Ambulating knee joint
First Claim
1. A hinge assembly for an orthotic, prosthetic, or rehabilitative device, comprising:
- a proximal member movably connected to a distal member to allow angular displacement of the proximal member relative to the distal member;
a spring housing communicating with the proximal and the distal members, wherein movement of the spring housing tracks, and is tracked by, movement of one of the proximal or the distal members; and
at least one elastomeric spring in bearing engagement with the spring housing, wherein angular displacement of the proximal member relative to the distal member in a first direction compresses the at least one elastomeric spring to dampen the angular displacement in the first direction, wherein decompression of the at least one elastomeric spring urges angular displacement of the proximal member relative to the distal member in a second direction.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hinge or joint assembly is provided that includes first and second members, a pivot rotatably connecting the first and second members and allowing movement between extension and flexion positions, and at least one elastomeric spring communicating with the first and second members to restrain pivotal movement of the members toward flexion, through compression of the elastomeric spring, and to assist pivotal movement toward extension through decompression of the elastomeric spring. The assembly can further include a disk and lock slide, the disk and lock slide each having complementary teeth providing, when engaged, an arrest of pivotal movement in a direction of flexion and one-way, ratcheting, step-advance pivotal movement in a direction toward extension. The elastomeric spring can be urethane, and can be adapted to mimic any bodily muscle. An embodiment employing a torsional spring is also provided, as is a cable release mechanism providing one-dimensional cable movement.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A hinge assembly for an orthotic, prosthetic, or rehabilitative device, comprising:
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a proximal member movably connected to a distal member to allow angular displacement of the proximal member relative to the distal member; a spring housing communicating with the proximal and the distal members, wherein movement of the spring housing tracks, and is tracked by, movement of one of the proximal or the distal members; and at least one elastomeric spring in bearing engagement with the spring housing, wherein angular displacement of the proximal member relative to the distal member in a first direction compresses the at least one elastomeric spring to dampen the angular displacement in the first direction, wherein decompression of the at least one elastomeric spring urges angular displacement of the proximal member relative to the distal member in a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An orthotic, prosthetic, or rehabilitative device comprising:
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a proximal member rotatably connected to a distal member by a hinge assembly, the hinge assembly allowing angular displacement of the proximal member relative to the distal member to and from extension and flexion positions, the hinge assembly including; a disk; a lock slide adapted for engaging the disk, wherein engagement of the lock slide with the disk, over a first pre-determined range, arrests angular displacement of the proximal member relative to the distal member in a direction toward flexion, and provides one-way, ratcheting step-advance in a direction toward extension; and at least one spring communicating with the proximal and the distal members, over a second pre-determined range, to provide a dampening of angular displacement of the proximal member relative to the distal member in a direction toward flexion, and to provide an urging of angular displacement in a direction toward extension. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An orthotic, prosthetic, or rehabilitative device, comprising:
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a proximal member movably connected to a distal member by a hinge assembly, the hinge assembly allowing angular displacement of the proximal member relative to the distal member to and from extension and flexion positions, the hinge assembly including; a disk having a plurality of disk teeth and at least one spring post; a lock slide linearly translatable relative to one of the proximal or the distal members, the lock slide having one or more slide teeth, the one or more slide teeth each geometrically complementing and selectably engagable with the plurality of disk teeth, wherein engagement of the lock slide with the disk arrests angular displacement of the proximal member relative to the distal member in a direction of flexion, and provides one-way, ratcheting step-advance in a direction of extension; a spring housing angularly communicating with the disk, and the proximal and the distal members, the spring housing having at least one channel defined by walls; and at least one elastomeric spring, each spring housed in a respective channel of the spring housing, each spring in bearing engagement with one of the at least one spring post, wherein angular displacement of the proximal member relative to the distal member in a direction of flexion causes the spring post to compress the at least one elastomeric spring against the walls of the respective channel to dampen the angular displacement in a direction of flexion, wherein decompression of the at least one elastomeric spring against the respective spring post urges angular displacement in a direction of extension.
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Specification