External ankle brace

Abstract

An external ankle brace is provided with a rigid heel enclosure for receiving the heel of the shoe, a lateral and medial sidewall for surrounding the sides of the shoe, a lateral and medial upright extension for housing the lower leg of the user, a lower fastening system for connecting the lateral and medial sidewalls underneath the sole of the shoe, and an upper fastening system for connecting the lateral and medial sidewall across the top of the shoe. The lateral and medial upright extensions are pivotally connected to the respective sidewalls by a lateral and medial ankle joint. This allows the external ankle brace to pivot in a second direction while preventing the external ankle brace to move in a first direction. Furthermore, the rigid heel enclosure includes oppositely disposed upper and lower ends, where the medial ankle joint is positioned closer to the upper end than the position of the lateral ankle joint.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An external ankle brace for restricting movement of an ankle in a first direction and permitting movement of the ankle in a second direction, wherein said external ankle brace is disposed on the exterior of a shoe and the shoe having a heel portion, a sole, and oppositely disposed sides, comprising:
 a rigid heel enclosure having a rear portion and a forward portion;   said rear portion for receiving the heel of the shoe;   said forward portion having a medial sidewall and a lateral sidewall for surrounding the sides of the shoe;   a lateral upright extension perpendicular to said rigid heel enclosure and pivotally attached to said lateral sidewall;   a medial upright extension perpendicular to said rigid heel enclosure and pivotally attached to said medial sidewall;   a lower fastening system comprising at least one connecting strap for connecting said lateral sidewall to said medial sidewall underneath the sole of the shoe; and   an upper fastening system comprising at least one connecting strap for removably connecting said lateral sidewall to said medial sidewall across the top of the shoe.   
     
     
         2 . The external ankle brace as set forth in  claim 1 , further includes a lateral ankle joint that pivotally connects said lateral upright extension to said lateral sidewall and allows said lateral upright extension to move in the second direction relative to said heel enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The external ankle brace as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said lateral ankle joint in combination with said lateral upright extension and said heel enclosure prevent movement of the ankle in the first direction. 
     
     
         4 . The external ankle brace as set forth in  claim 2 , further including a medial ankle joint that pivotally connects said medial upright extension to said medial sidewall and allows said medial upright extension to move in the second direction relative to said heel enclosure. 
     
     
         5 . The external ankle brace as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said medial ankle joint in combination with said medial upright extension and said heel enclosure prevent movement in the first direction. 
     
     
         6 . The external ankle brace as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said heel enclosure further includes oppositely disposed upper and lower ends, where said medial ankle joint is positioned closer to said upper end than the position of said lateral ankle joint. 
     
     
         7 . The external ankle brace as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising an upright fastening system comprising at least one connecting strap for removably connecting said lateral upright extension to said medial upright extension above the ankle.