Prosthetic device incorporating multiple sole bladders

Claim 2

A foot prosthesis securable to a socket mounted to the stump of an amputee for providing support for an amputee relative to the ground, comprising: a pylon member adapted to be secured to said socket; a foot portion secured to said pylon member and extending relatively downward therefrom, said foot portion being flexible to store and release energy, and having a sole extending from the heel end to the toe end; a first bladder secured to the bottom of said sole, said first bladder extending only partially between said heel end and said toe end such that the migration of air from said heel end to said toe end is eliminated, said first bladder being adapted to absorb, store and release energy; and a second bladder secured to the bottom of said sole, said second bladder extending only partially between said heel end and said toe end such that the migration of air from said toe end to said heel end is eliminated, said second bladder being adapted to absorb, store and release energy, wherein each of said bladders includes a pair of arm portions and a connecting portion, each of said bladders defining a cavity between said pair of arm portions such that said bladders expand laterally outward and laterally inward toward said cavity.

Claim 3

The foot prothesis of claim 1, wherein said first and second bladders have a U-shape configuration.

Claim 4

The foot prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said first bladder extends from the heel end of said sole to about half-way between said heel end and said toe end.

Claim 5

The foot prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said second bladder extends from said toe end of said sole to about half-way between said toe end and said heel end.

Claim 6

The foot prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said first and second bladders are made of an inner layer of polyurethane and an outer layer of nylon material.

Claim 7

The foot prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said first and second bladders are adjustably inflatable.

Claim 8

The foot prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said first and second bladders each have a tube extending therefrom, wherein a valve is secured at the end of each of said tubes to permit said first and second bladders to be adjustably inflated.

Claim 9

A foot prosthesis adapted to be secured to a socket mounted to the stump of an amputee for providing support for an amputee relative to the ground, comprising: a substantially rigid pylon member adapted to be secured to said socket; a foot portion secured to said substantially rigid pylon member and extending relatively downward therefrom, said foot portion being flexible to store and release energy, said foot portion having a curvilinear ankle section and a toe section extending relatively forward from said ankle section, said ankle section and said toe section forming a single continuous unit, and a separate toe section secured to said continuous unit extending relatively rearward, said foot portion having a sole extending from the heel end to the toe end; a heel bladder secured to the bottom of said heel section, said heel bladder extending approximately from said heel end to about midway between said heel end and said toe end such that the migration of air from said heel end to said toe end is eliminated, said heel bladder also having a cavity therein such that when weight is placed on said heel bladder, said heel bladder expands laterally outward and laterally inward toward said cavity, so as to give the amputee the sensation of being low-centered rather than high-centered; and a toe bladder secured to the bottom of said toe section, said toe bladder extending approximately from said toe end to about midway between said toe end and said heel end such that the migration of air from said toe end to said heel end is eliminated, wherein said toe bladder has a cavity therein such that when weight is placed on said toe bladder, said toe bladder expands laterally outward and laterally inward toward said cavity so as to give the amputee the sensation of being low-centered rather than high-centered.

Claim 10

A foot prosthesis adapted to be secured to a socket mounted to the stump of an amputee for providing support for an amputee relative to the ground, comprising: a substantially rigid pylon member adapted to be secured to said socket; a foot portion secured to said substantially rigid pylon member and extending relatively downward therefrom, said foot portion being flexible to store and release energy, said foot portion having a curvilinear ankle section and a toe section extending relatively forward from said ankle section, said ankle section and said toe section forming a single continuous unit, and a separate toe section secured to said continuous unit extending relatively rearward, said foot portion having a sole extending from the heel end to the toe end; a heel bladder secured to the bottom of said heel section, said heel bladder extending approximately from said heel end to about midway between said heel end and said toe end such that the migration of air from said heel end to said toe end is eliminated, said heel bladder also having a cavity therein such that when weight is placed on said heel bladder, said heel bladder expands laterally outward and laterally inward toward said cavity, so as to give the amputee the sensation of being low-centered rather than high-centered; and a toe bladder secured to the bottom of said toe section, said toe bladder extending approximately from said toe end to about midway between said toe end and said heel end such that the migration of air from said toe end to said heel end is eliminated, wherein said toe bladder has a cavity therein such that when weight is placed on said toe bladder, said toe bladder expands laterally outward and laterally inward toward said cavity so as to give the amputee the sensation of being low-centered rather than high-centered.

Claim 11

The foot prosthesis of claim 8, wherein said heel bladder and said toe bladder have a U-shape configuration.

Claim 12

The foot prosthesis of claim 8, wherein said heel bladder and said toe bladder are adjustably inflatable.

Claim 13

A foot prosthesis, comprising: a pylon member adapted to be secured to a socket mounted to the stump of an amputee; a foot portion being flexible to store and release energy, said foot portion having a sole extending from the heel end to the toe end; and two or more bladders positioned on the bottom of said sole, said bladders being arranged in such a manner as to eliminate the migration of air between the heel end and toe end of said prosthesis, wherein said two or more bladders each have a U-shape configuration, including a pair of arm portions and a connecting portion, each of said two or more bladders defining a cavity between said pair of arm portions such that said bladders expand laterally outward and laterally inward toward said cavity.

Claim 14

A foot prosthesis, comprising: a pylon member adapted to be secured to a socket mounted to the stump of an amputee; a foot portion being flexible to store and release energy, said foot portion having a sole extending from the heel end to the toe end; and two or more bladders positioned on the bottom of said sole, said bladders being arranged in such a manner as to eliminate the migration of air between the heel end and toe end of said prosthesis, wherein said two or more bladders each have a U-shape configuration, including a pair of arm portions and a connecting portion, each of said two or more bladders defining a cavity between said pair of arm portions such that said bladders expand laterally outward and laterally inward toward said cavity.

Claim 15

The foot prosthesis of claim 11, wherein said two or more bladders each are adjustably inflatable.

Claim 16

A foot prosthesis, comprising: a prosthetic foot portion being flexible to store and release energy, said foot portion having a sole extending from the heel end to the toe end; and two or more bladders positioned on the bottom of said sole, said bladders being adapted to absorb, store and release energy, each of said bladders including a pair of arm portions and a connecting portion, said bladders each defining a cavity between said pair of arm portions to permit each of said bladders to expand laterally outward and laterally inward toward said cavity so as to improve the energy storage and release capabilities of said bladders, and to provide the amputee with a sensation of being low-centered rather than high-centered.

Claim 17

A foot prosthesis, comprising: a prosthetic foot portion being flexible to store and release energy, said foot portion having a sole extending from the heel end to the toe end; and two or more bladders positioned on the bottom of said sole, said bladders being adapted to absorb, store and release energy, each of said bladders including a pair of arm portions and a connecting portion, said bladders each defining a cavity between said pair of arm portions to permit each of said bladders to expand laterally outward and laterally inward toward said cavity so as to improve the energy storage and release capabilities of said bladders, and to provide the amputee with a sensation of being low-centered rather than high-centered.

Claim 18

The foot prosthesis of claim 13, wherein said two or more bladders are made of a polyurethane inner lining and a nylon outer lining.

Claim 19

The foot prosthesis of claim 13, wherein said two or more bladders are adjustably inflatable.

Claim 20

A foot prosthesis, comprising: a foot prosthetic portion having a sole extending from the heel end to the toe end; and two or more air bladders secured to the bottom of said sole, said two or more bladders being arranged such that said bladders extend from the rearward most perimeter of said heel end to the forward most perimeter of said toe end, such that said bladders provide a smooth rollover from heel to toe, each of said bladders extending no more than approximately half the distance between said heel end and said toe end, wherein each of said bladders includes a pair of arm portions and a connecting portion, each of said bladders defining a cavity between said pair of arm portions such that said bladders expand laterally outward and laterally inward toward said cavity.

Claim 21

A foot prosthesis, comprising: a foot prosthetic portion having a sole extending from the heel end to the toe end; and two or more air bladders secured to the bottom of said sole, said two or more bladders being arranged such that said bladders extend from the rearward most perimeter of said heel end to the forward most perimeter of said toe end, such that said bladders provide a smooth rollover from heel to toe, each of said bladders extending no more than approximately half the distance between said heel end and said toe end, wherein each of said bladders includes a pair of arm portions and a connecting portion, each of said bladders defining a cavity between said pair of arm portions such that said bladders expand laterally outward and laterally inward toward said cavity.