US1343298A

US1343298A - Artificial limb

Info

Publication number: US1343298A
Application number: US258965A
Authority: US
Inventors: Oscar E Worman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1918-10-21
Filing date: 1918-10-21
Publication date: 1920-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 1937-06-15

Description

0. E. WORMAN.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.2I. 1918.

1,343,298. PatentedJune15,.1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1'.

96% fm/enfors Oscar E. Worman.

5g MW 0. E. WORMAN.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2h I918.

' 1,343,298. PatentedJune15,1920.

2' SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Oscar E. Worman.

his Affornegs.

UNITED STATE r ATi T OFFicsf OSCAR E. WORIVIAN, or MINNEAPOLIS; MINNESOTA.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

tion.

My invention relates to artificial limbs V and more particularly to artificial members for use in cases of amputation below the knee, although some of the essential features may also be used in cases of amputat on above the knee. An object of my invention is to provide an artificial member which will not only resemble the corresponding human member in appearance, but will function in a manner similar thereto, so that persons who have been crippled by the loss of certain limbs may have'their usefulness restored while at the same time the handicap in personal appearance is overcome. Another object is to provide an artificial limb wh ch may be readily manufactured and which will insure the greatest degree of comfort to the wearer The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in'connection wlth the detailed description thereof and the novel features embodied in my inventive idea are particularly pointed out in the claims. I

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention embodied in an artificial limb intended for use more particularly in cases ofamputation below the knee.

Figure 1 is a side view partly in section showing a foot and shankmember attachedv to the stump below the knee. Fig. 2 is a side View showing the lower knee joint strap extending from the knee joint to the ankle joint. Fig. 3 is a View showing the shank member constructed in skeleton form instead of in the form of a shell. Fig. 1 is a View showing the knee bent into the position which it assumes when the wearer is seated. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the slip socket and the collar attached thereto. Fig. 6 is a' view in cross-section showing a construction of joint'which may be used for the shell m'embers of artificial limbs. Fig; 7'is a view in cross-section showing another form of joint for the shell members. Figs. 8 to 12are detail views showing the construction of a i Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 15' 1920; Application filed October 21, 1918. Serial No. 258,965. I

edge View of one of straps. v

Referring to the particular construction shown inthe drawings which illustrate the the lower knee joint view of an attaching button. F ig 14 is an principles of my invention, and which may be varied in regard to mechanical details without departing from the spirit of the invention, 14. designates a shank member havmg a foot member 16 pivotally connected to the lower end thereof and having a' slip socket 18 supported in' the upper end thereof. If desired the foot member may be rigidly attached to the shank member with or without an ankle joint and the foot member may be formed of felt, wood, fiber, metal, rubber, leather or any combination thereof with or without a flexible toe member. A block 20 formed of wood or other suitable material is securely held within the bottom portion of the shank by screws, nails, rivets or glue. This block extends substantially to the bottom of the shank member and serves to strengthen and reinforce the latter, and also serves as-a means to which theankle joint is attached. The rear portion of the block is preferably beveled, so that the shell projects a little at the rear, and this projecting portion cooperates with a cut-out portion in the foot member adjacent thereto. In this way the space between the shank and foot member is substantially closed. The ankle joint is so constructed as to be self-oiling, and a convenient form of construction for this purpose is shown in detail in Figs. 8 to 12. A cylindrical shell or hollow journal bearing 22 has secured to it two rods 24 which extend up through holes in the block 20, these rods being screw-threaded at their upper ends to receive nuts 26 which may be locked in any suitable manner, as by aspring member vbetween them, as shown for locking the nuts at the lower end of the foot member. The

hollow member 22 is adapted to receive a' lubricant such as hard oil, grease or absorbent material for gradually supplying the oil with which it is impregnated. The lubricant isretained rinsaidmember by closing} the ends thereof, as by" means' 'of plugs-28. One of these may be used ateac h;

the container is provided with a small opening at 32 through which the lubricant may which the member is preferably provided.

This portion ofthe member 22 constitutes a'bearingto receive the'curved portion'of a.

yoke or U bolt which may be formed from a metal rod bent or curved into the proper shape, and which is flattened to form an extended bearing surface which is preferably of such extent as to extend entirely between the two flanges The two lower ends of the U bolt are screw-threaded to receive angular nuts 42 after the ends. have been passed through holes in the foot member 16, and also through holes in a bar washer or plate 46 lying in a recess inthe bottom of the foot member. This recess is normally covered by a pad member 47 of felt,leather or rubber and the pad may be turned back from the foot member so as to expose the recess, as shown in Fig. 1, by'

' loosening the screw or other fastening device which is customarily provided at the heel. nuts is preferably provided, and for this purpose I show a curved spring 48-located between the two nuts and secured in place by a screw 50 passing through the plate 46.

The ends of the curved spring 48 may be provided with serrations or notches 52 to engage the nuts. It is. evident that by this construction-the nuts will be prevented from becoming looseand'maybe tightened if desired to take up wear. Thecurved spring 48- may also be used betweenthe nuts 26 to lockthem as previously" stated. "The foot member 16 is pivotallyr mounted upon the lower end of the shank by the means just described and is held in normal position by cushion members or buffe'rs 54 and 56 located, respectively, in front of and behind the ankle joint. These buffers are 'posi'- tioned between the foot member 16 and-the block 20 and may consist of rubber or spring cushions, and in case metal springs are used they may be covered with leather) As i shown, the buffer 5l-is constructed of rub bera'nd the'buii'er- 56 1s ZL'COll sprmgfThis spring is preferably adjustable, and the fol-. lowing means maybeemployed for effecting the desired adjustment; The member 46 has one end thickenedfas by means of a nut 57 secured thereto and internallyscrew-thread ed to receive the screw-threaded lower end of a bolt 59 having an enlarged head or washer (il to'enga'ge the lower endof the spring '56. The extreme lower end of, the

bolt 59-maybe made square or'provided with a'notch, as shown, wherebyit maybe readily A suitable locking device for the turned to adjust the tension of the spring ror to take up any looseness thereof. A lock nut 63, shown in section in Fig. .11, may be provided for the bolt 59. The lower por .tion of the hollow member 22 rests in the curved recess in the top of the foot member, and this recess may have a lining of leather,

fiber, metal or otherdurable material to prevent wear of the foot member. foot is, on the ground, the weightof 'the weareris supported by the hollowmember 22 resting in its"recess,land when: the foot is lifted, the foot member is held to the shank member on accountof the portion 40 of the U bolt engaging the hollow member. As shown in Fig. 1, the plate in the recess When the in the bottom of the footmember may have its front end 65 turned downwardly and provided with. a screw-threaded opening-to receive screw threadson a bolt v67', the head of which engages a. spring '69 which is-located. between the main portion of the foot member and a jointed toe member secured Y thereto "by a suitable hinge 71. the foot member above the j oint-isclosed by means of a cover 73 .of leather or other suitable flexible material. I

The shank member is pivotally connected to the upper leg members by aknee joint formed least a portion of the weight of the wearer 18 supported upon the ankle joint member;

The straps are preferably securely fastened to the block 20 and to the shell of the shank in case a-shell-is employed, by means of' rivets, screws or other suitable fastenin s.

In the construction shown in Fig. 1 ,'.t e lower knee joint straps extend down from the knee joint-only a suflicient distance to be securely fastened to the shell by rivets, nails or screws and the upper portion of the straps is preferably formed with an inside The top 'of projection or offset 6% to rest upon the upper J edge of the shell-of the shank so as to relieve the strain and pressure which would otherwise come upon the fasteners which secure the strap to 'theshell. F The offset or projection 64 may rest in anotch or groove 65 in theupper edge or side of'the shank, and it is obvious that the offset or projec-- tion and the notch. orgroovemay be used Wltli the long straps, as well' as" with the short straps. InFig. 1, the top of the shank and a portion'of the socket member "toward the observer are 'broken away so as to show thepro ection or offset onthe knee joint strap which isflon the side away-from the observer. Fig. 14 is an edge view of a convenient form of lower knee joint strap, and, as shown in this figure, the strap is offset to provide a shoulder 31 to rest upon the top of the shank member or to be located within a recess in the top edge of such member. The shank member preferably serves as a guide for the slip socket 18, although it may if desired be used itself as a socket. The socket may be constructed of fiber, leather, rubber, textile material or any other moldable material, or any combination thereof which can be fitted to the stump of the wearer so that the limb may be worn with comfort and ease without chafing or irritating the stump. The socket may be shaped by molding over the stump or over a reproduced model of the same. The socket may be set in the top of the shank with or without being fastened thereto; with or without attachments for holding it to the limb; with or without attachments for suspending it from above; with or without attachments for holding it up to the stump of the wearer while the limb is being used; with or without attachments for permitting the socket to be released or lowered from the stump when the knee of the wearer is bent into po sition while seated for the purpose of resting the stump and for preventing heating and sweating and resultant tenderness. The socket is provided with a shoulder or collar 66 which, as shown, in Figs. 1 and 2, may

have a straight lower edge adapted to come into contact with the similarly-shaped upper edge of the shank when the weight of the wearer is received by the socket. The socket is preferably formed with a guide on each side for receiving as a. guide, the lower knee joint straps so that the socket may work up and down without turning out of position or leaving its proper place on the stump of the wearer. For this purpose, the collar portion 66 may be provided with recesses 68 on each side, as best shown in Fig. 5, or the socket may be provided with projections to receive between them, the knee joint straps. Fig. 2 shows a desirable construction of the collar 66 for the upper end of the slip socket and the adjacent or upper edge of the shank member. As illustrated in this figure, the lower edge of the collar is inclined upwardly from the front at each side until it reaches the knee joint straps and the rear lower edge of the collar is straight and at the place where it meets the rear edge of the lower knee joint strap at each side. of the shank is built up so as to form a shoulder 7 9 flush with the outer surface of the straps. The upper edge of the shank member is shaped to correspond withithe adjacent lower edge of the collar. The shoulder 7 9 extends down farther than the inclined adjacent portion ofthe collar, and being built up flush with the outer surface of the knee straps engages the vertical portion of the shank where the straight rear edge starts at a lower level The socket is preferably hung on supports consisting of leather, rubber, metal or any flexible, durable and strong material in or-" der tohold the socket up to the stump of the wearer when in use. These supports may consist of a loop fastened at its lower ends to the socket byrivets, buttons or hooks, and the upper end ofthe loop is connected to the upper leg member in any suitable manner, as by means of a spring, elastic, band or cord, which in turn may be secured to a lacer surrounding the upper leg member, or secured to the upper part of the upper knee strap. As shown, a loop member 70 is attached to the socket by buttons 72 and a spring or flexible member 74 0on nects this loop to a loop 7 6 which is .secured in any suitable manner to the lacer 78. The loop 76 is preferably adjustably secured in any suitable manner. As shown, a button 77 is provided over which any one of a series of button-holesin the loop may be placed. By means of these connections,

the socket is held up to the stump of the wearer when walking or standing, but, as shown in Fig. 4, the socket is released or loosened from the stump when the wearer bends the knee in a sitting. position, thereby preventing heating and sweating of the stump and also resting the same. The loop 7 for the socket may also be adjusted by using buckles or a screw adjustment similar to the rod 59. o

The upper knee joint strap 58 is pivotally connected to the lower knee joint strap by means of the cylinder, bushing or bolt 62 which may be held in position by a screw or fastener so inserted asto prevent the same from becoming loose, and said fastener being preferably so constructed as to come flush with the joint. The upper end of the knee joint strap 58 is fastened to the lacer 7 8 by means of rivets, screws, or other suitable fasteners, or may be glued or sewed thereto, and said strap may be attached on either the inside or. outside of the lacer, or between layers thereof.

The lacer 78 maybe made of leather, rubber, textile material or any other suitable material or combination thereof, which may be brought around. the thigh and securely fastened thereto, and a lining may be pro-.

vided if desired. The lacer may be secured in position on the limb of the wearer in any ing material running through eyelets, loops,

. hooks or any suitable kind of opening permitting of drawing the lacer tight upon the limb. As shownin Figs. 1, 2 and 4c, the lacer is provided with a row of eyelets 82 on each side .of the vertical opening, and a lacing 84; runs through the eyelets. If desired, the lacer may be provided with a tongue or flap 86 made ofleather, rubber, textile material or any other suitable materialto protect the skin of the wearer from irritation by the fasteners or the lacing. The tongue may be fastenedby sewing or riveting, or it may be a continuous part .Iof the lacer when the latter is made withmorethan one ply. In applying the lacer, the limb may be inserted from the top, and it is not necessary to entirely open up the lacer, as by completely removing the lacing. As shown in Fig. 3, each side ofthe vertical opening in' the lacer is provided with a row of combined eyelets and hooks, the eyelet portion beingv designated by 82 and the hook portion by 87. The lacing may extend through either the eyelets or the hooks, or partly through the eyelets and partly through the hooks. As illustrated, the lower part of the lacing extends through eyelets, the portion above this is passed over some of the hooks, while at the upper end, the lacing passes through the upper eyelet at each side of the opening. The lacer may, if desired, be constructed without a side or vertical opening so'as to form one continuous piece.

While the customary stop with which the knee joint at 62 is provided may be relied upon to prevent the. shank from swinging too far forward relatively to the thigh member, a non-adjustable check or hold-back 88 is preferably provided extending from the shank to the lacer at the rear and consisting of leather, rubber, cord or any other suitable material fastened or secured by buttons, hooks, eyelets or any other suitable attachments inserted in the shank and the lacer directly, or inserted in suitable material at tached to the shank and lacer. This check or hold-back relieves the strain on the knee joint and acts as a stop when the upper and lower leg members reach a vertical, or the desired position.

The limb may be supported from the shoulder by means of suspenders extending to the front part of the shank and fastened thereto by means of a suitable fastener'or button 92 at each side'of the shank. The suspenders may be made of webbing, leather, elastic or textile material, or'any combination thereof with suitable buckles or fasteners. The'buttons 92 are preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 13, and are composed of metal or suitable material adapted to form a button having a base 94: to rest upon the material, and having an enlarged outer portion to form a head 96 of any desirable shape. The buttons have a I hole extending centrally therethrough to receive a rivet having a head 98 by which the buttons are secured to the limb member. A blow on the outer end of the rivet serves to secure the buttons in place after they have been properly positioned upon the limb member. The other buttons which are used, 1

block 20 to the top ofthe shank, the ,bands' and straps being secured togetherin suitable manner, as by riveting or welding. Thisskeletonframework may be used alone or may be combined with moldable material to formthe shank member, or flexible material, such as leather and textile material, or other suitable material, may be 7 drawn over the framework to give'a finished appearanceto thevmember. If desired, the shank portion may beused as a single socket member incases of amputation below the knee by leaving off the lacer, the slip socket and the knee joints. 1

. When the shank is formed of fiber or simil'ar'material, thelongitudinal edges are preferably brought together in suchmanner as to form an overlapping joint. F ig. 6i shows the'joint formed by providing one of the longitudinal edges with an offset portion 104 upon which the other longitudinal edge isadapted to fit. The joint is preferably reinforced by a strip 106 of substantial material, preferably metal, securely fastened thereto on the inside by rivets, nails, screws or other suitablefasteners, or by means of'glue. Fig. 7 shows the joint formed by overlapping the longitudinal edges which are beveled at 108 so as to form a smooth surface for the joint.

both inside and outside. This form of joint is'also preferably reinforced by a strip 106 secured thereto upon the inside. If desired,

one part of the shank member may be made with the offset joint, whilethe other portion may be made with the beveled joint.

If desired, the shell members-may be constructed from fiber, leather, rubber, textile material or moldable material without scams or joints, either by being made to .order or by selecting the correctvv dimensions from combining the standardized stock sizes and same to form the limb.

The operation and advantages of my in-' vention will be readily understood from the ,foregoingdescription. The construction of the artificial limb is such as to make it light, strong and durable, and at the same time provide a maximum degree of comfort for the wearer. In order to increase the strength, durability and effective operation 7 of the shank member, the top portions thereture-resisting to accomplish the desired rei the inner portion of the U-piece to hold fiber under the shoulder of the strap. 7 The sult. If desired one sideof the U-shaped piece, or a simple strip, may be extended' above the shoulder of the knee joint strap and attached thereto by riveting or brazing, so that the lower portion will function like the shoulder 31 of one ofv the lower knee'joint straps 60 is shown resting upon the piece or strip 33 when in U form, and a rivet 35 is shown passing through the knee joint strap, both arms of the U-shaped piece and the portion of the shank whichis between these arms. I When the moisture-resisting strip is made of metal it may, if desired, be riveted, soldered or welded to-the knee joint strap above or below the shoulder 31 before the strap is secured to the shank member. The manner in which the buttons shown in Fig. 13 are secured to the slip socket and to the shell members, further increases the strength, durability and effective operation of my artificial limb. As previously stated, the buttons have a base portion 94 which rests upon the material to which the buttons are secured. This base portion in conjunction with the head of the rivet 98 reinforces'and strengthens the material where the buttons are attached and thus prevent the latter from pulling or tearing loose. The buttons 72 in the slip socket have an additional function in case the socket wears down. When this occurs, there is a tendency for the slip socket to wedge or stick in the shank member and hence a failure to function properly. The buttons then come into action when located near the lower edge of the socket shoulder, and by their engagement with the top of the shank prevent the socket from moving down far enough to stick in the shank.

I claim:

1. An artificial limb comprising a shank member and a foot member, a hollow hearing member secured to said shank member, a bearing member secured to said foot member, said bearing member being pivotally connected with said hollow bearing member,

a removable'container for lubricant adapted to be secured in said hollow bearing member, the inner end of said container having a small opening, and a plug adapted to be turned into the outer'end of said container to force small quantities of lubricant through said small opening to lubricate the contacting surfaces of said bearing members.

2. An artificial limb comprising ash-an]; member and a foot member, a hollowcylindrical bearing member secured tosaid: shank member, and a yoke member havingboth ends thereof secured to said foot member,

the intermediateportions of said yoke member having a flattened bearing surface'engaglng sald cylindrical member. 1

, Shank 3. An artificial limb comprising a member and a foot member, a hollowcylindrical bearing member secured to said shank member, a yoke member having itsjintermediate portion .flattened to constitute a bearing surface for. engaging said cylin: drical member, nuts for securingv both of the ends of said .yokememberto said foot member, and unitarymeans for lockingsaid nuts. V w ,3 4. An artificial limb comprising a foot -member, a shank: member consisting of a hollow fiber shell, a separate block of wood.

secured entirely within the lower end-of said shank member, a bearing member carried by said block, and a second bearing member. carried by said foot member and engaging said first-mentioned bearing member.

5.'An artificial limb comprising a shank member and a foot member, an ankle joint connecting saidshank and foot member, a coiledspring between said shank and foot members, and an adjusting member for said spring, said adjusting member extending through said foot member, and engaging the lower coil of said spring.

6. An artificial limb comprising a shank member and a foot member, a separate block secured in the lower end of said shank member, a cylindrical bearing member secured to said block, a yoke member secured to said foot member, the intermediate ,portionqof said yoke member constituting a bearing surface for engaging said cylindrical member, a recess in the lower portion of said foot member into which the lower ends of said yoke member extend, a plate in said recess, nuts on the lower'ends of said yoke member engaging said plate, means located between said nuts for locking them, a coiled spring between said' block and said foot member, a bolt for adjusting said spring, said bolt having screw-threaded engagement 1gviith said plate, and means for locking said 7 .An artificial limb comprising a shank member, a main foot member pivoted to portion resting upon the top of said shank member.

V 9. An artificial limb comprising a shank member, a" shp socket, means for supportingvsaid socket for vertical movement 1n the upperend of said shank member, knee joint straps secured to said shank member, a collar on the upper end of-said socket, said collar being inclined upwardly from the front until it reaches said straps and having the portions adjacent the rear edges of said straps extended downwardly and built up flush with the outer surface of said straps, whereby said built-up portions are guided both by the straps and by the verti-' cal portion of the topedge jof said shank member, said edge being-shaped to correspond to the shape of the lower edge of said collar. 7 v

10. An artificial limb comprising 'a hollow shank member, a slip socket adapted to work up and down in the upper end of said shank member, and connections eX tending from the thigh of the wearer which hold said socket in engagement with the stump when the wearer is walking or stand ing and which permit automatic disengagement from the stump when the knee is bent for a sitting position.

11. An artificial limb comprising a shank member, a lacer adapted to be secured around the thigh of the wearer, connections for supporting said shank member from said lacer, said lacer being provided with a vertical opening, a row of combined integral eyelets and hooks at each side of said opening, and a lacing adapted to be engaged with either said eyelets or said hooks, or partly with each. i

12.v An artificial limb comprising a shank member having knee joint straps extending from the knee joint to the lower end of said shank member, a solid block within the lower end of said shank member to which said knee joint straps are secured, straps extending vertically between said knee joint straps and secured at their lower ends to said block, and circumferential bands 'secured to all of said straps.

l3. Anartificial limb comprising a shank I member, a separateblock in the lower end of said shank member, the rear portion of said block being beveled so that the rear portion of said shank member projects be low said block, and a foot member pivotally connected to said shank member, said foot,

member having a cut-out portion on the outside thereof to cooperate with the rear .projecting portion of said shank member to form a stop and whereby the space between the shank member and the foot member is substantially closed. I

14:. An artificial limb comprising a shank member, knee joint straps secured to said shank member, said straps having a portion resting upon the top of said shank member, and a piece of moisture-resisting material for reinforcing said shank member where said straps rest thereon; Y I

A11 comprisi g a h member, knee joint straps secured to'said shank member, said straps having a portion resting'iupon the top of said shank member, an inverted U-shaped piece of metal for reinforcing said shank member where said straps rest thereon, and a rivet passing through said straps, both arms of said reinforcing piece, and the portion of said shank member between said arms.

In testimony whereof I "hereunto aflix my signature.

OSCAR E. WORMAN."