US2687533A

US2687533A - Artificial limb

Info

Publication number: US2687533A
Application number: US268285A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mccormick Michael
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-01-25
Filing date: 1952-01-25
Publication date: 1954-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 1971-08-31

Description

Aug. 31, 1954 M. MCCORMICK ARTIFICIAL LIMB 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1952 R m m w.

AT ORNEY;

Aug. 31, 1954 M. MCCORMICK ARTIFICIAL LIMB 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1952 Way INVENTOR. MICHAEL Cox/wok M, @1214, We M ATTOR/VfKS.

Patented Aug. 31, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTIFICIAL LIMB Michael McCormick, New York, N. Y. Application January 25, 1952, Serial No. 268,285

Claims.

This invention relates to an artificial limb and more particularly to an artificial leg for use with legs amputated below the knee.

It is an object of my invention to provide an artificial leg which will simulate the appearance and action of the normal leg.

Another object of my invention is to provide an easily attachable artificial leg which will aiford comfort to the wearer and ease of use and application so as to substantially duplicate the function of a real limb of the wearer.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an artificial limb which will afford and simulate natural and balanced articulated movement of the ankle and tarsal and metatarsal portions of the foot.

One other object of my invention is to provide an economically and easily constructed universal type of artificial leg which will avoid strain on the wearer when the leg is worn and which will permit easy swing and movement of the body of the wearer during walking.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an adjustable readily usable relatively comfortable artificial leg providing a flexible springy foot portion affording easy walking movement to the wearer thereof.

A specific object of my invention is to provide an artificial leg comprising a ventilated and well padded stump socket with lacing to adjust the leg to the thickness of the stump, a peg, an adjustable foot for the peg permitting lateral and longitudinal movement of the heel portion of the foot and aspring loaded toe joint to permit proper balance during walking and use of said leg.

Other objects and features of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of my invention as applied to an amputated leg;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 4- is a sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan bottom view taken of a support member in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a tool member used for relative adjustment of the foot with the upper part of the embodiment;

Fig. 8 is a partly sectional view of another tool member and Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring now to the drawings in which similar references denote like parts throughout, I show an artificial leg I 0 provided with a stump holding slip socket H, a peg [2, a spring movable foot I3 with a pivotal toe joint l4 and a toe portion I5.

Said socket is preferably of leather l6 reinforced with a brace I! made of suitable light material, such as aluminum. The socket simulates the upper of a leather lace boot and has a leather thong or lace I8 extending through eyes is in the front part of the socket to permit adjustment of the leg stump therein, while at the same time allowing for ventilation of the socket.

The inside of said socket is lined with any suitable soft, pressure relieving, material I In such as cotton, felt, fur, quilt or corduroy in which the ribs may run longitudinally or horizontally. Such type of liner extends over the socket II and may be of any desired thickness so as to reduce to a minimum the discomfort caused by the constant pressure of the stump against the socket.

Brace l1, as noted from the drawings, forms a frame and has its lower portion rounded for connection and attachment in any suitable manner such as by means of screws 2| to peg I2 to form a rigid but lightweight unit. The brace is also provided with a harness 22 for attachment of the artificial leg to stump 20.

Peg I2 is made preferably of light but strong material such as wood or of plastic material and may be molded when produced in larged quantities. Furthermore, it is shaped to simulate a natural leg and may be adjusted to size according to the height of the wearer.

Underneath said shank or peg is a member or plate having a central opening 24 through which passes a screw bolt 25 screwed into or fixed to the interior and the center of shank l2. It will be noted that said peg I2 is further provided with a plurality of equispaced openings or

sockets

26, 21, 28 and 29 respectively, for accommodating the heads of bolts 30, 3|, 32 and 33 respectively which pass through the

respective openings

34, 35, 36 and 31 of the plate 23 and through clover shaped

openings

39, 40, 4| and 42 respectively, of support member 43. Said

openings

39, 40, 4| and 42 extend downwardly into concentric seats or sockets 39', 40,'4l' and 42', respectively, surrounding said bolts 30, 3|, 32 and 33 respectively. Support member 43 is held firmly against peg l2 by means of bolt screw nut 41 which can be adjusted thereon in any suitable manner but preferably with the tool shown in Fig. 8.

Bolts

30, 3 I, 32 and 33 extend downwardly from peg l2 into the

respective openings

48, 49, and 5| of foot l3 and are held in relatively fixed position by means of washers and nut members 3 52, 53, 54 and 55', respectively. Said foot I3 is also provided with an opening 55 into which can be passed tool 5% connecting with threaded end 56a for adjusting the compression on springs 43', M, 45 and 46, respectively between the foot and the peg [2, so as to suit the convenience and comfort of the wearer of the artificial leg. It will be.noted';that said too'l 56. is provided with threaded 'socket end 5'! for connection-with threaded end 56a of screw bolt 25, and with an adjustable rotatable plate 58 which will rest against the sole of foot [3 when the compression of the springs is adjusted. In other words by the use of this tool any of the springs between the peg and the sole camber-regulated so that the desired springiness and balance in the device are afforded to the use of the leg. vOnce the proper adjustment is ,made, washers and nut members 52,;.'53,r 5!3 and 55 are screwed into position andsocket wrench; 59 tightens the washer andnuts in positionas shown in Fig. 5. It is apparent that thetool 56 remains in connection with the threaded end 56a of screw bolt25 so as A closure plate'fifl is provided in the sole of foot 3 to cover openingsor recesses 248,149,150 and;5l, and is held inplace by means of screws Bl.

* As seen from, thedrawingssaid foot-'13 has a ,sufiiciently large recess-B2 between the heel and instep to permit the desiredinsertion of peg I2 thereinto and-provide sufiicient vclearance for freedom of relative.,movement whether. swivel,

lateral or longitudinal of the foot and peg-.by

means of springmembers-432.144,:45, and .46.

Also, said foot. isprovided-at the recessed portions with protective shields;53 and 64 to prevent rubbing of socks and clothing of the wearer against the movable. parts and thereby. prevent theirripping or tearing.

- From the foregoing description of my; invention takenin-zconjunction with my drawings,v it will be noted that I provide an artificial leg which is comfortable to thewearer, iseasy to adjust .as to compression when the-wearer putshisweight: on

the leg so that there. is attainednthe -.desired springiness between @thefoot and peg. portions of the leg. Furthermoreybynmy invention. there is relative; ease 'of movement. of thepegwithrespect be used on either leg. stump thereby obviating the necessity of having a, right. or left artificial leg.

While preferred embodiments of the. invention have herein beendescribed-and illustrated, it is to be understood that-modificationsasto-form, arrangement of parts and use of materials may be made without. departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as-claimed.

What is claimed is:

,1 An artificial leg comprising aninner lined padded s0cket...portion for a-natural; stump, an- ..chor means depending from. thesocket, a plurality of e ui paccd members depending ,fromthe endi soc e fastening means lated socket portion a qthreaded anchor means r to keep, said springs under proper compression I while said nuts are tightened by socket wrench 59.

and adapted to rest there socket said socket having recesses therein, compressible spring members around each of said equispaced members depending from the recesses of said socket, a foot member for accommodating said equispaced members and holding the spring member in position, said member having correfor the spring members, and for holding :the, foot member against the spring members.

2. An artificial leg comprising a padded ventiior a natural stump, depending from the longitudinal axis of the socket, a plurality of equispaced members depending from the socket, com- "pressiblespring-members around each of said depending from the socket against, said spring members being disposed around said anchor means, a recessed foot member for accommodating. said equispaced members, and. .for, holding the spring members in relatively vertiGaLposition, and fastening means in the foot; member for holding the foot member against the spring members, said spring members being independently compressible. to permit ,lateral,7;forward and rearward bending of thesocket with respect to the foot member.

3. An artificial leg. comprising a padded-socket portion for a stump, a. peg connected to', the

equispaced members 1 stump, anchor means axiallyrextendingfrom the -peg, said .peg having. a .pluralityiofwupwardly holding adjustable 1 means forholdingathe foot member extending-.recessesatherein, a plurality of equispaced members. depending-incur: the-recessesoof said peg, spring members around each-f said equispaced :members depending from the .,:peg, a foot member ..-hav jng acorresponding .recesses for accommodatingsaid ,equispacedimembers; and the. spring members inposition, and

against the springmembers.

4.An artificial leg accordingto claim 3, in which-the leg is provided with a plate and support member having. a'pluralityrof.equispaced clover shaped openings therein for accommodating the anchor means and the equispaced members respectively,.

said;.equispacedmembers--riding in said openings.

5. An artificial leg wherein there is an all round i type of relativemotioncbetweenthe. foot and the stump thereof, comprising asstump holder,

. removable means depending :from -.said.holder having a plurality of -equispaced openings Y and recesses therein,- adjustable-fixingsmeans: depending from the openings, afoot'member having aligned, corresponding openings-andrecesses for said fiXingmeana-and a plurality of=cornpressible spring members-surroundingeach ofthefixingmeans and accommodated :between thereoessesof the--removable--= means- -and the: foot member whereby the holder and -foot portion can be relatively movedin anarticulated manner simulating natural leg and foot motion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS