US 5,853,381 A · Ankle support brace

Abstract

An improved ankle support brace (10) is disclosed. The ankle support brace includes a first flexible lateral piece (12) and a second flexible lateral piece (14) attached to and disposed over the first lateral piece (12). The ankle support brace also inlcudes a first flexible medial piece 16) and a second flexible medial piece(18) attached to and disposed over the first medial piece (16). A first plurality of lace loops is disposed along a front edge of the first medial piece (16). Each of the first plurality of lace loops comprises a flexible material strip (56) attached at a plurality of points to the surface of the first medial piece (16). A second plurality of lace loops, each comprising a flexible material strip (50) attached at a plurality of points to a surface of the second medial piece (18), is disposed along a front edge of the second medial piece (18). A third plurality of lace loops (58), each comprising a flexible material strip (56) attached at a plurality of points to a surface of the first lateral piece (12), is disposed along a front edge (28) of the first lateral piece (12). A fourth plurality of lace loops (52), each comprising a flexible material strip (50) attached at a plurality of points to a surface of the second lateral piece (14), is disposed along a front edge (40) of the second lateral piece (14). A lace (24) is threaded through the first, second, third and fourth plurality of lace loops. The lace loops provide high-friction contact with the lace (24) and distribute tension from the tightened lace across the various surfaces of the ankle support brace.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An ankle support brace comprising:

a flexible medial piece;
a flexible lateral piece connected to the medial piece;
a first plurality of lace loops disposed generally along a side of the medial piece operable to receive a lace, each of the first plurality of lace loops comprising a flexible material strip extending generally transversely across the medial piece to an opposite side and attached at a plurality of points to a surface of the medial piece;
and
a second plurality of lace loops disposed generally along a side of the lateral piece operable to receive the lace, each of the second plurality of lace loops comprising a flexible material strip extending generally transversely across the lateral piece to the opposite side and attached at a plurality of points to a surface of the lateral piece.

2 more elements

An ankle support brace comprising:

a first flexible medial piece having a front edge and a back edge;
a second flexible medial piece having a front edge and a back edge attached to and disposed over the first medial piece;
a first flexible lateral piece having a front edge and a back edge;
a second flexible lateral piece having a front edge and a back edge attached to and disposed over the first lateral piece;
a first plurality of lace loops disposed along the front edge of the first medial piece, each of the first plurality of lace loops comprising a flexible material strip extending generally transversely across the first medial piece to the back edge and attached at a plurality of points to a surface of the first medial piece;
a second plurality of lace loops disposed along the front edge of the second medial piece, each of the second plurality of lace loops comprising a flexible material strip extending generally transversely across the second medial piece to the back edge and attached at a plurality of points to a surface of the second medial piece;
a third plurality of lace loops disposed along the front edge of the first lateral piece, each of the third plurality of lace loops comprising a flexible material strip extending generally transversely across the first lateral piece to the back edge and attached at a plurality of points to a surface of the first lateral piece;
a fourth plurality of lace loops disposed along the front edge of the second lateral piece, each of the fourth plurality of lace loops comprising a flexible material strip extending generally transversely across the second lateral piece to the back edge and attached at a plurality of points to a surface of the second lateral piece;
a lace threaded through the first, second, third and fourth plurality of lace loops.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ankle support brace

Life of this patent

Ankle support brace

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15