US344154A - Artificial leg - Google Patents

Description

(N0 Model.)

W. BARTLETT.

ARTIFICIAL LEG,

Patented June 22, 1886.

JwevzZZw DANIEL \V. BARTLETT, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF Q TO HERMANN IIAUSSMANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 344,154, dated June 22, 1886.

Application filed February 2, 1886. Serial No. 100,659. (No model T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL W. BARTLETT, a citizen of the United States, residing in Kansas City, county of Jackson, and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Limbs, of which the following is a specification.

. This invention relates to improvements in artificial limbs in which mechanical means are employed for simulating the action of a natural toe and ankle joint. Prior to my in vention these joints have been so constructed as to leave open or working joints between the members, or, if covered by a wooden or metallic shield, the moving parts of such eovering would bite or pinch the stocking or shoe of the wearer between them, and this was particularly the case with such devices as provided for a lateral movement between the foot and leg portions thereof.

The prime object of this invention is to combine with an artificial limb a rubber covering or cushion, so arranged as to cover or conceal the joints between the members thereof, and at the same time permit, while it assists in, the action of thejoint. Another object is to produce an artificial limb having joints or connections between its members, the action of which shall so closely simulate that of the natural joint as to permit a movement be tween the foot and leg portions in any direction. Further objects are to provide a covering for the joint in such a limb that shall have the external appearance and contour of that part of the natural limb whose place it supplies, and which, while serving as a cushion, shall connect and maintain the said members in their normal position, and to have a balland-socket joint between the foot and leg portions, which shall be covered, and the said members connected and maintained in their normal position, by the said cushion. Other objects are to produce such a joint between the foot and legi. 6., an anklejoint-that the toe- 5 joint may be dispensed with without materially diminishing the naturalness of the action of the foot movement, and to produce a joint in which the members, while maintained in a normal position, are capable of a movement in any direction from that position,,but which shall be limited in its movement in every direction it may have. Finally, to provide certain details of construction, hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which 5.5

Figure 1 represents a side elevation embodying myinvention; Fig. 2, a central vertical section thereof, and Fig. 3 a transverse vertical section on line :0 (r, Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, A indicates the foot portion of my device, preferably composed of wood, and having the contour of a foot from the instep out. Back of the instep, and extending rearwardly toward the heel from a shoulder, a, is an extension, B, preferably formed integral with the part A, and constituting the socket of the ball-and-socketjoint, having formed in the upper part thereof, and near the rear end, 7 a depression or socket, 1), into which seats and works the ball end 0 of an extension, 0, projecting downwardly from the leg portion D, and made smaller than the said leg portion, in order to form a shoulder, (1, above the anklejoint, between which and the shoulder a is confined a rubber covering, E, constituting a cushion, for the purpose hereinafter described, cemented or otherwise rigidly secured at either end thereof to the faces of the shoulders a and d. This rubber covering or cushion lies flush with the surface of the foot and leg, and is designed to have as near as possible the exact external appearance and contour of the heel and that portion of the ankle and foot between the shoulders a and d.

The leg portion D, as usual in artificial limbs of this character, is hollowed out, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2; but this hollowed portion does not extend quite down to the shoulder d, in order that sufficient body and strength may be left in the lower portion of the leg for the attachment of a cord, E, connecting the leg with the foot. This cord is preferably rigidly secured at one end to the 5 foot portion in a suitable recess, 0, provided in the ball of the foot, and extends rearwardly along the bottom of the extension 13, about the center of the width thereof, and upwardly behind or to the rear of extension 0, lying roo countersunk in suitable grooves provided on the under and rear face of said extensions.

The upper end of this cord passes through the solid portion of the leg D, projecting into the hollow thereof, and has provided on this end a screw-threaded tip, F, for reception of a nut, f, between which and the leg may be placed a rubber cushion or spring, in order to give a slight elasticity to the said cord E, which preferably has no elasticity whatever, but which may, if desired, be formed of sufficiently elastic material to give or stretch whenrequired. Asusual in artificial limbs, this cord is only employed for the purpose of limiting the forward movement of the leg and supporting the joint or connection between the members, and more particularly in climbing stairs or like exercise, in which case the entire weight of the wearer is apt to be thrown upon the toe and too severely strain the joint; but it is obvious that this cord may be dispensed with, if desired, and the rubber cushion made sufficiently stiff to withstand all strains.

It will be seen, by reference to the drawings, that there is no rigid connection between the foot and leg portions of my device in any direction, nor is the movement of the parts confined to any particular line of action, for the rubber covering or cushion which is cemented or otherwise rigidly secured at both ends, respectively, to the said members, permits the free action of the ball-and-socket joint between the members in any direction, although it is found preferable, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 3, to form the working-surfaces of the ball and socket fiat or plane, in order to'relieve the wearer of a constant strain to prevent a lateral movement of the leg with relation to the foot or a twisting of the foot portion out of line; but even should this occur, the action of the rubber cushion would cause the foot to regain its normal position immediately upon being relieved.

To reduce friction between the parts, the working or articulating surfaces of the ball and socket may be provided with a covering or facing of a substance other than that of which the leg is composed-for instance, one surface be provided with a brass facing and the other with rawhide, and this latter combination is of especial benefit in avoiding the necessity for constant oiling of the joints and the disagreeable squeaking noise common to artificial limbs as heretofore constructed.

In practice the rubber covering E not only acts as a cushion, but also serves to maintain in and return the parts to their normal position with relation to each other when not under pressure.

In stepping forward the first result is to compress the rubber at the back or heel portion and stretch or bend the top or instep portion, in order that the foot may rest flat or in a horizontal position upon the ground',with theleg inclining to the rear, but as the leg swings to and a little beyond or forward of a vertical position in the act of walking the action of the rubber cushion will be exactly the reversethat is to say, the instep {portion will be compressed and the back or heel portion stretched or bent; hence it will be observed that the degree of expansion and compression or the elasticity of the cushion is the only means employed for limiting the movement of the parts other than the cord hereto fore described.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be observed that the cushion is a little thicker at either side of the foot, in order to stiffen the joint against a lateral movement, which end is furthered by flattening the articulating surfaces of the ball and socket, asbefore described, for very slight lateral movement is needed between the parts; but, however slight, the movement should be provided for to permit the foot to accommodate itself to the unevenness of the surface of the ground, and thus avoid unnecessary twisting of the leg.

By the employment of my devicenot only is' the toe-joint dispensed with, but any open joint between the foot and leg portion which would tend to bite and tear the shoe and stocking of the wearer is entirely avoided, and the foot made to fit and wear upon the shoe in exactly the same manner as the natural foot.

Inconclusion, I may add that the covering or cushion before referred to may be composed of rubber or any other suitable elastic material, and the ball and socket may be reversed-that is to say, the socket may be formed on the leg portion and the ball on the foot portion.

I am aware that prior to my invention ankle-j oints have been made in artificial limbs permitting a lateral movement thereof, and I therefore do not claim, broadly, this feature of my invention, nor do I limit myself to the employment of my elastic cushion in connection with the joint herein shown and described, for it is obvious that this cushion or covering may be employed in connection with any form of j oint,whether providing for a lateral movement or not; hence I consider this feature of my invention as broadly new.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In an artificial limb, the leg portion, the smaller extension thereof below the ankle, in combination with the foot portion, the smaller extension thereof back of the instep, a ball-andsocket joint between said extensions, and the elastic cushion covering said joint and connecting said foot and leg portions between the ankleand instep, and having the contour of that portion of the limb whose place it supplies, substantially as described. 2'. In an artificial limb, the foot and leg portions, the smaller extensions thereof, and the shoulders formed by said extensions, in combination with a cushion secured to the faces of r 30 .said shoulders and lying flush with the said leg and foot portions beyond the extensions thereof, substantially as described.

3. In an artificial limb, the foot and leg portions, the smaller extensions thereof, the ballspeetively at either end thereof to the foot and and-socket joint between said extensions and leg portions, substantially as described.

the shoulders formed by said extensions in V combination with an elastic cushion secu red DANIEL BARTLETT to the faces of said shoulders and lying flush with the said leg and foot portions beyond the extensions thereof, and a cord secured 're- 1 Witnesses:

J. H. CLENDENING, F. H. MILLS.

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