Athletic footwear with integral ankle support
First Claim
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1. Ankle support apparatus comprising:
- (a) a shoe having an outer shell and a liner means secured to an inner surface of said shell for cushioning a foot surrounded by said shell and including means for defining a plurality of open-ended channelways;
(b) first and second polymer braces, wherein each brace includes a minor arm portion which mounts adjacent a heel region of said shoe, a major arm portion which extends from said minor arm portion, and means for accomodating an ankle protrusion, and wherein a portion each of said first and second braces projects from one of said channelways;
(c) means for fastening said first and second braces to said shoe; and
(d) collar means for restraining said first and second braces to the calf and including a covered cushion having means for supporting the projecting portions of said first and second braces to said collar means, and fastener means for binding said collar means and the projecting portions of said first and second braces to the calf.
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Abstract
Athletic footwear including a pair of resilient ankle braces which are supported to the sole, inner lining and a separately bound calf support collar of an athletic shoe. The braces are configured of a deformable polymer and include apertures shaped to accommodate protruding ankle bones. Curved lower ends of each brace mount to the heel region of the sole. Formed pockets or restraint means support the braces to the shoe liner. A separately mounted, cushioned collar restrains the upper brace end to the calf. In other constructions, one or more cushioned brace portions may be supported between the shoe and foot. In still another construction, a two-piece, hinged polymer brace is considered.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. Ankle support apparatus comprising:
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(a) a shoe having an outer shell and a liner means secured to an inner surface of said shell for cushioning a foot surrounded by said shell and including means for defining a plurality of open-ended channelways; (b) first and second polymer braces, wherein each brace includes a minor arm portion which mounts adjacent a heel region of said shoe, a major arm portion which extends from said minor arm portion, and means for accomodating an ankle protrusion, and wherein a portion each of said first and second braces projects from one of said channelways; (c) means for fastening said first and second braces to said shoe; and (d) collar means for restraining said first and second braces to the calf and including a covered cushion having means for supporting the projecting portions of said first and second braces to said collar means, and fastener means for binding said collar means and the projecting portions of said first and second braces to the calf. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Ankle support apparatus comprising:
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(a) a shoe having an outer shell and liner means secured to said an inner surface of said shell and including a plurality of openings for cushioning a foot surrounded by said shell; (b) polymer brace means formed to include a heel portion which mounts adjacent a heel region of said shoe, first and second arms which extend from said heel portion, and means for receiving an ankle protrusion, and wherein portions of each of said first and second arms are cushioned by said liner means and project from one of said openings; (c) means for retaining said heel portion to said shoe; and (d) collar means including a cushion portion for supporting ends of said first and second arms which project from said openings and fastener means for binding said collar means and said brace means to the calf. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. Ankle support apparatus comprising:
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(a) a shoe having an outer shell and liner means secured to an inner surface of said shell for cushioning a foot surrounded by said shell and for defining a plurality of open-ended channelways; (b) polymer brace means including a heel portion which mounts adjacent a heel region of the shoe, first and second arms which extend from said heel portion, and means for receiving an ankle protrusion, and wherein a portion of each of said first and second arms project from one of said channelways; and (c) collar means for restraining said first and second arms to the calf and including a covered cushion portion having means for supporting said first and second arms to said collar means, and fastener means for binding said collar means and said first and second arms to the calf.
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Specification