US 12,004,984 B1Granted

Ankle stabilizer brace

AssigneePreferred Prescription, Inc.

InventorBrandon Solotoff

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Abstract

An ankle brace includes a wrap, lateral and medial stays, and first and second strap portions (e.g., a single unitary strap) secured to the wrap. A first wrap portion envelops the foot, and a second wrap portion envelops a portion of the lower leg. The lateral and medial stays have question-mark-shaped peripheries, and extend along portions of the lower leg, the ankle, and lateral and medial portions of the foot, respectively. The first and second strap portions wrap around a top of the foot in first and second directions, respectively, around the back of the leg, and releasably secure to lateral and medial sides of the wrap. Each stay overlaid by the first and second strap portions at three locations to redundantly secure each stay to the wrap. The lateral and medial stays may be contoured according to the lateral and medial sides of the foot, ankle, and lower leg.

An ankle brace configured to support and protect an ankle of a wearer against injury by inhibiting motion between a foot and lower leg of the wearer, said ankle brace comprising:

a wrap, said wrap being formed of a flexible material and comprising:
a first portion and second portion, said first portion configured to transition into said second portion;
said first portion configured to envelop at least a portion of the foot of the wearer, and said second portion configured to envelop at least a portion of the lower leg of the wearer and to extend distally along the lower leg over the ankle;
a lateral stay formed to have a selectively-shaped periphery configured to extend along a portion of the lower leg, around the ankle, and along a lateral portion of the foot of the wearer;
a medial stay formed to have a selectively-shaped periphery configured to extend along a portion of the lower leg, around the ankle, and along a medial portion of the foot of the wearer;
wherein said selectively shaped periphery of each of said lateral and medial stays comprises:
a first substantially straight portion configured to overlie the tibia and fibula bones of the wearer;
a first curved portion configured to curve back towards the rear of the wearer's foot when said ankle brace is worn;
a second curved portion configured to curve around the rear and lower sides of the wearer's ankle;
and
a second substantially straight portion configured to extend from said second curved portion at the lower side of the wearer's ankle along a portion of the wearer's foot directly toward the toes;
wherein said lateral and medial stays are configured for respective attachment to lateral and medial sides of said wrap;
and wherein said lateral and medial stays are each rigid about a first respective axis, to inhibit relative motion between the foot and lower leg of the wearer to inhibit foot dorsiflexion;
wherein each of said lateral and medial stays comprise a constant cross-sectional shape;
and
a first strap portion and a second strap portion secured to said wrap;
said first strap portion configured to be wound about and releasably secure to said wrap in a first direction;
and said second strap portion configured to be wound about and releasably secure to said wrap in a second direction.

15 more elements

Abstract

Claims11