US2486746A - Artificial limb - Google Patents

Description

Nrw L i194@ W. n. JnNKNs ARTIFICIAL LIMB 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 22, 1946 W. l. JHNKHNS ARTIFICIAL LIMB NM1. L 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1946 Patented Nov. 1, 1949 UNITED STATE FATENT OFFICE ARTIFICIAL LIMB William I. .1 inkins, Catlin, Ill.

Application March 22, 1946, Serial No. 656,380

8 Claims.

:fl o invention relates to an yartificial limb, and more particularly to an artificial hand and arm.

A primary object of this invention is the provision -of an improved artificial hand and forearm provi-ded with means whereby the fingers yand thumb may be readily flexed to permit the grasping of anrobjeot.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a device which will be n-atural and lifelike in appearance and operation.

Still another object of the invention is the Iprovision of means associated `with the device whereby the lingers may be imoved by straightening and bending the arm.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such la device whereby the fingers may be curled, when the partsare in one position of adjustment upon straightening lthe arm and url-curled by ybending the arm, ian-d when the parts are :in a .further position of adjustment, curled by bending the arm and straightened by straightening the arm.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of means in association with such a device wher-eby the operation of the lingers may be discontinued at the will of the operator by ia simple adjustment of the mechanical parts of the limb.

A still Ifurther object is the provision of a device of this character which is sturdy and durable 'in construction, reliable and eiiicient in operation, lifelike in appearance, and relatively simple to utilize .and inexpensive to manufacture.

@ther objects will in part be v'obvious and in part be :pointe-d out as the description of the in- Vention proceeds, and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein there is disclosed a preferred `embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is 'a top plan View of yone form of device embodying features of the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view `of the device disclosed in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken through the hand portion vof the device.

Figure 4 vis an enlarged sectional Vview taken substantially along the line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along the line 5 5 of Figure 3, `as viewed in the 'direction indicated by the arrows.

'Figure 6 is lan enlarged top plan view of a constructional detail, certain concealed portions thereof 'being indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective View of a. further-fconstructional detail.

Figure 8 is ,a plan view .of still another constructional detail.

Similar reference characters refer to similar :parts throughout the several views -of the drawlngS.

Referring now to the drawings, land particularly to Figure 1, the device of the instant -invention includes a hollow forearm ,stub section I0, a hand section generally indicated at I I, and the customary number of ringer sections `generally indicated at I2. A thumb member I3 is also provided, substantially identical in operation to that of the fingers I2, as will be more fully described hereinafter. The device lalso includes an arm band I4 adapted ibo :be positioned about the upper arm.

The arm band I4 is provi-ded with a leverguide If5, in which is movable 'an extremity of a lever I6. The lever I6 is provided on the under side thereof with an elongated slot I1 provided at each extremity with 4cup-shaped detents I'8 and I9, respectively, and -a central cup-shaped detent 20, the cup-shaped detents comprising connectorstations and adapted to be engaged selectively by a latch button 2l positioned on the lower eX- tremity of a shafit; 22 provided with a head 23, the head being spring-biased upwardly, as by a spring 2li, to force the button 2l into the cup with which it is associated. The shaft section 22 is pivotally secured to one end of a connector lever member 25, which is pivotally connected yat its other end, as by a :pivot `2b, to the adjacent end of an additional lever section 21 mounted in guides 28 which extends downwardly over the forearm section IU. rIhe connector 25 is offset, as eat 29, to permit the lever section 21 to lie flush against the upper surface of the forearm section I0.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that with the connector '25 positioned, las shown in Figure 1 With button 2`I seated in the intermediate cup 20, when the artificial limb is adjusted to the arm Iof a wearer, movement of the upper arm section yand straightening and bending of the Istub lof the forearm at the elbow will have substantially no effect on the lever 21. Conversely, however, it will be readily apparent that if the pin 22 and button 2| are moved in the Islot il t-o engage lthe cup I8, that when the arm is straightened, the connector 25, and correspondingly the lever 21, will be retracted with respect to the hand portion II, that is, drawn toward the elbow. Similarly, a 'bending of the arm will effect an opposite movement. It will further be seen that when the button 2l is positioned in the cup I9, an exact reverse of this operation will be effected in that straightening the arm will extend the lever 21 towards the hand section and bending the arm will retract the Isame tcward the elbow. The purpose of this movement, and the function thereof, will be more fully described hereinafter.

It may here be pointed out that the forearm section is preferably lined with sponge rubber or similar material, and that the elbow 30 is provided with a similarly lined interiorly positioned housing to protect the elbow and prevent disalignment of the forearm stub, as well as prevent the artificial hand from drifting with respect to the arm.

Referring back to the lever 2l, it will be seen, as best shown in Figure 1, that the forward extremity of the lever 21 has p-ivoted thereto, as by a pivot pin 3|, a bifurcated member 32. The member 32 extends inwardly through a slotted aperture 33 in the upper portion of the hand section and each free end of the bifurcations thereof is pivotally connected, as by a pivot 34, to a hinge member 35, hinged, as by a pivot 36, to the lower extremity of the hand portion Il.

As best shown in Figure 1, the hinge 3-5 extends the full width of the hand portion, and has secured thereto ve members 3G, one for each finger l2 and thumb I3, which members are comprised, as best shown in Figures 3 and 6, of a bifurcated rear extremity 31, secured, as by a pin 38, to an extension 39 of hinge 35, a forwardly extending portion 49, and an expanded forward extremity 4| including oppositely disposed depending flanges 42 provided adjacent their forward extremities with aligned apertures 43.

Each of the members 4| engages a collar 45 (Figures 3 and 8) provided with diametrically opposite pins 46 engageable in the apertures 43. Each collar 46 is slidably mounted on a rod 41 and is abutted on opposite sides by coil springs 48. The springs 48 are held in position on the rod by fixed collars 49 secured in position, as by set screws The tension of the springs 43 serves to bias the slidable collar 45 to a mid point or centrally disposed position on the rod 41. The upper portion of the hand section I9 is provided with a removable cover 5| seatable in grooves 52 in the upper surface thereof and engaged therein by depending fianges 53, removal of the cover 5| permitting access to the springs 48 for the purpose of adjustment through set screws '59 and collars 49.

As best shown in Figure 3, a transversely extending upstanding flange 60 is provided with apertures 6| through which the rear extremities of each rod 41 pass, the rods being held in position, as by nuts 52, on the rear extremities thereof. The forward end of each rod 41 terminates in channel-shaped members 63, the forward extremities of which are pivotally secured, as by pivots 64, to the upper ends of link members 65 (Figure '7), the lower extremities of which are hingedly fixed, as by pins B5, to a hinge joint 81 representing the first knuckle of each finger. Each of the members 65 includes a rearwardly and upwardly extending arm 19, the lower face edges 1! of which when the fingers are extended, abuts with the lower inner surface 16 of each finger section, to preclude the extension of the fingers past straight line positions. The upper extremity l1 of each portion 19 abuts with the inner portion of channel-shaped member t3 to preclude bending of the fingers beyond a certain point. An extension to the finger section 18 is slidable within the hand section when the fingers are straightened and coacting flanges 19 and 8|! on each finger section and the hand section, respectively, preclude the passage of the portion 'lil beyond normal curvature. Secured to each pivot 64 is a channel-shaped section 8| which extends from the knuckle section adjacent the hand to the second knuckle section 92 which corresponds in general configuration to the first knuckle section and includes a retractable portion 83 provided with a fiange 84 coacting with a fiange 85 at the extremity of the first section in a manner similar to that described in connection with the anges 19 and B9. The outer extremity of the channel-shaped member 8| is pivoted, as on a pivot 86, to a second link member 81, pivoted, as at 88, to form a hinge for this section of the finger and provided with an arm 89 which functions in a manner similar to the arm 65 previously discussed. From the pivot 86 a channel section 90 extends to a pivot 9| in the fingertip which is provided with a retractable section 92 having a flange 93 coacting with a flange 94 at the extremity of the Section 82. A third link member H0 is pivotally connected at its upper end, as at 9|, to the forward end of channel section 99 and at its lower end is pivotally connected, as on a pivot 96, to a further hinge section in the lower portion of the finger constituting the extreme outer joint. An upwardly directed arm extends from the lower end of link H0 and functions in the same manner as the arms 11 and 89 previously described. A channel-shaped section 91 leads from the pivot 9| to a pin 98 extending across the fingertips.

The lower portion of the hand and finger section may be provided with a pad of sponge rubber 99, or the like, and artificial fingernails |00 may be provided at the extremities of each digit if desired.

From the foregoing the operation of the device should be readily understandable. When the lever 21 is moved forwardly toward the fingers, the members 36 are extended, which, in turn, through the channel-shaped sections 63, 8|, 9U and 91 and their pivotal engagement with the members 65, 81 and H0 effects a curling or clasping movement of the fingers. Obviously, reverse movement of the lever 21 causes straightening of the fingers. As has previously been pointed out, the extension and retraction of the lever 21 may be occasioned by either bending or straightening the arm in accordance with the position of the lever 25 in respect to the lever member I6.

If desired, of course, a glove may be positioned over the artificial hand and the device will seem in appearance to be natural and lifelike.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved artificial hand which accomplishes al1 the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In an artificial limb including Yan upper arm band, a forearm section, a hand and at least one nger comprising at least two sections, one of said sections including a finger tip, separate pivot means hingedly connecting said finger to said hand and said finger sections together, a separate lever pvotedy on each Vpivot means, links connecting said 'levers together and to .said -nger ftip, rigid :means .longitudinally disposed relative to said orearm section and longitudinally reciprocable relative thereto, one end of said Arigid means being operatively `connected to said 'links whereby vreciprocation thereof in one direction 'is operative `to open said linger and in the other direction 'to close said fingers, a rigid connector :pivotally connected to the other end of said means, means pivotally connecting said arm band to said torearm section, said lastnamed means including at least two longitudinally spaced 4connector stations, and means for selectively `connecting .said connector to .each of said stations whereby when connected to one station to reciprocate said rigid means in one direction when the lelbow of the wearer is bent and in the other direction when fthe elbow is straightened, :and when connected yto the other station to reverse th-e directions of reciprocation of said rigid means when the elbow is .bent and straightened.

2. In an articial limb including an upper .arm band, a forearm section, a .hand and at least one linger .comprising a plurality .of hingedly connected sections, said band and forearm section being adapted to be secured to an arm on opposite sides of an elbow joint, rigid means reciprocable longitudinally of said forearm section and operatively connected at one end to said hand and finger to open the latter when reciprocated in one direction and to close the iinger when reciprocated in the other direction, a rigid connector pivotally connected to the other end of said rigid means, means slidably and pivotally connecting said arm band to said forearm section, said last-named means extending across the axis of said elbow joint and including at least two longitudinally spaced connector stations, one of said stations being on the forearm side of said elbow joint, the other of said stations being on the upper arm side of said elbow joint, and means for selectively connecting said connector to each of said stations whereby when connected to one station to reciprocate said rigid means in one direction when the elbow of the wearer is bent and in the other direction when the elbow is straightened, and when connected to the other station to reverse the directions of reciprocation of said f rigid means when the elbow is bent and straightened.

3. In an artificial limb including an upper arm band, a forearm section, a hand and at least one linger comprising a plurality of hingedly connection sections, said band and forearm section being adapted to be secured to an arm on opposite sides of an elbow joint, means slidably and pivotally connecting said forearm section to said band and extending across the axis 0f said elbow joint, a selectively shiftable connector connecting said means to said finger, said connector being shiftable on said means to and from a position on the forearm side of said elbow joint and a position on the upper arm side of said elbow joint, said connector being operative in one position of said connector to open and close said iinger as the wearers elbow is bent and straightened, respectively, and operative when said connector is shifted to the other position to close and open said finger as the wearers elbow is bent and straightened, respectively.

4. In an artificial limb including an upper arm band, a forearm section, a hand and at least one nger comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sections, said band and forearm section being .adapted to be secured to an arm on oppositesides .of an elbow joint, `means slidably and pivotally connecting said forearm section to said band .and extending across the axis of said elbow joint, a selectively shiftable connector connecting said means to said linger, said connector being shiftable on ysaid means to and from a position on the forearm side of said elbow joint and -a position on the upper arm side of said elbow joint, ,said connector being operative in one position of said connector to open and close said finger .as the wearers elbow is bent and straightened, respectively, and operative when said connector .is :shifted to the other position to close and open said finger as the wearers elbow is bent and straightened, respectively, and said connector being shiftable to va third position 1ocated on a prolongation of the axis of said elbow joint whereby the elbow may be bent and straightened without opening and closing said finger.

5. In an artificial limb including an upper arm band, a forearm section, a hand and at least one iinger comprising a vphlrality of hingedly connected sections, said band and forearm section being adapted to be secured to an arm on opposite sides of an elbow joint, means slidably and pivotally connecting said forearm section to said band and extending across the axis of said elbow joint, a selectively shiftable connector connecting said means to said finger, said connector being shiftable on said means to and from a position on the forearm side of said elbow joint and a position on the upper arm side of said elbow joint, said connector being operative in one position cf said connector to open and close said iinger as the wearers elbow is bent and straightened, respectively, and operative when said connector is shifted to the other position to close and open said finger as the wearers elbow is bent and straightened, respectively, and said connector being shiftable to a third position whereby the elbow may be bent and straightened without opening and closing said linger, said third position being located on a prolongation of the axis of said elbow joint, a slot formed in said means connecting said arm band and forearm section, said slot connecting said positions, said means being formed to provide spaced detents locating said positions, and a spring-loaded latch carried by said connector and selectively engageable with said detents to lock said connector to said means in a selected position.

6. In an artificial limb, including a hand section and at least one hollow nger, pivot means adjacent the palm side of said hand hingedly connecting said finger to said hand, said linger comprising at least two longitudinally aligned sections, a second pivot means adjacent the palm side of said nger and hingedly connecting said sections together, a pair of levers each having an inner end pivoted on one of said pivot means and having its other end extending radially outwardly thereof within the confines of a nger section, a link pivotally connecting the outer ends of said levers, and means pivotally connected to the outer end of the lever of said first pivot and adapted to actuate said levers to open and close said nger, a rigid extension of each of said levers, said extensions comprising stops to limit opening and closing of said lingers.

7. In an artificial limb, including a hand section and at least one hollow nger, pivot means adjacent the palm side of said hand hingedly connecting said nger to said hand, said nger comprising at least two longitudinally aligned sections, a second pivot means adjacent the palm side of said inger and hingedly connecting said sections together, a pair of levers each having an inner end pivoted on one of said pivot means and having its other end extending radially out- Wardly thereof within the confines of a nger section, a link pivotally connecting the outer ends of said levers, means pivotally connected to the outer end of the lever of said rst pivot and adapted to actuate said levers to open and close said nger, a guide channel in said linger and sldably receiving the free ends of said levers, a rigid arm integral with each of said levers and extending diagonally outward from the inner ends thereof, said arms comprising stops to limit the opening and closing of said ngers.

8. In an articial limb, including a hand section and at least one hollow finger, pivot means adjacent the palm side of said hand hingedly connecting said linger to said hand, said nger comprising at least two longitudinally aligned sections, a second pivot means adjacent the palm side of said nger and hingedly connecting said sections together, a pair of levers each having an inner end pivoted on one of said pivot means REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 51,238 Snellerberg Nov. 28, 1865 57,594 Stoffel Aug. 28, 1866 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 327,415 Germany Oct. 13, 1920 484,845 France Nov. 13, 1917 532,110 France Nov. 8, 1921

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