Device and method for combining an athletic shoe and conventional ankle brace to limit active ankle inversion

Abstract

A device and method is provided wherein a non-extendable strap is attached to the interior of an athletic, or other type of shoe, commencing on the instep side, extending below the user's foot, and ankle, which has been previously fitted with a commercial brace or wrap or taped, which is inserted within the shoe, and the strap is attached within the shoe again on the outstep upper side. The strap element is drawn tight about the user's ankle when the shoe is laced, strapped, or otherwise secured about the user's foot. The strap element extends above the user's ankle, and is pulled taut and affixed to the brace, or wrap, or separately taped, at a position on the outside of the user's lower leg. The device and method of attachment allows the shoe and brace or wrap to act together, as an integrated system, to limit active ankle inversion.

1 . A strap device for combining a shoe, having a sole, and an upper attached thereto, said upper further comprising an interior having medial and lateral walls, with an ankle brace device, to create an ankle inversion prevention system. Said, said strap device further comprising:
 a unitary strap element of defined length having a first end and a second end;   the first end of said strap element being removably affixable at a first point on the medial interior wall of said shoe's upper and at a second point on the lateral interior wall of said upper;   said strap element extending from its first end downwardly proximate said medial interior wall, across the sole of said shoe and upwardly proximate said lateral interior wall to said second point and so as to be sandwiched between the wearers foot and the shoe upper, said strap element further extending, beyond said second point, to its second end, above said upper; and   the portion of said strap element extending above said shoe's upper being removably affixable to the ankle brace device.   
     
     
         2 . The invention of  claim 1 , further comprising hook and loop fasteners for releasably securing said strap to the shoe upper and ankle brace. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The invention of  claim 2 , the ankle brace device is further including an elastic wrap which is adapted to being releasably engaged by a hook and loop fastener portion secured to said second end of said strap element. 
     
     
         5 . An ankle inversion prevention device to be attached to a shoe, said shoe having a sole, and an upper attached thereto, with said upper further comprising an interior having medial and lateral walls, said device further comprising:
 a unitary flexible strap element of defined length having a first end and a second end;   said strap element being affixable to at least one position within the upper of said shoe so as to be sandwiched between the wearers foot and the shoe upper, said strap element extends above the upper of the shoe, proximate the lateral side of the user's ankle;   a first means of affixing said unitary strap element to proximate its first end and within the upper of said shoe;   a second means of attaching said unitary strap element proximate its second end at a position on the lateral side of the user's lower leg separately from and above the upper of said shoe.   
     
     
         6 . The invention of  claim 5 , wherein the first means of attaching the first end of said strap within the shoe upper is a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         7 . The invention of  claim 5 , wherein the second means of attaching the second end of said strap to the user's leg is adhesive tape. 
     
     
         8 . The invention of  claim 5 , wherein the second means of attaching the second end of said strap to the user's leg is an elastic wrap. 
     
     
         9 . A device for use with a wearers shoe and ankle brace for limiting active ankle inversion, the shoe having a sole with an upper, an interior of which including medial and lateral walls and an interconnecting insole supporting surface, the ankle brace being secured about the wearers foot and extending above the ankle joint, said device comprising:
 an elongated and flexible strap having a first end and a second end;   said first end being removably affixable at a first point on the medial interior wall of the shoe upper and extending in a generally three sided configuration downwardly along the medial wall, horizontally across the insole supporting surface, and upwardly along the lateral interior wall to a second point on the upper to which the strap is removably affixable; and   said strap element extending upwardly from the lateral interior wall above the shoe and releasably engaging the ankle brace at an elevated lateral side location of the wearers leg.   
     
     
         10 . The invention of  claim 9 , further comprising respective pairs of hook and loop portions for releasably securing said strap to the shoe upper and ankle brace. 
     
     
         11 . The invention of  claim 9 , said elongated strap terminating in a looped portion at said second end. 
     
     
         12 . The invention of  claim 10 , said strap further comprising a unitary and non-extendable construction exhibiting a cross sectional flat configuration upon which individual hook and loop fastener portions are secured.