Artificial Ligament Ankle Support for Athletic Footwear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing athletic footwear solutions for ankle sprain protection, such as athletic tape and ankle braces, are uncomfortable, time-consuming, expensive, and restrict the normal range of motion, leading to increased risk of other orthopedic injuries due to overcompensation in the kinetic chain.
Innovation Solution
An athletic footwear artificial ligament device featuring an elongated flexible band, a rigid circular ring, and a plurality of artificial ligaments attached to the band and shoe, providing a second set of ligaments that offer sprain protection without limiting the ankle's natural range of motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If athletic tape or ankle brace is used to immobilize the ankle, then sprain protection is improved, but range of motion is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the support function into multiple artificial ligaments (anterior, posterior, medial, lateral) that can independently function, allowing selective support where needed while preserving natural movement elsewhere in the ankle joint
Solution Approach 2:
The artificial ligaments act as intermediary elements between the ankle bone and surrounding structures, providing support and protection without directly restricting the joint's natural range of motion through rigid immobilization
2Reliability
If athletic tape or ankle brace is used to restrict ankle rotation, then sprain protection is improved, but comfort is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses flexible artificial ligaments made of elastic or inelastic material that can stretch and move with the ankle, providing support without the discomfort of rigid tape or bulky braces
Solution Approach 2:
The artificial ligament device combines multiple functions into a single system: it provides sprain protection, maintains comfort during movement, and integrates with the shoe structure, eliminating the need for separate tape application and brace wear
3Reliability
If athletic tape or ankle brace is used to immobilize the ankle, then sprain protection is improved, but time consumption is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial ligaments are pre-attached to the shoe structure during manufacturing, eliminating the need for time-consuming application processes. The user simply wears the shoe with the device already in place
Solution Approach 2:
The device merges the support function with the shoe structure itself, integrating the artificial ligaments into the footwear so that protection is provided automatically without separate application steps
4Reliability
If athletic tape or ankle brace is used to restrict ankle movement, then sprain protection is improved, but risk of other injuries is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial ligaments are designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing natural ankle movement and adaptation to different activity levels, which prevents the overcompensation and kinetic chain issues caused by rigid immobilization
Data Source
AI summary
An athletic footwear artificial ligament device includes a flexible band securable around a lower leg above an ankle of a foot of a wearer, a ring disposable adjacent an outer side of the ankle spaced below the flexible band, and a plurality of artificial ligaments coupled to and arrayed about the ring. An upper artificial ligament is attached to the flexible band and extends downward to the ring. A lower artificial ligament is attachable to an upper of the athletic shoe, adjacent to the sole and above the heel, and extends upward to the ring. A forward artificial ligament is attachable to the athletic shoe upper forwardly of the ring, above the sole and spaced forwardly from the heel, and extends rearward to the ring such that the artificial ligaments perform as a second set of ligaments providing sprain protection of the ankle of the foot of the wearer.