Orthotic/prosthetic joint
OwnerRobert W. Fosterinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An articulated orthotic/prosthetic appliance for supporting an infirm anatomical knee includes joint assemblies which prevents abnormal or injurious knee motion while freely permitting normal or desirable motion. The appliance includes upper and lower support members having associated spaced apart end portions which form parts of the joint assemblies. Each joint includes a generally disc shaped connecting member disposed intermediate associated end portions of upper and lower support members. The end portions are secured to the connecting member for independent pivotal movement about parallel axes. Concealed stops carried by and disposed intermediate the end portions cooperate with the connecting member to limit pivotal movement of the support members relative to each other.
Claims14
An orthotic/prosthetic joint assembly comprising longitudinally elongated first and second support members having generally overlapping laterally spaced apart end portions, an intermediate member disposed in the space between said end portions, first connecting means securing the end portion of said first support member to said intermediate member for pivotal movement relative to said intermediate member about a first axis in one direction from a first position of said first support member relative to said intermediate member, second connecting means securing the end portion of said second support member to said intermediate member for pivotal movement relative to said intermediate member about a second axis parallel to said first axis and in a direction opposite said one direction from a first position of said second support member relative to said intermediate member, said joint assembly having a position of normal extension wherein said first and second support members are generally longitudinally aligned with each other and said first and second axes are generally transversely spaced apart, first stop means disposed in said space between said end portion of said support members for preventing pivotal movement of said first support member in said opposite direction from its said first position, and second stop means disposed in said space between said end portions of said support members for preventing pivotal movement of said second support member in said one direction from its said first position, said first and second stop means being disposed between and substantially covered by said first and second end portions in all angular positions of said first and second support members relative to each other.
An orthotic/prosthetic joint assembly comprising a longitudinally elongated first support member having a first end portion, a longitudinally elongated second support member having a second end portion disposed in generally overlapping and laterally spaced relation to said first end portion, an intermediate disc having a parti-circular portion and a generally radially extending lobe portion and disposed in the space between and generally adjacent said first end portion and said second end portion, a first pivot member connecting said first end portion to said intermediate disc for pivotal movement about a first axis parallel to the central axis of said disc and in one direction from a first position of said first support member relative to said disc, a second pivot member connecting said second end portion to said intermediate disc for pivotal movement about a second axis parallel to said central axis and in a direction opposite said one direction from a first position of said second support member relative to said disc, first stop means for preventing pivotal movement of said first support member in said opposite direction from its first position relative to said disc and including a first stop member carried by said first support member and projecting therefrom into said space and engaging one side of said lobe when said first support member is in its first position, and second stop means for preventing pivotal movement of said second support member in said one direction from its first position relative to said disc and including a second stop member carried by said second support member and projecting therefrom into said space and engaging the side of said lobe opposite said one side when said second support member is in its first position, said first and second stop members and said lobe being substantially concealed between and by said first and second end portions in all angular positions of said joint assembly.
An orthotic/prosthetic joint assembly comprising a longitudinally elongated first support member having a first end portion, a longitudinally elongated second support member including a second end portion and having a recess therein, said first and second end portions being disposed in generally overlapping and laterally spaced relation to each other, an intermediate disc disposed in the space between and generally adjacent said first and second end portions, a first pivot member connecting said first end portion to said intermediate disc for pivotal movement about a first axis parallel to the central axis of the disc and in one direction from a first position of said first support member relative to said disc, a second pivot member connecting said second end portion to said intermediate disc for pivotal movement about a second axis parallel to said central axis and in a direction opposite said one direction from a first position of said second support member relative to said disc, first stop means for preventing pivotal movement of said first support member about said first axis and in said opposite direction from its first position relative to said disc, second stop means for preventing pivotal movement about said second axis and of said second support member in said one direction from its first position relative to said disc and including a peripheral portion of said disc for engaging a wall of said recess when said second support member is in its first position, said first and second stop means being substantially concealed by and between said first and second end portions in all angular positions of said joint assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.