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 9,877,540 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2012
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): BAYS, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US14/125,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20140223775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,059 Days
• Field of Search: 36 88, 36 89, 36 92, 602 27, 602 28
• 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. An assembly comprising a shoe fitted with an upper and a sole, and a device connected with the shoe, wherein the device comprises a shaped piece of a rigid material, the shaped piece comprising a first support part, a second support part and a rear region between said first and second support parts, wherein the first and second support parts are wider than the rear region,

wherein the assembly comprises a connecting means comprising a first and a second connecting part,

wherein the first part extends at an angle of less than 90°

in relation to the sole between the first support part of the shaped piece and a fixing means connected with the shoe, and the second part extends at an angle of less than 90°

in relation to the sole between the second support part of the shaped piece and the fixing means, and wherein the shaped piece has an inflection between the rear region and each of the first and second support parts so that an outwardly concave region is formed between the rear region and each of the first and second support parts, and wherein the concave regions delimit a cavity region, and wherein the cavity region is outwardly convex.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second support parts define an opening.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means is attached to at least one of an inside and outside of the upper.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises a first and a second end wherein the first end is attached to the shaped piece and the second end is attached to the upper.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means is attached to the shoe at a transition between an instep and a side of the shoe, wherein the fixing means is located between the connecting means and the upper.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises a further connecting part with a first and a second part, wherein the first part extends between the sole of the shoe near the upper and the fixing means, and the second part extends between the fixing means and the sole of the shoe near the heel.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises a fixing element with a first and a second part, wherein the first part extends from the fixing means in the direction of the sole of the shoe near the upper, and the second part extends from the fixing means in the direction of the sol of the shoe near the heel.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the fixing element comprises a patch, wherein the first and the second part of the patch comprise fixing means for attachment to the shoe.

9. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means comprises an engaging means for engaging the connecting means.

10. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the engaging means and fixing means form an integral unit.

11. A shaped piece suitable for use in an assembly comprising a shoe and a device connected with the shoe to support the ankle, wherein the shaped piece comprises region,

a first support part and a second support part and a rear region arranged between the first and second support parts,

wherein the first and second support parts are wider than the rear region, and

wherein the shaped piece (3) is formed of a rigid material, and the shaped piece has an inflection between the rear region and each of the first and second support parts so that an outwardly concave region is formed between the rear region and each of the first and second support parts, and wherein the concave regions delimit a cavity region, and wherein the cavity region is outwardly convex.

12. The shaped piece according to claim 11, wherein the first and second support parts define an opening.

13. The shaped piece according to claim 11, wherein reinforcements are located to the rear region.

14. A shoe configured for use in an assembly comprising a shoe and a device connected with the shoe to support the ankle,

wherein the device comprises a shaped piece of rigid material, the shaped piece comprising a rear region between a first support part and a second support part,

wherein the first and second support parts are wider than the rear region, and wherein the shaped piece has an inflection between the rear region and each of the first and second support parts so that an outwardly concave region is formed between the rear region and each of the first and second support parts, and wherein the concave regions delimit a cavity region, and wherein the cavity region is outwardly convex

wherein the assembly comprises a connecting means,

wherein the connecting means comprises comprise a first and a second connecting part,

wherein the first part extends at an angle of less than 90°

in relation to the sole between the first support part of the shaped piece and a fixing means connected with the shoe, and the second part extends at an angle of less than 90°

in relation to the sole between the second support part of the shaped piece and the fixing means

wherein the shoe is fitted with an upper and a sole and is provided with a fixing means for attaching a connecting means to the upper.

15. The shoe according to claim 14, wherein the fixing means is attached to an outside of the upper.

16. The shoe according to claim 14, wherein the fixing means is attached to the shoe at a transition between an instep and a side of the shoe, wherein the fixing means is located between the connecting means and the upper.

17. The shoe according to claim 14, wherein the fixing means comprises a fixing ring.

18. A set comprising a shaped piece and a fixing means,

wherein the shaped piece comprises a first support part and a second support part and a rear region between said first and second support parts,

wherein the first and second support parts are wider than the rear region, and

wherein the shaped piece is formed of a rigid material,

wherein the shaped piece has an inflection between the rear region and each of the first and second support parts so that an outwardly concave region is formed between the rear region and each of the first and second support parts, and wherein the concave regions delimit a cavity region, and wherein the cavity region is outwardly convex,

and wherein the fixing means attachable to a shoe, the fixing means comprising a patch having a first and a second part, wherein the first part and the second part extend from each other at an angle between 0°

and 180°

.

19. The set according to claim 18, wherein the fixing means comprises an engaging means for engaging the connecting means.

20. The set according to claim 18, wherein the engaging means and the fixing means form an integral whole.