Prosthetic locking device
OwnerBrian T. Coopinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device is provided to lock the residual limb of an amputee into a prosthesis. The device is comprised of rolling elements within a tapered housing which accepts a smooth plunger, such as a wire, cable, or rod connected to a suspension sleeve, with minimal resistance while opposing removal of the plunger from the locking device until the rolling elements have been retracted with a release mechanism. The nature of this device allows it to compensate for irregularities or wear in the plunger while continuing to securely lock the prosthesis to the sleeve. This locking device will function properly with a certain amount of misalignment between the lock and the plunger.
Claims20
A prosthetic locking device in a prosthetic socket for receiving a substantially smooth plunger attached to a prosthetic sleeve comprising:
- (a) a lock housing having a proximal opening for introduction of a plunger, and having a tapered interior expanding distally from the opening;
- (b) a rolling element housed within the tapered interior;
- (c) a lift to bias the rolling element toward the proximal opening;
- (e) a release mechanism which moves the rolling element distally from the proximal opening when activated.
A prosthetic locking device in a prosthetic socket for receiving a plunger mounted on a prosthetic sleeve comprising:
- (a) a lock housing having an exterior, a tapered interior, with a top interior portion, and an opening passing through the top interior portion to the exterior;
- (b) a substantially smooth rolling element housed within said tapered interior;
- (c) a spring biasing said rolling element towards the top portion of the tapered interior;
- (d) a release mechanism which moves the rolling element away from the top portion of the tapered interior when activated.
The method of claim 15, wherein the rolling elements are of a form selected from the group consisting of spherical, cylindrical, ellipsoidal and columnar.
The method of claim 18, wherein the release mechanism is actuated by pulling a draw member connected to the release mechanism.
A prosthetic locking device in a prosthetic socket for receiving a substantially smooth plunger attached to a prosthetic sleeve comprising:
- (a) a lock housing having a top proximal opening for introduction of a substantially smooth plunger, and having an interior with a top portion, a conically tapered intermediate portion expanding distally away from the top portion, and a bottom portion
- (b) a rolling element retainer having a base with a central opening, positioned within the interior of the clutch lock housing and also having a cam element;
- (c) at least three spherical rolling elements positioned upon the base of the rolling element retainer outward of the central opening;
- (d) a compressible spring biasing the rolling element retainer toward the proximal opening;
- (e) a release mechanism which engages the cam element and moves the rolling element retainer distally from the proximal opening when activated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.