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US4549318A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Prosthetic device with a knee mechanism

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-01-29
•
Granted: 1985-10-29
•
Expires: 2005-01-29
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Abstract

Abstract A prosthetic device comprising a knee mechanism including two discs of a large diameter, about the circumferential surfaces of which are disposed an upper and a lower gripping members to be frictionally engageable therewith so that a thigh element is firmly fastened with respect to a shank element to support the body weight of the user when the former is bent with respect to the latter.

Inventors

  • 👤 Itsuro Takahama

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 20:42
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/50; A61F2/68; A61F2/60; A61F2/64; A61F2/642; A61F2/644; A61F2002/5007

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim 185 words
A prosthetic device comprising a thigh element, a shank element and a knee mechanism jointedly connecting said elements, the knee mechanism including two discs having a large diameter disposed at the opposite sides of the thigh element and secured to the shank element, an upper gripping member including two arcuate surfaces of a diameter slightly larger than that of said discs and disposed around the upper circumferential surfaces of said discs, and a lower gripping member including two arcuate surfaces of a diameter slightly larger than that of said discs and disposed around the lower circumferential surfaces of said discs, said upper and lower gripping members being pivotably interconnected about a horizontal axis toward the back of the user of the prosthetic device, said thigh element being pivotably connected to said lower gripping member about a horizontal axis toward the front of the user, so that, when said thigh element pivots backwards with respect to the user, it presses the upper gripping member downwards and lifts up the lower gripping member for frictional engagement of said arcuate surfaces of these gripping members with said discs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 185 words
A prosthetic device comprising a thigh element, a shank element and a knee mechanism jointedly connecting said elements, the knee mechanism including two discs having a large diameter disposed at the opposite sides of the thigh element and secured to the shank element, an upper gripping member including two arcuate surfaces of a diameter slightly larger than that of said discs and disposed around the upper circumferential surfaces of said discs, and a lower gripping member including two arcuate surfaces of a diameter slightly larger than that of said discs and disposed around the lower circumferential surfaces of said discs, said upper and lower gripping members being pivotably interconnected about a horizontal axis toward the back of the user of the prosthetic device, said thigh element being pivotably connected to said lower gripping member about a horizontal axis toward the front of the user, so that, when said thigh element pivots backwards with respect to the user, it presses the upper gripping member downwards and lifts up the lower gripping member for frictional engagement of said arcuate surfaces of these gripping members with said discs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 43 words
The prosthetic device as claimed in claim 1 in which there is provided a resilient material of large volume between the thigh element and the upper gripping member so that said thigh element presses said upper gripping member downwards through said resilient material.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE2023040A1 Cited
US3863274A Cited
US3982279A Cited
US4215441A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-10-28 1989-04-29 1989-10-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-10-28 1993-04-29 1993-10-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-10-28 1997-04-29 1997-10-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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