Ankle support
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a prophylaxis ankle wrap, and more particularly, to an improved ankle wrap having means incorporated therein for maintaining the wrap at predetermined heel lock positions relative to the foot of the wearer as well as providing for selectable adjustment of the compression of portions of the wrap bearing against the foot of the wearer. 
     It is well accepted that proper taping of the ankle can be of value to prevent debilitating ankle sprains. In response numerous methods of wrapping incorporated into various configurations of ankle supports have been utilized. Either an adhesive tape strapping or a reusable ankle wrap made of various materials have been used to support the ankle in prevention against injury. 
     In taping of the ankle, whether using an adhesive tape or a canvas-type ankle wrap, the ankle should be wrapped to prevent the foot from turning inward. Furthermore, it is generally accepted that a heel lock should be incorporated in the taping so as to give the ankle added support. A proper ankle wrapping incorporating a heel lock should hinder inversion, eversion and rotation of the ankle. The purpose of the heel lock is to support the ankle and add stability to the heel, which further supports the lateral ligaments of the ankle surrounding that area. A sprain or strain usually occurs when the foot is in planar flexion during forward propulsion which leads to the heel being raised off the ground. Therefore, the ligaments of the ankle area, especially the anterior talofibular and the calcaneo-fibular ligaments should be supported so as to assure tone and stability as prevention against ankle sprains. These ligaments are usually pulled or stretched or partially torn in a normal ankle injury. 
     This prevention calls for the wrap to be applied in a manner to insure solid, semi-unyielding contact between the bones of the heel, outside ankle knob and the talus. If the heel is so secured, the possibility of ligament strain is reduced. Arch taping can be used to prevent downward lateral strain upon the metatarus (arch bones) and small bones in the ankle joint. 
     As appreciated, the use of adhesive tape to achieve the above effects can be costly, not only in actual purchase costs, but also in manpower costs as proper taping normally must be applied and/or supervised by the athletic trainer. Accordingly, many configurations of useable ankle wraps have appeared for utilization by both the casual and serious athlete so as to prevent ankle sprains. 
     Problems have arisen with reusable ankle wraps, including the failure to recognize that the heel locks incorporated therein must be maintained in their proper position, less the wrap slip over the heel during ambulatory action and negate the advantages offered by a heel lock. Also, past ankle wraps have not addressed the ability to allow the wearer to selectively adjust the compression of portions of the ankle wrap offered to the foot of the wearer along the length of the wrap. Previously known ankle wraps had no means of variously adjusting this compression along the longitudinal extent thereof, as no means were incorporated therein to present integral variously compressible segments of the wrap to the wearer. Also, known ankle wraps had no means of guiding the user through the predetermined, desired method of wrapping in order to preclude the possibility of a non-optimal manner of engagement of the ankle wrap about the foot of the wearer. 
     Accordingly, the instant invention utilizes a predetermined method of wrapping which offers locking of the heel as provided by first and second heel locks (also called a &#34;double heel lock&#34;) appearing on opposite lateral sides of the ankle region as well as effective uplift to the arch of the wearer. Disposition of sets of mating fasteners along the ankle wrap provides for maintenance of these heel locks in their respective positions during ambulatory action. Furthermore, this disposition allows the compressive effect of portions of the ankle wrap associated with the mating fasteners to be variously adjusted and maintained thereat as desired by the wearer. The wrap is used in conjunction with an electric socklike sheath which offers a basal compression to the entire ankle region as well as precludes the necessity to anchor the wrap to the skin of the wearer and minimizes blisters appearing on the foot of the wearer. Finally, the use of a plurality of sets of mating fasteners with paired elements therein assures that the desired manner of wrapping is followed as deviation therefrom will not present the mating elements in a proper position for the required mutual engagement therebetween. 
     It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide an improved reusable ankle wrap which offers prophylaxis support to the ankle of the wearer. 
     Another general object of this invention is to provide an ankle wrap, as aforesaid, having a predetermined method of wrapping so as to lock the heel of the wearer and which has means thereon designed to maintain the ankle wrap at this heel locking position. 
     Another general object of this invention is to provide an ankle wrap, as aforesaid, which has means thereon for providing user adjustment of the compression of segments of the wrap in their bearing against the foot of the wearer. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide an ankle wrap, as aforesaid, which provides effective support to an ankle without restriction of ambulatory action of the wearer. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide an ankle wrap, as aforesaid, which is easily fitted to the foot of the wearer without the necessity to anchor the wrap to the skin portion thereof. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide for an ankle wrap, as aforesaid, having a socklike sheath for fitting over the foot of the wearer and offering a basal compression thereto. 
     A more particular object of this invention is to provide an ankle wrap, as aforesaid, which provides both a heel lock and arch lift to the foot of the wearer. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide an ankle wrap, as aforesaid, which presents a girdle fit to the foot of the user and is not bulky or cumbersome during use. 
     A still more particular object of this invention is to provide an ankle wrap for use with an athletic sock or the like in order to minimize blisters appearing on the foot of the wearer. 
     A more particular object of this invention is to provide an ankle wrap, as aforesaid, which has means thereon indicative to the user that the predetermined manner of wrapping is being followed. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide an ankle wrap, as aforesaid, which is economical to manufacture and is durable and long-lived. 
     Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example a preferred embodiment of this invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of an ankle wrap for the right foot as taken from the rear side thereof; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the ankle wrap shown in FIG. 1 taken from the front side thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view, taken from the inside of the right foot, showing the ankle wrap in a position fully secured to the foot of the wearer; 
     FIGS. 4 through 9 show, in order, the steps of the predetermined method of wrapping and are as follows: 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view, taken from the inside of the right foot, showing the socklike sheath slipped over the foot with the elastic panel, being foreshortened for purposes of illustration, at the starting position; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view, taken from the outside of the right foot, showing the presentation of a first heel lock by the elastic panel with the mating engagement of the elements of the first heel lock maintenance means; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view, taken from the inside of the right foot, showing the presentation of a second heel lock by the elastic panel laterally opposite from the first heel lock, as shown in FIG. 5, and prior to the mating engagement of the elements of the second heel lock maintenance means; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view taken from the outside of the right foot, showing the end portion of the elastic panel prior to initiation of a path encompassing the top of the ankle region; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view, taken from the inside of the right foot, showing the encompassment of the end portion of the elastic panel about the ankle region of the wearer; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view, taken from the outside of the right foot showing the final mating engagement of the associated fasteners at the conclusion of the predetermined method of wrapping. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring more particularly to the drawings, the ankle wrap 20 generally comprises a socklike sheath 30 made of an elastic material such as Spandex or the like with an elongated panel 40 fastened to the sheath 30 along one panel end 42. The panel 40 is also made of an elastic material and has a plurality of paired Velcro fasteners disposed on the front 46 and rear surfaces 48 therealong. 
     Located on the sheath 30 is a Velcro fastener 32 positioned laterally adjacent the ankle when the sheath 30 is fitted to the foot 34 of the wearer. The panel 40 is attached to the sheath 30 by sewing the first end 42 thereto at a location preferably adjacent the arch portion 31 of the sheath 30 as shown in FIG. 4. A Velcro mating fastener 50 is longitudinally displaced from the first end 42 and appears on the front surface 46 of the panel 40 in order to releasably engage fastener 32 during the predetermined method of wrapping as to be subsequently explained. 
     Located on the rear surface 48, between the panel first end 42 and the mating fastener 50 is Velcro fastener 52. The fastener 52 is longitudinally disposed along the panel 40 so as to be presented adjacent the ankle 90 of the wearer and generally laterally opposite the Velcro fastener 32 during wrapping. Displaced from the fastener 52 and beyond the fastener 50 is a mating fastener 54 positioned on the front surface 46 of the panel 40 for releasable engagement to the fastener 52. 
     Longitudinally displaced from the fastener 52 and positioned adjacent the second end 44 of the panel 40 is a pair of mating Velcro fasteners 56 and 58. These longitudinally spaced apart fasteners 56 and 58 are mounted on opposite surfaces 46 and 48 of the panel 40 for mutual engagement one 56 to the other 58 at the conclusion of the predetermined method of wrapping. 
     The disposition of the paired fasteners having spaced apart mutually engageable elements therein 32 and 50, 52 and 54, 56 and 58 define associated segments 60, 62 and 64 along the elastic panel 40. These panel segments of the panel 40 are used to provide the first 66 and second 68 heel locks to the foot 34. Segment 64 is wrapped about the top of the ankle region and also assists in the prevention of medial and lateral ankle sprains. Furthermore, the correspondence between the paired fasteners an associated segments allows for each segment 60, 62 and 64 to be selectively compressed about the foot 34 of the wearer during the predetermined method of wrapping. 
     OPERATION 
     In operation, the socklike sheath 30 is slipped over the foot 34 of the wearer (the right foot being used for purposes of illustration), the foot preferably having an athletic sock 36 thereon. Upon fitting, the heel 92 and toe 94 regions of the foot 34 protrude through the sheath openings 38, 39 as shown in FIG. 4. The sheath 30 in its operative position compresses the whole region of the foot 34 contained therein, as well as presents a means to mount the first end 42 of the elastic panel 40 to the foot 34 without the necessity to secure the panel 40 directly thereto. Accordingly, the use of the sheath 30 provides a point of connection to the foot 34 and thus prevents irritation to the foot 34 that may result from a direct mounting of the elastic panel 40 thereto. Velcro fastener 32 is concurrently positioned adjacent the ankle 90 at the outside surface 96 thereof. 
     To initiate wrapping, as shown in FIG. 4, the panel 40 is brought to the outside of the foot 34 and, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4, is brought about the front of the ankle 90 region (across the tibia) and to the rear thereof. As shown in FIG. 5, the panel is then downwardly drawn towards the arch 98 along the lateral side of the heel 92 so to prevent the first heel lock 66 thereto. During this initial wrapping, Velcro fastener 50 is presented in an overlying relationship to fastener 32 so as to be mutually engageable therebetween, such engagement maintaining the heel lock 66 in its operative position as shown in FIG. 5. Furthermore, due to the correspondence of the first segment 60 of the panel 40 to the fasteners 32 and 50, this segment 60 can be selectively stretched by the wearer in order to adjust the degree of compression offered by the segment 60 against the foot 34 during the initial wrapping. The range of selectable compression will vary from a basic reference compression which is determined by a full mating engagement of the fasteners 32 and 50 as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, a greater or lesser compression, relative to the basic reference compression can be selected according to the degree of overlap of the fastener 50 with mating fastener 32. This enables the first segment 60 to be drawn about the foot 34 during the initial step of wrapping, with an accompanying selectable degree of compression incorporated into the first heel lock 66 offered thereto. 
     During this initial wrapping, fastener 52 has been presented on the inside of the foot generally adjacent the ankle 90 region and opposite the fastener 32 as shown in FIG. 6. Subsequently, panel 40 is downwardly drawn towards and under the arch 98 and to the inside of the foot 34 as shown in FIG. 5 so as to uplift the arch 98. The panel 40 is then drawn across the front of the foot 34, around the rear thereof. This step in wrapping is similar, but in an opposite direction, to the initial step as above described. As shown in FIG. 6, the panel 40 is downwardly drawn towards the arch 98 along the lateral inside surface of the heel 92 to present a second heel lock 68. During this wrapping, Velcro fastener 52 is presented in an adjacent relationship to fastener 52 for mating but releasable interengagement so as to maintain this second heel lock 68 in the desired operative position. The associated second segment 62 of the panel 30, including the fasteners 52 and 54, can be selectively stretched so as to adjust the compressive effect of the segment 62 offered to the foot, such compression capable of being varied from the degree of compression offered by the first segment 60. As above described for the first heel lock maintenance means, the degree of compression offered by segment 62 during the provision of the second heel lock 68 to fiit 34 can vary from a basic reference compression as defined by a full mating of the fasteners 52 and 54. Thus, the degree of compression offered to the foot 34, and including the heel 92, by the associated panel segment 62 can vary from this reference compression as well as from that offered by segment 60 during wrapping. 
     Upon releasable engagement of the fasteners 52 and 54, the third segment 64 of the panel 40 is drawn underneath the arch 98 to offer uplift thereto, towards the opposite side of the foot 34 and about the front of the foot 34 as shown in FIG. 7. A pair of Velcro mating fasteners 56 and 58 located adjacent the panel second end 44 are releasably engaged one to the other upon wrapping of the second end portion 44 about the top of the ankle region, as shown in FIG. 8, which concludes the predetermined method of wrapping. Again, the degree of compressive effect offered by the third segment 64 of the panel 40 to the foot 34 of the wearer corresponds to the degree of engagement of the fasteners 56 and 58. Variance from a full mating engagement of the fasteners 56 and 58 corresponds to a variance of the compressive effect offered by segment 64 to the foot 34 and can vary from that offered by the preceding segments 60, 62 during the foot wrapping path. 
     Upon conclusion of the wrapping, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 9, the user is provided with inside 66 and outside 68 heel locks, referred to as a &#34;double&#34; heel lock on the lateral sides of the ankle region so as to prevent inversion and eversion of the ankle 90 joint. Also, the wrapping of the arch 98 gives effective uplifting support thereto. This predetermined method of wrapping in conjunction with the compressive effect of the elastic sheath 30 is a highly effective prophylaxis to the ankle 90 region. The continuity of this prophylaxis function, especially as to the maintenance of the effectiveness of the &#34;double&#34; heel lock is assured by the heel lock fasteners, 32 and 50, 52 and 54, located along the panel 40. Thus, the wrap 20 affords an effective support to the ankle 90 region with a cost effective reduction in the time and expense associated with adhesive tape wrapping. 
     Furthermore, as above discussed, the use of the paired fasteners along the panel 40 and the elastic sheath 30 allows for a selective and variable degree of compression to be offered to the foot of the wearer by associated segments 60, 62 and 64 of the panel 40 as determined by the user during such wrapping. Also, of note is that the paired fasteners offers a visible indication to the user of whether the panel 40 is being wrapped in the proper predetermined manner, as a derivation from the desired manner of wrapping will result in non-alignment of the elements of the fasteners precluding the releasable engagement therebetween. 
     Although the wrap 20 is described for use with the right foot, it is understood that the wrap is also adaptable for use with the left foot with a reversal of the position of the elements therein and a change in direction of the predetermined method of wrapping. Accordingly, it is understood that this wrap 20 can be used for either foot with identical accompanying advantages and results.