Patent ID: 6929617
Filing Date: 2005-08-16
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An ankle brace for comfortably supporting an ankle of a wearer by inhibiting motion between a foot and lower leg of the wearer, while simultaneously wicking moisture away from the foot, snide and lower leg of the wearer, said ankle brace comprising: a leg portion constructed of a flexible sheet material configured to embrace the lower leg of the wearer and to extend distally along the lower leg to the ankle, said leg portion defining an opening for receiving the lower leg of the wearer; lateral and medial stays constructed of a relatively rigid material and configured to extend along portions of the lower leg, ankle and foot of the wearer, said lateral and medial stays attached to respective lateral and medial sides of the leg portion so as to inhibit relative motion between the foot and lower leg of the wearer; and a strapping unit consisting essentially of a single piece of moisture-wicking, laminate sheet material forming a foot portion and a pair of cross straps, said foot portion coupled to the leg portion at the ankle and configured to extend along and under at least portions of the foot, said cross-straps configured to extend upwards from the foot portion, cross over each other at the top of the foot and attach to the leg portion so as to further inhibit relative motion of the foot and lower leg while the laminate sheet material wicks away moisture from the wearer's foot, ankle and lower leg.