A separate lacing system and tightening mechanism is utilized to tighten the upper portion of ankle brace that is, the portion of the brace that is above the functional axis of the ankle when worn. A second lace is threaded through opposing lacing guides on the upper portion of boot assembly and attached at opposite ends to second tightening mechanism located on tongue portion Ankle brace accordingly includes: a stirrup ; a tightening mechanism ; a stirrup lace guide ; an opposing lacing guides ; additional lacing guides ; tube-like lacing guide ; second opposing lacing guides ; and a second tightening mechanism Ankle brace differs from ankle brace in that lace and slide through tongue lace guide on the tongue portion and maintain a connection between tongue portion and bootie portion of the brace when it is in open configuration.
When the ankle braces of the present invention comprise two or more separate tightening mechanisms, the wearer may tighten certain portions of the brace more than others. That is, the brace is capable of zonal tightening wherein different zones may have different tightness.
Examples of zonal tightening are described in greater detail in U. In some embodiments, the guides placed in the middle of the brace near the functional axis or pivot point of the wearer's ankle include a shorter distance between the openings than is used in guides closer to the toe of the brace or higher up on the brace. This shorter distance increases the closing force in the area around the pivot point to help lock the ankle and foot into the brace. In another aspect of the invention, the adjustable stirrup can be provided separately from the ankle brace.
For example, an ankle brace having anchors for anchoring on the separate adjustable stirrup mounted thereon could be provided. An adjustable stirrup comprising a first rotatable tightening mechanism and lace system on a first end of the stirrup and a second rotatable tightening mechanism and lace system on a second end of the stirrup could then be attached to the ankle brace via the anchors.
The adjustable stirrup may have a nonadjustable loop on the second end to be engaged into the ankle brace anchor while the first end retains the rotatable tightening mechanism for adjustment. The adjustable stirrup would operate independently of the ankle brace. Various modifications and alterations to this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention.
It should be understood that this invention is not intended to be unduly limited by the illustrative embodiments and examples set forth herein and that such examples and embodiments are presented by way of example only with the scope of the invention intended to be limited only by the claims set forth herein as follows.
We claim: 1. An ankle brace comprising: a a boot assembly comprising upper and lower portions and a semi-rigid or rigid support,. The ankle brace of claim 1 wherein the adjustable stirrup comprises a nylon strap. The ankle brace of claim 1 wherein the boot assembly comprises a spacer fabric as a primary outer surface.
The ankle brace of claim 1 wherein the boot assembly comprises rip-stop nylon as a primary outer surface. The ankle brace of claim 1 wherein the boot assembly comprises a nylon fabric of 70 denier or higher as a primary outer surface. The ankle brace of claim 1 further comprising lace guides to guide the first lace to the adjustable stirrup and the first tightening mechanism.
The ankle brace of claim 1 wherein the first tightening mechanism is located on a back of the brace. The ankle brace of claim 1 wherein the first tightening mechanism comprises a mechanism of release for disengaging the first tightening mechanism. The ankle brace of claim 1 wherein the boot assembly comprises opposing sides having opposing lower lacing guides and the first lace is threaded through the lower opposing lacing guides on the lower opposing sides of the boot assembly such that when the first tightening mechanism applies tension on the first lace, the lower opposing lacing guides are advanced towards each other.
The ankle brace of claim 1 wherein the boot assembly comprises opposing sides having opposing lower lacing guides and a second lace is threaded through the lower opposing lacing guides on the lower opposing sides of the boot assembly such that when a second tightening mechanism applies tension on the second lace, the lower opposing lacing guides are advanced towards each other.
The ankle brace of claim 10 , wherein the second tightening mechanism is located on a tongue configured to be positioned between the opposing sides of the boot assembly when the ankle brace is closed. The ankle brace of claim 10 further comprising a tongue configured to be positioned between the opposing sides of the boot assembly when the ankle brace is closed.
The ankle brace of claim 1 further comprising a tongue configured to be positioned between opposing sides of the boot assembly when the ankle brace is closed.
The ankle brace of claim 1 wherein the support comprises a semi-rigid polymer. The ankle brace of claim 1 wherein the support mimics an anchor and heel lock of conventional taping methods. The ankle brace of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion comprises opposing sides, and wherein the first lace and first rotatable tightening mechanism are not configured to draw the opposing sides together.
The ankle brace of claim 16 , wherein the upper portion comprises opposing sides having upper opposing lacing guides and a second lace is threaded through the upper opposing lacing guides on the upper opposing sides of the boot assembly such that when a third tightening mechanism applies tension on the second lace, the upper opposing lacing guides are advanced towards each other. The ankle brace of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the boot assembly is the portion of the assembly configured to be above a functional axis of a wearer's ankle when worn.
USP true USB2 en. EPA4 en. JPB2 en. CNB en. WOA2 en. EPB1 en. WOA1 en. AUB2 en. KRB1 en. GBD0 en. EPA1 en. EPA2 en. USA en. Materials such as wires, bands, clasps, and spurs were made out of 14K and 18K gold. While gold was preferred it was not commonly used for a number of reasons; mainly the price and frequent adjustments that were required. Gold was extremely expensive even in the early s, and not all patients could afford the added expense.
In addition to the price of gold, patients who had gold braces required frequent adjustments from the dentist as the material would often start to grow soft due to body heat. Silver was significantly cheaper than gold, but not as flexible. However, it was preferred over the alternative materials such as ivory and wood, which were extremely difficult to work with at the time. Orthodontic techniques stayed relatively the same until the s when numerous breakthrough techniques were discovered.
The biggest breakthrough technique was the use of a dental adhesive to hold dental brackets to the teeth. This technique replaced the need for dentists to wrap individual wire around each tooth to keep the brackets in place. In addition to the dental adhesive, tie wires and elastic ligatures were often used to keep the braces tight and in place. The use of stainless steel, instead of gold or silver, was a part of the improved dental techniques used for braces in the s.
Stainless steel was a relief to both patients and dentists; patients were happy because it reduced the cost of braces, while dentists liked it because it was extremely flexible and easy to manipulate. People wanted an alternative to the unsightly wires and head gear.
Dentists in Japan and the United States started to experiment with the possibility that dental braces could be applied to the insides of the teeth, instead of the outside. Placing the brackets on the inside of the teeth allowed people to get the benefits of braces without having to have people see the physical braces on the teeth.
The concept of invisible braces was of great interest and study between the s and earlys. When the clear retainer was placed back in the mouth for several days, it would slowly move the teeth back into proper alignment. Chishti took his discovery and paired up with Kelsey Wirth another Stanford grad, and an investment banker for Robertson Stephens to create a method that combined 3-D computer technology with plastic retainers.
The slow progression of the teeth back into proper alignment would be assigned a number or stage. Each stage of progression would be represented by a different clear plastic retainer that the patient would wear for a specified amount of time.
The different clear plastic retainers would slowly shift and move the teeth into place, which is similar to how braces work. However, instead of having the cumbersome braces attached to the teeth, the clear retainers did the work and no one would notice them. Chishti and Wirth co-founded Align Technology, Inc. Soon dentists and orthodontists all over the world were incorporating this orthodontic treatment into their practice.
Several companies have started to incorporate the Invisalign technique into their product. Clear Correct uses 3-D computer imaging, in addition to several clear retainers to slowly shift teeth back into proper alignment. Patients wear the retainers for the specified amount of time, and switch them out for the next clear retainer.
The clear retainers are designed to slowly move or shift teeth back into proper alignment. When braces were first invented they were a dental device that was typically reserved for the wealthy, or those with extreme cases of orthodontic deformations.
Today, braces are considered a routine dental procedure that many children and adults undergo to beautify their smiles and improve their oral hygiene and overall health.
James Nicholas designed the brace. This allowed Namath to keep playing despite being plagued by knee problems. During the s, more prophylactic knee braces began being tested and tried by more NFL players in an effort to reduce career ending knee injuries. It was an NFL player who gave us our start. The archaeological site known as the Golden Mound yielded over 20, pieces of fine Persian jewelry.
Many of the pieces contained precious gems like lapis lazuli and amethyst. Indians have worn ankle bracelets for centuries. Their love for this jewelry is even instilled in their literature. The story of Shilappadikaram tells a fanciful story of an unfaithful husband who briefly falls in love with a woman who wears a magic anklet.
Today's Indian wedding customs still include wearing anklet bracelets as a part of the ceremonial wedding garments. Indian women wear some of the most extravagant anklets in the world featuring lots of tiny chains, bells and charms. Silver is a popular medium for Indian anklet bracelets.
The ankle bracelet became popular in the United States in the twentieth century. In the s bobby sockers wore the jewelry to enhance their white socks.
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