US1525633A - Artificial limb - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 10, 1925.

H. M. WITMYER ARTIFICIAL LIME Original Filed Sept. 2, 1922 INVENTOR:

WITNESSES:

ma /5w and Patented Feb. 10, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY M. WiTMYER, or Manama, PENNSYLVANIA.

ARTIFICIAL LIMBI Application filed September 2, 1922, Serial No. 585,912. Renewed June 26, 1924.

To all whom "it may concern: I

Be it known that I, HARRY M. VVrrMYnR, citizen of the United States, residing at Manheim, county of Lancaster, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new useful Improvements in Artificial Li mbs, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings.

My invention relates generally to artificial limbs and more especially to artificial legs.

The primary object of my invention is to secure in an artificial leg, absolute freedom 1 of movement in simulation of the real and to construct the same without any, rigid part-s whatever so that by virtue of inherent resiliency, utmost comfort is assured the wearer in the act of walking with avoidance of shocks which might tend to injure or tire the maimed limb.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an artificial leg having the. above; attributes combined with extreme lightness; and with capacity for permitting adjustmentas to the degree of flexibility to suit individual conditions of application and use.

This desiderata I attain in a hollow structure of elastic or resilient material having the configuration of the limb which it is to replace and which is adapted to be inflated with air or other gas until the desired degree of flexibility is secured.

Further objects and attendant advantages of my invention will become readily apparent from the detailed description of various modified forms of the same which follows, while" its scope is clearly manifested in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. I is an illustration of an artificial leg showing my invention embodied in the simplest form at present known to me.

Fig. II is a modified embodiment of my iiwention in vertical section; and

Fig. III is an illustration of a portion of an artificial leg constructed in accordance with my invention showing certain modifications which cooperate to ease movement at the region of the ankle and toes, and to absorb shocks induced incidentally to walking.

The structure illustrated in Fig. I and designated comprehensively by the numeral 1, it will be observed, corresponds exactly in configuration to ahuman limb and comprises a leg portion :2 and a foot portion 3 in integral formation. The whole is made hollow, with a comparatively thin wall 4, of any suitable elastic or flexible material, preferably rubber which possesses both these properties and with provision of an internal cavity or chamber 5. In order that this cavity or chamber may be inflated, the structure is providedat some convenient point, say at the top, with a valve 6 such as employed in. connection with pneumatic bicycle 0 automobile tires. In cases where extreme lightness combinedwith maximum strength is desired, I may incorporate in the rubber walls, one or more layers of thin but strong fabric material;

The modification of Fig. II. differs from the first described embodiment in that itis supplemented throughout, with exception, of at the top, with an inner wall 7 which extends substantially in parallelism with the main or outer wall with provision of an interspacial cavity or chamber 8 about the structure. As in the first instance a valve 9 is provided for application of a suitable pump, but inflation is here restricted to the interspace 8-.

The type of artificial limb shown in Fig. III may in general be constructed in accordance with either of the forms hereinbefore explained since the modifications about to be described, as will be readily apparent, are applicable to both of the former. In the embodiment under present consideration, I have interposed at the region of the ankle a band or zone 10 of rubber which is of a softer quality than that of the main portion of the structure so that the utmost freedom of motion of the foot portion relative to the leg portion of the structure may be obtained. This softer quality rubber may also be employed at the heel and toe portions ot the foot as indicated respectively at 11 and 12 thereby providing for more ready absorp tion of the shocks incidental to walking.

Any suitable means may be employed in attaching my improved artificial leg to the maimed limb of the wearer, such means forming no part of the present invention and being therefore omitted from the drawings.

From the foregoing it will be perceived that an artificial 'leg constructed in accordance with the various modifications disclose-d, taken either singly or collectively l ll 1. An artifical limb comprising an outer wall of flexible material, and an inner wall coextensive therewith at every point and in spaced relation to provide an interspacial chamber or cavity between the walls capable of being inflated.

2. An artificial limb comprising an integral structure of flexible material with integral segments of the same material but of a softer consistency interposed at the limb joints for ease of movement at these regions. i

3. An artificial limb comprising an integral structure composed wholly of rubber, the rubber at the limb joints being of softer or more resilient quality than otherportions for facilitation of free movement at these regions.

4. An artificial limb corresponding in configuration to a human extremity comprising a leg portion and a foot portion of flexible material and integralstructure and an inte posed integral ankle portion of the same material but of softer consistency for facilitation of free movement at this region.

5. An artificial limb coresponding in configuration to a human extremity constructed wholly of rubber with a leg portion and a foot portionin integral formation, the rubber of the ankle, toes and heel being of a comparatively softer and more resilient quality than that of other portions for facilitation of free movement at these regions and for absorption of shocks incidental to walking.

6. As" an article of manufacture, an artificial limb comprising inner and outer coextensive walls of material possessing elasticity, flexibility and resiliency, said walls being integrally connected at the stump receiving end to'define a conformatory interspace capable of inflation With a similarly configured inner cavity open to the atmosphere.

7.- Asa-n article of manufacture, an arti ficial limb, of elastic, flexible and resilient material, simulating a human member with a con-formatory interspace capable of inflation and a similarly configured inner cavity open to the atmosphere.

In testimony whereofll have hereunto signed my name at Manheim, Pa, this 30th day of August, 1922.

' HARRY M. lVITMYER.

Witnesses:

JACOB H. NIssLnY, HENRY B, BRANDT.

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