Artificial jointless foot

Claim 2

An artificial foot comprising: a) a non-articulate incompressible core which comprises an underside which slopes upwards from front to rear of said foot, an upper connecting surface of a given length disposed in an ankle region of said foot for non-articulate ankle attachment of said foot to an artificial leg, and an extension forwardly extending into an instep region of said foot, said extension decreasing in height towards said front, wherein said core extends horizontally from a front edge on said upper connecting surface into said instep region only by an amount corresponding to less than about half of said length on said connecting surface; b) a heel wedge connected to said underside of said core; c) a non-articulate, unreinforced, flexible inner foot member adjoining both a front surface of said core within said instep region and a front side of said heel wedge, said inner foot member being flexible for substantial bending within said instep region and extending into a toe region of said foot, said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge being interconnected without any articulate joints therebetween; and d) a soft, easily deformable skin-forming layer completely surrounding said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge, with the exception of said upper connecting surface of said core, such that the restoring force of said skin-forming layer is less than the restoring force of said inner foot member; wherein the elastic properties of said foot are determined solely by said inner foot member, said heel wedge and said skin-forming layer.

Claim 3

An artificial foot as claimed in claim 1, wherein said core comprises wood.

Claim 4

An artificial foot as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heel wedge comprises a soft plastic foam.

Claim 5

An artificial foot as claimed in claim 1, wherein said skin-forming layer comprises a plastic foam.

Claim 6

An artificial foot as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner foot member comprises a plastic foam.

Claim 7

An artificial foot as claimed in claim 4, wherein said skin-forming layer comprises plastic foam having a weight per unit volume of approximately 4 g/cm 3 .

Claim 8

An artificial foot as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner foot member has a weight per unit volume of from about 6 to about 10 g/cm 3 .

Claim 9

An artificial foot as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heel wedge has a weight per unit volume of from about 2 to about 4 g/cm 3 .

Claim 10

An artificial foot as claimed in claim 1, wherein said core extends horizontally from said front edge on said upper connecting surface into said instep region by ones an amount corresponding to less than about one-third of the length on said connecting surface.

Claim 11

An artificial foot as claimed in claim 1, wherein a front tip of said heel wedge terminates approximately vertically flush with a front edge of said core.

Claim 12

An artificial foot as claimed in claim 1, wherein said skin-forming layer includes means for protecting penetration of water or an aggressive agent.

Claim 13

An artificial foot as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heel wedge has a weight per unit volume of approximately 3 g/cm 3 .

Claim 14

An artificial non-articulate foot comprising: a) a non-articulate incompressible core which comprises an underside which slopes upwards from front to rear of said foot, an upper connecting surface of a given length disposed in an ankle region of said foot for non-articulate ankle attachment of said foot to an artificial leg, and an extension forwardly extending into an instep region of said foot, said extension decreasing in height towards said front, wherein said core extends horizontally from a front edge on said upper connecting surface into said instep region only by an amount corresponding to less than about half of said length on said connecting surface; b) a heel wedge connected to said underside of said core; c) a non-articulate, unreinforced, flexible inner foot member adjoining both a front surface of said core within said instep region and a front side of said heel wedge, said inner foot member being flexible for substantial bending within said instep region and extending into a toe region of said foot, said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge being interconnected without any articulate joints therebetween; and d) a soft, easily deformable skin-forming layer completely surrounding said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge, with the exception of said upper connecting surface of said core, such that the restoring force of said skin-forming layer is less than the restoring force of said inner foot member; wherein said extension extends obliquely downward into said instep region and narrows roundly.

Claim 15

An artificial non-articulate foot comprising: a) a non-articulate incompressible core which comprises an underside which slopes upwards from front to rear of said foot, an upper connecting surface of a given length disposed in an ankle region of said foot for non-articulate ankle attachment of said foot to an artificial leg, and an extension forwardly extending into an instep region of said foot, said extension decreasing in height towards said front, wherein said core extends horizontally from a front edge on said upper connecting surface into said instep region only by an amount corresponding to less than about half of said length on said connecting surface; b) a heel wedge connected to said underside of said core; c) a non-articulate, unreinforced, flexible inner foot member adjoining both a front surface of said core within said instep region and a front side of said heel wedge, said inner foot member being flexible for substantial bending within said instep region and extending into a toe region of said foot, said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge being interconnected without any articulate joints therebetween; and d) a soft, easily deformable skin-forming layer completely surrounding said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge, with the exception of said upper connecting surface of said core, such that the restoring force of said skin-forming layer is less than the restoring force of said inner foot member; wherein said extension extends obliquely downward into said instep region and narrows roundly.

Claim 16

An artificial non-articulate foot comprising: a) a non-articulate incompressible core which comprises an underside which slopes upwards from front to rear of said foot, an upper connecting surface of a given length disposed in an ankle region of said foot, and an extension forwardly extending into an instep region of said foot, said extension decreasing in height towards said front, wherein said core extends horizontally from a front edge on said upper connecting surface into said instep region only by an amount corresponding to less than about half of said length on said connecting surface; b) a heel wedge connected to said underside of said core; c) a non-articulate, unreinforced, flexible inner foot member adjoining both a front surface of said core within said instep region and a front side of said heel wedge, said inner foot member being flexible for substantial bending within said instep region and extending into a toe region of said foot, said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge being interconnected without any articulate joints therebetween; and d) a soft, easily deformable skin-forming layer completely surrounding said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge, with the exception of said upper connecting surface of said core, such that the restoring force of said skin-forming layer is less than the restoring force of said inner foot member; further comprising a bore vertically extending through said core and said heel wedge for non-articulate ankle attachment of said foot to an artificial leg at said upper connecting surface, wherein an interior surface of said bore is covered by a thin wall of said skin-forming layer.

Claim 17

An artificial non-articulate foot comprising: a) a non-articulate incompressible core which comprises an underside which slopes upwards from front to rear of said foot, an upper connecting surface of a given length disposed in an ankle region of said foot, and an extension forwardly extending into an instep region of said foot, said extension decreasing in height towards said front, wherein said core extends horizontally from a front edge on said upper connecting surface into said instep region only by an amount corresponding to less than about half of said length on said connecting surface; b) a heel wedge connected to said underside of said core; c) a non-articulate, unreinforced, flexible inner foot member adjoining both a front surface of said core within said instep region and a front side of said heel wedge, said inner foot member being flexible for substantial bending within said instep region and extending into a toe region of said foot, said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge being interconnected without any articulate joints therebetween; and d) a soft, easily deformable skin-forming layer completely surrounding said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge, with the exception of said upper connecting surface of said core, such that the restoring force of said skin-forming layer is less than the restoring force of said inner foot member; further comprising a bore vertically extending through said core and said heel wedge for non-articulate ankle attachment of said foot to an artificial leg at said upper connecting surface, wherein an interior surface of said bore is covered by a thin wall of said skin-forming layer.

Claim 18

An artificial foot comprising: a) a non-articulate incompressible core which comprises an underside which slopes upwards from front to rear of said foot, an upper connecting surface of a given length disposed in an ankle region of said foot, for non-articulate ankle attachment of said foot to an artificial leg, and an extension forwardly extending into an instep region of said foot, said extension decreasing in height towards said front, wherein said core extends horizontally from a front edge on said upper connecting surface into said instep region only by an amount corresponding to less than about half of said length on said connecting surface; b) a heel wedge connected to said underside of said core; c) a non-articulate, unreinforced, flexible inner foot member adjoining both a front surface of said core within said instep region and a front side of said heel wedge, said inner foot member being flexible for substantial bending within said instep region and extending into a toe region of said foot, said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge being interconnected without any articulate joints therebetween; and d) a soft, easily deformable skin-forming layer completely surrounding said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge, with the exception of said upper connecting surface of said core, such that the restoring force of said skin-forming layer is less than the restoring force of said inner foot member; wherein the forward portion of said foot consists essentially of said inner foot member and said skin-forming layer, whereby the movement properties of said foot producing rolling action when the heel is lifted are determined essentially exclusively by the flexible properties of said inner foot member.

Claim 19

An artificial foot comprising: a) a non-articulate incompressible core which comprises an underside which slopes upwards from front to rear of said foot, an upper connecting surface of a given length disposed in an ankle region of said foot, for non-articulate ankle attachment of said foot to an artificial leg, and an extension forwardly extending into an instep region of said foot, said extension decreasing in height towards said front, wherein said core extends horizontally from a front edge on said upper connecting surface into said instep region only by an amount corresponding to less than about half of said length on said connecting surface; b) a heel wedge connected to said underside of said core; c) a non-articulate, unreinforced, flexible inner foot member adjoining both a front surface of said core within said instep region and a front side of said heel wedge, said inner foot member being flexible for substantial bending within said instep region and extending into a toe region of said foot, said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge being interconnected without any articulate joints therebetween; and d) a soft, easily deformable skin-forming layer completely surrounding said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge, with the exception of said upper connecting surface of said core, such that the restoring force of said skin-forming layer is less than the restoring force of said inner foot member; wherein the forward portion of said foot consists essentially of said inner foot member and said skin-forming layer, whereby the movement properties of said foot producing rolling action when the heel is lifted are determined essentially exclusively by the flexible properties of said inner foot member.

Claim 20

An artificial foot as claimed in claim 15, wherein said skin-forming layer comprises plastic foam having a weight per unit volume of approximately 4 g/cm 3 .

Claim 21

An artificial foot as claimed in claim 15, wherein said inner foot member has a weight per unit volume of from about 6 to about 10 g/cm 3 .

Claim 22

An artificial foot as claimed in claim 15, wherein said heel wedge has a weight per unit volume of from about 2 to about 4 g/cm 3 .

Claim 23

An artificial foot comprising: a) a non-articulate incompressible core which comprises an underside which slopes upwards from front to rear of said foot, an upper connecting surface disposed in an ankle region of said foot, for non-articulate ankle attachment of said foot to an artificial leg, and an extension forwardly extending into an instep region of said foot, said extension decreasing in height towards said front, wherein said core extends horizontally as measured from a rearmost portion of said foot into said instep region only by an amount corresponding to about half of the total horizontal length of said foot; b) a heel wedge connected to said underside of said core; c) a non-articulate, unreinforced, flexible inner foot member adjoining both a front surface of said core within said instep region and a front side of said heel wedge, said inner foot member being flexible for substantial bending within said instep region and extending into a toe region of said foot, said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge being interconnected without any articulate joints therebetween; and d) a soft, easily deformable skin-forming layer completely surrounding said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge, with the exception of said upper connecting surface of said core, such that the restoring force of said skin-forming layer is less than the restoring force of said inner foot member; wherein the forward portion of said foot consists essentially of said inner foot member and said skin-forming layer, whereby the movement properties of said foot producing rolling action when the heel is lifted are determined essentially exclusively by the flexible properties of said inner foot member.

Claim 24

An artificial foot comprising: a) a non-articulate incompressible core which comprises an underside which slopes upwards from front to rear of said foot, an upper connecting surface disposed in an ankle region of said foot, for non-articulate ankle attachment of said foot to an artificial leg, and an extension forwardly extending into an instep region of said foot, said extension decreasing in height towards said front, wherein said core extends horizontally as measured from a rearmost portion of said foot into said instep region only by an amount corresponding to about half of the total horizontal length of said foot; b) a heel wedge connected to said underside of said core; c) a non-articulate, unreinforced, flexible inner foot member adjoining both a front surface of said core within said instep region and a front side of said heel wedge, said inner foot member being flexible for substantial bending within said instep region and extending into a toe region of said foot, said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge being interconnected without any articulate joints therebetween; and d) a soft, easily deformable skin-forming layer completely surrounding said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge, with the exception of said upper connecting surface of said core, such that the restoring force of said skin-forming layer is less than the restoring force of said inner foot member; wherein the forward portion of said foot consists essentially of said inner foot member and said skin-forming layer, whereby the movement properties of said foot producing rolling action when the heel is lifted are determined essentially exclusively by the flexible properties of said inner foot member.

Claim 25

An artificial foot comprising: a) a non-articulate incompressible core which comprises an underside which slopes upwards from front to rear of said foot, an upper connecting surface disposed in an ankle region of said foot, for non-articulate ankle attachment of said foot to an artificial leg, and an extension forwardly extending into an instep region of said foot and terminating rearward of a ball region of said foot; b) a heel wedge connected to said underside of said core; c) a non-articulate, unreinforced, flexible inner foot member adjoining both a front surface of said core within said instep region and a front side of said heel wedge, said inner foot member being flexible for substantial bending within said instep region and extending into a toe region of said foot, said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge being interconnected without any articulate joints therebetween; and d) a soft, easily deformable skin-forming layer completely surrounding said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge, with the exception of said upper connecting surface of said core, such that the restoring force of said skin-forming layer is less than the restoring force of said inner foot member; wherein the forward portion of said foot consists essentially of said inner foot member and said skin-forming layer, whereby the movement properties of said foot producing rolling action when the heel is lifted are determined essentially exclusively by the flexible properties of said inner foot member.

Claim 26

An artificial foot comprising: a) a non-articulate incompressible core which comprises an underside which slopes upwards from front to rear of said foot, an upper connecting surface disposed in an ankle region of said foot, for non-articulate ankle attachment of said foot to an artificial leg, and an extension forwardly extending into an instep region of said foot and terminating rearward of a ball region of said foot; b) a heel wedge connected to said underside of said core; c) a non-articulate, unreinforced, flexible inner foot member adjoining both a front surface of said core within said instep region and a front side of said heel wedge, said inner foot member being flexible for substantial bending within said instep region and extending into a toe region of said foot, said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge being interconnected without any articulate joints therebetween; and d) a soft, easily deformable skin-forming layer completely surrounding said core, said inner foot member and said heel wedge, with the exception of said upper connecting surface of said core, such that the restoring force of said skin-forming layer is less than the restoring force of said inner foot member; wherein the forward portion of said foot consists essentially of said inner foot member and said skin-forming layer, whereby the movement properties of said foot producing rolling action when the heel is lifted are determined essentially exclusively by the flexible properties of said inner foot member.