Prosthetic foot
First Claim
1. A prosthetic foot comprising an ankle member, a heel member underlying said ankle member, first pivot means coupling said heel member to said ankle member for resiliently resisted pivotal movement about a first transverse axis, an elongate metatarsal-toe member having a rear portion underlying a forward portion of said heel member and projecting forwardly from said heel member, second pivot means coupling said toe member to said heel member for pivotal movement about a second transverse axis, positive stop means engageable between said heel and toe members define an end limit to downward pivotal movement of the forward end of said toe member relative to said heel member, compression means engaged between said heel and toe members for resiliently resisting upward pivotal movement of the forward end of said toe member relative to said heel member, said toe member having an elongate slot therethrough extending longitudinally rearwardly from the forward end of said toe member bifurcating the forward portion of said toe member, the underside of said heel and toe members being conformed to cooperatively define a longitudinally extending concave arch, first means on said heel member defining a weight supporting support point on the underside of said heel member at the rearward end of said arch, second means on said toe member defining first and second weight supporting support points on the underside of said toe member at the forward end of said arch respectively located at opposite sides of said slot, said support points defining a stable three-point support for said foot when in a foot-flat position, and said first and second axes being spaced rearwardly from the center of said arch.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A prosthetic foot includes an ankle member, a heel member and an elongate metatarsal-toe member coupled to each other for relative pivotal movement resisted by resilient pads engaged between the respective members. The undersides of the heel and toe members are concavely arched, the length of the arch duplicating that of a natural foot of the same size, with the center of the arch vertically aligned with the center of gravity of the amputee when in a standing, foot-flat position. The toe member is partially bifurcated at its forward end to provide independently flexible toe sections at the inner and outer sides of the foot, achieving a stable, three-point support matching that of a natural foot.
200 Citations
9 Claims
- 1. A prosthetic foot comprising an ankle member, a heel member underlying said ankle member, first pivot means coupling said heel member to said ankle member for resiliently resisted pivotal movement about a first transverse axis, an elongate metatarsal-toe member having a rear portion underlying a forward portion of said heel member and projecting forwardly from said heel member, second pivot means coupling said toe member to said heel member for pivotal movement about a second transverse axis, positive stop means engageable between said heel and toe members define an end limit to downward pivotal movement of the forward end of said toe member relative to said heel member, compression means engaged between said heel and toe members for resiliently resisting upward pivotal movement of the forward end of said toe member relative to said heel member, said toe member having an elongate slot therethrough extending longitudinally rearwardly from the forward end of said toe member bifurcating the forward portion of said toe member, the underside of said heel and toe members being conformed to cooperatively define a longitudinally extending concave arch, first means on said heel member defining a weight supporting support point on the underside of said heel member at the rearward end of said arch, second means on said toe member defining first and second weight supporting support points on the underside of said toe member at the forward end of said arch respectively located at opposite sides of said slot, said support points defining a stable three-point support for said foot when in a foot-flat position, and said first and second axes being spaced rearwardly from the center of said arch.
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8. A prosthetic foot comprising an ankle member, a heel member underlying said ankle member, a first pivot means coupling said heel member to said ankle member for resiliently resisted pivotal movement about a first transverse axis, an elongated metatarsal toe member having a rear portion underlying a forward portion of said heel member and projecting forwardly from said heel member, said toe member pivotably connected about a second transverse axis to said heel member, said heel member having a portion interposed between said ankle member and said toe member, compression means engaged between said heel portion and toe member for resiliently resisting upward pivotal movement of the forward end of said toe member relative to said heel member, a resilient means between said heel portion and said ankle member for resisting upward motion of said heel portion relative to said ankle member;
- resilient compressible means for resisting downward movement of said heel portion relative to said ankle member with the resilient compressible means having a greater degree of compressibility than said resilient means;
a positive stop means engageable between said heel and toe members defining an end limit to downward pivotal movement of the forward end of said toe member relative to said heel member; the underside of said heel and toe members being conformed to cooperatively define a longitudinally extending concave arch, said first and second transverse axes being spaced rearwardly from the center of said arch; first and second weight supporting points on the underside of said toe member at the forward end of said arch respectively laterally displaced from each other; means for changing the relative vertical position of said first and second weight supporting points.
- resilient compressible means for resisting downward movement of said heel portion relative to said ankle member with the resilient compressible means having a greater degree of compressibility than said resilient means;
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9. A prosthetic foot comprising an ankle member, a heel member underlying said ankle member, first pivot means coupling said heel member to said ankle member for resiliently resisted pivotal movement about a first transverse axis, an elongate metatarsal toe member having a rear portion underlying a forward portion of said heel member and projecting forwardly from said heel member, second pivot means coupling said toe member to said heel member for pivotal movement about a second transverse axis, positive stop means engageable between said heel and toe member define an end limit to downward pivotal movement of the forward end of said toe member relative to said heel member, compression means engaged between said heel and toe members for resiliently resisting upward pivotal movement of the forward end of said toe member relative to said heel member, said toe member extending longitudinally rearwardly from the forward end of the underside of said heel and toe members being conformed to cooperatively define a longitudinally extending concave arch, first means on said heel member defining a weight supporting support point on the underside of said heel member at the rearward end of said arch, second means on said toe member defining first and second weight supporting support points on the underside of said toe member at the forward end of said arch respectively laterally displaced from each other, said support points defining a stable three point support for said foot when in a flat foot position, said first and second weight supporting support points being independently resiliently movable in a vertical fashion from said flat foot position, and said first and second axes being spaced rearwardly from the center of said arch.
Specification