Adjustable toe plate for an adjustable boot brace

In an adjustable boot brace including:

• an outer shell including:
• a rigid calf portion including:
• a proximal end;
• a distal end:
• a left side;
• a right side;
• and
• at least one adjustable strap;
• wherein said at least one adjustable strap is connected between said left side and said right side thereof;
• wherein said calf portion is adapted to be placed against and extend along a length of a user's calf, and said at least one adjustable strap is adapted to be placed against a front portion of the user's shin to thereby surround the user's leg and releasably hold said outer shell securely thereto;
• a rigid foot portion including:
• a proximal end;
• a distal end:
• a left side;
• a right side;
• and
• at least one adjustable strap;
• wherein said at least one adjustable strap is connected between said left side and said right side thereof;
• wherein said foot portion is adapted to be placed against and extend along a length of the bottom of the user's foot, and said at least one adjustable strap is adapted to be placed against a top portion of the user's foot to thereby surround the user's foot and releasably hold said outer shell securely thereto;
• and
• wherein said proximal end of said foot portion is rigidly connected to said distal end of said calf portion forming an L-shape;
• and
• a rigid toe plate including:
• a proximal end;
• a distal end:
• a left side;
• and
• a right side;
• wherein said toe plate is adapted to be placed against and extend along a length of the bottom of the toes of the user's foot;
• and
• wherein said proximal end of said toe plate is pivotally connected to said distal end of said foot portion;
• the improvement comprising:
• a toe plate adjustment mechanism including:
• a first hinge portion:
• wherein said first hinge portion is attached to said distal end of said foot portion;
• a second hinge portion:
• wherein said second hinge portion is attached to said distal end of said proximal end of said toe plate;
• a pivot pin including:
• a first end portion;
• a second end portion;
• wherein said pivot pin is adapted to pivotally interconnect said first and second hinge portions, and thereby pivotally interconnect said foot portion and said toe plate;
• a first plate;
• wherein said first plate is movably attached to said first end portion of said pivot pin and is adapted to releasably and frictionally engage one of said first and second hinge portions;
• a second plate;
• wherein said second plate is attached to said second end portion of said pivot pin and is adapted to frictionally engage one of said first and second hinge portions;
• and
• a tightening mechanism;
• wherein said tightening mechanism is attached to said first end portion of said pivot pin and adjacent said first plate;
• wherein said tightening mechanism is adapted to releasably press against said first plate, move said first plate to be in contact with said one of said first and second hinge portions, move said second plate to be in contact with said one of said first and second hinge portions, thereby creating sufficient friction between said first and second plates and said first and second hinge portions to thereby releasably hold said first and second hinge portions in position at a desired angle with respect to one another, and thereby releasably hold said toe plate at a desired angle with respect to said rigid foot portion.