Ankle brace with floating pivot hinge

• US 5,242,379 A
• Filed: 05/15/1991
• Issued: 09/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exoflex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Exoflex Incorporated
• Inventors: Harris, David P., Berkeley, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWNE, LYNNE HAMBLETON
• Application Number:
  US07/700,544
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 128/80 H, 128/80 F, 128/80 R, 128/88, 128/166, 623/39, 623/47, 602/27, 602/62, 602/65, 602/14
• US Class Current: 602/27
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/20 Ankle-joint supports or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 999/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/642 Polycentric joints, without longitudinal rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0111 for the feet or ankles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0127 for the feet A61F5/0111 takes precedence

Abstract

An ankle brace for limiting flexing and pivoting movement of the ankle joint. The brace includes a soft resilient sock and a pair of brace panels positioned and retained over the sock on opposite sides of the ankle and foot. Each panel is formed by a pair of brace sections hinged together by a floating pivot axis hinge. The hinge includes a pair of juxtaposed hinge plates adapted to pivot and slide with respect to each other. One of the plates is secured to the ankle section of the brace and the other is secured to the foot section of the brace. Each plate defines a pivot face, with a concave groove defined in each face. The concave grooves are normally positioned at right angles with respect to each other when the pivot faces are juxtaposed. A single pivot bearing ball is positioned between the opposed pivot faces and retained in the concave grooves. A spring resiliently biases the hinge plates together against the ball pivot bearing. A second spring biases the plates for relative sliding movement. The pivot bearing ball and grooves provide a floating pivot axis for hinge rotation and sliding movement of the hinge plates, and thereby the brace sections, relative to each other. A post-injury sleeve is provided to cover the wearer'"'"'s ankle after injury to provide some support thereto and/or to hold an ice pack against the swollen ankle. A kit for ankle support includes the ankle brace and a post-injury sleeve. A method for aiding the healing of an injured ankle includes the use of a post-injury sleeve and a brace.

Claims

1. An ankle brace adapted to limit flexing and pivoting movement of the ankle joint and foot comprising:

a pair of brace panels adapted to be positioned and retained on opposite sides of a wearer'"'"'s leg and ankle, each brace panel comprising a pair of brace sections hinged together by a floating pivot axis hinge for restraining and limiting the movement of an ankle and foot supported thereby;

said hinge including a pair of juxtaposed hinge plates adapted to pivot and slide with respect to each other, each said plate having a pivot face in opposition to a pivot face on the juxtaposed plate, a concave recess in at least one of said faces, and a single pivot bearing ball positioned between said opposed faces and retained in said concave recess;

said pivot bearing ball thereby providing a floating pivot axis for hinge rotation of said hinge plates relative to each other, said concave recess allowing said hinge plates to slide relative to each other and simultaneously pivot relative to each other about said floating pivot axis defined by said ball.

2. An ankle brace according to claim 1, wherein said brace further includes means to inhibit hinging movement of said brace sections with respect to one another.

3. An ankle brace according to claim 2, said brace further comprising means for selectively inhibiting pivoting and sliding movement of said hinge plates relative to each other.

4. An ankle brace according to claim 3, wherein said inhibiting means includes a screw extending through one of said hinge plates and frictionally against the other, thereby creating resistance to relative movement between said hinge plates.

5. A method of aiding the healing of an injured ankle comprising the steps of:

a) applying a flexible post-injury sleeve after sustaining an injury to the ankle;

said sleeve having interior and exterior surfaces;

b) providing a cold-inducing object between the wearer'"'"'s skin and the interior surface of said sleeve to reduce and prevent swelling;

c) applying an ankle brace after swelling has sufficiently decreased;

said ankle brace including a pair of brace panels adapted to be positioned and retained on opposite sides of a wearer'"'"'s leg and ankle, each brace panel comprising a pair of brace sections hinged together by a floating pivot axis hinge for restraining and limiting the movement of an ankle and foot supported thereby.

6. An ankle brace adapted to limit flexing and pivoting movement of the ankle joint and foot comprising:

a pair of brace panels adapted to be positioned and retained on opposite sides of a wearer'"'"'s leg and ankle, each brace panel comprising a pair of brace sections hinged together by a floating pivot axis hinge for restraining and limiting the movement of an ankle and foot supported thereby;

said hinge including a pair of juxtaposed hinge plates adapted to pivot and slide with respect to each other, each said plate having a pivot face in opposition to a pivot face on the juxtaposed plate, a concave recess in at least on of said faces, a single pivot bearing ball positioned between said opposed faces and retained in said concave recess, means for resiliently biasing said hinge plates together against said pivot bearing ball when said ball is positioned between said opposing faces, said pivot bearing ball thereby providing a floating pivot axis for hinge rotation of said hinge plates relative to each other, said concave recess allowing said hinge plates to slide relative to each other and simultaneously pivot relative to each other about said floating pivot axis defined by said ball; and

said brace further including means to inhibit hinging movement of said brace sections with respect to one another.

7. An ankle brace according to claim 6, said brace further comprising means for selectively inhibiting pivoting and sliding movement of said hinge plates relative to each other.

8. An ankle brace according to claim 7, wherein said inhibiting means includes a screw extending through one of said hinge plates and frictionally against the other, thereby creating resistance to relative movement between said hinge plates.