ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A SHOE, A SHAPED PIECE CONNECTED WITH THE SHOE TO SUPPORT THE ANKLE, AND A SET OF A SHAPED PIECE AND FIXING MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE SHOE

• US 20140223775A1
• Filed: 06/11/2012
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exo Ligament B.V.
• Original Assignee: Exo Ligament B.V.
• Inventors: Fleuren, Marcel Johan Dalitso
• Granted Patent: US 9,877,540 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/89
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/14 with foot-supporting parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/18 Joint supports, e.g. instep supports
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/20 Ankle-joint supports or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/01 Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0111 for the feet or ankles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0127 for the feet A61F5/0111 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/1275 for the ankle

Abstract

An assembly includes a shoe and a device connected with the shoe to support the ankle, wherein the device includes a shaped piece which surrounds the ankle at least at the rear and is formed corresponding to the malleoli of the ankle. A shaped piece and a shoe suitable for use in the assembly and a set of the shaped piece and a fixing element for attachment to a shoe are also described.

Claims

1-34. -34. (canceled)

35. An assembly (30) comprising a shoe (1) and a device (2) connected with the shoe to support the ankle (9), wherein the device (2) comprises a shaped piece (3) which surrounds the ankle (9) at least at the back and which is formed corresponding to the malleoli (17, 18) of the ankle (9), wherein the shoe (1) is fitted with an upper (6) and a sole (5) and wherein the assembly (30) comprises a connecting means (12) which extends at an angle of less than 90°

in relation to the sole (5) from the shaped piece (3) of the device (2) in the direction of the upper (6), characterized in that the connecting means (12) comprises a first and a second connecting part (21a, 21b), wherein the first part (21a) extends between the shaped piece (3) near the lateral malleolus (17) and a fixing means (13) connected with the shoe, and the second part (21b) extends between the fixing means (13) and the shaped piece (3) near the medial malleolus (18).

36. The assembly (30) according to claim 35, wherein the shaped piece (3) has an outer shaped region which is formed corresponding to the lateral malleolus (17).

37. The assembly (30) according to claim 35, wherein the shaped piece (3) has an inner shaped region which is formed corresponding to the medial malleolus (18).

38. The assembly (30) according to claim 35, wherein the shaped piece (3) has a rear shaped region (23) which is at a distance from the Achilles'"'"' tendon.

39. The assembly according to claim 38, wherein the support part of the lateral malleolus (24) and the support part of the medial malleolus (25) extend freely from the rear shaped region (23) to the shoe.

40. The assembly according to claim 38, wherein the rear shaped region (23) is located at a distance directly behind the Achilles'"'"' tendon to form a cavity between the rear shaped region and the Achilles'"'"' tendon.

41. The assembly (30) according to claim 35, wherein the shaped piece (3) has opposing cheeks which are located on either side of the ankle (9), which cheeks at the front determine an opening via which the ankle (9) can be received in the shaped piece (3).

42. The assembly (30) according to claim 35, wherein the connecting means (12) is attached to at least one of an inside (14) and outside (15) of the upper (6).

43. The assembly (30) according to claim 35, wherein the connecting means (12) comprises a first and a second end (10, 11) wherein the first end (10) is attached to the shaped piece (3) and the second end (11) is attached to the upper (6).

44. The assembly (30) according to claim 35, wherein the fixing means (13) is attached to the shoe at a transition between the instep (28) and a side of the shoe, wherein the fixing means (13) is located between the malleoli and the upper.

45. The assembly (30) according to claim 35, wherein the connecting means (12) comprises a further connecting part (21′

) with a first and a second part (21′

a, 21′

b), wherein the first part (21′

a) extends between the sole (5) of the shoe (1) near the upper (6) and the fixing means (13), and the second part (21′

b) extends between the fixing means (13) and the sole (5) of the shoe (1) near the heel (7).

46. The assembly (30) according to claim 35, wherein the connecting means (12) comprises a fixing element (22) with a first and a second part (22a, 22b), wherein the first part (22a) extends from the fixing means (13) in the direction of the sole (5) of the shoe (1) near the upper (6), and the second part (22b) extends from the fixing means (13) in the direction of the sole (5) of the shoe (1) near the heel (7).

47. The assembly (30) according to claim 46, wherein the fixing element (22) comprises a patch, wherein the first and the second part (22a, 22b) of the patch comprise fixing means (27) for attachment to the shoe.

48. The assembly (30) according to claim 35, wherein the fixing means (13) comprises an engaging means for engaging the connecting means (12).

49. The assembly (30) according to claim 48, wherein the engaging means and fixing means form an integral unit.

50. A shaped piece (3) suitable for use in an assembly (30) according to claim 35, comprising a rear shaped region (23) which is at a distance from the Achilles'"'"' tendon, characterized in that the rear shaped region (23) is located at a distance directly behind the Achilles'"'"' tendon to form a cavity between the rear shaped region and the Achilles'"'"' tendon.

51. The shaped piece (3) according to claim 50, fitted with an outer shaped region which is formed corresponding to the lateral malleolus (17).

52. The shaped piece (3) according to claim 50, fitted with an inner shaped region formed corresponding to the medial malleolus (18).

53. The shaped piece (3) according to claim 50, provided with opposing cheeks located on either side of the ankle (9), which cheeks at the front determine an opening via which the ankle (9) can be received in the shaped piece (3).

54. The shaped piece (3) according to claim 50, wherein reinforcements are located to the rear shaped region (23).

55. A shoe (1) suitable for use in an assembly (30) according to claim 35, provided with a fixing means (13) for attaching the connecting means (12) to the upper (6).

56. The shoe (1) according to claim 55, wherein the fixing means (13) is attached to an outside of the upper (6).

57. The shoe (1) according to claim 55, wherein the fixing means (13) is attached to the shoe at a transition between the instep (28) and a side of the shoe, wherein the fixing means (13) is located between the malleoli and the upper.

58. The shoe (1) according to claim 55, wherein the fixing means (13) comprises a fixing ring (20).

59. A fixing means (13) attachable to a shoe for connecting a shaped piece according to claim 50 to the shoe, which fixing means comprises a patch having a first and a second part (22a, 22b), wherein the first part (22a) and the second part (22b) extend from each other at an angle of between greater than or equal to 0°

and 180°

.

60. The fixing means according to claim 59, wherein the first part (22a) and the second part (22b) of the patch enclose a lambda (Λ

) shape, wherein the angle enclosed is between 70° and

120°

.

61. The fixing element according to claim 59, wherein the first and the second part (22a, 22b) of the patch comprise fixing means (27) for attachment to the shoe.

62. A set comprising the shaped piece according to claim 50 and a fixing means attachable to a shoe, the fixing means comprising a patch having a first and a second part (22a, 22b), wherein the first part (22a) and the second part (22b) extend from each other at an angle of between greater than or equal to 0°

and 180°

.

63. The set according to claim 62, wherein the fixing means (13) comprises an engaging means for engaging the connecting means (12).

64. The set according to claim 62, wherein the engaging means and the fixing means form an integral whole.