Patent Publication Number: US-9901182-B1

Title: Ankle protection device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Field of Use 
     This disclosure relates to devices that support a portion of a person&#39;s body. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a device configured as a cushioning pad to support a person&#39;s ankle while the person is seated. 
     Related Art 
     A variety of devices such as chairs and seat cushions have been developed to support portions of the human body. While the human body itself is well designed for many different environments and in some areas incorporates its own protective cushioning features, man-made support devices can reduce the stresses experienced by the human body and can even facilitate healing of those parts that are worn from constant use. Moreover, certain portions of the human body are not as naturally suited for the surfaces with which people interact. 
     The preferred seating position in many parts of the world including Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the South Pacific, is a cross-legged position or a side-legged position on the floor. These seating positions can generate damaging stress on the human body—stress that can adversely affect portions of the body including bones, soft tissues, and skin of the ankles due to prolonged contact with hard or rough surfaces or due to unnecessary bending of joints such as the ankle joint. Over time, such prolonged contact can cause a person to experience pain, discoloration, sores, scarring, and/or disfigurement in or around the ankle, any of which can become permanent. In some cases a portion of the ankle can become severely reddened or a portion of a bone itself can become exposed when the skin retreats due to incessant irritation. These ankle-related maladies can persist and worsen because the average person, while at work or at home, will typically be in a seated position many hours per day, day after day. The seating preference itself therefore can become not only the initial cause of the damage but can act to prevent any future healing. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is to be understood that this summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. This summary is exemplary and not restrictive, and it is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor delineate the scope thereof. The sole purpose of this summary is to explain and exemplify certain concepts of the disclosure as an introduction to the following complete and extensive detailed description. 
     In one aspect, disclosed is an ankle protection device comprising: an upper surface comprising a sloping portion having a substantially frustoconical shape, the sloping portion angled with respect to a flat portion of the lower surface at a slope angle measuring in the range of about 10 degrees to about 80 degrees; a lower surface distal from the upper surface; an upper cavity defined in the upper surface and sized to receive at least one of a medial malleolus and a lateral malleolus of a human ankle; a lower cavity defined in the lower surface; and a resilient material. 
     In a further aspect, disclosed is an ankle protection device comprising: an upper surface; a lower surface distal from the upper surface; a cavity defined in a one of the upper surface and the lower surface; and a resilient material. 
     In yet another aspect, disclosed is a method of using an ankle protection device comprising: positioning a lower surface of the ankle protection device on a sitting surface such that an upper surface of the ankle protection device faces upward; and resting a one of a medial malleolus and a lateral malleolus of the human ankle on the upper surface of the ankle protection device. 
     Various implementations described in the present disclosure may comprise additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which may not necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within the present disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims. The features and advantages of such implementations may be realized and obtained by means of the systems, methods, features particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of such exemplary implementations as set forth hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several aspects of the disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain various principles of the disclosure. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Corresponding features and components throughout the figures may be designated by matching reference characters for the sake of consistency and clarity. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an ankle protection device in accordance with one aspect of the current disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the ankle protection device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the ankle protection device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the ankle protection device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the ankle protection device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the ankle protection device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the ankle protection device of  FIG. 1  taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of a user sitting cross-legged without an ankle protection device. 
         FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of a user in the position shown in  FIG. 8A  with the ankle protection device of  FIG. 1  positioned under each of the user&#39;s right ankle and left ankle. 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a user sitting side-legged without an ankle protection device. 
         FIG. 9B  is a perspective view of a user in the position shown in  FIG. 9A  with the ankle protection device of  FIG. 1  positioned under each of the user&#39;s right ankle and left ankle. 
         FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of a pair of legs of a user sitting in another position without an ankle protection device. 
         FIG. 10B  is a perspective view of the user in the position shown in  FIG. 10A  with the ankle protection device of  FIG. 1  positioned under each of the user&#39;s right ankle and left ankle. 
         FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of a foot of a user sitting in another position without an ankle protection device. 
         FIG. 11B  is a perspective view of a user in the position shown in  FIG. 11A  with the ankle protection device of  FIG. 1  positioned under the user&#39;s right ankle. 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the ankle protection device of  FIG. 1  taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 8B  with the right ankle in contact with the ankle protection device but before compression of the ankle protection device. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a pair of the ankle protection devices of  FIG. 1  with an accessory. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the ankle protection device of  FIG. 1  with an accessory in accordance with another aspect of the current disclosure. 
         FIG. 15  is a top view of the ankle protection device of  FIG. 1  with an accessory in accordance with yet another aspect of the current disclosure. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the ankle protection device of  FIG. 1  with an accessory in accordance with yet another aspect of the current disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure can be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description, examples, drawings, and claims, and their previous and following description. However, before the present devices, systems, and/or methods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, systems, and/or methods disclosed unless otherwise specified, as such can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting. 
     The following description is provided as an enabling teaching of the present devices, systems, and/or methods in their best, currently known aspect. To this end, those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate that many changes can be made to the various aspects described herein, while still obtaining the beneficial results of the present disclosure. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present disclosure can be obtained by selecting some of the features of the present disclosure without utilizing other features. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the present disclosure are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part of the present disclosure. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present disclosure and not in limitation thereof. 
     As used throughout, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a quantity of one of a particular element can comprise two or more such elements unless the context indicates otherwise. 
     Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another aspect comprises from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another aspect. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint. 
     For purposes of the current disclosure, a material property or dimension measuring about X or substantially X on a particular measurement scale measures within a range between X plus an industry-standard upper tolerance for the specified measurement and X minus an industry-standard lower tolerance for the specified measurement. Because tolerances can vary between different materials, processes and between different models, the tolerance for a particular measurement of a particular component can fall within a range of tolerances. 
     As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” mean that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description comprises instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not. 
     The word “or” as used herein means any one member of a particular list and also comprises any combination of members of that list. 
     To simplify the description of various elements disclosed herein, the conventions of “left,” “right,” “front,” “rear,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “inside,” “outside,” “inboard,” “outboard,” “horizontal,” and/or “vertical” may be referenced. Unless stated otherwise, “rear” describes that end of the device nearest to the handle portion, if present; “front” is that end of the device that is opposite or distal the rear; “left” is that which is to the left of or facing left from the device from the perspective of a person facing towards the front of the device; and “right” is that which is to the right of or facing right from the device from the perspective of a person facing towards the front of the device. “Horizontal” or “horizontal orientation” describes that which is in a plane extending from left to right and which may be aligned with the horizon. “Vertical” or “vertical orientation” describes that which is in a plane that is angled at 90 degrees to the horizontal. 
     Various aspects of an ankle protection device and associated methods, systems, devices, and various apparatuses are disclosed herein. In various aspects, the ankle protection device can comprise an upper surface, a lower surface, and a cavity in a one of the upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface can comprise a sloping portion having a substantially frustoconical shape. 
     An ankle protection device can prevent and repair the kind of problems noted above and other negative effects and provide a comfortable, attractive solution for those not wishing to adopt a completely new seating style, especially when such adoption would be counter to such individuals&#39; culture. 
       FIG. 1  discloses an ankle protection device  100 , which can be an ankle pad, an ankle cushion, or a cushioning pad. The ankle protection device  100  can comprise an upper surface  101  and a lower surface  102  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) distal from the upper surface  101 . The upper surface  101  and the lower surface  102  can together define a body portion  200  extending between the upper surface  101  and the lower surface  102 . In one aspect, the upper surface  101  can comprise a sloping portion  210  having a substantially frustoconical shape and comprising a bottom end  205  and a top end  206 . A frustoconical shape is typically understood to be the shape of a frustrum of a cone, where the frustrum is the portion of a cone (or pyramid or similar three-dimensional structure such as a polyhedron or any portion thereof) that remains after its upper part has been cut off by a plane parallel to its base, or that is intercepted between two such planes. In another aspect, the upper surface  101  or the body portion  200  can define another shape including, for example and without limitation, a cylindrical shape, a semispherical shape, a dome shape, or a parabolic shape, any of which can be “substantially” so shaped in spite of the presence of other surface features (e.g., local contouring or texturing of the surface). 
     To be “substantially” frustoconical can mean that the otherwise flat slides of the sloping portion  210  can have a slightly rounded surface in cross-section (such as shown in  FIG. 7 ) or can mean to have surface features that break up an otherwise continuous flat or round surface. For example and without limitation, the upper surface  101  including the sloping portion  210  can define dimples (not shown) that can extend into the upper surface  101  (such as the dimpled cavities on the surface of a typical golf ball) or protrude outward from the upper surface  101  (such as the anti-suction elements shown in  FIG. 2 ). The upper surface  101  can define such features while also defining a substantially frustoconical or other shape. 
     The ankle protection device  100  can further comprise a cavity or pocket defined in a one of the upper surface  101  and the lower surface  102 . More specifically, the upper surface  101  can define an upper cavity  220 . Likewise, the lower surface  102  can define a lower cavity  320  (shown in  FIG. 6 ). The upper cavity  220  can define a concave surface intersecting with an outer edge  212  of the upper cavity  220 . The outer edge  212  can also be an edge of the sloping portion  210  of the upper surface  101 . In one aspect, the concave surface defined by the upper cavity  220  can have a radius R (shown in  FIG. 7 ) in cross-section. In another aspect, the upper cavity  220  can have a variable radius in cross-section (i.e., with a larger radius towards an axis  201 —shown in  FIG. 2 —of the body portion  200  or away from the axis  201 ). In yet another aspect, the upper cavity  220  can have a cylindrical shape (i.e., rectangular in cross-section). In yet another aspect, the upper cavity  220  can have an asymmetric or other irregular shape in cross-section. 
     In one aspect, the upper cavity  220  can be sized to receive a portion of a human ankle  1200   a,b  (shown in  FIG. 10A ). More specifically, the upper cavity  220  can be sized to receive at least one of a medial malleolus  1210   a,b  ( 1210   a  shown in  FIG. 12, 1210   b  shown in  FIG. 10A ) and a lateral malleolus  1220   a,b  ( 1220   a  shown in  FIG. 8A, 1220   b  shown in  FIG. 10A ) of a human ankle  1200   a,b , respectively, where the medial malleolus  1210   a,b  of the typical ankle  1200   a,b  is formed by a leg bone called a tibia  1203   a,b  ( 1203   a  shown in  FIG. 12, 1203   b  not shown), and the lateral malleolus  1210   a,b  is formed by a leg bone called a fibula  1204   a,b  ( 1204   a  shown  FIG. 12, 1204   b  not shown). In another aspect, the upper cavity  220  can be sized to receive any other portion of the human body such as, for example and without limitation, a knee, an elbow, or a heel of a foot  800   a,b  (shown in  FIG. 8A ). Either the upper cavity  220  or the lower cavity  320  or both the upper cavity  220  and the lower cavity  320  can be aligned with the axis  201  of the body portion  200 . 
     The ankle protection device  100  can further comprise a handle portion  400  extending from an outer edge of the body portion  200 . In one aspect, the handle portion  400  can extend from an overall outer edge  216  of the body portion  200 . In another aspect, the handle portion  400  can extend from a sloped portion outer edge  214 , which can be coincident with the overall outer edge  216 , or from any other portion of the body portion  200 . The handle portion  400  can define a bore  480  extending from an upper handle surface  401  of the handle portion  400  to a lower handle surface  402  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the handle portion  400 , wherein the upper handle surface  401  can be defined in the upper surface  101  and the lower handle surface  402  can be defined in the lower surface  102 . In one aspect, as shown, the handle portion  400  can be integrally formed with the body portion  200 . In another aspect, the handle portion  400  can comprise a loop of material such as, for example, a piece of rope, that is secured to a hole (not shown) that can be defined in the body portion  200 . The handle portion  400  can be used for storage, display, positioning, retrieval, transport, or accessorizing of the ankle protection device  100 . As will be described, the bore  480  can further increase options for stowage and decoration of the ankle protection device  100 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the handle portion  400  can be made thinner than the body portion  200  to make the handle portion  400  less obtrusive and easily tethered to another object or person. 
     In one aspect, as also shown in  FIG. 2 , a surface of the sloping portion  210  when viewed in cross-section or when viewed from the side can be angled with respect to a base portion  301  of the lower surface  102  at a slope angle  208  measuring about 37 degrees. In another aspect, the slope angle  208  can measure in the range of about 35 degrees to about 40 degrees. In yet another aspect, the slope angle  208  can measure in the range of about 25 degrees to about 45 degrees. In another aspect, the slope angle  208  can measure in the range of about 10 degrees to about 80 degrees. In yet another aspect, the slope angle  208  can measure in the range of about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees (i.e., the sloping portion  210  can comprise a flat pad or a vertical wall surface). In yet another aspect, the ankle protection device  100  can define the upper cavity without the sloping portion  210  at all. Incorporation of the sloping portion  210  with a sufficient slope angle  208  can ensure the stability of the ankle protection device  100  under load, similar to the slope of an embankment under and extending from the foundation of a building. A sufficient slope angle  208  can also ensure the stability of the ankle protection device  100  when the ankle protection device  100  is being moved across a floor  80  (shown in  FIG. 12 ). In one aspect, the slope angle  208  can measure the same value when a cross section of the ankle protection device  100  is taken along any vertical plane intersecting the axis  201  of the body portion  200  (such as shown in  FIG. 12 ). In another aspect, the slope angle  208  can vary around the perimeter of the sloping portion  210 . Where the sloping portion  210  is rounded, the sloping angle  208  can be measured to a tangent line or tangent plane of the sloping portion  210 . In one aspect, as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the overall outer edge  216  can be offset radially outside from the sloped portion outer edge  214 , forming a flange  215  (shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 ) around the perimeter of the body portion  200 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the lower surface  102  of the ankle protection device  100  can define a plurality of anti-suction elements  310 , each of which can be made to protrude from the base portion  301  of the lower surface  102 . The anti-suction elements  310 , which can be dimples, can be configured to allow free movement of ambient air to and from the lower cavity  320  (shown in  FIG. 7 ) when a portion of the ankle protection device  100  is compressed against a surface such as the floor  80  by a force directed towards the upper surface  101 . Such movement of air to and from the lower cavity  320  when a portion of the ankle protection device  100  is compressed against a surface such as the floor  80  can prevent the ankle protection device  100  from adhering to the floor  80 . More specifically, the presence of the anti-suction elements  310  on the lower surface  102  can help prevent or break vacuum of any naturally occurring suction developed by the compression of the ankle protection device  100 . In one aspect, as shown, the overall outer edge  216  can be approximately coincident with the sloped portion outer edge  214 , such that no flange  215  is present around the perimeter of the body portion  200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a center of the upper cavity  220 , which can lie on an axis of symmetry of the upper cavity  220 , can be aligned with the axis  201  of the body portion  200 . As shown, a center of the upper cavity  220  can also be concentric with any one or all of the sloping portion  210 , the sloped portion outer edge  214 , and the overall outer edge  216 . The upper cavity  220  can define an upper cavity diameter  510 . The sloped portion outer edge  214  can define a sloping portion base diameter  520 . The overall outer edge  216  can define an outer diameter  530 . In one aspect, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the outer diameter  530  can be substantially equal to the sloping portion base diameter  520 , which can both be greater than the upper cavity diameter  510 . In one aspect, as shown in  FIG. 15 , the outer diameter  530  can be greater than the sloping portion base diameter  520 , which can be greater than the upper cavity diameter  510 . In another aspect, the relationship between the upper cavity diameter  510 , the sloping portion base diameter  520 , and the outer diameter  530  can be otherwise. 
     In one aspect, a one of the sloping portion base diameter  520  and the outer diameter  530  can measure between three and four inches and a height  710  (shown in  FIG. 7 ) of the body portion  200  can measure between about 0.5 and about 0.75 inches. In another aspect, a one of the sloping portion base diameter  520  and the outer diameter  530  can measure between about two and about four inches and the height  710  of the body portion  200  can measure between about 0.5 and about 1.0 inches. In yet another aspect, any of the sloping portion base diameter  520 , the outer diameter  530 , and the height  710  can be outside these ranges. Although a single version of the ankle protection device  100  can be made to accommodate different users, the ankle protection device  100  can also be produced in multiple sizes suitable for different body sizes and proportions such as, for example and without limitation, those commonly associated with men, women, and children, and in multiple sizes within those categories. In one aspect, a handle diameter  410  of the handle portion  400  can measure about one inch, and the bore  480  can measure about ¼″ in diameter. In another aspect, the handle diameter  410  and the bore  480  can measure more or less than these values. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a center of the lower cavity  320 , which can lie on an axis of symmetry of the lower cavity  320 , can be aligned with the axis  201  of the body portion  200 . The lower cavity  320  can define a multi-stage recess in the body portion  200  of the ankle protection device  100 . More specifically, the lower cavity  320  can comprise any one or more of a first step portion  321 , a second step portion  322 , and a third step portion  323 . The first step portion  321  can define a first step surface  326  offset vertically from the base portion  301 , the second step portion  322  can define a second step surface  327  offset vertically from the first step portion  321 , and the third step portion  323  can define a third step surface  328  offset vertically from the first step portion  321 . As shown, a center of the lower cavity  320  can also be concentric with any one or all of the base portion  301 , the first step portion  321 , the second step portion  322 , and the third step portion  323 . With the presence of any one or all of the base portion  301 , the first step portion  321 , the second step portion  322 , or the third step portion  323 , compression and cushioning of the ankle protection device  100  is not limited to only the inherent compressibility of the foam material used to form the ankle protection device  100  but also the shape of the ankle protection device  100 . 
     In one aspect, the anti-suction element  310  can extend from any one or more of the base portion  301 , the first step portion  321 , the second step portion  322 , and the third step portion  323 . More specifically, each of the base portion  301  and the lower cavity  320  can incorporate a plurality of anti-suction elements  310   a,b,c,d  arranged in a circumferential orientation around each of several step portions of the lower cavity  320 . As shown, a plurality of the anti-suction elements  310   a  can extend from the base portion  301 , a plurality of the anti-suction elements  310   b  can extend from the first step portion  321 , a plurality of the anti-suction elements  310   c  can extend from the second step portion  322 , and a plurality of the anti-suction elements  310   d  can extend from the third step portion  323 . In various aspects, each of the anti-suction elements  310   a,b,c,d  can comprise a cushioning material. In various aspects, each of the anti-suction elements  310   a,b,c,d  can comprise an smooth surface. In various aspects, each of the anti-suction elements  310   a,b,c,d  can comprise an anti-skid surface configured to maintain the position of the ankle protection device  100 . 
     In one aspect, each of the anti-suction elements  310   a,b,c,d  can define a dome shape. In another aspect, each of the anti-suction elements  310   a,b,c,d  can define another shape including, for example and without limitation, a cylindrical shape, a semispherical shape, a parabolic shape, or a frustoconical shape, any of which can be “substantially” so shaped by the presence of other surface features. 
     In one aspect, as shown, the body portion  200 , when viewed from above or below as in  FIG. 5 or 6 , can have a round shape. In another aspect, the body portion  200 , when so viewed, can have any other shape. Because the overall outer edge  216  can extend past the sloped portion outer edge  214 , the overall shape of the body portion  200 , when viewed from above or below, can be independent of the shape of the sloped portion  210 . 
     The ankle protection device  100  can comprise a resilient material such as, for example and without limitation, compressible foam, which can be a closed-cell foam. A material that is resilient is one that is able to recoil, rebound, or spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed. More specifically, for example and without limitation, the ankle protection device  100  can comprise a soft, medium rebound, low density, non-stick, closed cell foam. By use of a non-stick material to form the ankle protection device  100  or by contouring or texturing a surface of the ankle protection device  100 , the ankle protection device  100  can be made not to adhere to the skin of the user. Contouring or texturing a surface of the ankle protection device  100  can also result in the ankle protection device  100  feeling softer to the touch. 
     In one aspect, material forming the ankle protection device  100  can be homogeneous throughout. In another aspect, the ankle protection device  100  can comprise a multi-density foam (i.e., a foam that varies in density in different areas). In yet another aspect, the ankle protection device  100  can comprise a non-foam material such as, for example and without limitation, a rubber or gel material. Such a material can be placed without an internal pocket (not shown) of the ankle protection device  100  for cushioning. Any portion of the ankle protection device  100  can be molded with a surface texture that gives the ankle protection device  100  a non-stick surface. With a non-stick surface, the ankle protection device  100  can be made to resist scuffs and stains and have increased washability. The material used to form the ankle protection device  100  can comprise an anti-microbial agent such as, for example and without limitation, a MICROBAN antimicrobial agent available through Microban International, Ltd., of Huntersville, N.C, U.S.A., which can help inhibit the growth of bacteria and germs on the ankle protection device  100 , thereby reducing the possibility of odor and/or disease. 
     In one aspect, the ankle protection device  100  can be molded using a molding process such as, for example and without limitation, injection molding. In another aspect, the ankle protection device  100  can be molded using any other suitable subtractive or additive manufacturing process. A surface of the ankle protection device  100  can be contoured or textured by machining or otherwise forming the surface of a molding tool or die of the molding process to produce such a surface. 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  show how a person, sitting cross-legged on the floor, would appear with and without use of the ankle protection device  100 . In  FIG. 8A , the lateral malleolus  1220   a  of the person&#39;s right ankle  1200   a  is in contact with the floor  80 . The pressure on the floor  80  and on the ankle  1200   a  is shown by the emanating lines on the floor  80  and the shaded area of the ankle  1200   a . In addition, an axis  820   a,b  ( 820   b  not shown) of the foot  800   a  is clearly not aligned with an axis  810   a,b  ( 810   b  not shown) of the leg. In  FIG. 8B , the lateral malleolus  1220   a  (hidden by a first ankle protection device  100 ) of the person&#39;s right ankle  1200   a  is in contact with and cradled by the first ankle protection device  100 , which is in contact with and laying flat on the floor  80 , and the lateral malleolus  1220   b  (hidden by a second ankle protection device  100 ) of the person&#39;s left ankle  1200   b  (hidden by the right leg) is in contact with and cradled by the second ankle protection device  100 , which is also in contact with and laying flat on the floor  80 . The pressure on the floor  80  is reduced by the wider contact surface of the ankle protection device  100 , and the pressure on the ankle  1200   a  is reduced by the larger contact surface between the ankle protection device  100  and the ankle  1200   a  (shown in  FIG. 12 ). Using the ankle protection device  100 , the axis  820   a  of the foot  800   a  is more aligned with the axis  810   a  of the leg. 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  show how a person, sitting side-legged on the floor, would appear with and without use of the ankle protection device  100 . In  FIG. 9A , the lateral malleolus  1220   a  of the person&#39;s right ankle  1200   a  is in contact with the floor  80 . The pressure on the floor  80  and on the ankle  1200   a  is shown by the emanating lines on the floor  80  and the shaded area of the ankle  1200   a . In addition, an axis  820   a  of the foot  800   a  is clearly not aligned with an axis  810   a  of the leg. In  FIG. 9B , the lateral malleolus  1220   a  (hidden by the ankle protection device  100 ) of the person&#39;s right ankle  1200   a  is in contact with and cradled by the ankle protection device  100 , which is in contact with and laying flat on the floor  80 . The pressure on the floor  80  is reduced by the wider contact surface of the ankle protection device  100 , and the pressure on the ankle  1200   a  is reduced by the larger contact surface between the ankle protection device  100  and the ankle  1200   a . Using the ankle protection device  100 , the axis  820   a  of the foot  800   a  is more aligned with the axis  810   a  of the leg. 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  show how a person, sitting side-legged on the floor or laying on the floor, would appear with and without use of the ankle protection device  100 . In  FIG. 10A , the lateral malleolus  1220   a  of the person&#39;s left ankle  1200   b  is in contact with the floor  80 . The pressure on the floor  80  and on the ankle  1200   a  is shown by the emanating lines on the floor  80  and the shaded area of the ankle  1200   a . In  FIG. 10B , the lateral malleolus  1220   b  of the person&#39;s left ankle  1200   b  (hidden by the ankle protection device  100 ) is in contact with and cradled by the ankle protection device  100 , which is in contact with and laying flat on the floor  80 . The pressure on the floor  80  is reduced by the wider contact surface of the ankle protection device  100 , and the pressure on the ankle  1200   a  is reduced by the larger contact surface between the ankle protection device  100  and the ankle  1200   a.    
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  show how a foot  800   a  would appear with and without use of the ankle protection device  100 . In  FIG. 11A , the foot  800   a  is in contact with the floor  80 . The pressure on the floor  80  and on the foot  800   a  is shown by the emanating lines on the floor  80  and the shaded area of the foot  800   a . In  FIG. 11B , the lateral malleolus  1220   a  of the person&#39;s right ankle  1200   a  (hidden by the ankle protection device  100 ) is in contact with and cradled by the ankle protection device  100 , which is in contact with and laying flat on the floor  80 . The pressure on the floor  80  is reduced by the wider contact surface of the ankle protection device  100 , and the larger contact surface between the ankle protection device  100  and the foot  800   a,b  reduces the pressure on the foot  800   a,b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the ankle  1200   a  of a person sitting on the floor (shown in  FIG. 8B ) can rest in the upper cavity  220 , which again can be sized to receive at least one of the medial malleolus  1210   a,b  or inside bony protrusion of the ankle and the lateral malleolus  1220   a,b  or outside bony protrusion of the ankle  1200   a,b,  respectively. Also shown is the tibia  1203   a , the fibula  1204   a , and surrounding soft tissue. As shown, as similarly can be seen in the bones and soft tissue in the front of the knee joint (not shown) and the rear of the elbow joint (not shown), the soft tissue of the ankle  1200   a  between the tibia  1203   a  and the skin and the soft tissue of the ankle  1200   a  between the fibula  1204   a  and the skin is relatively thin in comparison with the soft tissue in other areas of the ankle. 
     The ankle  1200   a,b  can define a joint center  830   a,b  ( 830   b  not shown), which is where the axis  810   a,b  of the leg and the axis  820   a,b  of the foot  800   a,b,  respectively, intersect. In one aspect, the ankle  1200   a,b  can be centered in and cradled within the upper cavity  220  and the joint center  830  can be positioned directly over the axis  201  so that the weight of the ankle  1200   a,b  and any other load transferred through the ankle  1200   a,b  can be evenly supported by all sides of the ankle protection device  100 . When evenly supported by all sides of the ankle protection device  100 , the ankle protection device  100  can be compressed evenly and progressively and the supported weight can be absorbed and transferred evenly through the ankle protection device  100 . By compressing “progressively,” the ankle protection device  100  provides greater resistance to the load as the load on the ankle protection device  100  increases. 
     A method of using the ankle protection device  100  can comprise: positioning the lower surface  102  of the ankle protection device  100  on a sitting surface such as the floor  80  such that an upper surface  101  of the ankle protection device  100  faces upward; and resting a one of the medial malleolus  1210   a,b  and the lateral malleolus  1220   a,b  of the human ankle  1200   a,b  on the upper surface  101  of the ankle protection device  100 . Resting the one of the medial malleolus  1210   a,b  and the lateral malleolus  1220   a,b  on the upper surface  101  of the ankle protection device  100  comprises positioning the one of the medial malleolus  1210   a,b  and the lateral malleolus  1220   a,b  in the upper cavity  220 . The method can further comprise moving the ankle protection device  100  across the sitting surface with the ankle  1200   a,b  by pushing the ankle protection device  100  with the ankle  1200   a,b . The method can further comprise compressing the body portion  200  so that the first step portion  321  contacts the sitting surface. The method can further comprise compressing the body portion  200  so that the second step portion  322  or the third step portion  323  contacts the sitting surface. Where the ankle protection device  100  is a first ankle protection device  100  of a pair of ankle protection devices  100 , the method can further comprise connecting the first ankle protection device  100  to a one of a second ankle protection device  100  and an accessory  1300 . 
     As a portion of the user&#39;s ankle  1200   a,b  such as the medial malleolus  1210   a,b  or the lateral malleolus  1220   a,b  comes to rest in the upper cavity  220 , the material of the ankle protection device  100  can be configured to compress first. Then as the load increases on the ankle protection device  100 , the first step portion  321  of the lower cavity  320  can be configured to compress or collapse next so that the first step portion  321  then contacts the floor  80 . Then as the load increases still more on the ankle protection device  100 , the second step portion  322  can be configured to compress or collapse so that the second step portion  322  contacts the floor  80 . Then as the load further increases still more on the ankle protection device  100 , the third step portion  323  can be configured to compress or collapse so that the third step portion  323  contacts the floor  80 . For example, in a typical cross-legged seating position, should the user rotate forward to pick up or look at something such as a bowl of food, the ankles  1200   a,b  can experience a momentary rise in stress due to the user&#39;s upper body weight shifting over the ankles  1200   a,b . In such a situation, the ankle protection device  100  can continue to depress further until another level of support is reached. This adaptive aspect of the multi-stage convex lower cavity  320  allows the ankle protection device  100  to maintain maximum support and protection over a wide range of circumstances. 
     Positioning the lower surface  102  on the floor  80  can comprise the dimples  310   a  but not the base portion  301  contacting the floor  80 . The first step portion  321  contacting the floor  80  can comprise the dimples  310   b  but not the first step surface  326  contacting the floor  80 . The second step portion  322  contacting the floor  80  can comprise the dimples  310   c  but not the second step surface  327  contacting the floor  80 . The third step portion  323  contacting the floor  80  can comprise the dimples  310   d  but not the third step surface  328  contacting the floor  80 . The dimples  310  can be configured to compress at any point before, during, or after the compression of the first step portion  321 , the second step portion  322 , or the third step portion  323 . 
     The sloped portion  210  of the body portion  200  can make it possible for the user to “blindly” position the ankle protection device  100  under their legs and feet. More specifically, the user can instantly feel or detect the location of the ankle protection device  100  in relationship to their ankle  1200   a,b,  thus establishing an immediate sense of reference. Because of the shape of the sloped portion  210 , especially when it is uniform and concentric about the axis  201 , the user, once he or she has made contact with the ankle protection device  100 , has only to ascend the sloped portion  210  to the upper cavity  220 . If the user loses the position of the upper cavity  220  while seated, he or she need only repeat the aforementioned process. The user can move his or her ankle  1200   a,b  using the muscles of the leg or by pushing his or her ankle  1200   a,b  with his or her hand. The upper cavity  220  itself can help the user know when his or her ankle  1200   a,b  is correctly centered over the thickest part of the ankle protection device  100  before putting weight down on the ankle protection device  100 . The upper cavity  220  can further cause the ankle protection device  100  to follow the user during movement of the ankle  1200   a,b.    
     As stated previously, the ankle protection device  100  can reduce or eliminate the pain, discoloration, scarring, disfigurement, and other damage that can occur due to prolonged stress on the ankle and surrounding tissues when sitting in either a cross-legged or side-legged position. Inherent to these and other seating positions, for example and without limitation, the inner bony protrusion and the outer bony protrusion of the ankles  1200   a,b  and surrounding tissue can experience stress when in contact with earthen or other harsh surfaces for prolonged periods. The ankle protection device  100  can reduce these stresses by preventing the ankle  1200   a,b  and surrounding tissues from directly contacting these harsh surfaces at all. The ankle protection device  100  can also reduce these stresses by, for example and without limitation, distributing the contact force across a surface area of the ankle  1200   a,b  by conforming the shape of the upper cavity  220  to the shape of the one of the bony protrusions, i.e., the medial malleolus  1210   a,b  or the lateral malleolus  1220   a,b  of the human ankle  1200   a,b . Furthermore, increased weight on the ankle protection device  100  can cause the deformed shape of the upper cavity  220  to even more closely match, if not perfectly match, the shape of the ankle  1200   a,b  in contact with the ankle protection device  100 . A closer match between the surfaces of the ankle  1200   a,b  and the upper cavity  220  can increase the contact surface area and further reduce the pressure in any one area. In contrast, the medial malleolus  1210   a,b  or the lateral malleolus  1220   a,b  of the human ankle in contact with the floor  80  can produce a relatively high force over the relatively small area of the ankle  1200   a,b  in contact with the floor  80 . 
     The ankle protection device  100  can also help correct ankle and leg posture by decreasing the amount of angularity experienced during seating by, for example and without limitation, lifting the ankle  1200   a,b  off from the sitting surface. For example, the method of using the ankle protection device  100  can further comprise lifting the ankle  1200   a,b  off from a sitting surface such as the floor  80  so that the axis  810   a,b  of the leg and the axis  820   a,b  of the respective foot  800   a,b  are more closely aligned. 
     These and other features of the ankle protection device  100  can make possible more relaxed, longer seated sessions, while promoting greater blood flow and oxygenation to the affected areas of the human body. Such a result can also improve the skin tone and allow affected tissues to heal. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 13-16 , the ankle protection device  100  can be attached to an accessory  1300 .  FIG. 13  shows the accessory  1300 , which as shown can comprise a carabineer, connecting two ankle protection devices  100  to each other.  FIG. 14  shows the accessory  1300 , which as shown can comprise a charm or other piece of jewelry attached to the ankle protection device  100 .  FIG. 15  shows the accessory  1300 , which can comprise the carabineer and a bottle of ointment or lotion as shown.  FIG. 16  shows the accessory  1300 , which as shown can comprise the carabineer and a key or keys attached to the ankle protection device  100 . A method of using the ankle protection device  100  can comprise attaching the accessory  1300 . 
     One should note that conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more particular embodiments or that one or more particular embodiments necessarily comprise logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. 
     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the present disclosure. Any process descriptions or blocks in flow diagrams should be understood as representing modules, segments, or portions of code which comprise one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process, and alternate implementations are included in which functions may not be included or executed at all, may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art of the present disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the present disclosure. Further, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover any and all combinations and sub-combinations of all elements, features, and aspects discussed above. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present disclosure, and all possible claims to individual aspects or combinations of elements or steps are intended to be supported by the present disclosure.