US1294632A - Artificial limb. - Google Patents

Description

R. B. DICKSONl ARTIFICIAL LIMB. APPLICATION mso AUG. 10. I918.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

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H. B. DICKSON. ARTIFICIAL LIMB. APPLICATION FILED AUG. I0 I9I8.

Pat

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ROBERT BRADLEY nIcKsoN, or was: POINT, MISSISSIPPI.

ARTIFICIAL LIME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

Application filed August 10, 1918. Serial No. 249,362.

artificial leg, in the use of which the functions of the various parts of the natural leg are simulated in a life-like manner.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved pneumatic cushion for the stump receivingsocket of the limb, whereby friction'u-pon the stump islobviated and it is cooled. a

'It is also one ofthe detail objects ofthe invention to provide improved means for 1 operatively connecting the heel and toe portions of; the foot to the shank of the limb.

The invention likewise has for its object to provide an artificial leg having a hollow shank and foot body formed of elastic material inclosing the mechanical parts of the device, and means for inflating the elastic bogg. i

ith the above and other objects in new,

. the invention consists in the improved conseparate toes of solid construction.

struction, combination and relative arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, subsequently claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein Figure 1 is aside elevation. of my improved artificial limb illustrating one embodiment thereof; 7 i

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section,

Fig; 3 is a horizontal section taken onthe line 33 of Fig. 2; a

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4.-et of Fig. 2; and r Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the ball Joint member :and the toe plate of the fOOt.

Referring in detail. to the drawings, 5

designates the-calf section, 6 the foot sec tion, and? the thigh sectionof a continuous hollow wall constituting the body of the limb. The foot section may be provided 1s hollow body :is preferably made u of laminations of fabric and rubber adhesively secured together. I have illustratedin the drawlngs, a limb which is designed for use in those cases where the natural limb has been amputated above the knee joint. It will, therefore, be understood that in those cases where the amputation has been made below the knee joint, the thigh portion 7 of the hollow body is, of course, eliminated and the stump receiving socket, to be presently described, is secured within the upper end of the calf section 5 of said body.

A cylindrical shank s is vertically disposed Within the hollow section 5 and at its lower end 1s bored out to receive a bushing 9 having a flange or head 10 contacting with the lower end face of said shank. A rod 11, loosely engaged through said bushing, has a metal disk 12 fixed on its lower end. The other end ofthis rod is threaded to receive ad usting nuts 13 which are housed within the end of the shank 8. A coil spring 14 is disposed upon said shank between the flange 10 and the disk 12 and acts to yieldingly urge said disk downwardly and into engagement with the heel portion of the hollow bodyof the limb.

A steel plate 15 is engaged at one of its ends upon the bushing 9 and against the lower end of the shank 8 and extends horizontally and forwardly from said shank. The forward end of this plate is fixed to a transverse bar 16 extending entirely across the foot at the ball thereof. A plate of resilient spring metal 17 is hinged to the bar 16, as shown at 1 8, and extends forwardly into the toe portion of the foot 6. One end of a spring metal strap 19 is hingedly conin parallel relation to the shank 8, as indicated at 21. and then again extended forwardly and hinged to the'rear side of the bar 16, as at 22. Bolts 23 are fixed in the shank 8 in vertical, spaced relation to each other and are loosely engaged through the medial portion 21 of the strap 19. Coil springs 24 aredisposed upon said bolts between the strap and the shank 8 and yieldingly retain said metal strapin spaced relation to-the shank. 1 I

The shank 8 is" formed witha' threaded bore '25 opening into the upper end thereof and in this bore a rod 26 is adjustably engage'd: This rod is secured to or integrally formed with the ball member 27 of the ball and socket knee joint. Anut 28 threaded upon said rod is adapted to "be engaged wlth the upper end of the shank 8 to retain the rod in its adjusted position.

29 designates the stump receiving socket, also having a threaded rod 30 fixed to its base for engagement in the interiorly threaded tubular shank 31 of the socket member 32 of the knee joint. This socket member at diametrically opposite, points is pivotedor hinged to theball member Q'Hasshown 'at 33. Preferably, the Wall of the hollow body, within which the several parts are. inelosed, is heavily reinforced with fabric above and below the knee joint as shownat 3i. Alock nut- 35 is'also threaded on the rod'30 toretain said rod in-its adjusted positionin'the shank 31.

The stump receiving socket/29 is constructed of wood, and is provided with an outerperipheral rubber band 36 to which the upper edge of the thigh section 7 of" the hollow body may be cemented. It is apparent,

however, that'if desired-various other means may be adopted for securely fasteningthe body of the limb to SttlCl SOCketIBEIIlbGl. The wall of this stump socket 29 isyformed with-"a duct or' passage 37 extending-longitud'inally through one side thereof and in the upper end of this passage' an air valve 38 is arranged. Tothe-stcm of said valve, asuitable. in tiating pump may be connectcd wl rereby air under pressure may be suppliedthrough the-passage 37 to the interior of the hollow body, whereby the collapse of'the body wal-ls. under exterior pressure is effectually prevented.

The; stump socket-29 is provided with an interior sheet rubber wall 39 having a plurality ofinwardly projecting air et nipples 40. Thewa-ll of the socket member has a series of breather valves 41 therein to supply atmospheric air to thespace between the yieldablerubber wall 39 and the wall of the socket. These valves: open inwardly. Thus, the pressure of'the stump on the wall 39 against the air cushion betweensaid Wall and, the. wall of the; socket, closes the valves 41- while the air is'delivered' inwardly in" a series of ets 1 through the nipples 40 upon the sturnp. The yieldable wall 39 may be securely-fixed in: any prcferredmanner to the-.upper edge of the 'wall of the stump socket 29. To the diametrically opposite sides ofthe socket-29, upwardly extending arms 42ers fi'xcd, andto: the upper ends of these arms, plates-43 are hingedly connected at oneof their ends, asat 44: Each of these plates is provided with' a series of openings 45 to receive spaced studs 46 projectingfrom opposite, sides of a' split annular leather band--47. Thespacededges of'this band may be connected-together and the band t ghtly contracted on. the thigh "by resilient toe' plate extending into the hollow fully understood. By the provision ofthe' toe portion of the foot section of the limb,

and the resilient metalstraplt? connected to therballjoint. bar 1'6va'n dto-said foot' plate, the. toe'portion of the'foot may flexor bend in a manner closely simulating the movement of then-atural foot. :By the adjustment of the nuts; 13, thetension dfthespring 14. may be properly regulated in accordance.

with the weight of theperson using-the limb. By the provision of tlie." pneumatic body within which the jzoints'el'ements are housed or contained, 1- have succeeded I greatly re'ducingithe Weight of such, ci'al limbs and by injecting. air into the stump socket in the-manner aboivecxphaiinired,

heating-of the-stump by friction israflsootiviated. Thus, the device may; be-wont with a maximum of comfort. The/device aswa whole is also-of relatively simplercnnstruetion, not liable to get out of order, anti oapable of manufacture "at. comparatively small cost.

While Iha'vewherein shownnaid described the preferred construction and arrangement of the "several parts, it is-to he nnclerstoo d that the device iss susceptible of considerable modification 3 therein and I, accordinglfif re serve the privilege 'ofadopting :all' such legitimate changes: as. may be. fairly ernbddi'efdx. within the spirit and scope of the inventionas claimed.

I claim:

1. In an artificial limb, a.'lnillovvmay in"- cluding calf and foot? sections having yield"- able inflatable" walls; and jointed shank and foot members*heused within therrespec-s tivesectionsof'the hollow body;

21 In "an artificialllimb shankya 'horizontal platefixedto: the lcwver endof the shank and extending forwardly therefrom, a resilient foot plate liirrgedly' connected to the forward end of said fixed'plateand a resiliently yield-able man strap hingedly connected to the forward end of the: listed late and to said foot plate? respectively-to yielding-1y retain the latter in: a normal presition.

"3'. In 3111:" artificial limb,; ashank, aihori zontal" plate "fixed to" theilowerend; 'ofithe shank and extending forwardly therefrom,

a resilient foot 'plate hingedly connected" to the forwalrdrend of said fined plateg. a resiliently 'y-iel'dable Install "strap" hin'gedly connected 'tothe- 1 forward end" of the fixed; plate and to said foot plate-r respectively to yieldi'ngly retainithe'latter in a normalfp'osition, a bolt fixedin?the shank upen whiehy said strap is loosely engaged, and a spring on said bolt urging the metal strap in one direction.

In an artificial limb, a shank, yieldable supporting means adjustably connected to the lower end of the shank, a bar constituting the ball of the foot rigidly connected to said shank in spaced relation thereto, a forwardlyextending foot plate hinged to said bar, a resilient metal strap hingedly connected at oneof its ends to the foot plate intermediate theends thereof, the other end of said strap being hingedly connected to said bar, and means connecting the medial portion of said strap to the shank.

5. In an artificial limb, a stump receiving socket and means for supplying air to the interior of the socket including suction opened air valves mounted in the wall of the socket, and means arranged within the socket and yieldable under pressure of the stump thereon to alternately draw air into the socket and force the same under pressure around the stump.

6. In an artificial limb, a stump receiving socket having a plurality of inwardly opening air valves in the wall thereof, a yieldable wall arranged within the socket in spaced relation to the Wall thereof and having a plurality of inwardly projecting air jet nipples, the air in the space between said wall and the wall of the socket being forced under the pressure of the stump on said yieldable wall through the jet nipples and around the stump. I

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

V R. BRADLEY DIGKSON.

Witnesses:

H. O. RomNsoN, J. Arrnnwrrrrn.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G.

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