Ankle brace allowing flexion and extension

Abstract

An ankle brace designed to limit inversion, eversion and twisting movements while allowing near-normal flexion and extension. The ankle brace includes a medial member and a lateral member, each of which has a forward edge, a bottom edge and a rearward edge. The forward edges are associated with one another to define a front support portion of the ankle brace. Similarly, the bottom edges are connected and define a base support portion of the ankle brace. Finally, the rearward edges are associated with one another to define a rear support portion which further includes a one direction stretch material strip. The material strip is disposed at the rear support portion such that during use, the material strip stretches with flexion of the user's ankle. However, the material strip and remaining components remain relatively rigid in other directions to limit inversion, eversion and twisting movements.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An ankle brace formed as a bootlike structure for use on a human foot and ankle and including a medial member and a lateral member wherein said medial member is configured to encompass a medial malleolus of wearer's foot and extend to a lower portion of a wearer's leg, said medial member having a recessed area for receipt of said medial malleolus, and said lateral member is configured to encompass a lateral malleolus of wearer's foot and extend to a lower portion of a wearer's leg, said lateral member having a recessed area for receipt of said lateral malleolus.  
     
     
         2 . The ankle brace of  claim 1  wherein the medial and lateral members comprise material that will not stretch vertically.  
     
     
         3 . The ankle brace of  claim 2  wherein the medial and lateral members comprise a plurality of layers.  
     
     
         4 . The ankle brace of  claim 3  wherein said plurality of layers include inner and outer layers spaced apart by an intermediate layer.  
     
     
         5 . The ankle brace of  claim 4  wherein a portion of said intermediate layer is omitted in the vicinity of the malleoli to form said recessed area.  
     
     
         6 . The ankle brace of  claim 4  wherein the recessed areas are formed in the intermediate layers of the medial and lateral members.  
     
     
         7 . The ankle brace of  claim 4  wherein said recessed areas are created by a die cut in the intermediate layers of the medial and lateral members.  
     
     
         8 . An ankle brace to be worn on a human foot and ankle comprising, a medial member and a lateral member, said medial member and said lateral member being configured to include relief areas for receiving malleoli of a wearer's ankle so as to relieve pressure thereon and thereby provide a comfortable form fit for said ankle brace.