Multi-application ankle support footwear
First Claim
1. An ankle supporting shoe wearable on a wearer'"'"'s foot having a plantar surface, ankle, heel, shin, lateral malleolus and medial malleolus, said shoe comprising:
- a sole member defining lateral and medial edges and a generally planar top surface having heel, toe and central portions;
a boot attached to said sole member, said boot defining a toe portion, a vamp portion and an ankle portion surrounding the ankle, heel and lower shin of the wearer'"'"'s foot when such is inserted into the boot, said ankle portion including lateral and medial side panel portions; and
a brace member attached to the top surface of said sole member, comprising;
a base portion formed to suit the shape of at least a portion of the plantar surface of the wearer'"'"'s foot; and
curved lateral and medial struts extending upwardly from said base portion;
said lateral strut being formed and oriented on the base portion so as to extend upwardly along the lateral aspect of the ankle and about the front of the lateral malleolus and subsequently along the lower lateral and frontal aspects of the shin when the foot is inserted into the boot and the boot tightened; and
said medial strut being formed and oriented on the base portion so as to extend upwardly along the medial aspect of the ankle and about the back of the medial malleolus and subsequently along the lower medial aspect of the shin when the foot is inserted into the boot and the boot tightened.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ankle supporting shoe comprising a sole member. Attached to the top surface of the sole member is a midsole including a planar portion having a continuous flange formed partially about and extending upwardly from the planar portion. Attached to the upper surface of the midsole and a toe portion of the top surface of the sole member is a structural member including a base portion formed to suit the shape of the wearer'"'"'s foot and lateral and medial struts extending upwardly from the base portion. A boot is attached to the sole member in a manner wherein the lateral strut extends between the outer surface of a lateral side portion of the boot and the inner surface of the flange, with the medial strut extending between the outer surface of a medial side portion of the boot and the inner surface of the flange. Upper and lower strap members are engaged to the shoe which, when tightened, cause the lateral strut to extend about the front of the lateral malleolus of the ankle and the medial strut to extend behind the medial malleolus of the ankle.
85 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An ankle supporting shoe wearable on a wearer'"'"'s foot having a plantar surface, ankle, heel, shin, lateral malleolus and medial malleolus, said shoe comprising:
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a sole member defining lateral and medial edges and a generally planar top surface having heel, toe and central portions; a boot attached to said sole member, said boot defining a toe portion, a vamp portion and an ankle portion surrounding the ankle, heel and lower shin of the wearer'"'"'s foot when such is inserted into the boot, said ankle portion including lateral and medial side panel portions; and a brace member attached to the top surface of said sole member, comprising; a base portion formed to suit the shape of at least a portion of the plantar surface of the wearer'"'"'s foot; and curved lateral and medial struts extending upwardly from said base portion; said lateral strut being formed and oriented on the base portion so as to extend upwardly along the lateral aspect of the ankle and about the front of the lateral malleolus and subsequently along the lower lateral and frontal aspects of the shin when the foot is inserted into the boot and the boot tightened; and said medial strut being formed and oriented on the base portion so as to extend upwardly along the medial aspect of the ankle and about the back of the medial malleolus and subsequently along the lower medial aspect of the shin when the foot is inserted into the boot and the boot tightened. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14)
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13. A method for fabricating an ankle-supporting shoe comprising the steps of:
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attaching a midsole to a top surface of a sole member, said midsole including a planar portion attached to the top surface and a continuous flange formed partially about and extending upwardly from the planar portion; attaching a brace member to an upper surface of the planar portion and a toe portion of the top surface of the sole member, said brace member including a single base portion sized to completely cover the upper surface of the planar portion and the toe portion of the top surface when attached thereto, and curved lateral and medial struts extending upwardly from the base portion; and attaching a boot to the sole member in a manner wherein said lateral strut extends upwardly between a lateral side panel portion of the boot and the flange, and said medial strut extends upwardly between a medial side panel portion of the boot and the flange. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An ankle supporting shoe wearable on a wearer'"'"'s foot having a plantar surface, ankle, heel, shin, lateral malleolus and medial malleolus, said shoe comprising:
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a sole member defining lateral and medial edges and a generally planar top surface having heel, toe and central portions; a boot attached to said sole member, said boot defining a toe portion, a vamp portion and an ankle portion surrounding the ankle, heel and lower shin of the wearer'"'"'s foot when such is inserted into the boot, said ankle portion including lateral and medial side panel portions; and a brace member attached to the top surface of said sole member, comprising; a base portion formed to suit the shape of the plantar surface of the wearer'"'"'s foot and sized to extend along the entire length of the plantar surface of the wearer'"'"'s foot; and curved lateral and medial struts extending upwardly from said base portion; said lateral strut being formed and oriented on the base portion so as to extend upwardly along the lateral aspect of the ankle and about the front of the lateral malleolus and subsequently along the lower lateral and frontal aspects of the shin when the foot is inserted into the boot and the boot tightened; and said medial strut being formed and oriented on the base portion so as to extend upwardly along the medial aspect of the ankle and about the back of the medial malleolus and subsequently along the lower medial aspect of the shin when the foot is inserted into the boot and the boot tightened.
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Specification