Ankle brace

An ankle brace for insertion into a shoe for immobilizing the ankle against inversion or eversion while permitting planter-flexion and dorsi-flexion, including,

• a pair of substantially rigid or stiff preformed side supports for fitting about the lower leg on both sides and with the side supports having a configuration to encase both sides of the ankle and with the lower end of the side supports for insertion into the sides of the shoe,
• pad members formed of a cushioning flexible material located on the inner surface of each side support to form a cushion between the ankle and the side supports;
• means for securing the side supports to firmly encase the ankle;
• and
• the shoe includes laces, and the securing means includes straps extending between the side supports to hold said side supports together;
• and fastening means located on the side supports to receive the laces of the shoe so that the laces can be tightened and tied to immobilize the ankle.

An ankle brace for insertion into a shoe with laces for immobilizing the ankle against inversion or eversion while permitting planter-flexion and dorsi-flexion, including:

• a pair of substantially rigid or stiff preformed side supports for fitting about the lower leg on both sides and with the side supports having upper and lower ends, and having a configuration to encase both sides of the ankle and with the lower end of the side supports for insertion into the sides of the shoe, said side support members having a maximum outward extent at an intermediate point at the ankle;
• pad means formed of a conforming flexible material located on the inner surface of each side support for forming a firm supporting cushion between the ankle and the side supports,
• means for securing the side supports to firmly encase the ankle, and
• the securing means including a counter strap extending between the side supports at a lower position just above the heel near said intermediate point, and exposed fastening means located on the side supports substantially at an elevation at or immediately below said intermediate point and substantially at the level of the ankle joint to receive the laces of the shoe substantially horizontally from the shoe so that the laces can tightened and tied to immobilize the ankle against inversion or eversion or anterior subluxation while permitting planter-flexion and dorsi-flexion.

A combined ankle brace and shoe with laces for immobilizing the ankle against inversion or eversion while permitting planter-flexion and dorsi-flexion, including:

• a pair of substantially rigid or stiff preformed side supports for fitting about the lower leg on both sides and with the side supports having upper and lower ends, and front and rear sides, and having a configuration to encase both sides of the ankle and with the lower end of the side supports for insertion into the sides of the shoe,
• pad means formed of a conforming flexible material located on the inner surface of each side support for forming a firm supporting cushion between the ankle and the side supports,
• means for securing the side supports to firmly encase the ankle,
• the securing means including flexible means extending between the side supports to the rear thereof, for holding the rear sides of the side supports together, and exposed fastening means located on both of the side supports toward the front sides thereof at the level of the ankle joint for receiving the laces of the shoe which extend from the shoe and angle upward to said exposed fastening means so that the laces can be tightened and tied to immobilize the ankle against inversion or eversion or anterior subluxation while permitting planter-flexion and dorsi-flexion;
• and
• said laces securing said shoe onto the wearer's foot and also to said exposed fastening means.