Self-equalizing resilient orthopaedic support
First Claim
1. An ankle brace comprising:
- at least one semi-rigid shell member for extending aver the ankle and the lower leg on side of the ankle, a sealed bladder pad mounted to said shell member on the side of said shell member facing the ankle;
said bladder pad including three small interconnccted bladders on the pad, wherein a first larger bladder is mounted at the lower end of said shell, and two side-by-side upper bladders are mounted on an upper portion of the associated shell member, and said three bladders having openings permitting limited flow of air between said bladders;
whereby when a patient wearing said ankle braze walks, the lower bladder is compressed, and air is directed through said openings to said upper bladders, thereby intermittently varying the pressure on the ankle and lower leg, and promoting circulation.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ankle brace has first and second semi-rigid shell members for extending over the ankle and the lower leg on the inner and outer sides of the ankle. A sealed bladder pad is mounted to each of the shell members on the side of the shell member facing the ankle. Each bladder pad includes three small-interconnected bladders wherein a first larger bladder is mounted at the lower end of the shell, and two side-by-side upper bladders are mounted on an upper portion of the associated shell member. The three bladders having restricted openings permitting limited flow of air between the bladders. When a patient wearing the ankle brace walks, the lower bladder is compressed, and air is directed through the restricted openings to the upper bladders, thereby intermittently varying the pressure on the ankle and lower leg, and promoting circulation.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. An ankle brace comprising:
- at least one semi-rigid shell member for extending aver the ankle and the lower leg on side of the ankle, a sealed bladder pad mounted to said shell member on the side of said shell member facing the ankle;
said bladder pad including three small interconnccted bladders on the pad, wherein a first larger bladder is mounted at the lower end of said shell, and two side-by-side upper bladders are mounted on an upper portion of the associated shell member, and said three bladders having openings permitting limited flow of air between said bladders;
whereby when a patient wearing said ankle braze walks, the lower bladder is compressed, and air is directed through said openings to said upper bladders, thereby intermittently varying the pressure on the ankle and lower leg, and promoting circulation.
- at least one semi-rigid shell member for extending aver the ankle and the lower leg on side of the ankle, a sealed bladder pad mounted to said shell member on the side of said shell member facing the ankle;
-
2. An ankle brace comprising:
- at least one semi-rigid shell member for extending over the ankle and the lower leg on a side of the ankle, a sealed bladder pad mounted to each of said shell members on the side of said shell member facing the ankle;
said bladder pad including three small interconnected bladders wherein a first larger bladder is mounted at the lower end of said shell, and two side-by-side upper bladders are mounted on an upper portion of the associated shell member, said three bladders having openings permitting limited flow of air between said bladders; and
resilient cushioning material mounted to each said shell on the side of said shell facing the ankle;
whereby when a patient wearing said snide brace walks, the lower bladder is compressed, and air is directed through said restricted openings to said upper bladders, thereby intermittently varying the pressure on the ankle and lower leg, and promoting circulation. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
- at least one semi-rigid shell member for extending over the ankle and the lower leg on a side of the ankle, a sealed bladder pad mounted to each of said shell members on the side of said shell member facing the ankle;
-
6. An ankle brace comprising:
- at least one semi-rigid shell member for extending over the ankle and the lower leg on one side of the ankle, a sealed bladder pad mounted to said shell member on the side of said shell member facing the ankle;
said bladder pad including a plurality of interconnected bladders wherein said interconnecting bladders are entirely sealed with the periphery of said bladder pad;
at least two of said bladders having openings permitting limited flow of air between said at least two bladders; and
a resilient pad having a matrix of cells having walls forming resilient geometric shapes thereon extending toward said shell. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- at least one semi-rigid shell member for extending over the ankle and the lower leg on one side of the ankle, a sealed bladder pad mounted to said shell member on the side of said shell member facing the ankle;
Specification