Leg brace support structure

An improved longitudinal support structure for longitudinally supporting a leg brace, the improved support structure comprising:

• a pivot post fixedly attached to and extending perpendicularly from the outer lower portion of a leg brace;
• an elongated longitudinal support member having a first and second end, the elongated longitudinal support member extending substantially parallel to the wearer's leg from the lower portion of the leg brace, the elongated longitudinal support member having a plurality of apertures through and along the length of the elongated longitudinal support member to provide longitudinal adjustment of the longitudinal support structure, the elongated longitudinal support member rotatably connected to the pivot post through an aperture of the elongated longitudinal support member so that the first end of the elongated longitudinal support member can rotate about the pivot post in an arc adjacent and substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wearer's ankle;
• a stop post attached to the outer lower portion of the leg brace, the stop post positioned to limit the second end of the elongated support member to a predetermined range of rotation;
• a padded rigid cross member, the padded rigid cross member adjustably attached perpendicularly to the end of the elongated longitudinal support member so that the padded rigid cross member is positioned adjacent to the axis of rotation of the wearer's ankle, the rigid cross member shaped to accept the wearer's ankle;
• and
• an adjustable strap to secure the rigid cross member about the wearer's ankle, the strap being secured by a hook and loop fastener structure.

In an orthopedic leg brace having inner and outer rigid support structures disposed on either side of a wearer's leg, the inner and outer support structures having upper and lower portions, the improvement comprising:

• at least one pivot post fixedly attached to and extending perpendicularly from the lower portion of the outer rigid support structure;
• at least one elongated longitudinal support member extending substantially parallel to the wearer's leg from the lower portion of the outer rigid support structure, the elongated longitudinal support member having a plurality of apertures through and along the length of the elongated longitudinal support member to provide longitudinal adjustment of the longitudinal support structure, the elongated longitudinal support member rotatably connected to the pivot post through an aperture of the elongated longitudinal support member so that an end of the elongated longitudinal support member can rotate about the pivot post in an arc adjacent and substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wearer's ankle;
• at least one stop post attached to the lower portion of the outer rigid support structure, the stop post positioned to limit the rotation of the elongated support member to a predetermined range of rotation;
• at least one rigid cross member, the rigid cross member adjustably attached perpendicularly to the end of the elongated longitudinal support member so that the rigid cross member is positioned adjacent to the axis of rotation of the wearer's ankle, the rigid cross member shaped to accept and padded to protect the wearer's ankle;
• and
• means for securing the rigid cross member about the wearer's ankle.