Artificial leg

• US 4,578,083 A
• Filed: 05/16/1983
• Issued: 03/25/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allton C. Williams
• Original Assignee: Allton C. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Allton C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Isabella, David J.
• Application Number:
  US06/495,149
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 3/22-29, 3/2, 3/4, 3/6
• US Class Current: 623/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/604 Joints for artificial legs A61F2/605, A61F2/64, A61F2/6607 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0102 specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations

Abstract

This invention relates to an artificial leg comprising an elongated lower leg portion, an ankle joint, an upper portion adapted to strap to the wearer'"'"'s thigh, a knee joint comprising an upper and lower cam, the upper cam adapted to rotate around a pivot and having a convex shape and a lower cam having a concave shape and an elongated arm portion which locks into the upper cam when pressure is placed on the leg and releases by spring action when pressure is released from the leg.

Claims

1. An artificial leg comprising an elongated lower leg portion comprising a tubular sleeve having therein a rod and springs means fixedly attached to each end of said rod within said sleeve, an ankle joint having one end attached to a shoe and an opposite end attached to a lower end of said rod;

an upper leg portion, means to attach said upper leg portion to the thigh of the wearer;

a knee joint located at an upper end of said rod comprising an upper cam and a lower cam, said upper cam is attached to said upper leg portion and adapted to rotate about a pivot, said upper cam having a convex surface defined by a semi-circle wherein a flat surface extending forward of said surface is substantially perpendicular to the tangent of said circle and a rearwardly extending surface is substantially parallel to the tangent of said circle; and

said lower cam is attached to the said upper portion of said rod and having a concave surface and an elongated rearwardly extending finger and a planar surface extending in a forward direction wherein each of said surfaces of the lower cam compliment said upper cam surfaces so as to lock with said upper cam when pressure is placed on the leg and wherein said springs maintain constant friction between said upper cam and lower cam.

2. The device of claim 1 comprising two lower leg portions and two upper leg portion, said lower leg portions adapted to attach to both sides of a shoe.

3. The device of claim 1 comprising one lower leg portion and two upper leg portions, said lower leg portions dividing to a U-shaped knee portion.

4. The device of claim 1 in which the lower leg portion and knee portion are covered by a plastic cover simulating a calf and knee.