Patent US3863274A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3863274A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Articulate joint for prosthetic devices
Assignee: Otto Bock Orthopädische Industrie KG
•
Filing: 1973-06-06
•
Granted: 1975-02-04
•
Expires: 1993-06-06
Abstract
Abstract An articulated joint for prosthetic devices consists of a normally stationary member, another member rotatably connected therewith, and two spaced parallel shafts. One of the shafts is rotatable and the rotatable member is connected to this shaft so that the shaft and this member rotate as a unit. A collar is swingably mounted about the other, stationary shaft and this collar also surrounds the rotatable shaft. The stationary shaft is secured to the stationary member and the collar abuts the latter. A sleeve is interposed between the collar and the rotatable shaft, and the sleeve is provided with a slit therethrough. The collar, in turn, is provided with a slot and, as a result of this construction, the sleeve and collar are able to yield elastically in a direction circumferentially of the rotatable shaft. When a force is applied to the joint, the rotatable member abuts the collar so that the force is transmitted via the collar and stationary shaft to the stationary member or vice versa. This force then causes the collar and, hence, the sleeve, to yield in a direction circumferentially of the rotatable shaft so that the sleeve frictionally engages the latter to thereby prevent rotation of the same.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Glabiszewski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:12
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/50; A61F2/68; A61F2/60; A61F2/64; A61F2/642; A61F2/644; A61F2002/5001; A61F2002/6818
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
An articulated joint, particularly a knee joint for an artificial leg, comprising a pair of substantially parallel transversely spaced shafts, the axes of which are located when a force is applied to said joint in a substantially horizontal plane; collar means having one portion substantially surrounding one of said shafts and having an upper and a lower portion laterally projecting from said one portion and being separated by a slot having a predetermined width in the absence of a force applied to said joint and said lever portions being elastically yieldable toward each other upon application of a force to said joint, said lower lever portion being pivotally connected to the other of said shafts; a lowEr joint member connected to said one shaft for turning therewith; and an upper force transmitting joint member turnably carrying the other shaft and engaging said upper lever portion for pressing the latter towards said lower lever portion to cause said collar means to frictionally engage said one shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
An articulated joint, particularly a knee joint for an artificial leg, comprising a pair of substantially parallel transversely spaced shafts, the axes of which are located when a force is applied to said joint in a substantially horizontal plane; collar means having one portion substantially surrounding one of said shafts and having an upper and a lower portion laterally projecting from said one portion and being separated by a slot having a predetermined width in the absence of a force applied to said joint and said lever portions being elastically yieldable toward each other upon application of a force to said joint, said lower lever portion being pivotally connected to the other of said shafts; a lowEr joint member connected to said one shaft for turning therewith; and an upper force transmitting joint member turnably carrying the other shaft and engaging said upper lever portion for pressing the latter towards said lower lever portion to cause said collar means to frictionally engage said one shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
An articulated joint as defined in claim 1, wherein said force transmitting member comprises two spaced abutment sections, and said upper lever portion has a free end, one of said abutment sections being adapted to abut said upper lever portion in the region of said free end, and the other of said abutment sections being adapted to abut said upper lever portion at a location spaced from said free end when a force is applied to said joint.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An articulated joint as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower joint member comprises an abutment member adapted to abut said lower lever portion when a force is applied to said joint.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
An articulated joint as defined in claim 1, wherein said upper and lower joint members are located along a common axis, when a force is applied to said joint and said shaft axes being respectively located at opposite sides of said common axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
An articulated joint as defined in claim 1, and further comprising adjusting means for regulating said predetermined width so as to regulate the angle through which said collar means yields in response to a force applied to said joint.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An articulated joint as defined in claim 5, wherein said adjusting means comprises an adjusting screw connecting said lower lever portion with said force-transmitting member and extending through said upper lever portion and said slot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
An articulated joint as defined in claim 1, wherein said collar means comprises a sleeve member interposed between said portions and said rotatable shaft, said sleeve member frictionally engaging said rotatable shaft when a force is applied to said joint.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An articulated joint as defined in claim 7, wherein said sleeve member is provided with a slit extending longitudinally therethrough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
An articulated joint as defined in claim 2, wherein said one abutment section is composed of a hard, low-friction material, and said other abutment section is composed of an elastic substance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
An articulated joint as defined in claim 9, wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of polyamide and polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An articulated joint as defined in claim 9, wherein said substance is selected from the group consisting of vibration damping rubber and polyurethane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |