Ankle brace

Abstract

An ankle brace which is positioned on an ankle of a person which incorporates a tensioning structure which permits full range of motion to the ankle joint but which prevents the ankle joint from moving past its normal range of motion to protect the ankle joint.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An ankle brace for use with an athletic shoe having a sole with a lower cleated surface, a lateral side and a medial side, an upper part with an upper end, a lacing closure, with upper and lower ends, including a plurality of spaced-apart pairs of eyelets adapted to have a shoe lace threaded therein, comprising:
 a flexible lateral portion having an upper end, a lower end, a forward end, a rearward end, an outer side and an inner side;   said upper end of said lateral portion having a plurality of spaced-apart first eyelets formed therein at said forward end thereof;   a first lateral loop secured to said lateral portion at said upper end of said lateral portion rearwardly of said eyelets of said lateral portion;   a second lateral loop secured to said lateral portion at said upper end of said lateral portion rearwardly of said first lateral loop;   a third lateral loop secured to said lateral portion at said upper end of said lateral portion rearwardly of said second lateral loop;   said lateral portion being selectively removably positioned adjacent the lateral side of the upper part of the shoe:   a flexible medial portion having an upper end, a lower end, a forward end, a rearward end, an outer side and an inner side;   said upper end of said medial portion having a plurality of spaced-apart first eyelets formed therein at said forward end thereof;   a first medial loop secured to said medial portion at said upper end of said medial portion rearwardly of said eyelets of said medial portion;   a second medial loop secured to said medial portion at said upper end of said medial portion rearwardly of said first medial loop;   a third medial loop secured to said medial portion at said upper end of said medial portion rearwardly of said second medial loop;   a bottom member connected to said lateral and medial portions which extends beneath the sole of the shoe;   a flexible and stretchable body member having upper and lower ends, a lateral side portion, and a medial side portion;   said lower end of said lateral side portion of said body member being secured to said lateral portion;   said lower end of said medial side portion of said body member being secured to said medial portion;   a first strap having a first end, a second end, an upper end, a lower end, and inner and outer sides;   said lower end of said first strap being secured to said upper end of said body member so that said first and second ends of said first strap extend forwardly from said first body member;   said first strap including means to secure said first and second ends thereof together around the ankle of the wearer;   an elongated and flexible second strap having a first end, a second end, an inner side and an outer side;   said second strap being secured to said outer side of said first strap so as to extend therearound;   a buckle secured to said second end of said first strap;   an elongated and flexible third strap having a first end, a second end, an inner side and a lower side;   said first end of said third strap being secured to said first end of said second strap so as to extend therefrom;   said outer side of said third strap having hook fasteners thereon;   said second end of said third strap being configured to adjustably extend through said buckle and folded upon itself whereby said hook fasteners on said third strap may be adjustably secured to said loop fasteners on said first end of said second strap;   a fourth lateral loop operatively secured to said second strap at said first end thereof;   a fifth lateral loop operatively secured to said second strap at said first end thereof which is positioned rearwardly of said fourth lateral loop;   a fourth medial loop operatively secured to said second strap at said second end thereof;   a fifth medial loop operatively secured to said second strap at said second end thereof which is positioned rearwardly of said fourth medial loop;   a flexible and stretchable lateral tensioning cord having first and second ends;   said first and second ends of said lateral tensioning cord being secured to said lateral portion;   said lateral tensioning cord interconnecting said first, second and third lateral loops to said fourth and fifth lateral loops;   a flexible and stretchable medial tensioning cord having first and second ends;   said first and second ends of said medial tensioning cord being secured to said medial portion;   said medial tensioning cord interconnecting said first, second and third medial loops to said fourth and fifth medial loops;   a fourth strap having first and second ends;   said fourth strap having a loop portion at its first end and an eyelet at its second end;   said loop portion of said fourth strap receiving said lateral tensioning cord extending therethrough;   a fifth strap having first and second ends;   said fifth strap having a loop portion at its first end and an eyelet at its second end;   said loop portion of said fifth strap receiving said medial tensioning cord extending therethrough; and   one end of the shoe lace being threaded through some of the eyelets of the shoe and through said eyelets of said lateral portion and with the one end of the shoe lace being threaded through said eyelet of said fourth strap; and   the other end of the shoe lace being threaded through some of the eyelets of the shoe and through some of eyelets of said medial portion, with the other end of the shoe lace also being threaded through said eyelet of said fifth strap with the ends of the shoe lace being tied together.   
     
     
         2 . An ankle brace for use with an athletic shoe having a sole with a lower cleated surface, a lateral side and a medial side, an upper part with an upper end, a lacing closure, with upper and lower ends, including a plurality of spaced-apart pairs of eyelets adapted to have a shoe lace threaded therein, comprising:
 a lateral portion having an upper end, a lower end, a forward end, a rearward end, an outer side and an inner side;   said upper end of said lateral portion having a plurality of spaced-apart first eyelets formed therein at said forward end thereof;   a plurality of spaced-apart lateral loops secured to said lateral portion at said upper end of said lateral portion rearwardly of said eyelets of said lateral portion and which extend upwardly therefrom;   said lateral portion being selectively removably positioned adjacent the lateral side of the upper part of the shoe:   a medial portion having an upper end, a lower end, a forward end, a rearward end, an outer side and an inner side;   said upper end of said medial portion having a plurality of spaced-apart first eyelets formed therein at said forward end thereof;   a plurality of spaced-apart medial loops secured to said medial portion rearwardly of said eyelets of said medial portion and which extend upwardly therefrom;   said lower ends of said lateral and medial portions being joined together by means of a bottom portion which extends beneath the sole of the shoe;   a flexible body member having upper and lower ends, a lateral side portion and a medial side portion;   said lower end of said lateral side portion of said body member being secured to said upper end of said lateral portion;   said lower end of said medial side portion of said body member being secured to said upper end of said medial portion;   a flexible first strap having a first end, a second end, an upper end, a lower end, and inner and outer sides;   said lower end of said first strap being secured to said upper end of said body member so that said first and second ends of said first strap extend forwardly from said body member;   said first strap configured to extend around the ankle of the wearer;   said first strap including means to secure said first and second ends thereof together around the ankle of the wearer;   an elongated and flexible second strap having a first end, a second end, an inner side and an outer side;   said second strap being secured to said outer side of said first strap so as to extend therearound;   a plurality of lateral loops operatively secured to said second strap and which extend downwardly therefrom;   a plurality of medial loops operatively secured to said second strap and which extend downwardly therefrom;   a flexible and stretchable lateral tensioning O-ring;   said lateral tensioning O-ring interconnecting said lateral loops of said lateral portion with said lateral loops on said second strap;   a flexible and stretchable medial tensioning O-ring;   said medial tensioning O-ring interconnecting said medial loops of said medial portion with said medial loops on said second strap;   a lateral tensioning loop slidably embracing said lateral tensioning O-ring and which has an eyelet formed therein;   a medial tensioning loop slidably embracing said medial tensioning O-ring and which has an eyelet formed therein;   one end of the shoe lace being threaded through some of the eyelets of the shoe and through said eyelets of said lateral portion, with the one end of the shoe lace being threaded through said eyelet of said lateral tensioning loop;   the other end of the shoe lace being threaded through some of the eyelets of the shoe and through some of eyelets of said medial portion, with the other end of the shoe lace also being threaded through said eyelet of said medial tensioning O-ring; and   the ends of the shoe lace being tied together.   
     
     
         3 . An ankle brace for use with an athletic shoe having a sole with a lower cleated surface, a lateral side and a medial side, an upper part with an upper end, a lacing closure, with upper and lower ends, including a plurality of spaced-apart pairs of eyelets adapted to have a shoe lace threaded therein, comprising:
 a lateral portion having an upper end, a lower end, a forward end, a rearward end, an outer side and an inner side;   said upper end of said lateral portion having a plurality of spaced-apart first eyelets formed therein at said forward end thereof;   a plurality of spaced-apart lateral loops secured to said lateral portion at said upper end of said lateral portion rearwardly of said eyelets of said lateral portion and which extend upwardly therefrom;   said lateral portion being selectively removably positioned adjacent the lateral side of the upper part of the shoe;   a medial portion having an upper end, a lower end, a forward end, a rearward end, an outer side and an inner side;   said upper end of said medial portion having a plurality of spaced-apart first eyelets formed therein at said forward end thereof;   a plurality of spaced-apart medial loops secured to said medial portion rearwardly of said eyelets of said medial portion and which extend upwardly therefrom;   said lower ends of said lateral and medial portions being joined together by means of a bottom portion which extends beneath the sole of the shoe;   a flexible body member having upper and lower ends, a lateral side portion and a medial side portion;   said lower end of said lateral side portion of said body member being secured to said upper end of said lateral portion;   said lower end of said medial side portion of said body member being secured to said upper end of said medial portion;   a flexible first strap having a first end, a second end, an upper end, a lower end, and inner and outer sides;   said lower end of said first strap being secured to said upper end of said body member so that said first and second ends of said first strap extend forwardly from said body member;   said first strap configured to extend around the ankle of the wearer;   said first strap including means to secure said first and second ends thereof together around the ankle of the wearer;   an elongated and flexible second strap having a first end, a second end, an inner side and an outer side;   said second strap being secured to said outer side of said first strap so as to extend therearound;   a plurality of lateral loops operatively secured to said second strap and which extend downwardly therefrom;   a plurality of medial loops operatively secured to said second strap and which extend downwardly therefrom;   a flexible and stretchable lateral tensioning member;   said lateral tensioning member interconnecting said lateral loops of said lateral portion with said lateral loops on said second strap;   a flexible and stretchable medial tensioning member;   said medial tensioning member interconnecting said medial loops of said medial portion with said medial loops on said second strap;   a lateral tensioning loop slidably embracing said lateral tensioning member and which has an eyelet formed therein;   a medial tensioning loop slidably embracing said medial tensioning member and which has an eyelet formed therein;   one end of the shoe lace being threaded through some of the eyelets of the shoe and through said eyelets of said lateral portion, with the one end of the shoe lace being threaded through said eyelet of said lateral tensioning loop;   the other end of the shoe lace being threaded through some of the eyelets of the shoe and through some of eyelets of said medial portion, with the other end of the shoe lace also being threaded through said eyelet of said medial tensioning loop; and   the ends of the shoe lace being tied together.