Boots – shoes – and leggings – Boots and shoes – Foot-supporting or foot-conforming feature
Patent
1982-06-30
1985-06-18
Jaudon, Henry S.
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Boots and shoes
Foot-supporting or foot-conforming feature
36114, 128166, A43B 720
Patent
active
045233942
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a protective device for preventing ligament injuries of the ankle joints in connection with, for example, the practice of sports and athletics. The protective device is simple to apply and does not prevent the normal mobility of the foot.
Spraining injuries are responsible for a great part of the injuries in sports and athletics. Once sprained on some occasion, the ankle joint, as a rule, is permanently weakened, which makes it more susceptible to repeated injuries of the same kind. To prevent such injuries of a possibly weakened ankle joint, as well as to protect an injured joint in the healing process, so-called taping, i.e. wrapping of the ankle with a special tape, is often used. The tape is applied such that it functions as a support to the ankle joint but does not prevent the functions thereof. In addition to the fact that such a tape is relatively expensive, special knowledge and skill is required to apply an appropriate taping. Further, the supporting action of the tape is reduced if the tape becomes moist, e.g. by perspiration. For a good protective effect to be obtained in such a case, a new tape bandage must be applied. Thus, considerable amounts of money are spent on protective taping of the ankle joints ever year. In order to substantially eliminate the need for such taping, there is, according to the invention suggested a foot ligament protective device in the form of a support device for repeated use, which is simple to apply, which is flexible, which does not impede the mobility of the ankle, yet which prevents greater side stretching movements of the ankle joint than the ligaments and muscle tissue can stand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a basic concept of the invention the foot ligament protective device comprises a relatively rigid foot plate or sole, which through connecting parts of a flexible but substantially not extensible material is connected to an ankle sleeve, designed to be firmly fixed around the ankle portion of the foot. The connecting parts connecting the ankle sleeve with the foot plate are arranged on each side of the foot and connected to the foot plate in at least a rear and a fore part of the latter, so that sideways overstretching of the ankle joint is prevented. These connecting parts are preferably designed in accordance with the anatomy of the foot, i.e. with the "tension directions" along the major ligaments of the foot and in directions towards the prominence of the ankle.
Preferably, the connecting parts or members are vertically adjustable to allow for anatomic differencies between various individuals, and in a preferred embodiment the protective device of the invention comprises two separate parts removable from each other, viz. a foot plate part and an ankle sleeve part, which can be connected through suitable means. The connecting members may be arranged in various ways. Thus, they may, for example, be fixed to the foot plate and attachable to the ankle sleeve through suitable means. Alternatively, part of the connecting members may be fixed to or integral with the foot plate and part thereof fixed to or integral with the ankle sleeve, said connecting member parts being connectable to each other through suitable means. Further, the necessary flexibility of the connecting members may be achieved in various ways. For example, at least a major part of the connecting members may be made of a flexible, supple material, but they may also consist of a relatively stiff material provided with suitable links or link portions, such as thin material sections, indentations or the like. To provide the vertical adjustability and simple dismounting of the protective device, one of said connecting members and the ankle sleeve may comprise strap members and the other loop means, through which the straps are to be received, suitable fastening means being arranged for securing the straps in a desired position. Such fastening means, as well as the fastening means for fastening the ankle sleeve, may suitably comprise self-fastening mat
REFERENCES:
patent: 1205206 (1916-11-01), Hofmeister
patent: 3383708 (1968-05-01), Pappas
patent: 3506000 (1970-04-01), Baker
patent: 3515136 (1970-06-01), Baker
European Patent Application #5,615 to Rhee, Published Nov. 28, 1979, 37 pages Spec., 13 pages Drawings.
Lindh Kjell E.
Sundin Kjell H.
Graveline Tracy
Jaudon Henry S.
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