US1160112A - Artificial foot. - Google Patents

Description

i' -f-TUNTTED STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

A posite cushioning action.

. construction,

.is provided whereby OSCAR L. SAVITZ, OFALLENTOWN,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TC EDWIN S. BABENOLD lAND ONE-THIRD TO HARVEY E. WINK, BOTH 0F ALLEN- TQWN, PENNSYLVANIA,

' ARTIFICIAL FOOT.

Specication of Lettersllatent.

Patented Nov. 9, 41915.

Applicationrld July 7, 1915. Serial N0. 38,465.

T 0 all whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, OSCAR L. Savrrz, a citizen of the United States, residlng at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Artificial Feet, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to-improvements in artificial limbs, and its object isto provide an artificial limb which affords a free and easy foot motion, and which embodies novel means for securing an efficient pneumatic vThe invention consists of the features of combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:-'-

Figure 1 is a vertical front to rear section through an artificial limb embodying my, invention. Fig. 2 is section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referringto the drawing, '1 designates. the

leg section ofthe limb, which may be made of metal -or other suitable materiah'and 2 designates the foot section of the limb, which is preferably made of elastic material,

such as rubber, but may be made of a comessary '.iexibility for the cushioning actions, as hereinafter set forth.

As shown, the leg section l'is provided at its upper portion with a stump receiving socket 3, which may be provided with any suitable soft lining. As shown in the pres-y ent instance, this socket comprises outer and inner walls 4 and 5 spaced to provide a cushioning chamber 6, theinner wall 5 is preferably made of some 'suitable' soft flexible or elastic material v and lis yieldingly backed by air contained in the chamber 6 so that a cushioning action will be obtained to'iprevent objectionable chafing or rubbing of vthestump and to adapt it toreceive the thrust from the artificial. limb during the lwalking action without producing soreness or other' discomfort. A valve filling tube 7 supplied with air whenever required.

The leg section 1 is provided with a base portion 8 which fits wlthin the foot section vided.

a vertical transverse` structure designed to aiiord the necthe chamber (i may be 2, which foot section is formed with a chambei- 3 to receive the said base of the leg section. The foot section is provided with lugs 9 at opposite sides thereof and in rear of the instep line for pivotal connection with rods or braces ,10 carried by the leg section, whereby an .articulating connection is pro- Jointed to the foot section in rear of the articulating connection is a rod 11 movable in a guide member 12 on the leg section and controlled',y by .an linterposed spring 13, by ivhichlheflimb sections are maintained 1n .a properrelative Aposition and the articulating motiony of the said secl. tionsupon one another properly cushioned.

In accordance with my invention the foot section 2 'is provided withl a pair of superposed air chambers 14 and 15, the air chamber 14 being separated from the receiving chamber' 3 by a flexible diaphragm 16, in which diaphragm the chamber' 15 is formed, the chamber 14 is closed against communication withthe atmosphere exceptvthrough a'valved tube orconductor 17, while the chamber 15 communicates with the atmosphere at the front and rear of the foot section, as indicated at 18 and 19, respectively. The chamber 14 is adapted to be supplied with air whenever required, which air is retained in said chamber for a cusnloning action, air being only furnished at suiiicient intervals to compensate for that lost by leakage. The chamber 15 on the other end is adapted to be supplied with air by suction and to have the air exhausted therefrom-by compression, the suction being produced by the collapse oi its walls when the limb is in action by the tread pressurel for the exhaust ot the air and the pro-duction of a partial vacuum for theadmission of fresh air when the walls expand or dilate upon the removal of pressure, as when the a mediiu'n ot the air cushion 14, while the upper portion of the foot section to which the leg section is connected, namely the wall or diaphragm 1,5, is also permitted to have a yielding action, by means o Which the action of the limb in walking is cushioned and obieotionable jars, pressures or-strains.;1'1pon the stu'mp'of .the natural limb prevented.

An' artificial limb including a legr section 54 and a -foot section'conneeted for articulating I'no'tion, said foot section being formed of .el'astie material and having an air chamber therein disposed between its upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface of said foot see- -f i0 vtionfimln'in'g a yielding Wall or diaphragm and having an air passage therethrough, said diaphragm formingthe support for the,

Said air chamber. y

`In testimony whereof. I affix my signature /15 in presence of two Witnesses.

OSCAR L. SAVITZ. Witnesses -leg section, and means for supplying air, to

foules` of.v this patent may be obtained for five cents eachpby -addressing the f Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, vIl. C.

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