JPH05228169A - Clamp for walking shoes - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To fix a leg for preventing an undesirable movement when the weight is added to the sole of a shoe, by connecting a strap member for fastening the leg, and a leg strap fastening mechanism. CONSTITUTION: A leg support assembly 2 comprises a front strap 15 fixed to an upper arm 4 by a strap rivet 17 or the like. A rear strap 16 is fixed to the rear strap itself by a strap assembly 21 or the like, through a front face of the leg and a metal fitting rod member 20. The strap 16 is connected with a leg strap fastening mechanism 18, so that it fastens the leg when the weight is added to the sole of a shoe. The mechanism 18 comprises the fastening rod member 20, and a cable 22 is connected by a clamp 23 or the like, and is hanged on a guide 24 fixed to the upper arm 4 by a guide rivet 25 or the like. The cable 22 is hanged on a hole guide 27 of a leg supporting assembly 3, through the arm guide 19, and reaches the leg strap fastening mechanism at the other side of the leg, through a sole side wall hole of a sole shell 29.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a therapeutic and prophylactic device, and more particularly to a dynamic temporary tightening of a patient's lower limb from the contact position to prevent undesired exercise when the weight of the patient is applied to the sole. Walking shoe fastener for fixing legs, ankles and feet.

[0002]

Various devices are known, such as casts, splints, cuffs and splints designed to protect and secure legs, ankles and ligaments of the foot, tendons and bones when they are injured. Unfortunately, these devices do not perform well during unstable loading of the gait when the bottom of the walking shoe strap contacts the walking surface. These devices tend to not adequately secure the legs, ankles, and feet so they are not too loose and have undesired or abnormal movements, or are too tight and discomforting, leading to congestion and atrophy problems. Is.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a walking shoe binding which solves the problems of the known device described above. Another object of the present invention is to
To provide a walking shoe fastener that dynamically and temporarily tightens from a close contact position of a patient's lower limb and fixes the legs, ankles, and feet so as to prevent undesired exercise when the weight of the patient is added to the sole. Is.

Another object of the present invention is to adjust the amount of tightening of the leg and foot from the tight contact position to fix the ankle in response to the load of the patient's weight when applied to the sole. Is to provide a walking shoe binding that can. Another object of the present invention is to provide a walking shoe fastener that allows progressive squeezing of the legs in response to load while the patient's weight is being applied to the sole.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a foot support assembly having a sole for receiving a patient's foot and at least one strap member for tightening a leg. A leg support assembly for receiving a corresponding leg of a patient and an actuating device connected to the sole and movable relative to the sole when the weight of the patient is applied to the sole. A tightening mechanism operatively connected to the device and the strap member for increasing tightening of the strap member of the leg in response to movement of the actuator relative to the sole when the weight of the patient is applied to the sole. There is provided a walking shoe binding characterized by including:

[0006] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a walking shoe fastener for fixing an ankle of a patient, which has a shoe sole and at least one strap member for fastening the foot, A substantially rigid leg support assembly for receiving a patient's foot and at least one strap member for tightening the leg to provide a substantially rigid leg support for receiving a corresponding leg of a patient. An assembly, a constant motion hinge assembly for connecting the foot support assembly to the leg support assembly, and an actuating device connected to the sole and movable relative to the sole when the weight of the patient is applied to the sole. And operatively connected to the actuator and at least one strap member,
A tightening mechanism for increasing the tightening of the strap member on the foot and / or leg in response to movement of the actuator relative to the sole when the weight of the patient is applied to the sole. Shoe closures are provided.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is a walking shoe fastener for securing an ankle between a patient's foot and leg, for increasing the degree of tightening when the patient adds weight. A shoe having a substantially rigid bearing surface for the foot and a foot strap adapted to rest on the instep portion; and a shoe substantially immovably secured to the shoe, Includes a substantially rigid cuff extending substantially upwardly from the shoe and having leg straps for placement around the leg, and a sole attached to the shoe, the shoe sole being worn by the patient on a bearing surface of the shoe. And is dimensioned to engage the ground when applying a load, and to engage a means that allows movement of the sole with respect to a rigid support surface when the patient applies weight to the shoe and the sole. Fixed end attached to the end of the foot and leg straps. Further including cable means having a shoe and an intermediate portion that simultaneously engages portions of the sole, the sole moving relative to the weight of the patient to direct the foot and leg straps to the feet and legs. Each pulling,
This provides a walking shoe fastener characterized in that the degree of tightening is temporarily increased, with which the fastener engages the foot and leg in response to the weight of the patient.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a walking shoe binding 1
It is shown. In particular, FIG. 1 shows a walking shoe binding 1 having a leg support assembly 2 and a foot support assembly 3,
The leg support assembly 2 and the foot support assembly 3 are each coupled to a constant motion hinge assembly 6 at the ankle and positioned at the medial lateral portion of the leg, the ankle and the foot. These components include a mounting assembly and are adapted to engage corresponding legs and feet above and below the ankle joint, respectively.

On the medial lateral side of the leg, an upper side attached to a leg support assembly 2 and a foot support assembly 3, respectively, extending from the leg support assembly 2 and the foot support assembly 3 toward each other. There is an arm 4 and a lower arm 5. Upper arm 4
And the lower arm 5 ends at the hinge assembly 6. The upper arm 4 and the lower arm 5 are made of a substantially rigid material such as plastic or metal. The hinge assembly 6 is composed of the same outer hinge plate 7 and inner hinge plate 8, and these hinge plates are connected to the lower arm 5 by the rivets 10 and the like of the hinge assembly 6. The lower arm 5 is connected to the foot support shell 28 of the foot support assembly 3 by rivets 11 of the lower arm or the like. The upper arm 4 includes the outer hinge plate 7 and the upper arm 4.
And a hinge bolt 9 penetrating through a hole provided in the lower hinge plate 8 so as to be pivotally connected to the hinge assembly 6. The hinge assembly 6 further comprises a stop pin 12 operatively connected to the hinge assembly and the leg support assembly, the front and rear of the leg support assembly relative to the hinge assembly and the foot support assembly. To control movement, the hinge assembly and leg support assembly are aligned with the stop pin holes 13 in the upper arm 4 of the series of stop pin holes 13 in the outer hinge plate 7 and the inner hinge plate 8. It can be press-fitted into one. Alternatively, more complex straightening joints may be used.

Thus, the leg support assembly 2 and the foot support assembly 3 are joined by the hinge bolt 9. Hinge bolt 9
Forms a pivot axis which is substantially perpendicular to the arms 4, 5 and which coincides with the main axis passing through the leg-foot joint at the ankle. The walking shoe binding 1 includes a leg support assembly 2 that surrounds the legs to form a cuff and a foot support assembly 3 that surrounds the legs to form a boot. The leg support assembly 2 has a number of front straps 15 that pass through the front of the legs and are secured to the upper arm 4 by snap closures, adjustable "velcro" strips, strap rivets 17, etc.
A number of rear straps 16 pass around the rear surface of the leg and around the substantially rigid metal clamping rod member 20, and
It is secured to the back strap itself, such as by a "Velcro" strip assembly 21. The strap and tightening rod member may be positioned on the front of the leg. The tightening rod member 20 can be secured to the upper arm 4 and pivoted relative to the leg support assembly 2 near the hinge assembly 6 by the tightening rod bolt 50. A clamping rod stop 26 is also provided on the upper arm 4 to limit the rearward movement of the clamping rod member 20.

The back strap is connected to a leg strap tightening mechanism 18 for tightening the legs when the weight of the patient is applied to the sole. Leg strap tightening mechanism 18
Has a clamping rod member 20, a cable 22 is connected by a cable clamp 23 or the like and then hung around a cable guide 24 fixed to the upper arm 4 by a cable guide rivet 25 or the like. The cable 22 is then directed towards the foot support assembly 3. The cable 22 passes through the upper arm guide 19 and hangs around the hole guide 27 in the side wall of the foot support assembly and through the sole side wall hole 40 in the sole shell 29 to tighten the same leg strap on the lateral side of the leg. Reach the mechanism. Thus, an actuating device is formed which is operatively connected to the tightening mechanism and which is coupled to the sole and is movable relative to the sole when the weight of the patient is applied to the sole.

The foot support assembly 3 comprises a substantially rigid and longitudinally oriented coherent foot support shell 28 of generally H-shaped cross section (FIG. 3), such as plastic. Two
8 forms a foot housing connected to the sole, which is substantially rigid and has a substantially U-shaped cross section (FIG. 3) and is attached to the foot support shell 28 by the sole pivot bolt 30. It includes a curved sole shell 29 which is pivotally attached. The pivot bolt 30 is placed near the forefoot and is attached to the side wall of the foot support shell 28 and the sole shell 2.
9 through the hole in the side wall of the shoe 9, and attach the shoe sole shell 29 to the turning bolt 3
Rotate vertically about 0. Foot support shell 2
8 has a soft insole and the sole shell 29 has a non-slip bottom cover (not shown).

The foot support assembly 3 includes a forefoot strap 31.
And an instep strap 32 which are adjusted to pass through buckle rings 33, 34 respectively and to secure themselves using "Velcro" strips 35, 36 etc. can do. The buckle ring 33 includes a hook 37 and a hook bolt 3
8 and the like are connected to the foot support assembly 28. The instep strap 32 is coupled with a foot strap tightening mechanism 44 to tighten the foot when the patient's weight is applied to the sole.
The foot strap tightening mechanism 44 has a buckle ring 34 and a cable 41, and the cable 41 is connected to the buckle ring 34 by a cable clamp 42 or the like.
It then faces downwards and passes around the hole guide 43 in the side wall of the foot support shell 28 and into the sole side wall hole 47 in the sole shell 29.
Through the same foot strap tightening mechanism on the side wall of the foot. Thus, an actuation device is formed that is operatively connected to the tightening mechanism and coupled to the sole and is movable relative to the sole when the weight of the patient is applied to the sole.

The rotation stop pin 45 is used for the foot support shell 2.
8 press-fitted into one of the foot support shells 28 near the heel of the wall 8 through the slot 51 of the oscillating sole shell 29 and move the distance of the sole shell 29, and thus the working distance of the actuator. And control the amount of strap tightening. The walking shoe binding 1 also has a soft, flexible sleeve 48 covering the legs and feet inside the region of continuous overlap of the leg support assembly 2 and the foot support assembly 3. A compression spring 49 is connected to the foot support shell 28 and the sole shell 29 to return the sole shell 29 to the unloaded position when there is no contact load on the support surface.

In use, the walking shoe fastener 1 is worn on the wearer's limb by covering the limb with a soft, flexible sleeve 48 and placing the foot on the foot support assembly 2 and the leg on the leg support assembly 3. Position. The rear straps 16, front foot straps 31 and instep straps 32 are tightly tightened around the limb in the unloaded rest position and pass around the tightening rod member 20 and buckle rings 33, 34, respectively, to form a "Velcro" strip assembly. Solid 21, 35,
It is fixed at 36 itself. Thus, the walking shoe binding fits snugly in the unloaded rest position.

The stop pin 12 is press-fitted into a predetermined one of the stop pin holes 13 penetrating the upper arm 4 and is shown in the early and mid-stage of the heel when the ankle is fractured or the ligament is sprained. Maintaining a predetermined angle of dorsal curve of the ankle. When constant ankle movement is exhibited, such as during the late state of heel heel movement, one or more stop pins 12 are press fit into stop pin holes 13 that do not penetrate upper arm 4 and end stop. To form a part. The rotation stop pin 45 is press-fitted into a predetermined one of the stop pin rotation holes 46 to limit the tightening amount of the strap.

While the weight of the patient is being applied to the sole, when the sole shell 29 of the walking shoe binding contacts the walking surface, the sole shell 29 pivots upward about the pivot bolt 30. To do. Foot support shell 28 and sole shell 40
Hole guide 27, foot support shell 28, and shoe sole side wall hole 4
Since the distance from the hole guide 43 of 7 increases, the cable 2
2 and 41 are relatively short. As a result of such an actuator, tightening of the multiple back straps 16 of the leg is improved and the tightening rod 20 is pivoted about the tightening rod bolt 50 to increase stability and improve venous return and instep. Since the buckle ring 34 changes its position, the instep strap 32 is tightened. Thus, the tight fit position of the wearer's lower limbs provides temporary dynamic tightening of the leg support assembly 2 and foot support assembly 3 to secure the legs, ankles and feet against unwanted movements.

4 to 1 showing another embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, a walking shoe binding 60 includes a leg support assembly 6
1 and a foot support assembly 62, the leg support assembly 61 and foot support assembly 62 are coupled to a constant motion hinge assembly 63 at the ankle to provide an intermediate leg, ankle and foot. It is positioned on the side. Substantially rigid upper and lower arms 64, 65, respectively, are positioned on the medial lateral portion of the leg, ankle and foot and are attached to and from the leg support assembly 61 and foot support assembly 62, respectively. They each extend toward each other. The upper and lower arms 64, 65 attached to the foot support assembly, such as by rivets 66, are substantially identical to and operate in the same manner as the hinge assembly as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. It ends at the solid 63 and is attached by rivets 99 or the like.

The walking shoe binding 60 includes a leg support assembly 61 that surrounds the legs and forms a cuff, and a foot support assembly 62 that surrounds the legs and forms a boot. Leg support assembly 61
Has a number of leg straps 68 which traverse the legs and are covered by a "velcro" hook strip assembly 69 glued to the number of leg straps 68 and riveted or sewn onto the covering sleeve 67. Is removably attached to. The covering sleeve 67 comprises a neoprene sheet covered with a "Velcro" hook containing cloth.

The foot support assembly 62 includes a number of foot straps 7
0, these straps are removably secured to a foot support assembly 73 by a "Velcro" hook strip assembly 71 shaped to traverse and complement each other. 71 is glued, riveted or sewn to a number of straps 70 and a boot "Velcro" hook receiving assembly 72 attached to the foot support assembly 73 by rivets 95 and the like.

The foot support assembly 62 includes a substantially rigid, longitudinally oriented, generally H-shaped, cross-sectional, generally H-shaped, slip fit foot support shell 73, such as plastic, The foot support shell 73 is connected to a sole consisting of a curved rocking sole shell 74, which is substantially rigid and U-shaped in cross section (see FIG. 6), which rocks the sole shell 74. It is pivoted in a manner substantially similar to the assembly shown in FIG. A pivot stop pin 96 is press fit into one of the pivot stop holes 97 of the foot support shells 73 near the heel of the wall of the foot support shell 73 to increase the travel of the actuator and the amount of strap tightening. Control.

The walking shoe strap 60 also includes a leg support assembly 6 in substantially the same manner as the assembly as shown in FIGS.
1 and inside the continuous overlap front area of the foot support assembly 62 has a soft, flexible sleeve 76 covering the legs and feet. The compression spring 78 is used for the foot support shell 73 and the swing shoe sole shell 7.
It is connected to 4. The compression spring 78 returns the sole shell 74 to the unloaded position when no contact load is exerted on the support surface.

As shown in FIGS. 4-7, an inflatable fit is provided between the foot support shell 73 and the swing sole shell 74, and between the soft, flexible sleeve 76 and multiple leg straps. The bag 80 is positioned. The inflatable bladder 80 includes a lower chamber 81 between the foot support shell 73 and the swing sole shell 74 and an upper chamber 82 located between the multiple leg straps 68 and the soft flexible sleeve 76. Have. The inflatable bladder 80 comprises a lower side wall 83 and an upper side wall 84 which form a fluid-fillable bladder. In designing and manufacturing the bag 80, the position of the compression spring 78 is taken into consideration.

The bag 80 contains air, "Freon", gel or fluid or the like. When air is selected as the fluid, the lower wall 83 of the lower chamber 81, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, has a valve, such as a butterfly valve or flap valve 86, which is a bladder. A hole 87 in the lower side wall 83 of 80,
It has a flap 88 hinged to the lower wall 83 for movement in a closed or open relationship with the hole 87. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the lower chamber 81 has a valve 8
9 and is connected to the upper chamber 82 by a valve 89 having a hole 90 between the lower wall 83 of the upper chamber 82 and the upper wall 84 of the lower chamber 81. The flap 91 is attached to the lower wall 83 of the upper chamber 82.
The flap 91 has a hole 92 that allows a difference in air flow rate between the upper chamber 82 and the lower chamber 81 when the flap 91 is in the open position or the closed position.

In use, place the foot on the foot support assembly 62,
The walking shoe strap 60 is positioned on the wearer's limb by placing the leg on the leg support assembly 61. A soft, flexible sleeve 76 covers the limb. The foot strap 70 is "velcro" on the foot support shell 73 in the rest or unloaded position.
Positioned on the limb while tightly clamped and secured to the hook receiving strip assembly 72. A number of leg straps 68 are wrapped around the limb on the bag and, in the rest or unloaded position, tightly clamped and secured to the upper arm covering sleeve 67 with the "Velcro" hook strip assembly 69. Will be placed.

When the swinging sole shell 74 of the walking shoe binding is in contact with the walking surface when the weight of the patient is being applied to the sole, the swinging sole shell 74 is rotated by the rotating bolts 7.
Rotate upwards about 5. When the distance between the upper surface of the rocking sole shell 74 and the lower surface of the foot support shell 73 decreases,
The capacity of the bag 80 is reduced and some of the contained air is forced into the upper chamber 82 via the open valve 89. As a result of such an actuator, the number of leg straps 6 on the legs is increased due to the pressure of the number of leg straps 68 and the soft, flexible sleeve 76 and bag 80 inflated against the legs.
8 is tightened to increase leg, ankle and foot stability and improve venous return.

When the patient's weight is not applied to the sole of the shoe and the oscillating sole shell 74 of the walking shoe strap 60 is not in contact with the walking surface, the compression spring 78 causes the oscillating sole shell 74 to move. Return to the unloaded position. Thus, the distance between the upper surface of the rocking shoe sole shell 74 and the lower surface of the foot support shell 73 increases. As a result, the air capacity of the lower chamber 81 of the bag 80 increases. Because the valve 86 opens to allow ambient air into the lower chamber 81 and the valve 89 allows a portion of the air in the upper chamber 82 to pass through the hole 9 in the flap 91 of the valve 89.
This is because the leg straps 68 are loosened by flowing into the lower chamber 81 via 2. Thus, the slip fit on the wearer's limb provides a temporary dynamic tightening of the leg support assembly, thereby stabilizing the limb from unwanted movement. If oil is used as the fluid in the bag 80, the valve 8
9 has no flaps. If "Freon" is used, there is no valve 86.

FIG. 11 shows still another embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 16-16, a walking shoe binding 100 is shown having a leg support assembly 101 and a foot support assembly 102, which are both ankle and foot support assemblies 102. At that point, it is connected to a constant motion hinge assembly 103 and positioned on the medial side of the leg, ankle and foot.

Substantially rigid upper and lower arms 104, 105 are provided on the medial sides of the leg, ankle and foot, respectively, and these upper and lower arms 104, 10 are provided.
5 are attached to the leg support assembly 101 and the foot support assembly 102 and extend therefrom toward each other. The lower arm 105 is attached to the foot support assembly, such as by rivets 106, and the upper and lower arms 104, 105 are attached.
Is a constant motion hinge assembly 103 which is substantially identical to and operates similarly to the hinge assembly as shown in FIGS.
It ends at and is attached to these by a hinge.

The leg support assembly 101 includes a number of leg straps 108 which traverse the legs and which, like those shown in FIGS. 4-6, each upper arm 104 by means of rivets 106 or the like. One or both sides of the legs are removably fixed to the covering sleeve 110 attached to the. The covering sleeve 110 is constructed of "Velcro" hook containing material. The multiple leg straps 108 have a "Velcro" hook strip assembly 111 sewn to the straps 108.

The foot support assembly 102 has a number of foot straps 109 that traverse the foot and are shaped to complement each other, similar to that shown in FIG. Removably secured by Velcro "hook strip assemblies 112, which are sewn to a foot strap 109 that is glued or riveted to a foot support shell 114.

The foot support assembly 102 is substantially rigid and longitudinally oriented and is generally H-shaped in cross-section (see FIG. 14).
Has a foot support shell 114 that is substantially rigid and is generally U-shaped in cross-section (see FIG. 14).
Of curved foot sole shell 115, which is substantially similar to the assembly as shown in FIG. 1, by means of an oscillating foot pivot bolt 116. It is pivotally attached to the support shell 114. The walking shoe binding 100 also includes a sleeve 76 as shown in FIGS.
And a soft, flexible sleeve 117 similar to. The compression spring 118 is used for the foot support shell 114 and the swing sole shell 1.
15 and returns the rocking sole shell 115 to the unloaded position when no contact load is exerted on the support surface.

A tightening bar 120, which is substantially U-shaped and slightly flexible and is made of metal or plastic, is slidably connected to the upper surface of the rocking sole shell 115 by a guide 119. The clamp bar 120 has a clamp arm 121 which extends upwardly through the slot 122 of the foot support shell 114 and along the inside of each lower arm 105 on the medial side of the leg. There is. At this time, each tightening arm 121 extends upward inside each upper arm 104. The tightening bar 120 slides on the upper surface of the rocking sole shell 115 to accommodate the angular movement of the leg support assembly 101 relative to the foot support assembly 102. Numerous complementary shaped wedge assemblies 125, 12
6 at several levels, with rivets 123 etc.
It is attached to the outer surface of each tightening arm 121 and the outer surface of each upper arm 104. As a modified example, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, a lever arm 130 is pivotally mounted between the tightening arm 121 and the upper arm 104 by a pin 131 or the like, and when they move relative to each other, the distance between the arms is increased or decreased.

When the swing shoe sole shell 115 of the walking shoe binding contacts the walking surface while the weight of the patient is being added to the shoe sole, the swing shoe sole shell 115 is rotated by the pivot bolt 1.
It rotates upward about 16 as a center. Thus, the tightening bar 120 and the tightening arm 121 are connected to each upper arm 10
4 to move upwardly to move complementary wedge assemblies 125, 126 that are shaped to complement each other.
21 and each upper arm 104 are increased in distance. As a result of such an actuating device, due to the pressure of each clamping arm 121 against each upper arm 104, a large number of leg straps 108 on the legs are clamped, and a large number of leg straps 108.
The soft, flexible sleeve 117 towards the leg, and the leg and upper arm 104 increase stability and improve venous return.

The compression spring 118 unloads the oscillating sole shell 115 when the oscillating sole shell 115 of the walking shoe binding 80 does not contact the walking surface while the patient's weight is not applied to the sole. Return to the position. Clamping bar 120 and clamping arm 121 each move downward with respect to each upper arm 104 to move complementary complementary shaped wedge assemblies 125, 126 away from each other, and tightening arm 121 and clamping arm 121. The number of leg straps 108 on the legs is loosened by reducing the distance to the upper arm 104. Thus, a close slip fit on the wearer's limb provides a temporary dynamic tightening of the leg support assembly, thereby stabilizing the limb from unwanted movement.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a walking shoe fastener constructed according to the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing a portion of a walking shoe binding fixed to a leg.

3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing a portion of a mechanism used to dynamically tighten a walking shoe brace to a leg.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a walking shoe fastener constructed according to another embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 4 showing a portion of a modified embodiment walking shoe brace fixed to a leg.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing a portion of the mechanism used to dynamically tighten the walking shoe brace to the leg.

FIG. 7 is a reduced plan view of the lower surface of the bag of FIG.

8 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of the bag of FIG. 7, showing the flap valve on the lower wall of the lower chamber of the bag with the flap open.

9 is a plan view of the valve of FIG. 8 showing the flap closing the hole in the lower wall of the lower chamber of the bag.

10 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of the bag of FIG. 7, showing the flap valve between the upper and lower chambers of the bag with the flaps open.

11 is a plan view of the valve of FIG. 8 showing the flap closing the hole in the wall between the upper and lower chambers of the bag.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a walking shoe fastener constructed in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention.

13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 12 showing a portion of a modified embodiment of a walking shoe brace secured to a leg.

14 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 12 showing a portion of the mechanism used to dynamically tighten a walking shoe brace to a foot.

15 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a part of the wedge tightening mechanism of FIG. 14 in a tightened state.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a part of another level tightening mechanism in a tightened state.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A walking shoe fastener for stabilizing an ankle of a patient, comprising a shoe sole and at least one strap member for fastening to the foot, and a strut for receiving the foot of the patient. Rigid foot support assembly and at least one strap member for fastening to the leg to provide a substantially rigid foot support assembly for receiving a corresponding leg of a patient; Constant motion hinge assembly for connecting the foot support assembly to the leg support assembly, and an actuating device coupled to the sole for being moved relative to the sole in response to the addition of the patient's weight to the sole. And at least one strap member for increasing tightening of the strap member to the foot and / or leg in response to movement of the actuator relative to the sole by adding the weight of the patient to the sole. Tightening mechanism, Walking shoes fastener, which comprises. 2. Further comprising at least one stop pin operably connected to the hinge assembly and the leg support assembly for controlling forward and backward movement of the leg support relative to the hinge assembly. The walking shoe fastener according to claim 1. 3. A walking shoe fastener for securing the ankle between a patient's foot and leg, for increasing the degree of tightening when the patient adds weight, the walking shoe fastener comprising: A shoe having a substantially rigid bearing surface and a foot strap adapted to rest on the instep portion of the shoe, substantially immovably secured to the shoe, extending substantially upward from the shoe, and a leg A substantially rigid cuff with leg straps for placement around the shoe and a shoe sole attached to the shoe that engages the ground when the patient applies weight to the bearing surface of the shoe. And is configured and positioned to engage means for enabling movement of the sole against a rigid support surface when the patient applies weight to the shoe and sole, the ends of which are the feet. Simultaneously with boots and parts of soles at the ends and middle of the straps and leg straps Relative movement of the sole of the patient's weight, further including engaged and attached cable means, pulls the foot and leg straps with increased force toward the foot and leg, respectively, whereby the patient Walking shoe strap in response to the weight of the shoe being applied to the sole to temporarily increase the degree of tightness with which the fastener engages the foot and leg. 4. A walking shoe according to claim 3, including means for limiting the extent to which the sole can move relative to the shoe when the weight of the patient is applied to the sole. Fastener. 5. The walking shoe fastener according to claim 4, wherein the movement restricting means has means for adjusting a relative movement amount of the shoe sole. 6. A walking shoe fastener according to claim 4, characterized in that it is provided between the shoe and the cuff and has means for changing the angular gradient between them. 7. The walking shoe fastener of claim 3, further comprising a tightening mechanism operatively connected to the actuator and the strap member and having a fluid-filled bag. 8. The walking shoe fastener of claim 3, further comprising a tightening mechanism having a bar operably connected to the actuating device and the strap member. 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising a tightening mechanism operatively connected to the actuator for temporarily increasing the tightening of the strap member while the weight of the patient is applied to the sole. Item 8. The walking shoe fastener according to Item 8. 10. An actuator for moving between an unloaded position and a loaded position, and a return member operatively connected to the sole and the actuator for returning the actuator to the unloaded position. The walking shoe fastener according to claim 8, wherein the walking shoe fastener is included.