Abstract:
The present invention is directed to an anchored ankle brace including an anchor strap that connects an anchor member and ankle support member creating an increased resistance to lateral roll at the ankle. The ankle support member includes an ankle surround that surrounds and encloses at least a portion of the foot and an anchor member for positioning about the circumference above a midpoint of the lower leg characterized by a girth that is increasing as a distance from the ankle joint decreases. The anchored ankle brace also includes an anchor strap attached at a first end to the ankle support member and at a second end to the anchor member. The anchored ankle brace stabilizes the ankle joint increasing resistance to ankle sprain characterized by excessive inversion with planter flexion also known as “rolling the ankle”.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/942,274 entitled Anchored Ankle Support, filed Jun. 6, 2007, the content of said application being incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to devices and methods for stabilizing the ankle joint and surrounding ligament complex and more particularly to an ankle support that is stabilized by attachment about the proximal tibia, just distal to the knee. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Traditionally, prophylactic ankle braces have utilized linear and diagonal strapping as well as various fastening systems, for instance laces or hook and loop closures, to provide static resistance to excessive sub-talar, ankle mortise, and mid-foot inversion and eversion. The most common athletic injury is the ankle sprain. Moreover, the most common mechanism injury (MOI) of ankle sprain is that of excessive inversion with planter flexion, also known as “rolling the ankle”. Excessive inversion may damage the lateral collateral ligaments (LCL). Specifically, the LCL is comprised of the anterior talo-fibular, calcano-fibular and posterior talo-fibular ligaments of the ankle. 
     In attempt to protect this ligament complex, athletes, coaches, and medical professionals apply external, static structural support to the ankle by applying athletic adhesive tape or a brace. The purpose of this external support is to physically restrict ankle inversion. The previously mentioned linear and diagonal strapping found in the state of the art ankle braces affix or anchor these straps to the stocking-like body of the brace to establish support and resistance to excessive motion. Of these straps, the lateral strap plays the primary role in resisting inversion. 
     The typical lateral strap originates from the medial side of the hind or mid-foot and runs laterally under the foot and then up the lateral side of the lower leg, parallel to the distal one-third of the fibula. State of the art lateral straps terminate at the top of the brace. For that matter, all straps in all state of the art ankle braces terminate at the top of their respective braces. This is a point approximately two-thirds of the way down the shaft of the tibia, just below the muscle-tendon junction of the gastrocnemius. 
     Stability, characterized by resistance to inversion, arises from both the position of this lateral strap as well as from the fibers of the body of the brace that encompass the girth of the lower leg. The problem with deriving stability from these circumferential fibers at the top of the brace is that forces pulling distalward, for instance those forces observed during inversion, can cause downward slippage of the most proximal faces of the brace due to the decreasing girth of the lower leg at this point. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an improved device and method for stabilizing the ankle joint and surrounding ligament complex. Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide the aforementioned devices and methods for stabilizing the ankle joint and surrounding ligament complex. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to devices and methods for stabilizing the ankle joint and surrounding ligament complex and more particularly to an ankle support that is stabilized by attachment about the proximal end of the lower leg. Alternately, the present invention relates to a device and method for stabilizing the ankle joint and surrounding ligament complex and more particularly to an ankle support that is stabilized by attachment at a location below the knee joint line and above a midpoint or belly of the calf musculature. 
     An anchored ankle brace according to the present invention includes an ankle support member including an ankle-surround element that surrounds and encloses at least a portion of the foot and an anchor member adapted for positioning and attachment about a circumference of the proximal end of the lower leg, above a midpoint or belly of the calf musculature. This portion of the lower leg is characterized by a girth that is increasing as a distance from the ankle decreases. The anchored ankle brace of the present invention also includes an anchor strap attached at a first end to the ankle support member and at a second end to the anchor member. 
     The anchor member takes advantage of the enlarging girth of the calf to resist downward pulling force on the anchor member and the anchor strap, thereby improving performance of the anchored ankle brace, particularly over a period of time and as a result of strenuous activity typically encountered in physical activities. The net result is an observed improvement to resistance to excessive inversion and planter flexion and the associated damage to the lateral collateral ligaments. 
     In one embodiment, the anchor strap comprises a strap that extends along a lateral face of the lower leg between the ankle support member and the anchor member. An attachment element, for instance a ring or a buckle that allows selectively tensioning the strap, may be incorporated into the construction of the strap and the ankle support member or the anchor member. In one embodiment, a wearer inserts the end of the anchor strap through a ring fixed near the collar of the ankle support member pulling the strap to a desired tension. The end of the strap is secured by mating surfaces of hook and loop fabric. The wearer may adjust tension as desired or release the strap entirely as need dictates. Alternately, the anchor strap may be of a fixed length determined for a particular wearer. 
     In yet another embodiment of the anchored ankle brace, the anchor strap extends between the ankle support member and an anchor member configured as a knee brace. The knee brace serves the function of the anchor member inasmuch as at least some portion of every knee brace is positioned and attached about a circumference of the proximal end of the lower leg. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention so that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter, which form the subject of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed might be readily used as a basis for modification or design of devices for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The accompanying figures which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a representative perspective representation of an anchored ankle brace according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a representative front view of an ankle support member according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a representative front view of an anchored ankle brace according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a representative front view of an anchored ankle brace according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a representative side view of an anchored ankle brace according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     It is to be noted that the figures illustrate only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention will admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a representative side oblique view of a left leg L including upper leg UL and lower leg LL articulating at knee K. Leg L is defined in part by lateral face LF. Foot F, having sole S and instep IS, is attached to lower leg LL and articulates at ankle A. Anchored ankle brace  10  includes anchor strap  30  that connects anchor member  11  and ankle support member  20  creating an increased lateral roll resistance at ankle A. Ankle support member  20  includes lace-up ankle support  21  that surrounds and encloses a portion of ankle A and foot F. Lace-up ankle support  21  includes lacing closure  28 . Lower anchor strap segment  32  is fixed to cuff  22  of lace-up ankle support  21  at stitching  24 . Ring  25  is fixed at an upper end of lower anchor strap segment  32 . 
     Anchored ankle brace  10  also includes anchor member  11 . Anchor member  11  includes proximal leg band  12  positioned about proximal end P of lower leg LL, above a midpoint M of lower leg LL. Closure strap  14  allows adjustment and tightening of proximal leg band  12  about proximal end P of lower leg LL by attachment of the mating surfaces of hook fabric secured to the backside of closure strap  14 , (not shown), with loop fabric  18  attached to proximal leg band  12 . 
     Anchor strap  30  includes upper anchor strap segment  31  that extends down along lateral face LF of lower leg LL and is passed through ring  25  attached at an upper end of lower anchor strap segment  32 . Tension T between upper anchor strap segment  31  and lower anchor strap segment  32 , and therefore along anchor strap  30 , is adjusted so that a desired tension T is established between ankle support member  20  and anchor member  11 . Upper anchor strap segment  31  is secured by attachment of the mating surfaces of hook fabric, (not shown), with loop fabric  17  attached to upper anchor strap segment  31 . When so fastened, anchor strap stabilizes ankle A by increasing lateral roll resistance at ankle A. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , lower anchor strap segment  32  of ankle support member  20  is shown as it is being wrapped about foot F, being drawn against the lateral face LF of foot F wrapping across the sole of foot F and over instep IS to be wrapped again around ankle A and foot F in any of a number of ways known to those skilled in the art. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , representative front views of a lower leg LL including proximal end P and lateral face LF. Foot F, including large toe LT, is attached to and articulates with respect to lower leg LL, at ankle A. Anchored ankle brace  10  includes anchor strap  30  that connects anchor member  11  and ankle support member  20  creating an increased lateral roll resistance at ankle A. Ankle support member  20  includes lace-up ankle support  21  that surrounds and encloses a portion of ankle A and foot F. Lace-up ankle support  21  includes lacing closure  28 . Lower anchor strap segment  32  is fixed to cuff  22  of lace-up ankle support  21 . Ring  25  is fixed at an upper end of lower anchor strap segment  32 . 
     Anchored ankle brace  10  also includes anchor member  11 . Anchor member  11  includes proximal leg band  12  positioned about proximal end P of lower leg LL, above a midpoint M of lower leg LL characterized by a girth G that is increasing as a distance D from ankle A decreases. Closure strap  14  allows adjustment and tightening of proximal leg band  12  about proximal end P of lower leg LL by attachment of the mating surfaces of hook fabric, (not shown), secured to the backside of closure strap  14  with loop fabric  18  attached to proximal leg band  12 . 
     Anchor strap  30  includes upper anchor strap segment  31  that is attached to and extends from proximal leg band  12  along lateral face LF of lower leg LL and is passed through ring  25  attached at an upper end of lower anchor strap segment  32 . Lower anchor strap segment  32  extends along lateral face LF of ankle A and foot F, wrapping around ankle A and foot F forming wrap  23  which terminates at end  26 . End  26  of lower anchor strap segment  32  attaches by means of mating hook fabric, (not shown), and loop fabric  27  attached to a surface of lower anchor strap segment  32 . Tension T between upper anchor strap segment  31  and lower anchor strap segment  32 , and therefore along anchor strap  30 , is adjusted so that a desired tension T is established between ankle support member  20  and anchor member  11 . Upper anchor strap segment  31  is secured by attachment of the mating surfaces of hook fabric, (not shown), with loop fabric  17  attached to upper anchor strap segment  31 . Once upper anchor strap segment  31  is so secured to lower anchor strap segment  32  and tension T adjusted to a selected level, “rolling the ankle” indicated by the arrow R and an associated downward force DF against anchor strap  30  is resisted by anchor member  11 . 
       FIG. 5  shows anchored ankle brace  50  worn on a right leg L, anchored ankle brace  50  including anchor member  51  attached to ankle support member  60  by anchor strap  70 . Anchor member  51 , in this alternate embodiment, is configured as a knee brace typical of any of a number of devices that are known, available and in wide use among athletes. Anchor member  51  includes sleeve  52  that is tubular in configuration and formed of an elastic fabric, fabricated to extend from a mid-thigh portion of upper leg UL to below knee K terminating above or proximate to midpoint M of the gastrocnemius located on lower leg LL. This portion of lower leg LL is characterized by a girth G that increases as a distance D from ankle A decreases. 
     Upper leg band  53  is positioned about upper leg UL and is secured after adjusting for tightness by attachment of the mating surfaces of hook fabric secured to the backside of upper leg band  53 , (not shown), with loop fabric  59  attached to sleeve  52 . Similarly, proximal leg band  54  is positioned about proximal end P of lower leg LL, above midpoint M of the gastrocnemius located on lower leg LL. Again, this portion of lower leg LL is characterized by a girth G that increases as a distance D from ankle A decreases. Proximal leg band  54  is secured after adjusting for tightness by attachment of the mating surfaces of hook fabric secured to the backside of proximal leg band  54 , (not shown), with loop fabric  58  attached to sleeve  52 . 
     Anchored ankle brace  50  also includes ankle support member  60  including lace-up ankle support  61  that surrounds and encloses a portion of ankle A and foot F. Lace-up ankle support  61  includes lacing closure  68 . Lower anchor strap segment  72  is fixed to lace-up ankle support  61  by stitches  64 . Ring  65  is fixed at an upper end of lower anchor strap segment  72 . Lower anchor strap segment  72  extends along the lateral face LF of ankle A and foot F, wrapping around ankle A and foot F forming wrap  63  which terminates at end  66 . End  66  of lower anchor strap segment  72  attaches by means of mating hook fabric, (not shown and loop fabric  67  attached to lower anchor strap segment  72 . 
     Anchor strap  70  includes upper anchor strap segment  71  that is attached to and extends from proximal leg band  52  along lateral face LF of lower leg LL and is passed through ring  65  attached at an upper end of lower anchor strap segment  72 . Lower anchor strap segment  72  extends along lateral face LF of ankle A and foot F, wrapping around ankle A and foot F forming wrap  63  which terminates at end  66 . End  66  of lower anchor strap segment  72  attaches by means of mating hook fabric, (not shown), and loop fabric  67  attached to a surface of lower anchor strap segment  72 . Tension T between upper anchor strap segment  71  and lower anchor strap segment  72 , and therefore along anchor strap  70 , is adjusted so that a desired tension T is established between ankle support member  60  and anchor member  51 . Upper anchor strap segment  71  is secured by attachment of the mating surfaces of hook fabric, (not shown), with loop fabric  56  attached to upper anchor strap segment  71 . Once upper anchor strap segment  71  is so secured to lower anchor strap segment  72  and tension T adjusted to a selected level, “rolling the ankle” indicated by the arrow R and an associated downward force DF against anchor strap  70  is resisted by anchor member  51 . 
     While the invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.