Ankle joint orthesis
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an ankle joint orthesis for the stabilization of the internal and external ankle joint. Preferably, the ankle joint orthesis comprises a medial shell and a lateral shell made of plastic which extend from the heel region beyond the malleolus to the lower calf region. The shells are lined throughout their entire support surface with a flexible padding and fastening structure, such as Velcro® closures, are provided for fastening and securing the shells together. One shell, preferably the lateral shell, is of an L-shaped design and has a laterally extending leg which extends and catches below the foot between the heel and the ball of the foot. Both shells also can be connected to each other by fastening structure, such as by Velcro® tape, which extends under the foot and both shells have openings in the malleolar area. 
     2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR §§1.97-1.99 
     Over the years, various ankle support devices and ankle joint orthesis devices have been proposed and examples of devices which are analogous and non-analogous to the ankle joint orthesis of the present invention are disclosed in the following U.S. and foreign patent publications: 
     
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U.S. Pat. No.     Patentee                                                
______________________________________                                    
  487,492         Pugsley                                                 
1,465,233         Posner                                                  
2,694,395         Brown                                                   
2,774,153         Alber                                                   
2,830,585         Weiss                                                   
4,280,489         Johnson, Jr.                                            
4,869,267         Grim, et al.                                            
4,964,402         Grim, et al.                                            
4,966,134         Brewer                                                  
5,007,416         Burns et al.                                            
5,088,478         Grim                                                    
5,125,400         Johnson, Jr.                                            
5,199,941         Makinen                                                 
RE 34,661         Grim                                                    
German Published Patent                                                   
Applications:                                                             
DE 29 13 606      Johnson                                                 
DE 35 37 360      Kuhnreich                                               
DE 37 42 352      Mulligan                                                
DE 39 24 428      Rau                                                     
German Published Utility Models                                           
and Gebrauchsmusters:                                                     
DE-U-19 28 411    Dassler                                                 
G 89 02 601       Jung                                                    
G 89 07 464       Saniewy Medizinische                                    
                  Lagerungstechnik GmbH                                   
G 90 04 108       Rexing Orthopadie-Technik                               
G 90 15 508       Kleylein                                                
G 92 08 689       Heinrich Ad. Berkemann                                  
                  Gmbh                                                    
British Patents:                                                          
GB 740, 621       Societe Pneuma-Jact                                     
Swiss Patents:                                                            
CH 337,751        Schuhfabrik Henke &amp; Co.                                 
                  Aktiengesellschaft                                      
CH 678,808        Amrein                                                  
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     The Johnson U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,489 (Equivalent to German Patent No. DE-C-29 13 606) discloses an ankle joint orthesis for the stabilization of the internal and external ankle joint. The ankle joint orthesis comprises a medial shell and a lateral shell made of plastic. The shells extend from the heel region beyond the malleolus to the lower calf region. The shells are lined throughout the entire support surface with a flexible padding, namely air inflatable bladders and Velcro® closures are provided for fastening and securing the shells together. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,402 (Equivalent to PCT Published Patent Application No. WO 90/01911) discloses an orthopedic arrangement with gel cushions, which is placed in shell-like fashion around limbs, and which can be cooled or heated. 
     The German Patent Publication DE-U-89 07 464 discloses a stirrup-like ankle joint orthesis in one part with openings for the heel and the malleoli. 
     As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the ankle joint orthesis of the present invention differs from the previously proposed ankle joint orthesis by providing an ankle joint orthesis which facilitates a high level of stabilization for the ankle joint, which effectively reduces pushing forward of the talus, which can be worn without discomfort, and which can be easily fastened around the ankle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention there is provided an ankle joint orthesis for the stabilization of the internal and external ankle joint comprising a medial shell and a lateral shell made of plastic. The shells extend from the heel region beyond the malleolus to the lower calf region. The shells are lined throughout the entire support surface with a flexible padding. Fastening structure, such as Velcro® closures, are provided for fastening and securing the shells. One shell, preferably the lateral shell, is of an L-shaped design and has a laterally extending leg which catches below the foot between the heel and the ball of the foot. Both shells can be connected to each other by means of a Velcro® tape under the foot, e.g., a Velcro® tape fastened to one of the shells and passing under the foot for being secured to a Velcro® closure on the other shell. Both shells have openings in the malleolar area. An optimal distribution of pressure throughout the entire support surface is achieved by the pads on the inside of the shells. The L-shape of one of the shells facilitates an improved foothold. 
     Advantageously, the padding, which may be a silicon padding, preferably a sheath filled with liquid or gel-like silicon, extends beyond the openings. 
     In the upper portion, the shells can be secured by means of a Velcro® tape running around the calf in annular fashion. Optimal fastening around the ankle joint is achieved by the circumstance that in the middle sector the shells can be fastened around the ankle joint and the lower calf with Velcro® tapes, which are securable above the malleolus medialis and run in front and the back from a midline below the malleolus medialis to laterally beyond the malleolus lateralis, where they are reversed. 
     Reversal is achieved simply by means of slots in the lateral shell. 
     The ankle joint orthesis of the present invention is suited for the post-operative, conventional as well as preventive treatment of ankle joint injuries. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is described hereinafter with reference to the drawings FIGS. described below: 
     FIG. 1 is a medial view of an ankle joint orthesis. 
     FIG. 2 is a lateral view of an ankle joint orthesis. 
     FIG. 3 is a medial view of a modification of the ankle joint orthesis shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a lateral view of a modification of the ankle joint orthesis shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ankle joint orthesis shown therein comprises a medial shell 2 and a lateral shell 1 made of plastic. Shells 1 and 2 extend from the heel region beyond the malleolus into the lower calf region. Lateral shell 1 is of L-shaped design and includes a laterally extending leg that catches under the foot between the heel and ball of the foot. Both shells 1 and 2 can be connected by means of a Velcro® tape 3 under the foot. In this respect, a Velcro® tape 3 can be fastened to a tongue 8 of the lateral shell 1 and arranged to pass under the foot and can be secured to a Velcro® closure 3a on the medial shell 2. Both shells 1 and 2 are provided with openings 9, 10 in the malleolar area. 
     In their upper sector, shells 1 and 2 can be secured by means of a Velcro® tape 4, which runs around the calf in annular fashion, to Velcro® closures 4a, 4b and 4c on both shells 1 and 2. The ends of Velcro® tape 4 are reversed about reversal webs 4d, 4e which can also be provided with reversal rollers, and secured onto themselves. In the middle sector, the shells 1 and 2 are fastened around the ankle joint and the lower calf with Velcro® tapes 5, 6 which are securable to medial shell 2 above the malleolus medialis and run in the front and the back from a midline below the malleolus medialis to laterally beyond the malleolus lateralis where they are reversed. They are reversed by means of slots 7 in the lateral shell 1. 
     The modification shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is related to the closures of Velcro® tapes 4, 5 and 6. Here, too, the ankle joint orthesis comprises a medial shell 2 and a lateral shell 1 made of plastic. Shells 1 and 2 extend from the heel region beyond the malleolus to the lower calf region. Lateral shell 1 is L-shaped in design and has a laterally extending leg which extends beneath and catches with a tongue 8 under the foot between the heel and the ball of the foot. Both shells 1 and 2 can be connected under the foot by means of a Velcro® tape 3. The Velcro® tape 3 is fastened to a tongue 8 of the lateral shell 1 and passes under the foot and can be secured on the medial shell 2 to a Velcro® tape 3a. Both shells 1 and 2 are provided with openings 9 and 10 in the malleolar area. 
     In their upper sector, the shells 1 and 2 can be secured to Velcro® closures 4a, 4b and 4c on both shells 1 and 2 at the calf by means of Velcro® tape 4 which runs around the calf in annular fashion. The ends of the Velcro® tape 4 are reversed about reversal webs 4d and 4e, which can also be provided with reversal rollers, and secured onto themselves. In the middle sector, the shells 1 and 2 are fastened around the ankle joint and the lower calf to Velcro® closures 5a, 6a with Velcro® tapes 5, 6, which are securable to the medial shell 2 above the malleolus medialis and which pass in the front and the back from a midline below the malleolus lateralis, where they are reversed. They are reversed by means of slots 7 in lateral shell 1, and the Velcro® closures 5a and 6a are fastened by reversing the ends via reversal webs 5b, 6b, which also may be provided with reversal rollers.