U.S. patent application number 11/212148 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-01 for heel lock ankle support.
Invention is credited to Stephen C. Arensdorf.
Application Number | 20070049856 11/212148 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37805276 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070049856 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Arensdorf; Stephen C. |
March 1, 2007 |
Heel lock ankle support
Abstract
An ankle support has a tubular sock-like elastic sheath which,
in use, is slipped over the foot and ankle of a wearer and extends
upwardly over the lower leg, the sheath thereby having lateral and
medial sides and a posterior end for receiving the heel of a
wearer. Heel locks are provided by lateral and medial elastic
locking straps secured to the sheath at a bottom portion of the
posterior end of the sheath, and at a rear portion of the sheath
(back of the heel) above the posterior end. The action of the two
locking straps locks the heel of the wearer against lateral and
medial movement. An elastic wrap on the sheath over the foot and
ankle of the wearer overlies the lateral and medial portions of the
locking straps to provide a lift to the heel.
Inventors: |
Arensdorf; Stephen C.;
(Hays, KS) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHASE LAW FIRM L.C
4400 COLLEGE BOULEVARD, SUITE 130
OVERLAND PARK
KS
66211
US
|
Family ID: |
37805276 |
Appl. No.: |
11/212148 |
Filed: |
August 26, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
602/27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 5/0111
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
602/027 |
International
Class: |
A61F 5/00 20060101
A61F005/00 |
Claims
1. An ankle support comprising: a tubular sock-like elastic sheath
adapted to be slipped over a foot and ankle of a wearer and, when
worn, to extend upwardly therefrom over the lower leg, said sheath
having lateral and medial sides and having a posterior end for
receiving the heel of a wearer, a first elastic locking strap on
said lateral side extended to a stretched condition when the ankle
support is worn, and having one end secured to said sheath at a
bottom portion of said posterior end, and an opposite end secured
to said sheath at a rear portion thereof above said end, a second
elastic locking strap on said medial side extended to a stretched
condition when the ankle support is worn, and having one end
thereof secured to said sheath at said bottom portion, and an
opposite end thereof secured to said sheath at said rear portion,
whereby said locking straps lock the heel of a wearer against
lateral and medial movement, and an elastic wrap on said sheath
over the foot and ankle of the wearer and overlying lateral and
medial portions of said locking straps, whereby to provide heel
locks and a lift to the heel of the wearer of the support.
2. An ankle support comprising: a tubular sock-like elastic sheath
adapted to be slipped over a foot and ankle of a wearer and, when
worn, to extend upwardly therefrom over the lower leg, said sheath
having lateral and medial sides and a heel opening for receiving
the heel of a wearer, a first elastic locking strap on said lateral
side extended to a stretched condition when the ankle support is
worn, and having one end secured to said sheath at a bottom portion
thereof adjacent said heel opening, and an opposite end secured to
said sheath at a rear portion thereof above said heel opening, a
second elastic locking strap on said medial side extended to a
stretched condition when the ankle support is worn, and having one
end thereof secured to said sheath at said bottom portion, and an
opposite end thereof secured to said sheath at said rear portion, a
pair of elongated elastic strap members each having a first and
second ends, said first end of each strap member being secured to
said sheath at said bottom portion, said strap members in use being
wrapped around said sheath in opposite directions over the ankle of
the wearer into operative positions, and fasteners associated with
the second ends of said strap members for securing the same in said
operative positions, whereby to provide heel locks and a lift to
the heel of the wearer of the support.
3. In an ankle support: a tubular sock-like elastic sheath adapted
to be slipped over a foot and ankle of a wearer and, when worn, to
extend upwardly therefrom over the lower leg, said sheath having
lateral and medial sides and having a posterior end for receiving
the heel of a wearer, a first elastic locking strap on said lateral
side extended to a stretched condition when the ankle support is
worn, and having one end secured to said sheath at a bottom portion
of said posterior end, and an opposite end secured to said sheath
at a rear portion thereof above said end, and a second elastic
locking strap on said medial side extended to a stretched condition
when the ankle support is worn, and having one end thereof secured
to said sheath at said bottom portion, and an opposite end thereof
secured to said sheath at said rear portion, whereby said locking
straps lock the heel of a wearer against lateral and medial
movement.
4. In an ankle support: a tubular sock-like elastic sheath adapted
to be slipped over a foot and ankle of a wearer and, when worn, to
extend upwardly therefrom over the lower leg, said sheath having
lateral and medial sides and a heel opening for receiving the heel
of a wearer, a first elastic locking strap on said lateral side
extended to a stretched condition when the ankle support is worn,
and having one end secured to said sheath at a bottom portion
thereof adjacent said heel opening, and an opposite end secured to
said sheath at a rear portion thereof above said heel opening, and
a second elastic locking strap on said medial side extended to a
stretched condition when the ankle support is worn, and having one
end thereof secured to said sheath at said bottom portion, and an
opposite end thereof secured to said sheath at said rear portion,
whereby said locking straps lock the heel of a wearer against
lateral and medial movement.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to an ankle support for stabilizing
the ankle complex of a wearer, particularly athletes and active
persons, to provide protection from injury and post injury
support.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Ankle supports or wraps and taping of the ankle are commonly
used to prevent or reduce the severity of debilitating ankle
sprains. Athletes in both contact and noncontact sports are
particularly susceptible to this injury. Methods of wrapping
include the use of adhesive tape strapping, which is discarded
after use, or reusable ankle wraps employing elastic material such
as spandex or the like. Both taping of the ankle and reusable
supports are applied to virtually immobilize the contact between
the bones and the ligaments of the ankle region in order to prevent
injurious pulling, stretching or tearing of these ligaments.
Adhesive tapes, however, can be expensive to use, both because they
are discarded after a single application and due to the time
required by a coach or trainer to properly tape or supervise the
taping of the ankle of an athlete.
[0003] A solution to this problem has been the utilization of
reusable ankle wraps or supports of the general type as shown, for
example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,962,768 and 5,676,641. Although these
supports have been successfully used by athletes and active
individuals, they should be properly applied to the user in order
to maximize effectiveness. If reusable supports are not applied in
the recommended manner, effectiveness is reduced as compared to
taping the ankle. Accordingly, it is desirable in reusable ankle
supports to configure the support so that it can be readily applied
as recommended and emulates a professionally taped ankle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In an embodiment of the present invention, an ankle support
is provided that comprises a tubular sock-like elastic sheath
which, in use, is slipped over the foot and ankle of a wearer and
extends upwardly over the lower leg, the sheath thereby having
lateral and medial sides and a posterior end for receiving the heel
of a wearer. A first elastic locking strap on the lateral side of
the sheath is extended to a stretched condition when the ankle
support is worn and has one end secured to the sheath at a bottom
portion of the posterior end of the sheath, and an opposite end
secured to the sheath at a rear portion of the sheath (back of the
heel) above the posterior end. A second elastic locking strap on
the medial side of the sheath is extended to a stretched condition
when the ankle support is worn, and has one end secured to the
sheath at the bottom portion of the posterior end, and an opposite
end thereof secured to the sheath at the rear portion behind the
heel. The action of the two locking straps locks the heel of the
wearer against lateral and medial movement. An elastic wrap on the
sheath over the foot and ankle of the wearer overlies the lateral
and medial portions of the locking straps, whereby the ankle
support provides heel locks and a lift to the heel.
[0005] Other advantages of the invention will become apparent from
the following description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example,
an embodiment of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is essentially an elevational view taken from the
outside of the right foot showing the ankle support on the foot,
but with the elastic wrap removed to show the position of the
elastic locking strap on the lateral side of the foot.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the ankle support shown in
FIG. 1 with the right foot reoriented and shows the ends of the two
elastic locking straps secured to the sheath at the bottom of the
foot adjacent the heel, the straps of the elastic wrap being shown
fragmentarily and in broken lines before application to the
foot.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the support shown in FIG. 1,
with the strap members of the elastic wrap removed for clarity.
[0009] FIGS. 4-7 show, in order, the steps of wrapping the elastic
strap members around the ankle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] A tubular, sock-like elastic sheath 10 receives the foot 12
and lower leg of a wearer as is clear in the drawings, the sheath
10 being slipped over the foot 12 which preferably has an athletic
sock 14 thereon. The sheath 10 has a front opening 16 from which
the toes and part of the foot 12 extend, and a heel opening 18 at
the posterior end of the sheath 10 through which the heel 20 of the
foot protrudes. The sheath 10 is made from an elastic fabric such
as spandex or the like, and is sized to have an unstretched
diameter somewhat less than the wearer's leg so that the fabric is
stretched as it is pulled over the foot 12 into position. The
preferred material has four-way stretchability, meaning that it has
resilience in directions up and down the leg as well as
circumferentially. This holds the sheath 10 in place and also
imparts some support to the ankle region.
[0011] An elastic locking strap 22 overlies the medial side of the
heel, and an elastic locking strap 24 overlies the lateral side of
the heel. Each of the locking straps 22 and 24 is permanently
attached to the sheath 10 by a vertically extending line of
stitching 26 at the back of the heel (FIG. 3) and a line of
stitching 28 on the bottom of the sheath 10 extending from front to
rear beneath the heel (FIG. 2). Accordingly, the posterior ends of
the straps 22 and 24 are secured to the sheath 10 at the back of
the heel or posterior end of the sheath 10, and the lower ends are
secured to the sheath 10 at the rear portion thereof beneath the
heel and forwardly of the heel opening 20. Thus, angled elastic
straps 22 and 24 are presented which, as will be discussed below,
present heel locks that provide stabilization to the ankle
complex.
[0012] In addition to the stitching 26 and 28, Velcro.RTM.
fasteners 30 and 32 are also provided on locking straps 22 and 24,
respectively, to secure the central portions of the locking straps
in place on the sheath 10 as they extend downwardly, outwardly and
under the heel as may be appreciated from a comparison of FIGS. 1,
2 and 3. Mating Velcro.RTM. fasteners are sewn to the sheath 10 as
illustrated at 36 in FIG. 1 for the lateral side. Therefore, the
elastic locking straps 22 and 24 are maintained in the positions
illustrated in the figures as the ankle support is removed and
reinstalled and are thus held in the positions illustrated over the
medial and lateral sides of the heel.
[0013] Supplementing the locking straps 22 and 24, a pair of
elongated elastic strap members 40 and 42 are provided and apply a
wrap as illustrated in the sequential views 4-7. The lower end
portions of the strap members 40 and 42 are seen in phantom lines
in FIG. 2 where it may be appreciated that the terminal ends
thereof are held by the line of stitching 28 that also secures the
locking straps 22 and 24. Preferably, the member 40 that extends
laterally from the bottom of the foot is somewhat shorter than the
member 42 that extends medially. The sequence of the wrap begins
(FIG. 4) by drawing member 40 across the tibia and to the rear
thereof, and then across the fibula to the front where Velcro.RTM.
fasteners 44 and 46 on the member 40 mate (FIG. 5). Strap member 42
is then drawn into position as shown in FIGS. 5-7, above and
partially overlapping member 40 by wrapping in the opposite
direction as illustrated. In its final position as seen in FIGS. 6
and 7, member 42 is secured by mating Velcro.RTM. fasteners 48
intermediate the ends of member 42, and 50 at the end thereof.
[0014] In use, the sheath 10 is slipped over the ankle of the
wearer to the position illustrated where the heel 20 of the wearer
protrudes from the heel opening 18. The locking straps 22 and 24
are thus positioned in an angled orientation extending from the
bottom of the foot upwardly and rearwardly to the line of stitching
26. The angled straps 22 and 24 comprise an elastic material having
a two-way stretch, i.e., a lengthwise stretch and elongation as the
support is pulled over the foot into position. As the wearer pulls
the sheath 10 onto his or her foot and stretches the material to
its final position shown, for example, in FIGS. 1-3, each of the
elastic straps 22, 24 extends to its limit of elasticity thus
creating fixed heel locks on the medial and lateral sides of the
foot. It may be appreciated, therefore, that the length of each of
the straps 22, 24 from the bottom line of stitching 28 to the
substantially vertically extending line of stitching 26 at the back
of the heel is selected in accordance with the particular material
used to provide a maximum stretch in the fully installed position
of the support shown in FIGS. 1-3. In this manner, the heel locks
stabilize the heel complex to control severe inversion and eversion
that can cause an ankle sprain.
[0015] The two strap members 40 and 42 supplement the heel locks
and are also longitudinally stretchable to a maximum extension. The
shorter strap member 40 is wrapped low around the ankle complex and
the longer strap member 42 is then wrapped in the opposite
direction somewhat higher on the upper part of the ankle as is
apparent in FIGS. 5-7. The strap configuration is similar to the
final process in taping an ankle and creates a lift to the heel of
the wearer. This assists in bringing the wearer up on the ball of
the foot for better rotation, again helping to reduce the chances
of an ankle sprain. Accordingly, the ankle support provides the
combination of fixed heel locks and a heel lift in a support that
is easy to put on quickly and correctly and is reusable.
[0016] It is to be understood that while certain forms of this
invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited
thereto, except insofar as such limitations are included in the
following claims.
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