Hinged ankle brace
First Claim
1. An ankle brace comprising:
- a semi-rigid ankle cuff, the semi-rigid ankle cuff comprising;
a semi-rigid calf supporting portion configured to support a posterior side of an ankle of a wearer;
a semi-rigid medial upright extending generally downward from a medial side of the calf supporting portion and a semi-rigid lateral upright extending generally downward from a lateral side of the calf supporting portion, wherein distal ends of the medial and lateral uprights fit within a shoe when in use; and
at least one semi-rigid strap extending from the calf-supporting portion and including a ratchet mechanism configured to adjustably position the ankle cuff on the ankle of the wearer;
wherein at least part of the at least one semi-rigid strap is an integral extension of the calf-supporting portion.
17 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hinged ankle brace having a semi-rigid ankle cuff and a semi-rigid foot bed rotatably connected by a medial hinge and a lateral hinge provides enhanced stability and support to a wearer'"'"'s ankle. The medial hinge of the ankle brace may be higher than the lateral hinge to accurately replicate the bending motion of an ankle. The ankle brace also includes ratchetably interconnected semi-rigid straps. These semi-rigid straps provide a semi-rigid structure encircling the ankle of a wearer for enhanced support. The ratchet mechanism may include a curved window that enables angular adjustment of the ratcheting straps. The ankle brace may also include a soft inner liner and a soft outer sleeve. The outer sleeve is configured to provide compression to the semi-rigid shell, which in turn provides additional compression to the ankle. The semi-rigid foot bed may include posterior extensions that cup and support the wearer'"'"'s heel, and a posterior cut-out portion that receives the wearer'"'"'s heel.
79 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. An ankle brace comprising:
-
a semi-rigid ankle cuff, the semi-rigid ankle cuff comprising; a semi-rigid calf supporting portion configured to support a posterior side of an ankle of a wearer; a semi-rigid medial upright extending generally downward from a medial side of the calf supporting portion and a semi-rigid lateral upright extending generally downward from a lateral side of the calf supporting portion, wherein distal ends of the medial and lateral uprights fit within a shoe when in use; and at least one semi-rigid strap extending from the calf-supporting portion and including a ratchet mechanism configured to adjustably position the ankle cuff on the ankle of the wearer; wherein at least part of the at least one semi-rigid strap is an integral extension of the calf-supporting portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. An ankle brace configured to completely encircle a user'"'"'s lower leg, comprising:
-
a semi-rigid ankle cuff having a calf supporting portion that supports a posterior side of an ankle of a wearer, a first semi-rigid strap extending from a medial side of the calf-supporting portion, and a second semi-rigid strap extending from a lateral side of the calf-supporting portion, wherein the first semi-rigid strap includes a slot and the second semi-rigid strap extends through the slot, and the first semi-rigid strap and the second semi-rigid strap are configured to engage with one another across a side of the wearer'"'"'s lower leg to completely encircle the wearer'"'"'s lower leg with the semi-rigid ankle cuff. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. An ankle brace configured to completely encircle a user'"'"'s lower leg, comprising:
-
a semi-rigid ankle cuff having a calf supporting portion that supports a posterior side of an ankle of a wearer, a first semi-rigid strap extending from a medial side of the calf-supporting portion, and a second semi-rigid strap extending from a lateral side of the calf-supporting portion, wherein the first and second semi-rigid straps are configured to interlock with one another across an anterior side of the wearer'"'"'s lower leg, and the first semi-rigid strap and the second semi-rigid strap are configured to engage with one another across a side of the wearer'"'"'s lower leg to completely encircle the wearer'"'"'s lower leg with the semi-rigid ankle cuff. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
-
-
25. An ankle brace configured to provide torsional rigidity and ankle eversion and inversion control to a wearer, comprising:
-
a semi-rigid cuff that is configured to completely encircle a wearer'"'"'s lower leg, the semi-rigid cuff comprising; a semi-rigid calf supporting portion that supports a posterior side of an ankle of the wearer and having an opening configured to receive a heel of the wearer; a semi-rigid medial upright extending generally downward from a medial side of the calf supporting portion and a semi-rigid lateral upright extending generally downward from a lateral side of the calf supporting portion, wherein distal ends of the medial and lateral uprights fit within a shoe when applied to the wearer'"'"'s ankle; and a semi-rigid strap extending from a side of the calf supporting portion to completely encircle the wearer'"'"'s lower leg with the semi-rigid ankle cuff.
-
Specification