KR101092307B1 - Smart-strap ankle brace using viscoelastic member - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the smart-strap ankle assist using the viscoelastic member is a fixed member having an ankle band surrounding the wearer's ankle and an instep band surrounding the foot and the sole of the wearer; And a first strap connected to the fixing member to assist an exercise of the ankle ligament of the wearer, wherein the first strap is a viscoelastic member. The first strap may be disposed to surround the instep of the foot, the ankle brace is disposed in parallel with the anterior talofibular ligament (ATF) to assist the ankle ligament movement of the second strap It may further include.

Smart strap, viscoelastic member, ankle, ligament

Description

Smart strap ankle brace using viscoelastic member {SMART-STRAP ANKLE BRACE USING VISCOELASTIC MEMBER}

The present invention relates to a smart strap ankle brace, and more particularly, to a smart strap ankle brace using a viscoelastic member.

The foot is a body part with complex motor function and structure, and it is composed of joints that are often used for movement such as walking or running. These feet support your weight and are easily exposed to disorders such as sprains or fractures, as you will be impacted twice or five times your weight when you walk, land, or swivel after uneven surfaces. have.

1 is a view schematically showing the anatomy of the bones and ligaments constituting the foot. Ankle sprains are damages that occur very frequently during sporting activities or in everyday life.Anterior talofibular ligaments (ATF ligaments) and calorific ligaments (CF ligaments) due to inversion or supination of the ankles. ) Anterior talofibular tigament (PTF ligament) is more than 85% of the ankle lateral ligament complex, and the ankle medial ligament injury occurs in the Eversion and Pronation of the ankle.

As such, it is common to use taping therapy or elastic fibers or rigid structures to limit the range of motion (ROM) of the ankle to prevent ankle sprains from occurring. However, in order to effectively prevent ankle sprains while minimizing athletic performance or activity, it is necessary to supplement the ankle lateral ligament complex in order to reduce the strain of the ankle ligament at the time of inversion. Heel fixation is required to damp the next torque.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ankle brace that can prevent damage to the ankle region.

Another object of the present invention to provide an ankle brace that can assist the movement of the ankle ligament.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ankle brace that can minimize the performance or activity constraints while preventing the ankle distortion.

Still other objects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the smart strap ankle brace includes a fixing member having an ankle band surrounding the wearer's ankle and an instep band surrounding the wearer's foot and the sole; And a first strap connected to the fixing member to assist an exercise of the ankle ligament of the wearer, wherein the first strap is a viscoelastic member.

The first strap may be disposed to surround the instep of the foot.

The smart strap ankle brace may further include a second strap disposed side by side with the anterior talofibular ligament (ATF) to assist movement of the ankle ligament.

The second strap may be a viscoelastic member.

The smart strap ankle brace may further include a protection band connected to the fixing member and being wrapped around the heel and the back of the wearer and preventing the ankle from twisting.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the smart strap ankle brace includes a fixing member having an ankle band surrounding the wearer's ankle and an instep band surrounding the foot of the wearer; And a first strap connected to the fixing member to assist the movement of the ankle ligament of the wearer, wherein the first strap is disposed side by side with the anterior ligament ligament of the ankle ligament and is a viscoelastic member.

The smart strap ankle brace may further include a second strap disposed side by side with the anterior tibiofibular ligament and the calf of ligament (CFL) to assist movement of the ankle ligament.

The smart strap ankle brace may further include a protective pad positioned on the ankle of the wearer and having a first through hole through which the first strap passes.

The smart strap ankle brace further includes a second strap disposed side by side with the anterior tibial ligament and the longitudinal ligament to assist movement of the ankle ligament, and the protective pad includes a second through hole through which the second strap passes. You can have more.

The smart strap ankle brace may further include a bottom pad connected to the instep band and surrounding the sole and the heel of the wearer.

According to the present invention, damage to the ankle ligaments can be prevented. In particular, the ankle ligament can be assisted to prevent ankle sprains (or secondary damage), as well as to prevent ankle distortion.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The embodiments of the present invention can be modified in various forms, and the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described below. The embodiments are provided to explain the present invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Accordingly, the shape of each element shown in the drawings may be exaggerated to emphasize a more clear description.

On the other hand, the following description of the present invention using a name for the body part, since the body part has a feature that is difficult to clearly distinguish the boundary, the name used below does not limit the scope of the present invention, It may be interpreted differently according to the intention of the invention.

2 is a view schematically showing an ankle brace according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the ankle brace includes a fixing member 10, a guard band 20, and first and second straps 32 and 34.

The fixing member 10 has an ankle band 12 and an instep band 14, the ankle band 12 is installed to surround the wearer's ankle 2, the foot band 14 is the foot of the wearer's foot (4 And it is installed to surround the floor (6). The ankle band 12 and the foot band 14 may be made of an elastic material, and the ankle 2 and the foot 4 and the sole 6 are pressed by the elastic force to fix the fixing member 10 to the foot. Meanwhile, the fixing member 10 may be made of an elastic material as well, and may be fixed to the foot by elastic force.

Ankle sprains, on the other hand, are an injury to the ankles that are caused by trauma during footfalls and during exercise, especially on the edges of roadside walkways, stones, stairways, stairways, holes, and uneven ground, especially basketball, tennis, and running. It is one of the most common sports injuries, accounting for about 10-30% of all trauma related to all movements.

In particular, ligament injuries caused by ankle sprains are more likely to recur once damaged areas, and more than 40% may suffer from chronic ankle instability (CAI). It is best to prevent ankle sprains.

Such ankle sprains can be caused by inversion damage, ie, the ankle is twisted inward, and if the ankle loses its inward balance, the strength of his weight continues and the extent of his ankle becomes more severe. At this time, the fibula muscles try to resist the next time, but if the imbalance of force is stronger and faster than this by trauma, the ligaments can not bear the tension.

As shown in FIG. 2, the protective band 20 is disposed to surround the wearer's heel and the instep 4 and may be an elastic material. The protective band 20 compresses the heel and the instep 4 by the elastic force and prevents the ankle 2 (or the heel) from twisting. In particular, it gives a postural alignment effect by applying valgus rotational power to the heel during supination during ankle sprain generation mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first strap 32 is disposed to surround the instep 4, and the second strap 34 is disposed to surround the ankle 2. One end of the first and second straps 32 and 34 may be connected to the instep band 14 and the ankle band 12, respectively, and the other end of the first and second straps 32 and 34 may be ankle bone (not shown). It is connected to the protective band 20 located at the bottom of the.

The first and second straps 32 and 34 are connected on the fixing member 10 to assist the ankle ligaments. In this case, the first and second straps 32 and 34 may include viscoelastic members. Viscoelasticity refers to both elasticity of a solid and viscosity of a fluid at the time of deformation of an object. That is, it refers to a mechanical property that exhibits elasticity that is shifted at a high strain rate and viscous flow at a slow strain, and is a phenomenon commonly found in a polymer material or a solution thereof. Ankle ligaments are also classified as quasi-linear viscoelastic materials and have moderate sensitivity to strain. However, the ankle ligaments alone have a limit to endure the load on the ankle when ankle sprain occurs.

Accordingly, the first and second straps 32 and 34 including the viscoelastic member exhibit elasticity during external impact corresponding to rapid deformation, and viscous in everyday life corresponding to slow deformation. While limiting the movement of the ankle ligament during external impact not only protects the ankle ligament but also absorbs the impact, the ankle ligament in daily life can provide sufficient activity because it is not restricted in movement. Thus, the functionality and fit of the ankle brace can be greatly improved.

On the other hand, when ankle sprain occurs, all or part of the external individual complexes of the ankle stretch or rupture. At this time, the anterior talofibular ligament is the weakest and tends to be frequently damaged and loss of function is good. Thus, to compensate for this, the second strap 34 may be arranged side by side with the anterior girdle ligament.

In addition, the posterior talofibular ligament is 2.5 times stronger than the anterior girdle ligament and is insensitive to damage.If severe, the posterior talofibular ligament may be damaged to the calcaneofibular ligament. have.

3 and 4 is a view schematically showing an ankle brace according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ankle brace includes a fixing member, first and second straps 32 and 34, and protective pads 36 and 37.

The fixing member has an ankle band 12, an instep band 14, and a bottom pad 16. Ankle band 12 is installed to surround the wearer's ankle 2, the foot band 14 is connected to the bottom pad 16 is installed to surround the wearer's foot (4). Floor pad 16 is installed to surround the soles.

The ankle band 12 and the foot band 14 may be made of an elastic material, and the ankle 2 and the foot 4 are respectively fixed in a state where the ankle 2 and the foot 4 are pressed by the elastic force. The bottom pad 16 may be a material (such as polyurethane) that can provide a cushioning to the feet.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the protective pads (36,37) are respectively installed on both sides of the ankle portion, the inner side in contact with the ankle may be a material having a soft and the outer side is rigid. The protective pads 36 and 37 are connected to the ankle by being connected through the elastic band 35, and the protective pads 36 and 37 restrict the flow of the ankle to damage the ankle ligament (secondary damage of the damaged part). prevent.

The protective pads 36 and 37 have first through holes 38b and 39b penetrated by the first strap 32 and second through holes 38a and 39a penetrated by the second strap 34. . Protective pads 36 and 37 are positioned by first and second straps 32 and 34.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second straps 34, 34 ′ are connected to the bottom pad 16 and extend from the heel located on the outside of the foot to the ankle located on the inside of the foot (not shown). The protective pads 36 and 37 are fixed through the second through holes 38a and 39a. The first straps 32, 32 ′ are connected to the instep pad 14 and spirally extended toward the ankle pad 12, and are connected to the ankle pad 12 by a binding means (eg, Velcro). In addition, the first straps 32 and 32 'penetrate the first through holes 38b and 39b to fix the protection pads 36 and 37.

The first and second straps 32 and 34 are connected on the fixing member 10 to assist the ankle ligament movement. In this case, the first and second straps 32 and 34 may include viscoelastic members. Detailed description of the viscoelastic member will be omitted.

On the other hand, in order to protect the anterior talofibular ligament, as shown in FIG. 3, the first strap 32 is to be arranged side by side with the anterior girdle ligament (or posterior girdle ligament). Can be. In addition, the second strap 34 may be disposed side by side with the anterior tibiofibular ligament and the paranasal ligament in order to protect the anterior tibiofibular and calculo ligament (CFL).

Although the present invention has been described in detail by way of preferred embodiments thereof, other forms of embodiment are possible. Therefore, the technical idea and scope of the claims set forth below are not limited to the preferred embodiments.

1 is a view schematically showing the anatomy of the bones and ligaments constituting the ankle.

2 is a view schematically showing an ankle brace according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 and 4 is a view schematically showing an ankle brace according to another embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

2: ankle 4: instep

6: sole 10: fixing member

12: ankle band 14: instep band

20: protection band 32: first strap

34: second strap 36,37: protective pad

Claims (10)

A fixing member having an ankle band surrounding the wearer's ankle and an instep band surrounding the wearer's foot and sole; And A first strap connected to the fixing member to assist an exercise of the ankle ligament of the wearer; And the first strap is a viscoelastic member having elasticity above a predetermined strain and viscoelastic below a predetermined strain. The method of claim 1, Smart strap ankle braces, characterized in that the first strap is arranged to surround the instep. The method of claim 1, The smart strap ankle brace further comprises a second strap that is arranged parallel to the anterior talofibular ligament (ATF) of the ankle ligament and assists the movement of the ankle ligament. The method of claim 3, And the second strap is a viscoelastic member. The method of claim 1, The smart strap ankle brace is connected to the fixing member and secured around the wearer's heel and foot, and the smart strap ankle brace further comprising a protective band to prevent the heel from twisting. A fixing member having an ankle band surrounding the wearer's ankle and an instep band surrounding the foot of the wearer; And A first strap connected to the fixing member to assist an exercise of the ankle ligament of the wearer; The first strap is an ankle assisting device, characterized in that the viscoelastic member is disposed parallel to the anterior ligament ligament of the ankle ligament, having elasticity above a predetermined strain and viscous below a predetermined strain. The method of claim 6, The smart strap ankle brace further comprises a second strap arranged side by side with the anterior tibiofibular ligament (Calciumofibular ligament: CFL) to assist the movement of the ankle ligament further comprises a smart strap Ankle Orthosis. The method of claim 6, The smart strap ankle brace further comprises a protective pad positioned on the ankle of the wearer and having a first through hole through which the first strap penetrates. The method of claim 8, The smart strap ankle brace further includes a second strap disposed side by side with the anterior tibial ligament and the longitudinal ligament to assist the movement of the ankle ligament, The protective pad further comprises a second strap groove through which the second strap penetrates the ankle brace. The method of claim 6, The smart strap ankle brace is connected to the instep band smart strap ankle brace further comprises a bottom pad surrounding the sole and heel of the wearer.

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