Patent ID: 7481786

Claim:
A device for administering cold therapy to ligaments of a human ankle, the device comprising: a first flexible sheet member having an upper portion, an intermediate portion and a bottom portion, the first flexible sheet member being adapted to conform to and cover one of: a lateral side of the ankle and an additional area from about mid-foot to the leg above the ankle, or a medial side of the ankle and an additional area from about mid-foot to the leg above the ankle; a second flexible sheet member having an upper portion, an intermediate portion and a bottom portion, the second flexible sheet member being adapted to conform to and cover the other of: the lateral side of the ankle and an additional area from about mid-foot to the leg above the ankle, or the medial side of the ankle and an additional area from about mid-foot to the leg above the ankle; a web connected to both the first flexible sheet member and the second flexible sheet member, the web spanning a gap between the first flexible sheet member and the second flexible sheet member, the web being adapted to be positioned adjacent to a rear portion of the leg; a first elastic strap extending from the upper portion of the first flexible sheet member, the first elastic strap being adapted to be drawn around the leg above the ankle, the first elastic strap having an end portion configured to releasably fasten to the upper portion of the second flexible sheet member; a second elastic strap extending from the intermediate portion of the second flexible sheet member, the second elastic strap being adapted to be drawn over the top of the foot, the second elastic strap having an end portion configured to releasably fasten to the intermediate portion of the first flexible sheet member; a fastener for releasably securing the bottom portion of the first flexible sheet to the bottom portion of the second flexible sheet beneath the foot of the human; and a first insert comprising a flexible, fluid-tight pouch containing at least a non-gaseous temperature retaining fluid, the pouch comprising a pair of spaced apart tubular sections, a lower section spanning the distance between the spaced apart tubular sections, and a flap section extending away from the lower section, the first insert having a first side configured to releasably fasten to one of the first flexible sheet member or the second flexible sheet member such that one of the lateral malleolus or the medial malleolus can be disposed between the pair of spaced apart tubular sections above the lower section and the flap can be oriented toward the front of the foot, wherein the spaced apart tubular section, lower section and flap section of the pouch of the first insert are in fluid communication with each other.