COMFORTABLE ORTHOPAEDIC SUPPORT AND THE METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

摘要

An ankle support (100) is constructed using a molded pad (110) and a rigid shell (112). The pad (110) and the shell (112) may be sealed together to form a bladder-pad cushion for comfort. The internal structure of the pad (110) is molded to include geometrically shaped cells of various size, shape and thickness to provide differing levels of localized comfort to the user of the ankle support (100). The pad may be made from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) which is spring-like and resists compression sets. The pad may include integrally-molded fingers extending to the shell. The fingers may have different lengths in one or more regions, in order to increase the cushioning effect in a particular region. The pad/shell combination may form a sealed bladder, and a pneumatic pump may be provided in conjunction with the shell so that the user can inflate the bladder.