Resilient pivot joint for an artificial leg

Claim 1

A pivot joint for an artificial limb, comprising, in combination: a. first and second joint segments; b. means connecting the first and second joint segments together for pivotal movement relative to one another about a pivot axis; c. a bearing member; d. a recess provided in one of the first and second joint segments and arranged for receiving the bearing member, the bearing member being arranged in the recess; e. resilient means including a sleeve arranged around the first and second joint segments for restoring same to a predetermined relationship with respect to one another following the application of a torsional force to the segments; f. means for attaching the first and second joint segments to respective sections of a member to be pivotally joined together; g. first and second clamping elements arranged for clamping the resilient means to the fIrst and second joint segments, respectively; and h. the first and second joint segments being provided with aligned apertures, the connecting means having a bolt arranged in these apertures and a nut threadingly engaging the bolt for retaining same, one of the joint segments having at least one slot provided in a wall thereof and communicating with an aperture provided in the joint segment, the aperture being dimensioned to receive an end of a length of tubing, and means arranged about the wall adjacent the slot for clamping the tubing in the aperture, the apertures provided in the joint segments each having two sections, the aperture section arranged closest to the other joint segment having a smaller area than the other aperture section of the same joint segment, and a shoulder being formed at the junction of the sections, and further including a hollow element provided with a flange and arranged in the smaller diameter aperture section with the flange abutting the shoulder.