy surrounding the joint
and transfers loads created during dynamic restraint of the joint to
anchor zones on the body.