LIQUID PROPHYLACTIC ANKLE BRACE

Abstract

A protective ankle brace has at least one pocket that houses at least one pouch, and at least one strap, and covers both sides of an ankle of a foot placed within the ankle brace. The pouch contain a dilatant fluid that is flexible to allow normal motion for walking and running but on a rapid movement or one with a high force, the dilatant resists movement. The at least one strap covers the one or two pockets to retain the pouch or pouches. The strap restricts the maximum eversion and inversion of the ankle brace when a force is applied and further protects the ankle within the ankle brace. The strap can be a bladder containing a dilatant fluid.

Claims

1. A protective ankle brace comprising: at least one pocket; at least one pouch; and at least one strap, wherein the at least one pocket houses the at least one pouch and situated to support and cover both sides of an ankle of a foot placed within the ankle brace, wherein the pouch contains a dilatant fluid, wherein the at least one strap covers the at least one pocket and retains the at least one pouch in the at least one pocket, and wherein the at least one strap restricts the maximum eversions and inversions of the ankle brace and the ankle within the ankle brace.

2. The protective ankle brace according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pocket comprises and inner pocket and an outer pocket and the at least one pouch comprises an inner pouch and an outer pouch, as related to the ankle within the ankle brace.

3. The protective ankle brace according to claim 2, wherein the inner pocket, the outer pocket, the inner pouch and the outer pouch are of a C-shape.

4. The protective ankle brace according to claim 2, wherein the inner pocket, the outer pocket, the inner pouch and the outer pouch are of a T-shape.

5. The protective ankle brace according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pocket is a single pocket and the pouch is a single pouch, wherein the single pocket and the single pouch are continuous or connected to extend over the front of the ankle or over the back of the ankle having an inner portion and an outer portion relative to the ankle within the ankle brace.

6. The protective ankle brace according to claim 1, wherein the dilatant fluid is selected from: corn starch dispersed in water, silica nanoparticles dispersed in polyethylene glycol, and polyborodimethylsiloxane

7. The protective ankle brace according to claim 1, wherein the strap is a rubber, plastic, composite or metal and is a woven or non-woven body.

8. The protective ankle brace according to claim 1, wherein the strap comprises a rubber bladder that is filled with a dilatant fluid.

9. The protective ankle brace according to claim 1, wherein the ankle bracelet is a portion of a shoe.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a drawing of an ankle brace, according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE

[0010] In an embodiment of the invention, a prophylactic brace that effectively protects the ankle from injury while providing acceptable levels of comfort, weight, ease of wearing, and athletic performance includes a non-Newtonian shear thickening fluid filled bladder that is secured and reinforced at a maximal allowable displacement in a brace device. The device provides unobstructed movement at normal ranges, speeds, and degrees of ankle motion yet provides a rapidly responding counter to potentially damaging displacements and rates of shear. By titrating the fluid's response to a wearer's threshold for injury this brace does not sacrifice any motion to provide protection. By use of the non-Newtonian fluid, small amounts of the fluid provide efficacious protection at a cost of little weight, size, and restriction to necessary motion that could adversely impact performance. This would mean that the brace could potentially be used in various sports and activities, with little impact on normal ankle kinematics.

[0011] In an embodiment of the invention, the ankle brace provides a method to prevent medial and lateral ankle sprains. This ankle brace allows the ankle to move freely at velocities that do not impede athletic performance, but affords protection of the ankle when a high rotational and/or shear stress is applied to the ankle. It is an ankle strap consisting of two fluid gel, Newtonian or non-Newtonian liquid, or any other type of fluid filled pouches on both sides of an ankle to provide additional support during a physical activity. The pouches are placed in pockets that are can be fixed on either side of a commercially available ankle bracelet at appropriate positions. Additional one or more straps on the brace are situated over the pouches and secure them tightly against the ankle, and provide additional support. When an ankle twists during a physical activity, the non-Newtonian liquid in the tightly secured pouches will act against the rotation of the ankle to prevent injury. Additionally, the straps limit the degree of deflection permitted of the ankle, such that deflection or rotation of the ankle is limited to the degree permitted by the strap.

[0012] The prophylactic brace, according to an embodiment of the invention, has two or more pockets situated on the inner and outer portion of the ankle, particularly situated to cover the area of the lateral collateral ligament, the anterior talofibular ligament, the posterior talofilular ligament and the calconofibular ligament. These ligaments are those which tear under the lowest stress and/or are situated such that twisting and inversion occurs. The pockets receive pouches that comprises a Non-Newtonian liquid, which is a dilatant that shear thickens at a rapid rate when a rapid movement is applied, as when an inversion of the ankle under a leg occurs. Additionally, the dilatant can guard against impact, when the ankle brace is used in an activity where an impact is possible, for example in a military use or a contact sport. The pouches can be of a C-shape that extends over the ankle and downward towards the arch of the foot and backward towards the Achilles tendon, as shown in FIG. 1. In other embodiments of the invention the pouches and the pockets can be of a T-shape where an additional portion extends in from of the ankle towards the front of the leg. The two pockets and pouches that are situated on the inner and outer sides of the foot, can be connected in front or behind the ankle, for example, where the backward portions, as shown in FIG. 1, are attached or continuous, being connected or continuous behind the ankle, or the two T-shaped pockets and pouches can be connected or can be continuous over the front of the ankle. The thickness of the pockets with the pouches inserted can be about 2 mm to about 10 mm or more. Other dimensions can vary significantly for shape of the pouches and pockets and for the size of the ankle to be housed therein, as can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0013] In an embodiment of the invention, at least two straps proceed from fixed securing positions on the brace on the foot forward and below the ankle; are extended over the pocket and pouch and the ankle; are extended over the Achilles tendon behind the ankle; and are secured, as shown in FIG. 1, on opposing sides of the ankle on the leg above the ankle. Alternatively, the two straps proceed from fixed securing positions on the leg above the ankle; are extended over the pocket and pouch and the ankle; are extended over the Achilles tendon behind the ankle; and are secured on the brace on the foot forward and below the ankle. In another embodiment of the invention, a single strap is employed, where the strap originates from a fixed securing position on the brace on the foot forward and below the ankle; is extended over a pocket and pouch and the ankle on one side of the brace; is extended over the Achilles tendon behind the ankle; extended around the front of the leg immediately above the ankle and is secured on the brace on the foot forward and below the ankle on the opposite side of the origin. The strap or straps do not significantly affect the plantarflexion and dorsiflexion of the ankle, but resist and/or limit the ultimate eversion and inversion of the foot while providing sufficient flexibility for small eversions and inversions, as would occur during normal walking and running.

[0014] The dilatant non-Newtonian fluid included within a pouch can be, but are not limited to, corn starch dispersed in water, silica nanoparticles dispersed in polyethylene glycol, and polyborodimethylsiloxane. The pouch can be a flexible plastic or a rubber of any sort, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polysiloxane, polyurethane, or any other plastic or rubber. The strap can comprise a composite of a rubber and aligned non-elastic fiber, to define a limit to the extension but allow flexibility in the perpendicular planes to facilitate comfort and functionality of attachment. The straps can be any woven or non-woven fabric of, for example, but not limited to, polyamides, polyolefins, polyesters, polyaramides, or any other polymer that can flex but does not elongate significantly when under stress. The straps can be a fiber filled rubber or plastic body, where the fibers can be of a sufficient length to sufficiently reinforce as an ensemble, including the entire length of the strap. The straps or composite fillers can be woven or otherwise connected metal links or fiber. The fasteners can be of a hook and loop (Velcro), Dual Lock, buttons, Xolok, or any other method of fixing the straps reliably with sufficient resistance to breakage or opening. In an embodiment of the invention, the strap can be a rubber bladder that is filled with a dilatant fluid that is the same or different than the dilatant fluid in the pouches.

[0015] The ankle brace is of sufficient thinness that it can be fit within a shoe, although, in embodiments of the invention, the shoe can have a structure that accepts the addition of the pouches. The shoe may have additional cavities to accommodate the pouches and straps and can include additional fasteners to reinforce and fix the position of the ankle brace within the shoe.

[0016] In another embodiment of the invention, the ankle brace can be a portion of a shoe, wherein the shoe includes the at least one pocket for receiving the at least one pouch. In this manner the shoe and brace necessarily fit and the straps are included for resisting a maximum eversion and inversion possible while having the proximal attachment of the strap being within or on the outside of the shoe. In this manner, the movement of the shoe is coupled with the movement of the brace.

[0017] All publications referred to or cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety, including all figures and tables, to the extent they are not inconsistent with the explicit teachings of this specification.

[0018] It should be understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application.