Integrated compression ankle brace

Abstract

Disclosed is an integrated pressurized ankle guard, which comprises a base, the base comprising an outer surface and an inner surface and having two upper and lower end points on the upper and lower sides respectively, and a middle part being tightened towards the center; a plurality of connecting belts, each of which is located at one end point of the base; and a pressurizing part comprising two elastic bands, which are sewn on the inner surface or the outer surface of the base along the diagonal direction of the base and intersect at the center of the base. When the integrated pressurized ankle guard is worn, the pressurizing part uniformly or specifically provides additional pressure to the ankle joint position, so that the protection performance of the whole ankle guard is better and other parts are not hindered.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of ankle support technology, specifically, it relates to an integrated pressure ankle brace. Background Technology

[0002] In terms of compression structure, existing ankle braces can be broadly categorized into two types: one uses an external strap wrapping method for compression, which provides good support but is cumbersome to wear and can cause a foreign body sensation in the ankle after wearing; most ankle braces currently on the market use a compression strap structure, with 10 layers of webbing wrapped around the outside of the ankle brace to provide compression. The other type is a one-piece ankle brace, which has straps or a shape design that provides compression to the ankle when worn, but this compression effect is less than the first type and cannot effectively stabilize the joint; for example, an ankle brace from Under Armour has a one-piece structure, which is simple to wear but lacks sufficient coverage and cannot provide a stable fixation at the ankle joint.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need for an integrated compression ankle brace that can provide greater compression pressure to the ankle joint in order to solve the above problems. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the problems existing in the prior art, the purpose of this application is to provide an integrated pressure ankle brace. Multiple connecting straps 3 are used to fix the base 1 to a specific position on the ankle. The pressure member 2, which is sewn inside the base 1, provides stable pressure to the contacting ankle, thus solving the problem of insufficient ankle fixation ability of integrated ankle braces. In addition, the design of the pressure member 2 being set along the tangent direction of the base edge avoids adding foreign body sensation to the user. Combined with the optimized overall size and key human-fitting and positional dimensions, it is conducive to the user wearing it comfortably for a long time.

[0005] Specifically, this application relates to the following aspects:

[0006] An integrated compression ankle brace includes: a base comprising an outer and an inner surface, with two upper endpoints and two lower endpoints on the upper and lower sides of the base, respectively, and the middle portion of the base tapering towards the center; multiple connecting straps, each of which is located at one endpoint of the base; and a compression member comprising two elastic bands sewn onto the base along the diagonal direction of the base, intersecting at or near the center of the base; wherein the compression member extends along the tangential direction of the outer edge of the middle portion of the base.

[0007] According to some embodiments of this application, the two ends of the pressure member are sewn to the inner surface of the substrate; the upper or lower side of the substrate is tightened towards the center.

[0008] According to some embodiments of this application, the material of the pressure component includes 85% polyester fiber and 15% diene elastic fiber; the material of the base is Lycra fabric.

[0009] According to some embodiments of this application, the plurality of connecting strips are three independent connecting strips, which are respectively located at the left and right ends of one of the upper or lower sides of the substrate, and at the left or right end of the other of the upper or lower sides of the substrate.

[0010] According to some embodiments of this application, two connecting strips located on the left and right ends of one of the upper or lower sides of the substrate are detachably connected, and the connection method is snap-fit ​​connection, magnetic connection or adhesive connection; the connecting strip located on the left or right end of the other of the upper or lower sides of the substrate is detachably connected to the outer or inner surface of the substrate, and the connection method is snap-fit ​​connection, magnetic connection or adhesive connection.

[0011] According to some embodiments of this application, the surface of the substrate has stitching lines to mark the stitching positions of the pressure member.

[0012] According to some embodiments of this application, the upper ends of the two elastic straps are fixed to the upper end of the substrate or near the center of the substrate, and the lower ends of the two elastic straps are fixed to the lower end of the substrate or near the center of the substrate.

[0013] According to some embodiments of this application, the length of one of the upper or lower sides of the substrate is 200mm-250mm, and the length of the other side is 350mm-400mm.

[0014] According to some embodiments of this application, the height of the substrate along its axis from the upper side to the lower side is 300mm–350mm; the width of the middle portion of the substrate is 60mm–90mm.

[0015] According to some embodiments of this application, the bending radius of the outer edge of the middle portion is 99.2 mm, and the tightening depth towards the center is 53 mm; the bending radius of the outer edge of the upper or lower side that tightens towards the center is 68.2 mm, and the tightening depth towards the center is 23.5 mm.

[0016] The integrated compression ankle brace provided in this application uses an integrated compression structure to directly sew the elastic compression strap to the inner side of the base as the main component of the ankle brace. When wearing this integrated compression ankle brace, there is no need to tie an additional compression strap. It can provide additional compression and fixation to the ankle like a split compression ankle brace. Therefore, it can be used in a variety of sports scenarios through a simple wearing method. The wearing process is simpler and more comfortable than the split type, and it can also provide a more obvious compression effect than the existing integrated ankle brace. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1AThe illustration shows a schematic diagram of the external structure of an integrated pressure ankle brace according to an embodiment of this application.

[0018] Figure 1B The illustration shows a structural schematic diagram of the inner surface of an integrated pressure ankle brace according to an embodiment of this application.

[0019] Figure 2A The illustration shows a first schematic diagram of an integrated pressure ankle brace fixed to the foot according to an embodiment of this application.

[0020] Figure 2B The illustration shows a second schematic diagram of an integrated pressure ankle brace fixed to the foot according to an embodiment of this application.

[0021] Figure 2C The illustration shows a third schematic diagram of an integrated pressure ankle brace fixed to the foot according to an embodiment of this application.

[0022] Figure Labels

[0023] 1-Base 2-Pressure component 3-Connecting belt

[0024] 10-Outer side 11-Inner side 12-Top side 13-Bottom side

[0025] 20-Elastic strap 110-Middle section 111-Sewing thread Detailed Implementation

[0026] The present application is further illustrated below with reference to embodiments. It should be understood that the embodiments are only used to further illustrate and explain the present application and are not intended to limit the present application.

[0027] Unless otherwise defined, technical and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. While similar or identical methods and materials may be applied in experimental or practical applications, materials and methods are described herein. In case of conflict, the definitions included herein shall prevail. Furthermore, materials, methods, and examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. The present application is further described below with reference to specific embodiments, but is not intended to limit the scope of the application.

[0028] In some implementations, the main body of the integrated compression ankle brace provided in this application is the base 1, such as... Figure 1A As shown. When fixed to the ankle, the two sides of the base 1 furthest from the instep are called the upper side 12 and the lower side 13, as follows. Figure 1AThe upper side 12 and lower side 13 of the design have edges that can be straight. However, in practice, only one side needs to be straight to ensure good fixation with the lower leg when it wraps around it. Therefore, the other side can be set to curve inward toward the center. The outer edge of the inward-curving side is curved, which helps to reduce pressure on the lower leg when its two ends are fixed together around it, i.e., to prevent it from being too tight.

[0029] Continue to refer to Figure 1A The left and right sides of the base 1 taper inward towards the center, significantly narrowing the width of its middle portion 110. This middle portion 110 serves as a foot anchor point, working together with the lower leg anchor points formed by the upper and lower ends to secure the entire base 1 at the ankle. Specifically, on the inner surface 11 of the base 1 closest to the body, the middle portion 110 fits against the sole of the foot during fixation. The portions extending vertically from the middle portion 110 to the upper side 12 and lower side 13 fit against the foot up to the lower leg. The upper and lower sides wrap around the lower leg and are fixed to each other at their respective outer ends 10. This completes the fixation of the integrated ankle brace, providing sufficient stability without the need for additional fixation straps or rings, reducing the feeling of tightness on other parts of the ankle, especially the lower leg and instep.

[0030] That is, the integrated pressure ankle brace according to the embodiment of this application includes a base 1, which includes an outer surface 10 and an inner surface 11. The base 1 has two endpoints on its upper and lower sides and a middle portion 110 that tightens toward the center.

[0031] Additionally, the upper side 12 or lower side 13 of the base 1 is tightened toward the center.

[0032] In some embodiments, a stitch 111 is provided on the surface of the base 1, which serves as the main body of the ankle brace, and the stitch 111 is along a tangential direction perpendicular to (or at a certain angle other than 90°) the outer edge of the middle portion 110 (e.g., Figure 1A As shown, the outer edge is curved, and its position can be adjusted to be close to the two ends of the lower side of the base 1 or close to the center of the base 1. It is used to provide the technician with the sewing position of the pressure component 2 during the manufacturing process of the integrated pressure ankle brace. The integrated pressure ankle brace is based on the sewing line 111 to fix the lower end of the pressure component 2, that is, to align the lower end of the pressure component 2 with the sewing line 111 and sew the end point of the pressure component 2 at the sewing line 111.

[0033] refer to Figure 1BThe pressure-applying component 2 is used to provide additional pressure fixation to the ankle. It is understandable that the biggest problem with current one-piece ankle braces is that the structure and / or material of their main body is insufficient to stably fix the ankle. The existence of the pressure-applying component 2 solves this problem. It consists of two independent elastic bands 20, which are aligned diagonally with the base 1. The two upper ends of each band are sewn into the upper half of the base 1, and the two lower ends are sewn into the seam line 111 to form a cross configuration. After the ankle brace is fixed, the two elastic bands 20 can cross and wrap around the skin of the entire ankle of the user to provide additional pressure fixation without affecting the pressure on other parts of the user.

[0034] The tightness of the pressure member 2 in its natural state before the base 1 is fixed to the user's foot determines the degree of pressure applied to the skin at the ankle joint after the base 1 is fixed to the user's foot. The one-piece pressure ankle brace provided in this application takes this into account, allowing the two ends of each of the two elastic straps 20 of the pressure member 2 to change their sewing position along the tangential direction of the outer edge of the middle portion 110. (Continue referring to 1A-) Figure 1B The stitching positions of the ends of the elastic strap 20 on the base 1 can include the following:

[0035] 1. The two upper ends of each of the two elastic bandages 20 are sewn onto the upper sides of the base 1, and the two lower ends are sewn onto the lower sides of the base 1. This means that the two ends of each elastic bandage 20 are closer to the edge of the base 1 and farther from its center. Thus, the elastic bandages 20 have some elastic deformation or relaxation in their initial unfixed state, but with less redundancy. After fixation, their deformation will be greater, resulting in greater compression and fixation of the ankle joint. This ensures the stability of the ankle brace; however, users will experience lower comfort during long-term wear. Therefore, it is suitable for those recovering from ankle injuries or high-risk individuals, prioritizing ankle safety.

[0036] 2. The two ends of each of the two elastic straps 20 are sewn close to the center of the base 1. This means that the two ends of each elastic strap 20 are closer to the center of the base 1 and farther from its perimeter. Before fixation, the elastic straps 20 are fully relaxed with significant stretching redundancy, resulting in lower deformation and less compressive fixation after fixation. This solution is acceptable for users prioritizing comfort and can be used in low-intensity exercise or daily protection and warmth applications.

[0037] 3. The upper end of each of the two elastic bandages 20 is located at both ends of the upper side of the base 1, and the lower end is located at the seam 111 near the center of the base 1. The two elastic bandages 20 are symmetrically arranged along the axis of the base 1. After fixation, the elastic bandage 20 attached to one side of the medial and lateral ankle is longer, has lower tension, and receives less pressure fixation, while the elastic bandage 20 attached to the other side is shorter, has higher tension, and receives greater pressure fixation. It can be understood that in this scheme, the pressure member 2 strengthens and fixes one side of the ankle, which is suitable for specific reinforcement of users with ankle injuries, making it less likely for the ankle joint to rotate in the direction of injury, especially for reinforcement in dangerous situations such as medial ankle sprains.

[0038] In particular, the pressure member 2 is preferably disposed on the inner surface 11 of the base 1 on the side that conforms to the human body, so as to provide more effective pressure.

[0039] Thus, with multiple optional settings, the compression component provides additional ankle joint compression fixation without introducing extra pressure to other areas of the base 1, thereby ensuring the high comfort characteristic of an integrated ankle brace. Regarding the material selection for the entire integrated compression ankle brace, the base 1 is made of Lycra fabric, composed of spandex, which has high elasticity and resilience to provide uniform pressure to the area it contacts rather than rigid, fixed pressure, making it suitable for use as the main body of the ankle brace; furthermore, spandex has good breathability, reducing foot stuffiness. The elastic band 20 of the compression component is made of a combination of 85% polyester fiber and 15% diene elastic fiber, resulting in moderate deformation properties and maintaining significant pressure on the skin when taut.

[0040] That is, the integrated pressure ankle brace according to the embodiment of this application includes a pressure member 2, which includes two elastic straps 20 on the base 1. The two elastic straps 20 are sewn onto the base 1 along the diagonal direction of the base 1 and intersect at the center of the base 1. The sewing position of the pressure member 2 on the base 1 can move along the tangent direction of the outer edge of the middle portion 110 of the base 1 to adjust the force applied to the ankle by the pressure member 2.

[0041] Furthermore, the two ends of the pressure member 2 are sewn to the inner surface 11 of the base 1.

[0042] Furthermore, the material of the pressure component 2 includes 85% polyester fiber and 15% diene elastic fiber; the material of the substrate 1 is Lycra fabric.

[0043] Additionally, the surface of the base 1 has stitch lines 111 to mark the stitch positions of the pressure member 2.

[0044] In some embodiments, the integrated compression ankle brace provided in this application further includes multiple connecting straps 3 for securing the base 1 when it wraps around the lower leg. The multiple connecting straps 3 are components connected to and protruding from the base 1. For example, they may be connecting straps 3 located at the four ends of the base 1 or combinations of connecting straps 3 at the four ends of the base 1 and connecting surfaces. Two connecting straps 3 and / or connecting surfaces at both ends of the upper side 12 of the base 1 cooperate with each other, and two connecting straps 3 and / or connecting surfaces at both ends of the lower side 13 of the base 1 cooperate with each other. In one embodiment, each end of the upper side 12 of the base 1 is provided with a connecting strap 3. One side of one connecting strap 3 is provided with a female buckle, a main magnet, or a hook and loop fastener, while one side of the other is provided with a male buckle, an adsorption magnet with magnetic properties opposite to the main magnet, or a hook and loop fastener. When the upper side 12 of the base 1 wraps around the lower leg, the sides of the two connecting straps 3 with the aforementioned connecting components face each other and are secured together. Figure 2A , Figure 2B and Figure 2C The diagrams show the base 1 fixed to the inner, outer and rear sides of the foot. It can be seen that the integrated pressure ankle brace has less restriction on the foot, but provides tight wrapping and movement and rotation control for the ankle.

[0045] In this embodiment or another embodiment, the two ends of the lower side 13 of the base 1 can be configured in the same way as the upper side 12. However, it can also be designed with a connecting strap 3 at one end and a connecting surface at the other end. For example, a female buckle, a main magnet, or a hook and loop fastener can be provided on the outer surface 10 of one end of the lower side 13 of the base 1 as a connecting surface. The other end of the lower side 13 of the base 1 has a connecting strap 3. When the lower side 13 of the base 1 wraps around the lower leg, the side of the connecting strap 3 that contacts the outer surface 10 of the base 1 is provided with a corresponding male buckle, an adsorption magnet with the opposite magnetism to the main magnet, or a hook and loop fastener to fix itself to the connecting surface of the outer surface 10 of the base 1.

[0046] That is, the integrated pressure ankle brace according to the embodiment of this application includes a plurality of connecting straps 3, wherein each connecting strap 3 is located at one end of the base 1; the plurality of connecting straps 3 are three independent connecting straps 3, respectively located at the left end, right end of one side of the upper side 12 or the lower side 13 of the base 1 and the left end or right end of the other side.

[0047] Furthermore, the two connecting strips 3 located on the left and right ends of one of the upper side 12 or the lower side 13 of the base 1 are detachably connected by means of snap-fit ​​connection, magnetic connection or adhesive connection; the connecting strip 3 located on the other side of the upper side 12 or the lower side 13 of the base 1 is detachably connected to the outer surface 10 or the inner surface 11 of the base 1 by means of snap-fit ​​connection, magnetic connection or adhesive connection.

[0048] To meet the needs of most users, the integrated pressure ankle brace provided in this application is designed with appropriate length and height to comfortably fit the foot, ankle, and calf. Specifically, the length of one side of the upper side 12 or the lower side 13 of the base 1 is preferably set to 200mm-250mm, and the length of the other side is preferably set to 350mm-400mm, with the shorter side curving inward toward the center of the base 1. More preferably, the length of one side of the upper side 12 or the lower side 13 of the base 1 is set to 220mm, and the length of the other side is set to 371mm. This length allows the base 1 to well cover the calf surface above the ankle on both sides and facilitates the user's manual fixation of the connecting strap 3 and / or the connecting surface. For users with larger or smaller extremities, the 220mm and 371mm values ​​can be adjusted within the above range.

[0049] Furthermore, the height of the upper side 12 to the lower side 13 of the base 1 along its axis is 300mm–350mm, and the width of the middle portion 110 of the base 1 is 60mm–90mm. When the base 1 is fixed to the foot, the middle portion 110 is the part that fits against the sole of the foot and both sides, with the upper and lower sides located on the calf surface above the ankle. Preferably, the height of the upper side 12 to the lower side 13 of the base 1 along its axis is 320mm, so that it wraps around the entire ankle and reaches the bottom of the calf. Preferably, the width of the middle portion 110 of the base 1 is 71mm, so that the coverage area below the ankle is small and heat dissipation is avoided. For larger feet, the width of the middle portion 110 can be appropriately increased within the above range.

[0050] To better fit the outer edge of the base 1 to the foot, ankle, and calf, the outer edge of the middle portion 110 of the base 1 is set with a bending radius of 99.2 mm and a tightening depth towards the center of 53 mm. This minimizes the contact area between the middle portion from the sole of the foot to the ankle and the inner and outer muscle groups of the plantar muscles through the skin, thereby reducing resistance to foot movement. The portion from the ankle to the root of the calf fits along the direction of the long and short muscles of the fibula to improve calf comfort. The portion also wraps around the ankle, thereby improving the stability of the ankle compression fixation.

[0051] Furthermore, during foot and calf movements, the movement of the inner and outer sides, as well as the front and back sides, of the user of the integrated compression ankle brace can easily cause uneven deformation stress on the outer edge of the base 1, leading to wrinkles and displacement. Long-term use can reduce the overall stability of the integrated compression ankle brace on the foot. By designing at least one of the upper and lower sides of the base 1 as a concave curved structure, the stress difference at the outer edge can be effectively offset, maintaining a tight fit between the base and the foot. Therefore, the outer edge of the upper side 12 or lower side 13 of the base 1, which tightens towards the center, is set with a curvature radius of 68.2 mm and a tightening depth of 23.5 mm, ensuring that both the upper side 12 and the lower side 13 maintain a good and close fit to the skin over a long period.

[0052] Thus, by utilizing the integrated compression ankle brace provided in the various embodiments of this application, the ends of the compression straps are directly sewn to the inner side of the ankle brace body. No additional steps are required during wear to achieve compression and fixation, better adapting to ankle protection needs in different scenarios. Furthermore, the fixation method of the integrated compression ankle brace is easy for the user to operate and comfortable to wear, making it highly practical.

[0053] It should be noted that the upper and lower sides of the base 1, and the upper and lower sides of the two elastic straps 20 are based on... Figure 1A and Figure 1B The placement of the integrated pressure ankle brace is described in terms of its position. Figure 1A and Figure 1B After the integrated compression ankle brace in the diagram is rotated 90°, the "upper side" will become the corresponding "lower side", and the "lower side" will become the corresponding "upper side". That is, this application does not limit the curved side of the two opposite sides of the outer edge of the base 1 to be the upward side in any sense, or the straight side to be the downward side in any sense. "Upper" and "lower" are only descriptions made to facilitate the understanding of the integrated compression ankle brace provided by this application by those skilled in the art through the accompanying drawings.

[0054] The basic principles of this application have been described above with reference to specific embodiments. However, it should be noted that the advantages, benefits, and effects mentioned in this application are merely examples and not limitations, and should not be considered as essential features of each embodiment of this application. Furthermore, the specific details disclosed above are for illustrative and facilitative purposes only, and are not limitations. These details do not limit the application to the necessity of employing the aforementioned specific details for implementation.

[0055] The block diagrams of devices, apparatuses, devices, and systems involved in this application are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to require or imply that they must be connected, arranged, or configured in the manner shown in the block diagrams. As those skilled in the art will recognize, these devices, apparatuses, devices, and systems can be connected, arranged, and configured in any manner. Words such as “comprising,” “including,” “having,” etc., are open-ended terms meaning “including but not limited to,” and are used interchangeably with them. The terms “or” and “and” as used herein refer to the terms “and / or,” and are used interchangeably with them unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term “such as” as used herein refers to the phrase “such as but not limited to,” and is used interchangeably with it.

[0056] It should also be noted that in the apparatus, equipment, and methods of this application, the components or steps can be disassembled and / or recombined. These disassemblies and / or recombinations should be considered as equivalent solutions of this application.

[0057] The above description of the disclosed aspects is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use this application. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other aspects without departing from the scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but rather to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

[0058] The above description has been given for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, this description is not intended to limit the embodiments of this application to the forms disclosed herein. Although numerous exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those skilled in the art will recognize certain variations, modifications, alterations, additions, and sub-combinations thereof.

Claims

1. An integrated pressure ankle brace, characterized in that, include: The base includes an outer surface and an inner surface, and the upper and lower sides of the base have two upper endpoints and two lower endpoints, respectively, and the middle portion of the base tapers towards the center; Multiple connecting strips, each of which is located at one end of the substrate; The pressure member includes two elastic straps on the base, the two elastic straps being sewn onto the base diagonally and intersecting at or near the center of the base; The pressure member extends along the tangential direction of the outer edge of the middle portion of the substrate.

2. The integrated pressure ankle brace according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two ends of the pressure member are sewn to the inner surface of the substrate; The upper or lower side of the base tapers toward the center.

3. The integrated pressure ankle brace according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material of the pressure component includes 85% polyester fiber and 15% diene elastic fiber; The substrate is made of Lycra fabric.

4. The integrated pressure ankle brace according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of connecting strips are three independent connecting strips, which are respectively located at the left and right ends of one of the upper or lower sides of the substrate, and at the left or right end of the other of the upper or lower sides of the substrate.

5. The integrated pressure ankle brace according to claim 4, characterized in that, The two connecting strips located on the left and right ends of one of the upper or lower sides of the base are detachably connected by a snap-fit ​​connection, a magnetic connection, or an adhesive connection. The connecting strip located on the left or right end of the other side of the upper or lower side of the base is detachably connected to the outer or inner surface of the base, and the connection method is snap-on connection, magnetic connection or adhesive connection.

6. The integrated pressure ankle brace according to claim 1, characterized in that, The surface of the substrate has stitching lines to mark the stitching positions of the pressure component.

7. The integrated pressure ankle brace according to claim 6, characterized in that, The upper ends of each of the two elastic straps are fixed to the base at a position located at the upper end of the base or near the center of the base, and the lower ends of each of the two elastic straps are fixed to the base at a position near the lower end of the base or near the center of the base.

8. The integrated pressure ankle brace according to claim 1, characterized in that, The length of one of the upper or lower sides of the substrate is 200mm-250mm, and the length of the other side is 350mm-400mm.

9. The integrated pressure ankle brace according to claim 1 or 8, characterized in that, The height of the base along its axis from the upper side to the lower side is 300mm–350mm; The width of the middle portion of the substrate is 60mm–90mm.

10. The integrated pressure ankle brace according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer edge of the middle section has a bending radius of 99.2 mm and a tightening depth towards the center of 53 mm. The outer edge of the upper or lower side that is tightened towards the center has a bending radius of 68.2 mm and a tightening depth of 23.5 mm.

Images