US5181933A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Split foot prosthesis
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-02-28
•
Granted: 1993-01-26
•
Expires: 2011-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A prosthetic foot is characterized by an attachment section and plurality of curvilinear foot portions extending downwardly from the attachment section to contact a supporting surface. The portions are capable of movement independent from one another. Preferably, the plurality of foot portions is fabricated by dividing a forefoot portion and a heel portion demountably attached thereto. Such division may be achieved by the provision of a slot in said forefoot and heel portions. A strap or similar expedient is provided to limit the movement of the foot portions relative to each other.
Inventors
- 👤 Van L. Phillips
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:08
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/50; A61F2/60; A61F2/66; A61F2/601; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30433; A61F2002/30462; A61F2002/30476; A61F2002/30507; A61F2002/5003; A61F2002/5007; A61F2002/5009; A61F2/5044; A61F2002/5055; A61F2002/607; A61F2002/6614; A61F2002/6642; A61F2002/6657; A61F2002/6664; A61F2002/6685; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/0041; A61F2220/0075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
In a prosthetic foot, the combination of: attachment means for facilitating the operative engagement of the foot with a wearer's stump; and a plurality of curvilinear, energy-storing foot portions operatively attached to said attachment means and extending downwardly therefrom to contact a supporting surface, each of said foot portions including an ankle section, whereby said foot portions may interact with the supporting surface independently from one another, in which said plurality of curvilinear portions are of similar shape.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a prosthetic foot, the combination of: attachment means for facilitating the operative engagement of the foot with a wearer's stump; and a plurality of curvilinear, energy-storing foot portions operatively attached to said attachment means and extending downwardly therefrom to contact a supporting surface, each of said foot portions including an ankle section, whereby said foot portions may interact with the supporting surface independently from one another, in which said plurality of curvilinear portions are of similar shape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The prosthetic foot of claim 1 in which one or more of said plurality of curvilinear portions include forwardly extending forefoot sections having rearwardly extending heel sections operatively connected thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The prosthetic foot of claim 2 in which said heel sections are detachably connected to said forefoot sections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The prosthetic foot of claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, further including connecting means for operatively connecting two or more of said plurality of curvilinear portions to each other at a location remote from said attachment means, whereby the movement of said connected curvilinear portions relative to each other is limited.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The prosthetic foot of claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 in which said plurality of curvilinear portions is fabricated from superimposed laminates maintained in operative relationship by an encapsulating polymer and susceptible to bending stress determined by the thickness of the laminates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
The prosthetic foot of claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 in which said plurality of curvilinear portions include continuous, integrally and simultaneously formed attachment, ankle, arch and toe sections, said sections being fabricated as unitary structures by polymer impregnation of superimposed reinforcing laminae; said attachment, ankle, arch and toe sections being capable of spring stress generated energy storage whereby the subjection of said foot to bending moments will cause transmission of spring stress through said attachment, ankle, arch and toe sections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The prosthetic foot of claim 6, further including a corresponding plurality of heel members having a attachment section secured to the intersection of said arch and toe sections and a heel section extending rearwardly therefrom, said heel members being fabricated as unitary structures by polymer impregnation of superimposed reinforcing laminae and being capable of spring stress generated energy storage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
A prosthetic foot including: a forefoot portion incorporating an upper attachment section for facilitating operative connection to a wearer's stump, a curvilinear ankle section, an arch section and a toe section; and a heel portion having an attachment section secured to said forefoot portion and a heel section extending therefrom, in which said forefoot and heel portions are completely or partially divided into similarly-shaped segments capable of movement relative to one another.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
A prosthetic foot including: a forefoot portion incorporating an upper attachment section for facilitating operative connection to a wearer's stump, a curvilinear ankle section, an arch section and a toe section; and a heel portion having an attachment section secured to said forefoot portion and a heel section extending therefrom, in which said forefoot and heel portions are completely or partially divided into similarly-shaped segments capable of movement relative to one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The prosthetic foot of claim 8 in which said division into segments constitutes a bifurcation of said forefoot and heel portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The prosthetic foot of claim 9 in which said bifurcation is defined by a slot in said forefoot and heel portions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The prosthetic foot of claim 8 in which said securement of said heel portion to said forefoot portion occurs at the intersection of said arch and toe sections.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The prosthetic foot of claim 8, further including connecting means for operatively connecting two or more of said segments to each other at a location remote from said attachment section, whereby the movement of said connected segments relative to each other is limited.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The prosthetic foot of claim 8 or claim 9 or claim 10 or claim 11 or claim 12 in which said securement of said heel portion to said forefoot portion is detachable.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The prosthetic foot of claim 8 or claim 9 or claim 10 or claim 11 or claim 12 in which said heel portion is fabricated from superimposed laminates maintained in operative relationship by an encapsulating polymer and susceptible to bending stress determined by the thickness of the laminates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The prosthetic foot of claim 8 or claim 9 or claim 10 or claim 11 or claim 12 in which said forefoot portion is fabricated from superimposed laminates maintained in operative relationship by an encapsulating polymer and susceptible to bending stress determined by the thickness of the laminates.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
88 words
The prosthetic foot of claim 8 or claim 9 or claim 10 or claim 11 or claim 12 in which said forefoot portion consists of continuous, integrally and simultaneously formed attachment, ankle, arch and toe sections, said sections being fabricated as unitary structures by polymer impregnation of superimposed reinforcing laminae; said attachment, ankle, arch and toe sections being capable of spring stress generated energy storage whereby the subjection of said foot to bending moments will cause transmission of spring stress through said attachment, ankle, arch and toe sections.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The prosthetic foot of claim 16 in which said heel portions are demountably attached to corresponding of said forefoot portions to permit heel portions having different spring rates to be secured to said forefoot portions of said foot.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
82 words
The prosthetic foot of claim 8 or claim 9 or claim 10 or claim 11 or claim 12 in which said heel portions consist of continuous, integrally and simultaneously formed attachment and heel sections, said sections being fabricated as unitary structures by polymer impregnation of superimposed reinforcing laminae; said attachment and heel sections being capable of spring stress generated energy storage whereby the subjection of said foot to bending moments will cause transmission of spring stress through said attachment and heel sections.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a prosthetic foot, the combination of, attachment means for facilitating the operative engagement of the foot with a wearer's stump; and a bifurcated, curvilinear, energy-storing foot portion operatively attached to said attachment means and extending downwardly therefrom to contact a supporting surface, said bifurcation of said foot portion extending in an anterior/posterior direction with respect to the wearer and including substantially all of said foot portion, whereby the resulting bifurcated sections of said foot portion may interact with the supporting surface independently from one another.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a prosthetic foot, the combination of, attachment means for facilitating the operative engagement of the foot with a wearer's stump; and a bifurcated, curvilinear, energy-storing foot portion operatively attached to said attachment means and extending downwardly therefrom to contact a supporting surface, said bifurcation of said foot portion extending in an anterior/posterior direction with respect to the wearer and including substantially all of said foot portion, whereby the resulting bifurcated sections of said foot portion may interact with the supporting surface independently from one another.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The prosthetic foot of claim 19, in which said bifurcated curvilinear foot portion includes a forefoot portion and a bifurcated heel portion detachably mounted thereto.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-01-26 | 1996-07-27 | 1997-01-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-01-26 | 2000-07-27 | 2001-01-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-01-26 | 2004-07-27 | 2005-01-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |