Prosthesis (i.e. – artificial body members) – parts thereof – or ai – Leg – Foot
Patent
1998-07-20
1999-06-22
Willse, David H.
Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or ai
Leg
Foot
623 52, A61F 266
Patent
active
059139021
ABSTRACT:
An improved energy-storing artificial foot, connectable onto a lower end of an artificial leg worn by a leg amputee, includes a ball of foot part, a main foot part, and an ankle part. The artificial foot includes first and second transversely positioned pivotal axes that are spaced longitudinally from one another. The first axis, carried in the ankle part, is positioned in vertical alignment with a longitudinal axis of an artificial leg, is about four times higher from a ground surface than is the second axis, and is positioned 78% of the length of the artificial foot as measured from the forward end of the foot. The second axis is positioned in the ball of the foot region of the artificial foot, which is about a third of the length of the foot as measured from a forward end of the foot. A pair of vertically disposed compression springs flank the first axis to simulate muscles that support an ankle. A third compression spring, disposed at a predetermined angle relative to a support surface, and which is housed so that it extends between the main foot part and the ball of foot part, provides resistance to pivoting of the ball of foot part relative to the main body part of the artificial foot and otherwise serves as the arch of the foot. The positioning of the first and second axes relative to the forward end of the articial foot, relative to each other and relative to the support surface is critical, as is the positioning of the ball of foot spring, because such positioning of parts collectively enables a user to walk without limping and to climb or descend stairs without restriction. The foot automatically adjusts, requiring no shims, to shoes of differing heel heights.
REFERENCES:
patent: 16360 (1857-01-01), Jerrett
patent: 92031 (1869-06-01), Foster
patent: 409311 (1889-08-01), Snyder
patent: 804207 (1905-11-01), Bunderle
patent: 809875 (1906-01-01), Wilkens
patent: 1215268 (1917-02-01), Hagey
patent: 2430584 (1947-11-01), Roche
Smith Ronald E.
Snow Bruce E.
Willse David H.
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