GB120933A - Improvements in and relating to Removable and Replaceable Thumbs and Fingers for Artificial Hands. - Google Patents

Abstract

120,933. Rudge, T. Aug. 30, 1917. Limbs, artificial.-The fingers and thumbs of a hand, adapted for movement either separately or as rigid combinations of two, three, or four fingers, are adapted for insertion in slots or recesses which are formed in the body of the hand and are provided with suitable operating- parts making connexion with others upon the inserted fingers; fingers of one shape may thus be replaced by those of another. The fingers themselves may be articulated. Fig. 3 shows a hand of which the thumb is detachable, and also the four fingers in one piece. The thumb is rocked about a pivot A<2> by means of an arm A<1> connected by a small spring C to a main spring B that is pushed outwards to flex the thumb by means of link-work F, G, H causing a rotation about a pivot C<1> as a rod F is pushed outwards by longitudinal movement of a rod X having a lever connexion with an operating-member in the wrist and arm, to which the hand is secured by a screw socket Z. The thumb, with its arm A<1>, is inserted into a slot S pressed in the body of the hand as shown in Fig. 4; similarly, a set of four fingers has a projection L for taking into a suitable recess in the body of the hand, together with a rooking-arm M, and a recess R through which a pivot pin N is passed. Fig. 5 shows an arrangement for flexing the fingers about joints W by means of cords Q, passing over pulleys V to rocking-arms upon the fingers, and working against restoring-springs U. These cords are operated by levers O hooking into stationary recesses P, Figs. 3 and 4, in the body of the hand, whereby the fingers are flexed at this joint simultaneously and as the result of their main movement derived from the central rod X at the wrist. Fig. 4 shows two rigid fingers V<2> in position upon a pivot pin Y<2>, held by a lock-nut in a recess Z<2>, and also in edge view the mechanisms T for operating the thumb and the fingers. A slot S<2> admits the pro. jecting part of the rigid first and second fingers (not shown) for movement about a pivot pin W<2>