7 is a perspective view of the ankle brace of FIG. Air forced in a direction opposite to the air drawn in (exiting the bladders 22 and 24) forces the flaps together which creates a substantially airtight seal. A relief valve and/or pin holes in the bladders prevent excessive pressure in the bladders and provide reduced support when the user is inactive. For instance, in T. E. Grim, U.S. Pat. In addition, various arrangements have been proposed for ventilating shoes by circulating air through the shoes. MDS is a full service Durable Medical Equipment (DME)/Home Medical Equipment (HME) provider of equipment and supplies for Sale, Rental or Repair. The method of claim 9 further comprising supplying fluid to the bladders through at least one bladder inlet valve, and after said supplying step, releasing fluid from the bladders through at least one bladder relief valve. 3. 4,414,760. Additional inflatable bladders may be placed between the pulsating bladders and the foot, ankle, and lower leg to provide support and cushioning as well as protect the injured limb from the rigid support shell should any of the pulsating bladders puncture. The method of claim 9 wherein said applying step includes the individual running or walking on that foot on the support surface. Pneumatic ankle brace with bladder and pump arrangement. 5. 7, so that the ankle brace 16 is firmly in position. If not, the wearer would position the side supports 18 and 20 to both sides of the ankle, and then after the side supports 18 and 20 are properly positioned, the ankle brace 16 would be held in place using the strap members 34 and 36. With reference to FIGS. Typical patents showing this type of arrangement include M. Dunker, U.S. Pat. While this arrangement prevents undesired eversion, inversion and anterior subluxation caused by activity, it also allows for reduced pressure during rest periods. FIGS. with articulations inflatable, Orthopaedic devices, e.g. 2, which serve to create channels through which fluid transfer can take place between the pump 26 and the inflatable bladders 22 and 24. It should be further mentioned that all bladder arrangements 22, 30, 24 and 32, preferably, are to be distributed with a certain amount of preinflation. These strap members 34 and 36 also include Velcro portions 40 and 42 on their outer surfaces, and with Velcro material 44 and 46 at the end portions of the straps. 4,844,094 may be used. Additional inflatable bladders 30 and 32 as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. The inflatable bladders 22 and 24 can be attached to the side supports 18 and 20 using a Velcro-type fabric, double sided adhesive or any other suitable means. The present invention incorporates a lace fastening means similar to that set forth in detail in Grim, U.S. Pat. By having this arrangement the counter strap 60 may be adjusted in a similar manner to the bottom strap 33 to prevent the back portion of the side support members 18 and 20 from twisting or flexing outward at the lower end of the ankle brace 16 to compress the distal 1/3 to 1/2 of the brace. 4, the walls 87 of bladder 22 and 24 are constructed of a non-porous resilient material such as urethane. with articulations, Orthopaedic devices, e.g. The present invention includes, in addition to the strap arrangement set forth above, a counter strap 60 which is similar in construction to the bottom strap 33. In one embodiment of the present invention the two main inflatable bladders 22 and 24 are interconnected with the foot pump 26. In accordance with one specific illustrative embodiment of this invention, a new and improved pneumatic ankle brace is provided for insertion into a shoe having laces, which provides various and therapeutically desired amounts of pressure, support and massaging action to the foot, ankle and lower leg. 5 is a cross-sectional view of one of the additional bladders and cushioning member of the bladder taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. The foregoing and still further features and advantages of the present invention as well as a more complete understanding thereof will be made apparent from a study of the following detailed description of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings. These patents disclose the use of air pumping arrangements actuated by foot pressure for circulating air through a shoe. Subsequently the bladders 22, 30, 24 and 32 are inflated to their therapeutically desired pressure by using, for example, an attachable hand-held pump. For example, in FIG. 3; FIG. The side supports 18 and 20 may be securely attached around the lower leg and ankle just below the calf area using two strap members 34 and 36, as shown in FIGS. 10. 7, these straps 34 and 36 may be tightly drawn around the lower leg using the Velcro material so that the ankle brace 16 securely and firmly supports the ankle. In this embodiment, the two bladders 22 and 24 and the pump 26 are formed with one welding process and may be considered one member, but this invention is not so limited to not include those bladders which are connected to the pump by other fluid transfer means such as with tubes or valves. 3,331,146; and J. Faiella, U.S. Pat. applying sequential pressure and at least partial release thereof to the resilient foot pump and through and by movement of the foot relative to a support surface; wherein said applying step moves fluid back-and-forth between the resilient foot pump and the first bladder and between the resilient foot pump and the second bladder, the fluid back-and-forth movements creating a pulsing action which has a massaging compression effect that reduces swelling of the individual's lower leg extremity. with articulations without articulation, Orthopaedic devices, e.g. The operation of the ankle brace 16 of the present invention would be as follows. No. We are committed to providing for all your home medical equipment and supply needs and stand by our promise with guaranteed service. The foot pump thereby creates a pulsing action which leads to a massaging compression effect that will help reduce swelling and increase venous and lymphatic return. The foot pump is activated through normal use, such as walking or running, whereby entrapped fluid is displaced back and forth between the main bladders and the pump. ROYCE MEDICAL COMPANY, CALIFORNIA, Free format text: The brace of claim 1 wherein said side supports are formed of a relatively stiff or rigid material and are limited to the sides of the lower leg, ankle, and heel of the user. The pump 26 may be constructed by welding in a foam of a thickness or space provided by the surrounding semi-enclosed pump material, preferably urethane or some other resilient material, whereby the foam is placed in a compressed state initially and when further compressed by the foot will be more resilient and recover quicker than if not compressed. Also included are two main inflatable bladders 22 and 24 and a pump 26 which are interconnected and in one embodiment are formed with one welding process. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the constructions precisely as shown in the drawings or described in the detailed description. No. The bladders 22 and 24 expand a maximum width of approximately two and one-half inches. 15. This fabric coating 88 is approximately 0.002 inch thick in another embodiment of the present invention. This pulsing action creates a massaging compression effect that helps reduce swelling and increases venous and lymphatic return. 2. The brace of claim 1 further comprising a fabric laminated to said first and second bladders, adjacent to the lower leg extremity, to provide comfort to and to allow the skin of the user's lower leg extremity to breathe. Thus, the proper distance may be easily adjusted between the side support members 18 and 20 at the lowermost portions thereof. After injury to an ankle, such as a fracture or severe sprain thereof, it is often necessary to completely immobilize the injured ankle through the use of a molded plaster or resin cast. A pneumatic ankle brace having a pair of relatively rigid side supports with inflatable main bladders attached to their inside surfaces. When foot pressure is released from the pump, its resilient configuration draws the fluid back into its volume. SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:ROYCE MEDICAL COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:016610/0376, Owner name: 8 a heel cup 100 which may or may not be inflatable may be included to provide further support to the ankle region. The ends of the strap 35 would then be firmly pressed down on the Velcro material 54 and 56 to lock the strap 33 in position. ANTARES CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT, ILLINOIS, Free format text: 7. If the brace 16 has been previously used, the bottom strap 33 and the counter strap 60 would already have been adjusted. Specifically, the adjustment is accomplished by positioning the ends of the strap 33 to extend from the outside of each support member 18 and 20 through opening 50 or 52 and then through the other one of the openings 50 or 52 and then attached by the Velcro material 54. splints, casts or braces specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. Interconnecting the two side support members 18 and 20 is a bottom strap 33. 7, and the laces laced through the holes 70 or in other fastening means located at the lower end of the side supports 18 and 20. The brace of claim 1 further comprising lower ends of said side supports being insertable into sides of a shoe having laces, and fastening means on said side supports for receiving the laces of the shoe so that the laces can be tightened and tied to restrain movement of the ankle. a bladder-pump assembly including a first bladder, a second bladder, a resilient foot pump, first channel means for providing fluid communication back-and-forth between said first bladder and said foot pump, and second channel means for providing fluid communication back-and-forth between said second bladder and said foot pump, said first bladder being positioned to provide a cushion between one side of the ankle and said first side support, said second bladder being positioned to provide a cushion between the other side of the ankle and said second side support, said bladders at least in part supporting the user's foot and ankle against inversion and eversion, said bladder-pump assembly having a preinflated constant fluid volume during operation of said ankle brace, said foot pump being positioned under the foot and thereby subject to foot pressure during the user's foot impact activity; wherein said foot pump when subjected to repeated foot pressure and release thereof causes a pulsing action of fluid in said bladder-pump assembly back-and-forth between said first bladder and said pump through said first channel means and back-and-forth between said second bladder and said pump through said second channel means, the fluid pulsing action providing a massaging compression effect to the foot and the ankle to reduce swelling thereof. The additional inflatable bladders may be located distally and adjacent to the pulsating bladders. 4,844,094 to insure that the side supports 18 and 20 do not twist or flex outward and to more properly stabilize and compress the ankle against inversion, eversion and anterior subluxation. Another object of this invention is to provide a more comfortable ankle brace which will firmly support an injured lower leg. We do this by consistently offering quality brand name products, competitive pricing and exceptional customer service. This padding 89 is about five inches in length and provides further comfort to the region surrounding the ankle. No. In such a valve, air drawn in (entering the bladders 22 and 24) forces the valve's sealing flaps, which are normally biased together, apart which allows the air to flow into the valve. 2321817, Published Nov. 15, 1973. 11. 1 and 2, placed distally upon the main inflatable bladders 22 and 24, are provided for in the present invention. In another embodiment, additional bladders 30 and 32 may also be made to pulsate by activation of foot pump 26, and the longer main bladders 22 and 24 may serve as non-pulsating protective membranes.