US2048410A

US2048410A - Artificial leg suspender

Info

Publication number: US2048410A
Application number: US631877A
Authority: US
Inventors: James F Rowley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-09-06
Filing date: 1932-09-06
Publication date: 1936-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 1953-07-21

Description

July 21,1936. I Q L I 2,048,410

ARTIFICIAL LEG SUSPENDEB1 Filed Sept. 6, 1932 frzz/eni ar L /dines f? fiowzg Patented July 21, 1936 UNITED, STATES PATENT ems-1 ARTI ICIAL L'EG SUSPENDER Jamesl fltowley,Chicago, 111. Application September 1932, Serial No. 631,877

' teams. (01. 3-11) My invention relates to improvementsin artificial leg suspenders and particularlysuspenders adapted forlegs where amputation is above the knee or where the artificial leg consists of upper -and lower sections provided .with a knee joint.

The invention has among its objects the production of a device of the kind described which is simple, eifective, efficient, comfortable and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable.

More particularly it has as an object the production of an improved device of the kind dc-1 scribed which will maintain the artificial'leg on the stump leg in such a manner that the artificial leg is to all intents and purposes a unitary structure with the stump leg, and is securely, firmly and yet comfortably maintained in; place, thereby enabling the wearer of the legto moveabout with:

body of the wearer, the sameas if an integral,

part of the body.

The improved device is particularly designed so that it may be fitted to the body-of the wearer of the artificial leg in such a way that the weight of the leg is substantially positively suspended from the great trochanter at theupper part of the femur bone of the amputated leg so that it is not necessary to tightenthe belt to a -deg ree causing harmful effects on the body,and when arranged as herein described does not bind on the internal organs in the abdominal cavity. When so adjusted the belt is maintained in place without sagging or possibility of displacement and the artificial leg maintained in a definite relation with the femur. The artificial leg is also maintained and supported at the front, side and back, the preferred construction being substantially a three point suspension carried substantially from a common point on the body, and which is a fixed point relative the stump leg.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction and application of the device will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given. a

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. l is a view in elevation of my improved device applied to the wearer of the artificial limb}: a portion of the body and artificial limb being: shown; A

Fig. 2 is a perspective view ,of the device, the lower ends of the straps being 'omitted; f I,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the devic'eandi por'-, tion of the artificial legiand I f Fig. 4 is a view in elevation illustrating one method of attaching the strap. to the artificial limb. .f I

In the drawing in which one embodiment of the. invention is shown, l'represents a bandblfbelt of a. length sufficient to encircle the body ojf the wearer, 2 being a buckle for. securing the'ends of the band together and maintaining ito'n the body. The band I is preferably made of web bing or equivalent material which may be readily. cleaned and kept in a sanitary condition. }The. band I is shown provided with a reenforcement 3 of leather or other suitable material which is arranged intermediate the ends at a point where it will be at the hip of the weareradjacent the great trochanter as will be more fully explained hereinafter, thebuckle ordinarily being at the front and center of the body when the device is. applied. Secured tot-he beltat the reenfo'rce ment area plurality of flexible straps ,4, 5 and 6, these straps being of webbing; heavy .Ielastic, or other material suitable for the purpose, and of a length to extend from the belt or band to, attaching points below the upper end.-of. the artificial limb. It may be mentioned that this device is particularly intended for use where the artificial leg consists of upper and lower sections, and knee joints, as well as legs where a knee joint is not present. The straps shown are provided with reenforced ends 1 and preferably adjustable, as shown pivotally, secured to the band I at the reenforcement 3 by rivets 8. The opposite ends of the straps are connected to the artificial limb M at the side, front and back. In Fig. 4, I have shown a suitable flexible connection in which, I0 represents a reenforcement at the end of the strap and II the top suitably reenforced and secured to the artificial limb by the rivet II or equivalent means. The parts In and II are provided with hooks l2 and a lacing l3 secures the parts together.

In Fig. l, I have illustrated in dotted lines the honey structure of the body, 20 representing the ilium and 2| what is known as the crest of the ilium. The femur is indicated by 22 and the head by numeral 23, the numeral 24 designating what is known as the great trochanter. Various ligaments and muscles extend from the crest of the ilium and ilium to the parts of the femur,

some over the great trochanter. Between the crest of the ilium and the great trochanter are portions of these various muscles, tendons, ligaside face of the great trochanter, a pocket or depression being formed in the belt to fit the great trochanter knob. It is desired that the belt be fitted for comfort as well. as utility.

When the belt or band is secured inposition' sub-' stantially as shown in Fig. 1, it will be noted thatthe same overlies the great trochanter and is substantially supported therefrom by the interposed tissues. 'When the artificial leg I4 is applied to the stump leg l5 and secured substantially as shown, it will be obvious that the leg isat all times maintained in a definite 13819;. tion to the head of the femur and the great trochanter, and in view of the fact that the same is carried from the great'trochanter on that side of the body, the stump leg l5 and the leg M are secured in a definite relation so that the two are substantially as one or. a unitary structure.

The belt illustrated is reversible for use where the artificial leg is on the other side than that shown by merely turning it over and reversing the straps to extend as shown but on the oppo-' site side of the body.

Itwill be obvious that by securingthe artificial leg in place in the manner described, it is sub stantially carried at three points, about its circumference; to-wit; the side, front and the back from a definite single point on the body affording what might be termed a three point suspension. from a single point. The artificial leg is thus carried the same as a natural leg insofar asv movement with the stump leg is concerned enabling the wearer of the leg to move about with a more natural gait and action. While the leg is firmly held in place, yet it is comfortable as it is not, at any time, displaced relative the stump leg. When the straps are of elastic material, the elasticity is such as to nevertheless maintain the leg in place at all times, but to give slightly if necessary, tending to promote comfort;

It will be particularly noted that by substantially carrying the artificial leg from what may be termed a fixed position or point at the upper part of the femur, the controlling mechanism and apparatus for the leg, that is, the lower leg, foot, etc., may at all times work in the intended 5 and prescribed manner so that the wearer has complete control of the lower leg at all times. The controlling mechanism for the lower leg, etc., forms no part of the present invention and need not be described in detail herein.

In view of the fact that the belt is more or less directly and positively carried by the great trochanter rather than by merely the frictional engagement of the belt with the body or by compressing the body above the crest of the ilium, it 15 is not necessary to so tighten the belt as to unduly compress or bind the body to an uncomfortable or harmful extent.

Having thus described the invention, it is obvious thatvarious immaterial modifications may 20 be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the appended claims, hence, I do not wish to limit 'myself to the exact form, construction and arrangement herein shown and described, or usesmentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is:

1. For an artificial leg provided with a body belt operatively connected to the leg, the method of supporting the leg from the body consisting 30 in applying-the belt about the body at the trochanternotch and drawing the belt into the notch to rest upon the great trochanter and maintaining it in supporting engagement therewith.

2. The method of fitting an artificial leg, having a stump socket and provided with a body encircling belt located adjacent the stump socket r and having connecting means extending between the leg and belt, consisting in applying the belt to the body in a position opposite the head of the femur and drawing the same into the trochanter notch to a supporting position on the great trochanter, and fitting the connecting means so that the stump is operatively and snugly maintained in the socket.

3. The method of fitting and securing on an amputated stump leg, an artificial leg having a stump receivingsocket and provided with a flexible belt attached to the artificial leg, which consists in applying and seating the belt around the body in the trochanter notch and substantially immediately above the great trochanter.

" JAMES F. ROWLEY.