Apparatus and method for sealing a liner to a prosthesis

A method for securing a prosthesis socket to a residual limb, comprising the steps of:

• providing a liner to be worn on a residual limb and dimensioning said liner so that it lines the inner walls of said socket when the residual limb is fully inserted thereinto;
• providing a tubular cuff made of a resilient, elastomeric material that snugly overlies said liner in encircling relation thereto;
• attaching together said liner and said cuff along respective uppermost ends thereof;
• manually separating an unattached part of said cuff from said liner by pulling said unattached part of said cuff radially outwardly with respect to said liner;
• inserting an uppermost end of said socket between said liner and said cuff when said cuff is so separated;
• positioning said uppermost end of said socket in spaced relation to said respective uppermost ends of said liner and said cuff;
• forming a vacuum-creating annular air pocket that circumscribes the uppermost end of said socket and which retains said socket between said liner and said cuff by returning said cuff to its position of repose by releasing it so that it snugly overlies said socket.

An article of manufacture having utility in securing a rigid prosthesis socket to a residual limb, comprising:

• an elongate liner made of elastomeric resilient material adapted to be worn on the residual limb, said liner lining the socket when the residual limb is placed into said socket;
• said liner having an open upper end and a closed lower end;
• an annular return bend formed in said liner near said upper end;
• said annular return bend forming a cuff means, integral to said liner, said cuff means circumscribing and overlying said upper end of said liner;
• said socket having an upper end disposed in sandwiched relation between said liner and said cuff in spaced relation to said annular return bend;
• a vacuum-creating annular air pocket being formed in circumscribing relation to an uppermost end of said socket when said cuff means is in repose;
• said vacuum retaining said socket in said sandwiched relation.

A method for securing a prosthesis socket to a residual limb, comprising the steps of:

• providing an elongate liner made of elastomeric resilient material that is worn on the residual limb and which lines the socket when the residual limb is placed thereinto;
• forming a return bend, in an upper part of said liner, that circumscribes said liner so that an integral cuff means is thereby created;
• manually pulling said cuff means away from said liner;
• inserting an upper end of said socket between said cuff means and said liner in closely spaced relation to said return bend;
• and
• forming a vacuum-creating annular pocket about an uppermost rim of said socket by releasing said cuff means so that its resiliency causes it to overlie said socket;
• said vacuum retaining said socket between said liner and said cuff.