Abstract: A knee brace for use by athletes or others requiring protection and support of the knee. The knee brace protects against abnormal motions of the knee, and provides direct and indirect patella stabilization. A base comprised of elastic material is configured to closely fit around portions of the knee and adjacent leg portions. Direct patella support is provided by upper crossed straps that are permanently fastened to the base and cross the front of the leg above the knee, or by lower crossed straps that are permanently fastened to the base and cross the front of the leg below the knee, or by both upper and lower crossed straps. Additional direct patella support may be provided by a patella opening. One or more generally upright lateral pockets containing semi-rigid stays may also be provided on the sides of the base for lateral support. A popliteal opening may be provided to reduce the possibility of chafing at the rear of the knee.

Abstract: A knee brace for use by athletes or others requiring protection and support of the knee. The knee brace protects against abnormal motions of the knee, and provides direct and indirect patella stabilization. A base comprised of elastic material is configured to closely fit around portions of the knee and adjacent leg portions. Direct patella support is provided by upper crossed straps that are permanently fastened to the base and cross the front of the leg above the knee, or by lower crossed straps that are permanently fastened to the base and cross the front of the leg below the knee, or by both upper and lower crossed straps. Additional direct patella support may be provided by a patella opening. One or more generally upright lateral pockets containing semi-rigid stays may also be provided on the sides of the base for lateral support. A popliteal opening may be provided to reduce the possibility of chafing at the rear of the knee.

Abstract: A knee brace for use by athletes or others requiring protection and support of the knee. The knee brace protects against abnormal motions of the knee, and provides direct and indirect patella stabilization. A base comprised of elastic material is configured to closely fit around portions of the knee and adjacent leg portions. The knee brace includes at least one upright support member attached to a lateral side of the base, where the upright support member is curved with an upper portion bending away from the front central axis of the brace and a lower portion that bends toward the front central axis of the brace.

Abstract: An ankle brace comprising a base of flexible material shaped to wrap around the sides of a foot and ankle and underneath a portion of the foot, with a support strap for protecting the anterior talofibular ligament. The two ends of the support strap are fixed to the base at or near the forward edges of the base. The strap is not otherwise fixed to the base underneath the sole of the foot, allowing the strap to move freely under the foot to conform to the particular size and shape of the foot of a particular wearer. The ankle brace features a symmetric construction which allows the ankle brace to be worn on either the left or the right foot, simplifying manufacturing and inventory management.

Abstract: An ankle brace comprising a base of flexible material shaped to wrap around the sides of a foot and ankle and underneath a portion of the foot, with a support strap for protecting the anterior talofibular ligament. The two ends of the support strap are fixed to the base at or near the forward edges of the base. The strap is not otherwise fixed to the base underneath the sole of the foot, allowing the strap to move freely under the foot to conform to the particular size and shape of the foot of a particular wearer. The ankle brace features a symmetric construction which allows the ankle brace to be worn on either the left or the right foot, simplifying manufacturing and inventory management.

Abstract: A knee brace for use by athletes or others requiring protection and support of the knee. A base is configured to closely fit around front, side, and back portions of the knee joint and adjacent upper and lower leg portions. The portions of the base located adjacent to the front portions of the knee joint are made of elastic panels that stretch primarily in the vertical direction, so that the base conforms closely throughout the entire range of motion of the knee joint. The portions of the base located adjacent to the side and back portions of the knee joint can be made of elastic panels that stretch primarily in the horizontal direction. Upper and lower support strap segments and upper and lower fastening straps may also be provided.

Abstract: A knee brace for use by athletes or others requiring protection and support of the knee. The knee brace protects against abnormal motions of the knee, and provides direct and indirect patella stabilization. A base comprised of elastic material is configured to closely fit around portions of the knee and adjacent leg portions. Direct patella support is provided by upper crossed straps that are permanently fastened to the base and cross the front of the leg above the knee, or by lower crossed straps that are permanently fastened to the base and cross the front of the leg below the knee, or by both upper and lower crossed straps. Additional direct patella support may be provided by a patella opening. One or more generally upright lateral pockets containing semi-rigid stays may also be provided on the sides of the base for lateral support. A popliteal opening may be provided to reduce the possibility of chafing at the rear of the knee.

Abstract: An adjustable fit athletic supporter in which the length of the waistband, the length of the leg straps, or both, may be adjusted to closely fit a person. According to another aspect of the invention, the waistband, or leg straps, or both, may bear sizing indicia or numbers to indicate the dimensions of an athletic supporter that closely fits a person. According to yet another aspect of the invention, the dimensions of an athletic supporter that closely fits a person may be used to custom tailor an athletic supporter for that person. An adjustable fit athletic supporter and method therefor according to the invention may more closely fit a person, and may reduce inventory requirements.

Abstract: An ankle brace comprising a base of flexible material shaped to wrap around the sides of a foot and ankle and underneath a portion of the foot, with a support strap for protecting the anterior talofibular ligament. The two ends of the support strap are fixed to the base at or near the forward edges of the base. The strap is not otherwise fixed to the base underneath the sole of the foot, allowing the strap to move freely under the foot to conform to the particular size and shape of the foot of a particular wearer. The ankle brace features a symmetric construction which allows the ankle brace to be worn on either the left or the right foot, simplifying manufacturing and inventory management.

Abstract: An ankle brace that is configured to integrate with footwear. The ankle brace includes loops located near the forward edges of the base. After the brace is secured to the foot and ankle, footwear is applied over the ankle brace, and the laces of the footwear are passed through the loops in order to secure the footwear to the ankle brace and form an integrated structure. Relief openings in the ankle brace are also provided to enhance the conformance of the ankle brace to the foot and ankle as the shape of the foot and ankle changes across the range of motion of the foot and ankle.

Abstract: A knee brace for use by athletes or others requiring protection and support of the knee. The knee brace protects against abnormal motions of the knee, and provides direct and indirect patella stabilization. A base comprised of a tubular sleeve of elastic material is configured to closely fit around the knee joint and adjacent upper and lower leg portions. One or more generally upright lateral pockets containing semi-rigid stays are provided on the sides of the base for lateral support. Direct patella support is provided by a reinforced circular hole in the base and two straps that cross the front of the leg above the knee. Indirect patella support is provided by a resilient member in a pocket. Different resilient members and a lower support strap located across the resilient member just below the patella may be used to adjust the amount of indirect patella support provided by the resilient member.

Abstract: An ankle brace that can be configured to fit feet and ankles of differing sizes. The brace includes a base that wraps around the sides and rear of the foot and ankle, with forward edges that come toward another but do not meet. Two movable flaps are releasably fixed to the base, one on each side of the base, using hook and loop type fastening material. Straps and loops are mounted in alternating fashion on the forward edges of the two flaps, with one end of each strap remaining free. The free end of each strap can be trained through a loop mounted on the opposite movable flap and then looped back for attachment to the mounted end of the strap using hook and loop type fastening material, to fasten the brace securely to the foot and ankle. By repositioning the movable straps the effective size of the brace is varied.

Abstract: An ankle brace designed to limit inversion, eversion and twisting movements while allowing near-normal flexion and extension. The ankle brace includes a medial member and a lateral member, each of which has a forward edge, a bottom edge and a rearward edge. The forward edges are associated with one another to define a front support portion of the ankle brace. Similarly, the bottom edges are connected and define a base support portion of the ankle brace. Finally, the rearward edges are associated with one another to define a rear support portion which further includes a one direction stretch material strip. The material strip is disposed at the rear support portion such that during use, the material strip stretches with flexion of the user's ankle. However, the material strip and remaining components remain relatively rigid in other directions to limit inversion, eversion and twisting movements.

Abstract: A lightweight wrist brace has a flexible base which extends along the palm and receives a stiffening member within a pocket. A narrow hand strap extends upwardly and sidewardly from the base at about 105-120 degrees on each side of the base. The two hand straps wrap around the hand and are connected to each other with hook and loop fasteners across the dorsal area of the hand. Two wrist straps are spaced from one another at the rearward end of the base. The wrist straps have hook material and loop material disposed thereon and are releasably received within rings positioned adjacent each strap where it extends from the base. The wrist brace is thus capable of being worn on either a right or a left hand and is adapted for wear by people with varying size wrist and hands.

Abstract: An ankle brace designed to limit inversion, eversion and twisting movements while allowing near-normal flexion and extension. The ankle brace includes a medial member and a lateral member, each of which has a forward edge, a bottom edge and a rearward edge. The forward edges are associated with one another to define a front support portion of the ankle brace. Similarly, the bottom edges are connected and define a base support portion of the ankle brace. Finally, the rearward edges are associated with one another to define a rear support portion which further includes a one direction stretch material strip. The material strip is disposed at the rear support portion such that during use, the material strip stretches with flexion of the user's ankle. However, the material strip and remaining components remain relatively rigid in other directions to limit inversion, eversion and twisting movements.

Abstract: A back brace for providing back support to the lumbar region of a wearer. The back brace includes a band that wraps around the torso region of a person in covering relationship to the region of the iliac crests. The base has accommodation panels attached to it that cover the iliac crest regions and accommodate the protuberance thereof in order to provide a better fit on the body. In one embodiment, the base includes an elastic band and the panels are of an inelastic material. In another embodiment, the brace includes a waist band that is of an inelastic material, and the accommodation panels covering the iliac crests are formed of an elastic material.

Abstract: An adjustable size ankle brace that can be configured to be fitted on feet of differing sizes. The brace includes a base that wraps around the foot and ankle on the sides and rear thereof. The base has forward edges that come toward one another over the front superior foot and ankle region but do not meet. The edges are spaced apart by a gap that is closed by an adjustable closure assembly. Lateral and medial movable flaps are releasable fixed to the sides of the base by means of hook and loop type fastening material. The flaps carry lace eyelets. The eyelets are connected by a common lace. The flaps can be moved on the base to vary the circumference size encompassed by the base and accordingly the size of the brace.

Abstract: A back brace having an at least partially elastic waist belt, a substantially non-elastic rear waist belt portion and a pair of arms extending from the rear portion and having overlapping interconnecting end portions for holding the belt in place around the waist of a human body. Each of the arms carries a pocket, and each of the pockets is adapted to carry a stiff, flexible stay. A pair of non-elastic shoulder straps each have one end anchored by the rear member of the back brace or belt and another end adjustably anchored by a strap connector which is in turn connected to a non-elastic strap support mounted on each arm. Each of the pockets and its related insert have a curved upper portion specifically designed to adapt to the curvature of the lower rib of the body.

Abstract: An immobilizing wrist brace in the form of a base conformable as a sleeve to a human wrist and including a longitudinal support member adapted to overlie the anterior portion of a wrist, the support member including a distal extension adapted to extend into the palmar area of the hand. A pair of anchor straps are fitted to the distal extension and extend therefrom in generally opposite directions to fit around different portions of the hand to allow ambidextrous use of the brace. A pair of straps encircle the brace to enhance wrist immobilization.