Ankle reinforcing device

Abstract

My invention is an ankle reinforcing device for the prevention of medial and/or lateral ankle injuries such as sprains or breaks. The object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive but highly effective device which will allow free and unhampered movement of the wearer's foot while engaged in athletic events or other physical activity but will prevent movement in such a direction and to such an extent that would result in spraining or breaking an ankle. The ankle reinforcing device is constructed from an underlying member which covers all or part of the foot and part of the leg above the ankle, reinforcing members attached to or integral with the underlying member, and means to securely attach the device to the wearer. The reinforcing members are arranged in a pattern to prevent excessive movement of the ankle in the medial and/or lateral directions, while allowing free up and down movement of the foot.

Claims

1. A disposable ankle reinforcing device, which comprises in combination: an underlying member which is flexible and covers all or part of the wearer's foot and part of the wearer's leg; reinforcing members integral with or attached to said underlying member and arranged in a radial pattern to restrict movement of the ankle either in the medial direction or in the lateral direction or in both directions to prevent over-extension of the ankle which could cause injury to the ankle, while up and down movement of the foot at the ankle is not greatly restricted; means to position said ankle reinforcing device during installation on the wearer's foot so that said reinforcing members may optimally restrict movement of the ankle to prevent injury; means to securely fasten said ankle reinforcing device to the foot and the leg comprising tape with a strong adhesive, allowing for one-time use, such that said tape with a strong adhesive engages said reinforcing members, either directly or in conjunction with said underlying member, and secures said reinforcing members to said wearer's foot and leg resulting in restricted movement of the ankle in the medial direction or in the lateral direction or in both directions, while allowing up and down movement of the foot at the ankle; markings to facilitate the correct positioning of said means to securely fasten said ankle reinforcing device to the foot and the leg; and means to increase friction between said ankle reinforcing device and the wearer's skin.

2. The ankle reinforcing device of claim 1, wherein said tape with a strong adhesive has a non-stick backing which is removed during installation of the invention in order to attach said tape.

3. The ankle reinforcing device of claim 1, wherein after installation on the wearer's foot said ankle reinforcing device contains flexible areas or open areas which allow the wearer's foot to move up and down at the ankle.

4. The ankle reinforcing device of claim 1, wherein said reinforcing members comprise high tensile strength materials such as metal, fiberglass, carbon fiber, aramid fiber, or other high tensile strength materials.

5. The ankle reinforcing device of claim 1, wherein said means to increase friction between said ankle reinforcing device and the wearer's skin have a high coefficient of friction on human skin, such as latex, nitrile or silicone, or other high coefficient of friction materials; and said materials comprise all or part of said ankle reinforcing device, including but not limited to underlying member materials, reinforcing member materials, etc.

6. The ankle reinforcing device of claim 1, wherein said means to increase friction between said ankle reinforcing device and the wearer's skin comprise panels integral with or attached to said underlying member or said reinforcing members; and said panels have a high coefficient of friction on human skin.

7. The ankle reinforcing device of claim 1, wherein all or part of said ankle reinforcing device (including but not limited to underlying member materials, reinforcing member materials, means to securely fasten materials, etc.) are hypoallergenic.

8. The ankle reinforcing device of claim 1, wherein all or part of said ankle reinforcing device (including but not limited to underlying member materials, reinforcing member materials, means to securely fasten materials, etc.) are waterproof.

9. The ankle reinforcing device of claim 1 which is of such compact size that it can be worn inside of common footwear such as socks and shoes.

10. The ankle reinforcing device of claim 1 which fits a range of foot sizes.

11. A reusable ankle reinforcing device, which comprises in combination: an underlying member which is flexible and covers all or part of the wearer's foot and part of the wearer's leg; reinforcing members integral with or attached to said underlying member and arranged in a radial pattern to restrict movement of the ankle either in the medial direction or in the lateral direction or in both directions to prevent over-extension of the ankle which could cause injury to the ankle, while up and down movement of the foot at the ankle is not greatly restricted; means to position said ankle reinforcing device during installation on the wearer's foot so that said reinforcing members may optimally restrict movement of the ankle to prevent injury; means to securely fasten said ankle reinforcing device to the foot and the leg comprising self-adhering or cohesive bandage type wrap or hook and pile type fasteners, allowing said ankle reinforcing device to be used more than once, such that said self-adhering or cohesive bandage type wrap or hook and pile type fasteners engage said reinforcing members, either directly or in conjunction with said underlying member, and secure said reinforcing members to said wearer's foot and leg resulting in restricted movement of the ankle in the medial direction or in the lateral direction or in both directions, while allowing up and down movement of the foot at the ankle; markings to facilitate the correct positioning of said means to securely fasten said ankle reinforcing device to the foot and the leg; and means to increase friction between said ankle reinforcing device and the wearer's skin.

12. The ankle reinforcing device of claim 11, wherein after installation on the wearer's foot said ankle reinforcing device contains flexible areas or open areas which allow the wearer's foot to move up and down at the ankle.

13. The ankle reinforcing device of claim 11, wherein said reinforcing members comprise high tensile strength materials such as metal, fiberglass, carbon fiber, aramid fiber, or other high tensile strength materials.

14. The ankle reinforcing device of claim 11, wherein said means to increase friction between said ankle reinforcing device and the wearer's skin have a high coefficient of friction on human skin, such as latex, nitrile or silicone, and said means to increase friction comprise all or part of said ankle reinforcing device, including but not limited to underlying member materials, reinforcing member materials, etc.

15. The ankle reinforcing device of claim 11, wherein means to increase friction between said ankle reinforcing device and the wearer's skin comprise panels integral with or attached to said underlying member or said reinforcing members; and said panels have a high coefficient of friction on human skin.

16. The ankle reinforcing device of claim 11, wherein all or part of said ankle reinforcing device (including but not limited to underlying member materials, reinforcing member materials, means to securely fasten materials, etc.) are hypoallergenic.

17. The ankle reinforcing device of claim 11, wherein all or part of said ankle reinforcing device (including but not limited to underlying member materials, reinforcing member materials, means to securely fasten materials, etc.) are waterproof.

18. The ankle reinforcing device of claim 11 which is of such compact size that it can be worn inside of common footwear such as socks and shoes.

19. The ankle reinforcing device of claim 11 which fits a range of foot sizes.

20. A method to reinforce human ankles and protect ankles from injury comprising: an underlying member which is flexible and covers all or part of the wearer's foot and part of the wearer's leg; reinforcing members integral with or attached to said underlying member and arranged in a radial pattern to restrict movement of the ankle either in the medial direction or in the lateral direction or in both directions to prevent over-extension of the ankle which could cause injury to the ankle, while up and down movement of the foot at the ankle is not greatly restricted; means to position said ankle reinforcing device during installation on the wearer's foot so that said reinforcing members may optimally restrict movement of the ankle to prevent injury; means to securely fasten said ankle reinforcing device to the foot and the leg which engages said reinforcing members, either directly or in conjunction with said underlying member, to secure said reinforcing members to said wearer's foot and leg resulting in restricted movement of the ankle in the medial direction or in the lateral direction or in both directions, while allowing up and down movement of the foot at the ankle; markings to facilitate the correct positioning of said means to securely fasten said ankle reinforcing device to the foot and the leg; and means to increase friction between said ankle reinforcing device and the wearer's skin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates one form of a disposable ankle reinforcing device, wherein said means to securely fasten said ankle reinforcing device comprise adhesive type tape.

[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates one form of a reusable ankle reinforcing device, wherein said means to securely fasten said ankle reinforcing device comprise self-adhering or cohesive bandage type wrap or hook and pile type fasteners.

[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates a disposable ankle reinforcing device as it is worn on the foot.

[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates a reusable ankle reinforcing device as it is worn on the foot and demonstrates a preferred tape wrapping pattern.

[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates friction panels which interact with the wearer's skin to prevent movement of the proposed device during use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] In the illustration of FIG. 1, an ankle reinforcing device is shown, as viewed from the medial side or inside of the leg, and includes an underlying member 1, which is worn on the foot 2. In this embodiment, said underlying member 1 only partially covers said foot 2. Said underlying member 1 is flexible so that it can be easily adjusted so positioning markings 3 can be placed over the ankle. Adhesive tape 4 securely attaches said ankle reinforcing device to the wearer's leg 6 above the ankle. Adhesive tapes 5 securely attach said ankle reinforcing device to the wearer's foot 2 below the ankle. Markings 7 facilitate the correct placement of said means 4 and 5 to securely fasten said ankle reinforcing device to the wearer's foot 2 and leg 6. Reinforcing members 8 are integral with and/or attached to said underlying member 1 and arranged to restrict movement of the ankle in the medial and/or lateral directions while allowing up and down movement of the foot at the ankle. Said adhesive tapes 4 and 5 are positioned to secure said reinforcing members 8, leg 6, and foot 2 so that movement of the ankle in the medial and/or lateral directions is restricted while allowing up and down movement of the foot at the ankle.

[0027] In the illustration of FIG. 2, an ankle reinforcing device is shown, as viewed from the medial side or inside of the leg, and includes an underlying member 1, which is worn on the foot 2. In this embodiment, said underlying member 1 completely covers said foot 2. Said underlying member 1 is flexible so that it can be easily adjusted so positioning markings 3 can be placed over the ankle. A removable self-adhering or cohesive bandage type wrap or a hook and pile type fastener 9 is used to securely attach said ankle reinforcing device to the wearer's leg 6 above the ankle. Additional removable self-adhering or cohesive bandage type wrap or hook and pile type fasteners 10 are used to securely attach said ankle reinforcing device to the wearer's foot 2 below the ankle. Markings 11 facilitate the correct placement of said means 9 and 10 to securely fasten said ankle reinforcing device to the wearer's foot 2 and leg 6. Reinforcing members (not shown) are integral with and/or attached to said underlying member 1 and arranged to restrict movement of the ankle in the medial and/or lateral directions while allowing up and down movement of the foot at the ankle. Said fasteners 9 and 10 are positioned to secure said reinforcing members (not shown), leg 6, and foot 2 so that movement of the ankle in the medial and/or lateral directions is restricted while allowing up and down movement of the foot at the ankle. Said fasteners 9 and 10 can be removed and re-applied, allowing said ankle reinforcing device to be used more than once, or its position to be adjusted during use.

[0028] In the illustration of FIG. 3, an ankle reinforcing device is shown as it would appear when secured to the leg 6 and foot 2 of the wearer as viewed from the lateral side or outside of the leg. In this embodiment, said underlying member 1 only partially covers said foot 2. Adhesive tapes 4 and 5 are positioned to secure reinforcing members (not shown) to said leg 6 and foot 2 so that movement of the ankle in the medial and/or lateral directions is restricted while allowing up and down movement of the foot at the ankle. Adhesive tapes 4 and 5 can be provided as separate loose items, or they can be partially and permanently attached to said underlying member 1 so that the invention can be more easily installed on the wearer. A removable non-stick backing (not shown) protects adhesive areas of said adhesive tapes 4 and 5 until ready for use. Said non-stick backing (not shown) would be removed during installation of said ankle reinforcing device on the wearer's foot in order to attach said adhesive tapes 4 and 5. Areas 12 are flexible areas and/or open areas (not shown) of said underlying member 1, which are not restricted by said adhesive tapes 4 and 5 or by said reinforcing members (not shown), allowing the foot to move freely up and down at the ankle.

[0029] In the illustration of FIG. 4, a reusable ankle reinforcing device is shown as it would appear when secured to the leg 6 and foot 2 of the wearer as viewed from the lateral side or outside of the leg. In this embodiment, said underlying member 1 completely covers said foot 2. Self-adhering or cohesive bandage type wrap or hook and pile type fasteners 9 and 10 are positioned to secure reinforcing members (not shown), said leg 6, and said foot 2 so that movement of the ankle in the medial and/or lateral directions is restricted while allowing up and down movement of the foot at the ankle. Said fasteners 9 and 10 can be provided as separate loose items, or they can be partially and permanently attached to said underlying member 1 so that the invention can be more easily installed on the wearer. Areas 12 are flexible areas (not shown) and/or open areas of said underlying member 1, which are not restricted by said fasteners 9 and 10 or by said reinforcing members (not shown), allowing said foot 2 to move freely up and down at the ankle. A preferred wrapping pattern is shown for said fasteners 9 and 10, whereby said reinforcing members (not shown), leg 6, and foot 2 are secured such that movement of the ankle in the medial and/or lateral directions is restricted while allowing up and down movement of the foot at the ankle.

[0030] In the illustration of FIG. 5, the underlying member 1 of an ankle reinforcing device is shown to include friction panels 13 which are integral with or attached to the inside of said underlying member 1 and/or integral with or attached to reinforcing members (not shown). In this embodiment said underlying member 1 may be made of a natural material such as cotton, wool, etc. or synthetic material, allowing moisture to escape from the wearer's foot.

[0031] The various embodiments of the present invention provide for medial and/or lateral support of the wearer's ankle to prevent ankle injuries. The invention is adaptable to any size foot. The individual wearer may decide on the degree of tightness with which the ankle reinforcing device is attached. On the reusable model, re-adjustment is very simple. Use of the invention does not require the assistance of additional personnel.

[0032] The ankle reinforcing device of the present invention is very effective in accomplishing its purpose; yet it can be produced inexpensively. Due to its flexibility, the invention can be manufactured to fit a range of foot sizes, and various models can each cover different ranges of sizes. The design and the materials are such that the invention can easily be worn inside of any sock and/or shoe without discomfort.

[0033] Other alternative embodiments which achieve equivalent features of the present invention would be apparent to those skilled in the art. From the above description, it is intended that this disclosure be taken in an exemplary sense, and the scope of protection afforded be determined by the appended claims.