Reinforced ankle brace

An ankle brace to be worn on a foot and ankle in encompassing relationship to the lateral malleolus and medial malleolus of the ankle or the lateral and medial sides of foot respectively, comprising:

• a base of flexible sheet material shaped to encompass an ankle and at least the middle portion of a foot, having lateral and medial forward edges that come toward one another over the superior portion of the foot, and a portion that extends beneath the sole of the foot;
• means cooperating with the forward edges of the base for tightly securing the base relative to a foot;
• a support strap for protection of the anterior talofibular ligament of the foot, said strap having a first end secured to the inside of the base at a location generally beneath the sole of the foot, and a second end fixed to the inside of the base at a location proximate the lateral forward edge of the base, to locate the support strap extending over the lateral side of the foot and tend to bind together the upper and lower portions of the foot and ankle on opposite sides of the anterior talofibular ligament;
• a plurality of elongate lateral pockets on the lateral side of the base and located forward of and curving rearwardly under the lateral malleolus when the base is worn on a foot;
• and a corresponding plurality of resilient stay members located in the pockets.

An ankle brace to be worn on a foot for support of the anterior talofibular ligament and encompassing relationship to the lateral malleolus and medial malleolus, comprising:

• base means shaped for conformance to the ankle and middle foot portion of a wearer;
• means for securely installing the base on a foot;
• an anterior talofibular ligament support strap fixed to the inside of the base;
• said strap having a first end secured to the base at a position beneath the sole of the foot, said strap extended upwardly around the lateral side of the foot and having a second end fixed to the base at a superior location on the foot, sai strap being unconnected to the base between the first and second ends, said strap of a length to inhibit an amount of relative movement between the foot and lateral malleolus sufficient to strain the anterior talofibular ligament when the base is installed on a foot.

An ankle brace to be worn on a foot for support of the anterior talofibular ligament and in encompassing relationship to the lateral malleolus and medial malleolus, comprising:

• base means shaped for conformance to the ankle and middle foot portion of a wearer;
• an anterior talofibular ligament support strap fixed to the inside of the base;
• said strap having a first end secured to the base at a position beneath the foot, said strap extended upwardly around the lateral side of the foot and having a second end fixed to the base at a superior location on the foot, said strap of a length to inhibit an amount of relative movement between the foot and lateral malleolus sufficient to strain the anterior talofibular ligament;
• resilient stay means on the lateral side of the base means extending from a position forward of the lateral malleolus and curving rearwardly and beneath the lateral malleolus.

An ankle brace to be worn on a foot and ankle in encompassing relationship to the lateral malleolus and medial malleolus of the ankle on the lateral and medial sides of the foot respectively, comprising:

• a base of flexible sheet material shaped to encompass an ankle and at least the middle portion of a foot, having lateral and medial forward edges that come toward one another over the superior portion of the foot, and a portion that extends beneath the sole of the foot;
• means coperating with the forward edges of the base for tightly securing the base relative to a foot;
• a plurality of elongate lateral pockets locate on the lateral side of the base and located forward of and curving rearwardly under the lateral malleolus when the base is worn on a foot;
• and a corresponding plurality of resilient stay members located in the lateral pockets;
• and
• at least one medial pocket located on the medial side o the base and located forward of and curving rearwardly under the medial malleolus;
• and a resilient stay member located in the medial pocket.