Gel and air cushion ankle brace

Abstract

An ankle brace designed to be worn under the shoe has a first bladder which is filled with the high viscosity gel resistant to rapid deformation to apply pressure to the ankle and conform to its shape to provide support to the ankle. A second bladder inflatable with air is juxtaposed the first bladder to provide a uniform compressive force upon the bladder filled with the gel. A canvas ankle brace holds a pair of air and gel bladders along each of its sidewalls and is wrapped about the lower extremity and snugly fit thereto. Once the brace is in position, air is introduced into the second bladder to press the first bladder against the ankle and to conform to the shape thereof. Broad elastic straps may be secured to the lower rear of the brace to extend over the front of the ankle and the instep in a cruciate configuration. The outer ends of the straps are secured to lines which extend through openings in the outer casing of the brace, and D-rings secured to the ends of the lines permit the tensioning of the elastic straps by threading shoe laces through the rings and tightening the laces.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ankle brace for use in connection with minor ankle injuries, such as Grade I or Grade II sprains, within a shoe, comprising: an outer flexible casing conforming to the shape of the ankle and rear portion of the foot and having front edges which are close to one another along the front of the ankle and instep of the user;   means for adjustably holding said front edges together;   first and second wide elastic straps extending from said casing to cross over one-another in a cruciate configuration with one end of each of said straps being secured to said casing on different sides thereof;   first and second lines secured to the other ends of said first and second elastic straps, said lines extending through first and second holes, respectively, in said casing, on opposite sides thereof;   means secured to the outer ends of said lines for coupling to the laces of a shoe;   left and right air bladders mounted within said casing, on the sides thereof, and   gel pad means mounted within said casing and within and adjacent said air bladders for cushioning the ankle and distributing inwardly directed pressure;   whereby the ankle of the user may be limited in its motion as desired by (1) varying the tightness of said casing, (2) varying the pressure in said air bladders, and (3) varying the tension applied from the shoe laces through said lines to said wide elastic straps.   
     
     
       2. A system including the brace as defined in claim 1 and further comprising a shoe having laces extending through rings secured to the outer ends of said lines, to apply tension to said straps. 
     
     
       3. An ankle brace as defined in claim 1 wherein said gel pad means and said air bladders are recessed to accommodate the malleolus. 
     
     
       4. An ankle brace as defined in claim 1 wherein said gel pad means and said air bladders are generally coextensive. 
     
     
       5. An ankle brace as defined in claim 1 further comprising valve means for retaining and/or releasing air from said air bladders. 
     
     
       6. An ankle brace as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible casing is formed in two side sections secured together at the rear of the brace by elastic material. 
     
     
       7. An ankle brace for use in connection with minor ankle injuries such as Grade I or Grade II sprains, within a shoe, comprising: an outer flexible casing conforming to the shape of the ankle and rear portion of the foot and having front edges which are close to one another along the front of the ankle and instep of the user; means for adjustably holding said front edges together;   first and second wide elastic straps extending from the lower rear of said casing to cross over oneanother in a cruciate configuration with one end of each of said straps being secured to said casing near the lower rear on different sides thereof;   first and second lines secured to the other ends of said first and second elastic straps, said lines extending through first and second holes, respectively in said casing, near opposite front edges thereof;   means secured to the outer ends of said lines for coupling to the laces of a shoe;   air bladder means mounted in said casing, on the sides thereof; and   additional cushioning means mounted within said casing for cushioning the ankle;   whereby the ankle of the user may be limited in its motion as desired by (1) varying the tightness of said casing, (2) varying the pressure in said air bladders, and (3) varying the tension applied from the shoe laces through said lines to said broad elastic straps.   
     
     
       8. A system including the brace as defined in claim 7 and further comprising a shoe having laces extending through rings secured to the outer ends of said lines, to apply tension to said straps. 
     
     
       9. An ankle brace as defined in claim 7 wherein said air bladders are recessed to accommodate the malleolus. 
     
     
       10. An ankle brace as defined in claim 7 further comprising valve means for retaining and/or releasing air from said air bladders. 
     
     
       11. An ankle brace as defined in claim 7 wherein said flexible casing is formed in two side sections secured together at the rear of the brace by elastic material. 
     
     
       12. An ankle brace for insertion into a shoe for restraining and limiting motion of the ankle, comprising: an outer flexible casing for mounting on the ankle, said casing opening at the front thereof and having opposed edges at each side of said opening;   pad members formed of a cushioning flexible material mounted within said casing adjacent the sides of the user's ankle;   air bladders mounted within said casing between said pad members and said casing;   means for securing the front edges of said casing together;   means for inflating said air bladders; and fastening means secured to said casing for receiving shoe laces so that the shoe laces may be tightened and tied, to couple the shoe to the ankle brace.   
     
     
       13. An ankle brace as defined in claim 12 wherein said brace includes broad elastic straps secured to said casing near the rear thereof on two sides thereof and extending across the front of the ankle in a cruciate configuration, and wherein said fastening means includes lines secured to said straps extending through openings in said casing, and rings secured on the outer ends of said lines, through which the shoe laces may be tied. 
     
     
       14. An ankle brace for applying pressure to an ankle to restrain inversion and eversion movement of said ankle comprising: a first bladder having an interior chamber, said bladder being dimensioned to conform to said ankle;   gel type materials substantially filling said interior chamber, said material being selected to resist instantaneous forces applied to said first bladder and to form about said ankle;   a second bladder having an interior chamber, said second bladder being juxtaposed with respect to said first bladder;   means for inflating said interior chamber of said second bladder to apply compressive force upon said first bladder, said first bladder applying pressure to said ankle in response to said compressive force;   a flexible outer casing adapted for being disposed about said ankle, said casing including a first pair of opposed sidewall portions, each of said sidewall portions having a rear edge elastically coupled to each other, an inner surface and an outer surface;   means for adjusting the fit of said sidewall portions about said ankle; and   means for releasably attaching said second bladder to said inner surface of each of said sidewall portions.   
     
     
       15. A brace for permitting limited or restricted movement of a portion of the human body which has been subject to minor injury, comprising: an outer flexible casing conforming to the shape of the portion of the anatomy as to which limited movement is to be permitted;   means for adjustably holding said flexible casing to the body of the user;   at least one gel pad for mounting within said casing and adjacent the anatomy and for cushioning and conforming to the physical configuration of the anatomy of the user;   at least one air bladder mounted between the gel pad and the casing;   means for inflating said bladder to apply pressure to said gel pad to exert a restraining force to limit movement of the selected portion of the anatomy; and   said brace further including resilient or elastic means for applying additional force to said gel pad in combination with that provided by said air bladder.   
     
     
       16. A brace as defined in claim 15 wherein two gel pads and two air bladders are provided, and means are provided for mounting one air bladder and one gel on either side of the ankle. 
     
     
       17. A brace as defined in claim 16 wherein said resilient or elastic means includes first and second broad elastic straps mounted within said casing to extend across the instep and/or the front of the ankle in a cruciate configuration. 
     
     
       18. A brace as defined in claim 17 further including means secured to said elastic straps for coupling to the laces of a shoe for tensioning said elastic straps. 
     
     
       19. A brace as defined in claim 15 further including means for adjusting the tension of said resilient or elastic means. 
     
     
       20. An ankle brace for use in connection with minor ankle injuries, such as Grade I or Grade II sprains, within a shoe, comprising: an outer flexible casing conforming to the shape of the ankle and rear portion of the foot and having front edges which are close to one another along the front of the ankle and instep of the user;   means for adjustably holding said front edges together;   first and second wide elastic straps extending from said casing to cross over one-another in a cruciate configuration with one end of each of said straps being secured to said casing on different sides thereof;   first and second lines secured to the other ends of said first and second elastic straps, said lines extending through first and second holes, respectively, in said casing, on opposite sides thereof;   means secured to the outer ends of said lines for coupling to the laces of a shoe; and   air bladder means mounted within said casing, on the sides thereof;   whereby the ankle of the user may be limited in its motion as desired by (1) varying the tightness of said casing, (2) varying the pressure in said air bladders, and (3) varying the tension applied from the shoe laces through said lines to said broad elastic straps.   
     
     
       21. A system including the brace as defined in claim 20 and further comprising a shoe having laces extending through rings secured to the outer ends of said lines, to apply tension to said straps. 
     
     
       22. An ankle brace as defined in claim 20 wherein said air bladders are recessed to accommodate the malleolus. 
     
     
       23. An ankle brace as defined in claim 20 wherein said flexible casing is formed in two side sections secured together at the rear of the brace by elastic material. 
     
     
       24. A brace for permitting limited or restricted movement of a portion of the human body which has been subject to minor injury, comprising: an outer support member conforming to the shape of the portion of the anatomy as to which limited movement is to be permitted;   means for adjustably holding said support member to the body of the user;   at least one gel pad for mounting within said support member and adjacent the anatomy, and for cushioning and conforming to the physical configuration of the anatomy of the user;   at least one air bladder mounted adjacent said gel pad and within the support member; and   means for inflating said bladder to apply pressure to the selected portion of the anatomy to exert a restraining force to limit movement of the selected portion of the anatomy;   whereby the gel permits full conformation to the anatomy and the use of an air bladder provides adjustable support.   
     
     
       25. A brace for permitting limited or restricted movement of a portion of the human body which has been subject to minor injury, comprising: an outer support member conforming to the shape of the portion of the anatomy as to which limited movement is to be permitted;   means for adjustably holding said support member to the body of the user;   at least one gel pad for mounting within said support .Iadd.member .Iaddend.and adjacent the anatomy and for cushioning and conforming to the physical configuration of the anatomy of the user;   at least one air bladder mounted between the gel pad and the support member; and   means for inflating said bladder to apply pressure to said gel pad to exert a restraining force to limit movement of the selected portion of the anatomy;   whereby the gel permits full conformation to the anatomy and the use of an air bladder provides adjustable support.   
     
     
       26. An orthopaedic device comprising: means for applying pressure to the user's ankle to restrain motion of the ankle while permitting limited movement thereof; said means including:   a first bladder having an interior chamber, said bladder being dimensioned to conform to the configuration of the ankle;   gel type material substantially filling said interior chamber, said material constituting means for resisting instantaneous forces applied to said first bladder and for conforming to the shape of the ankle;   a second bladder having an interior chamber, said second bladder being juxtaposed with respect to said first bladder;   means for releasably securing said first bladder adjacent the user's ankle; and   means for inflating said interior chamber of said second bladder to apply a compressive force upon said first bladder, said first bladder applying pressure to the user's ankle portion in response to said compressive force; and   means including a flexible casing for mounting on the user's ankle and for holding said bladders in engagement with the ankle, said flexible casing including a first section for engaging the lower part of a patient's leg, and a second portion extending at a substantial angle to said first portion for encircling and engaging the patient's foot and instep adjacent the ankle.   
     
     
       27. A device as set forth in claim 26 wherein said first bladder is generally U-shaped. 
     
     
       28. A device as defined in claim 26 wherein said first bladder is recessed to accommodate the malleolus. .Iadd. 
     
     
       29.  A brace for permitting limited or restricted movement of a portion of the human body which has been subject to minor injury, comprising: an outer support member conforming to the shape of the portion of the anatomy as to which limited movement is to be permitted;   means for adjustably holding said support member to the body of the user;   at least one gel pad for mounting within said support member and adjacent the anatomy and for cushioning and conforming to the physical configuration of the anatomy of the user;   at least one air bladder mounted adjacent said gel pad and the support member; and   said bladder constituting means for containing air to apply pressure to the selected portion of the anatomy to exert a restraining force to limit movement of the selected portion of the anatomy;   whereby the gel permits full conformation to the anatomy and the use of an air bladder provides additional support. .Iadd.30. A brace as defined in claim 29, in which the bladder is inflatable and is mounted between the gel pad and within the support member, whereby the gel provides adjustable support.