Pivot joint adapter

Claim 2

An adapter for permitting attachment of a pivot joint to the foot portion of an artificial leg, comprising a body provided with means for attaching the body to a pivot joint, and with means for connecting the body to a foot portion of an artificial leg, the body including a planar base and a protuberant part extending from the base, and the means for attaching including a recess provided in the protuberant part and partially defined by a substantially circular wall, and internal screw threads provided on the wall and arranged for receiving a threaded portion of a pivot joint, and the body further including an aperture provided in the base and arranged substantially equidistant from all portions of the circular wall, and the means for connecting including an insert disposed in the aperture, the insert including a shank arranged for mating with the aperture, a flange attached to the shank and arranged for abutting the base in the manner of a shoulder, the shank arranged for abutting the foot portion, and an opening provided in the shank and arranged passing therethrough, retaining means including internal screw threads for threadingly engaging with the screw threads of a bolt arranged passing through the foot portion and securing the foot portion to the adaptor.

Claim 3

A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the protuberant part is a cylindrical boss, and the means for attaching further includes bores having internal screw threads provided in the boss and arranged radially to the circular wall and parallel to the base for receiving setscrews that clamp a portion of a pivot joint received in the recess.

Claim 4

A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the base is elongated.

Claim 5

An ankle joint for an artificial leg, comprising, in combination: a. a pivot joint connectable to a lower leg portion of an artificial leg; and b. an adapter attached to the pivot joint and connectable to a foot portion of the artificial leg, whereby the pivot joint is connected to the foot portion; wherein c. the pivot joint includes: i. first and second joint segments; ii. means connecting the first and second joint segments together for pivotal movement relative to one another about a pivot axis; iii. a bearing member; iv. a recess provided in one of the first and second joint members and arranged for receiving the bearing member, the bearing member being arranged in the recess; v. 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; and vi. means for attaching the first and second joint segments to the lower leg portion and foot portion, respectively; and d. the adapter includes a body provided with means for attaching the body to a pivot joint, and with means for connecting the body to a foot portion of an artificial leg, the body including a planar base and a protuberant part extending from the base, and the means for attaching including a recess provided in the protuberant part and partially defined by a substantially circular wall, and internal screw threads provided on the wall and arranged for receiving a threaded portion of a pivot joint, the body further including an aperture provided in the base and arranged substantially equidistant from all portions of the circular wall, and the means for connecting includinG an insert disposed in the aperture, the insert including a shank arranged for mating with the aperture, a flange attached to the shank and arranged for abutting the base in the manner of a shoulder, and an opening provided in the shank and arranged passing therethrough, the opening provided with internal screw threads, a bolt arranged passing through the foot portion, and the internal screw threads of the opening arranged for threadingly engaging with the screw threads of the bolt.

Claim 6

An ankle joint for an artificial leg, comprising, in combination: a. a pivot joint connectable to a lower leg portion of an artificial leg; and b. an adapter attached to the pivot joint and connectable to a foot portion of the artificial leg, whereby the pivot joint is connected to the foot portion; wherein c. the pivot joint includes: i. first and second joint segments; ii. means connecting the first and second joint segments together for pivotal movement relative to one another about a pivot axis; iii. a bearing member; iv. a recess provided in one of the first and second joint members and arranged for receiving the bearing member, the bearing member being arranged in the recess; v. 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; and vi. means for attaching the first and second joint segments to the lower leg portion and foot portion, respectively; and d. the adapter includes a body provided with means for attaching the body to a pivot joint, and with means for connecting the body to a foot portion of an artificial leg, the body including a planar base and a protuberant part extending from the base, and the means for attaching including a recess provided in the protuberant part and partially defined by a substantially circular wall, and internal screw threads provided on the wall and arranged for receiving a threaded portion of a pivot joint, the body further including an aperture provided in the base and arranged substantially equidistant from all portions of the circular wall, and the means for connecting includinG an insert disposed in the aperture, the insert including a shank arranged for mating with the aperture, a flange attached to the shank and arranged for abutting the base in the manner of a shoulder, and an opening provided in the shank and arranged passing therethrough, the opening provided with internal screw threads, a bolt arranged passing through the foot portion, and the internal screw threads of the opening arranged for threadingly engaging with the screw threads of the bolt.

Claim 7

A structure as defined in claim 4, wherein the protuberant part is a cylindrical boss, and the means for attaching further includes bores having internal screw threads provided in the boss and arranged radially to the circular wall and parallel to the base for receiving setscrews that clamp a portion of a pivot joint received in the recess.

Claim 8

A structure as defined in claim 4, wherein the base is elongated.

Claim 9

A pivot joint for an artificial leg, 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 members 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; and f. means for attaching the first and second joint segments to portions of a member to be pivotally connected together, the means for pivotal movement including a bolt arranged passing through coaxial bores provided in the first and second joint segments and engaging a nut threaded onto the bolt, a sleeve constructed from a bearing material and inserted into the bore of one of the joint segments, and a further bearing being arranged between the nut and surface of the joint segment arranged adjacent the nut.

Claim 10

A pivot joint for an artificial leg, 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 members 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; and f. means for attaching the first and second joint segments to portions of a member to be pivotally connected together, the means for pivotal movement including a bolt arranged passing through coaxial bores provided in the first and second joint segments and engaging a nut threaded onto the bolt, a sleeve constructed from a bearing material and inserted into the bore of one of the joint segments, and a further bearing being arranged between the nut and surface of the joint segment arranged adjacent the nut.