US527525A

US527525A - Artificial leg

Info

Publication number: US527525A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1894-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 1911-10-16

Description

(No Mode1.)

Eg; H. ERICKSSON. ARTIFICIAL LEG.

NITED STATES' N;

ERIC `I-I. EEIcKssorLbE sT. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,525, dated october Ie, 1894. j Applicaties tied August 27, i894. serial 110.521,35. (Nnniaei.) I

To all whom t may concern,.-

I Be it known thatLERIC H. ERIGKSSON, a citizen of the United States, residingin St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota,

i have invented certain new andusefulIInprovements in Artificial Legs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to artificial legs,I

` and consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter set s B3B1 by elastic strips DEIDS, the ends of the s forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims. C I I In the drawings; Figure l is a Iside elevation. Fig. 2` is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on theline aux of Fig. 2.` Fig.4 is a cross sectionon the line y y of` Fig. 2.` Fig. is anenlarged sectional detail of the knee joint, and Fig.` 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the same. Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of the slip socket, illustrating itsconstruction. Figs. 8, 9, and l0 are `perspective views of the three parts of the cast f I fof the stump of` theamputated limb over which the slip socket is formed,k illustrating its construction.

A represents the foot portion, A2 the lower leg portion, and A3 the portion laced or strapped around the thigh, these parts being of the usual construction. The thigh portion A3 is provided with metal straps B B2 extending below its lower part, and each terminating in a socket a adapted to be clasped by rbolts a2 between ears a3 on standards Bs B4 rising from each side of the leg portion A2, as shown. The portion of the upper ends of the standards B8 B4 are cut out at o', (see Figs. 5 and 6,) and adapted to receive a lug` b2, on a small stop plate b3, Fitting between the ears a3 and with its upper surface in contact with the lower surface of the socket a. The

. lower portion of the socket a is flattened as as well as toadjust the movement of the joint.

` and symmetrical form is produced, which cor- By this simple arrangement a noiseless joint is formed, so that no unpleasant metallic rattling is heard when the leg is in use. The standards B3B4 are bifurcated, or forked, as shown at B5 B, and adapted to form guides for a socketD" which slides up and down between the standards, being` supported from turning or` moving s sidewise s by ribs d, as shown.' I

The socket D is connected to the standards elastic being secured at their upper endsby clamps e', to the standards, and at their lower ends by the clamps e2 to the socket D', as shown. By thisV means the socket is held normally upward to its `highest position.

The upper portion of the lowerlegportion` A2, is formed hollow, and with a sleeve Dflit` ting into its upper part, the upper portion of the sleeve `forming a socket or step for the some other suitable `light material, and cov-` ered withbuckskin or other leather, 'or other similar suitable material, to avoid `noiseor unnecessary friction between the parts.

The socket D is formed "to fit over the stump of the amputated limb, andthe manner of forming and constructing it is an important feature of my invention,which I will now describe.

A plaster of paris cast is first made of the stump of the severed limb, and a wedge shaped plate E', (see Fig. 10,) inserted into the matrix thus formed. The semi-liquid plaster of paris is then poured into the matrix on each sideof the central dividing plate E', to form the cast. When the material is set sufciently, the wedge plate isremoved, which permits the two side sections E2 E3, (see Figs. 7, 8, and 9,) to be readily removed from the matrix, to thus permit the ready removal of the sections EZE3 from the matrix being the function of the wedge plate E. placing the three portions E E2 E8 together again, as shown in Fig. 7,an exact model of the severed stump is produced. I then mold around the cast thus formed, a covering of rawfhide previously soaked to render it pliable, and on the outside of thisraw-hide cov ering I glue, or otherwise secure, small strips of soft light wood, until a somewhat rounded Then by responds to the shape of the corresponding portion of the other or sound limb, and also to conform to the shape of the upper portion of the lower leg section A2, as shown, the lower end being formed to fit the sleeve D4, as shown in Fig. 3. The wood filling is then covered with a layer of raw-hide molded thereon while in a plastic state. When the raw hide has become dried, a very hard, tough socket is produced, which at the same time is very much lighter than anyfother construction with which I am acquainted.

The inner layer of raw-hide is designated by F', the wood filling by F2, and the outer coating of raw-hide by F3, as shown in Fig. 3.

The socket D is open at the bottom, so that the air has free access to the end of the stump of the severed limb, which is a very desirable and necessary feature to secure proper ventilation.

By this simple arrangement a very free easy working joint is obtained, and a exible natural movement, which renders the limb very convenient and agreeable to the wearer, and noiseless when in use. By this construction also the slip of the joint is between the `socket and sleeve and lower leg portion, and not between the socket and the severed stump, as in someforms of artificial limbs.

The socket is held at all times in close contact with the stump of the severed limb, and `there is consequently no friction between the iatural limb and any portion of the artificial imb.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an artificial limb, the thigh portion having the straps provided with sockets, the lower leg portion having the straps provided with ears and united by pivot bolts, in combination with adjustable cushioned stops, whereby the movement of the lower limb portion may be adjusted and the joint rendered noiseless, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an artificial limb, the thigh portion and lower limb portions united by jointed straps, a socket molded to the stump of the severed limb, and slidable vertically between said straps, and ay sleeve between the lower leg portion and said socket, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an artificial limb, the thigh portion and lower limb portions united by jointed straps, a socket molded to the stump of the severed limb, and slidable vertically between said straps, a sleeve between the lower leg portion and said socket, and elastic supporting straps uniting said socket to said straps, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The method of constructing the socket for the stump of a severed limb in an artiicial leg, consisting in first forming a matrix by molding, then inserting into said matrix a wedge shaped dividing plate, then taking a cast of the portion of the matrix not occupied by said Wedge shaped plate, then removing said wedge shaped plate, and sections of said cast, then reunitingv said cast sec,- tions and wedge shaped plate to form a cast on which the socket for the stump of the severed limb can be molded, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERIC H. ERICKSSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. ERICKSON, C. N. WooDwARD.