Ankle brace

Abstract

A rear entry ankle brace for providing support and stability to an ankle includes a compliant support member covered on both sides by a flexible durable material. The ankle brace is flexible and compliant so as to fit a range of foot, ankle, and leg sizes, and is secured about a leg with a compliant strap. A flexible footbed heel is provided for facilitating walking. An elongate strap is provided for securing the brace to a wearer, wherein the strap is attached at one end to a foot portion of the brace, can be wrapped about the foot portion and a leg portion of the brace, and is removable attachable at an opposite end to the foot portion of the brace.

1 . An ankle brace comprising: 
 a support member sized to fit under a foot and extending upward along an ankle and leg of an individual;    inner and outer layers surrounding the support member and forming a body having a foot portion including a forward edge defining a toe aperture and a footbed, and a leg portion including an upper edge and rear edges extending from the upper edge to the footbed; and    a strap for wrapping about the foot portion and leg portion so as to secure the brace to an individual, the strap attached at one end to an upper region of the foot portion and removably attachable at an opposite end to the leg portion.    
   
   
       2 . The ankle brace of  claim 1 , wherein the footbed is sized to extend from a ball of the foot to a heel portion of a foot.  
   
   
       3 . The ankle brace of  claim 1  further comprising a footbed heel portion.  
   
   
       4 . The ankle brace of  claim 3 , wherein the footbed heel portion comprises inner and outer layers and a cushion layer positioned therebetween, for allowing the footbed heel portion to flex to facilitate walking.  
   
   
       5 . The ankle brace of  claim 4 , wherein the cushion layer comprises foam.  
   
   
       6 . The ankle brace of  claim 1 , further comprising a leg cover attached at one end to the body, the leg cover positionable between the strap and a wearer's leg.  
   
   
       7 . The ankle brace of  claim 1 , further comprising a cushion layer positioned between the inner layer and the support member.  
   
   
       8 . The ankle brace of  claim 7 , wherein the cushion layer comprises foam.  
   
   
       9 . The ankle brace of  claim 1 , wherein said strap further includes a hook-and-loop fastener for removably fastening the strap to the leg portion.  
   
   
       10 . The ankle brace of  claim 1 , wherein the inner and outer layers of the body comprise neoprene.  
   
   
       11 . The ankle brace of  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises carbon fiber.  
   
   
       12 . The ankle brace of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is U-shaped in cross-section.  
   
   
       13 . An ankle brace comprising: 
 a foot engaging portion for receiving a foot in the form of a foot cover including a footbed, a forward edge, and a footbed heel;    a leg engaging portion extending from the foot engaging portion, the leg engaging portion in the form of a leg covering including a top edge and rear edges extending from the top edge towards the footbed defining an opening;    a support member in the footbed and extending from proximate the forward edge to the footbed heel, the support member further extending up the leg engaging portion; and    a strap for wrapping about the foot engaging portion and leg engaging portion so as to secure the brace to an individual, the strap attached at one end to an upper region of the foot engaging portion and removably attachable at an opposite end to the leg engaging portion.    
   
   
       14 . The ankle brace of  claim 13 , wherein the foot engaging portion and the leg engaging portion comprise a soft durable material which encases the support member.  
   
   
       15 . The ankle brace of  claim 14 , wherein the soft durable material comprises an inner layer which lines the interior surface of the foot engaging portion and the leg engaging portion, and an outer layer which covers the exterior surface of the foot engaging portion and the leg engaging portion.  
   
   
       16 . The ankle brace of  claim 13 , further comprising a cushion layer between the inner layer and the support member.  
   
   
       17 . The ankle brace of  claim 16 , wherein the cushion layer comprises foam.  
   
   
       18 . The ankle brace of  claim 13 , wherein the footbed heel portion comprises inner and outer layers of soft durable material and a cushion layer therebetween, for allowing the footbed heel portion to flex to facilitate walking.  
   
   
       19 . The ankle brace of  claim 13 , wherein the strap further includes a hook and loop fastening system for removably fastening the strap to the leg engaging portion.  
   
   
       20 . A method of attaching an ankle brace to a wearer's leg comprising the steps of: 
 providing an ankle brace having a foot portion, a leg portion, and a strap attached at an end thereof to an upper region of the foot portion;    inserting a wearer's foot into the foot portion of the brace;    positioning the leg portion of the brace against the wearer's leg;    wrapping the strap underneath the foot portion and about the foot portion and the leg portion of the brace; and    attaching an opposite end of the strap to the leg portion of the brace to secure the brace to the wearer.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of attaching the end of the strap to the leg portion of the brace further comprises removably fastening the end of the strap to the leg portion using a hook and loop fastening system.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising choosing an appropriately sized ankle brace for an individual and securing the strap about the brace to tighten the brace about a foot and leg of an individual.