Dual leaf spring strut system

An improved lower leg prosthesis, comprising:

• a) an upper end for securing to a prosthetic knee joint or socket, and further comprising a cavity therein;
• b) a lower end for securing to a prosthetic ankle joint, said lower end further comprising a pair of cavities therein;
• c) a pair of leaf spring members extending between and secured within the cavity of the upper end and the pair of cavities in the lower end of the prosthesis, each of leaf spring members extending substantially the length of the prosthesis, and defining a bowed central portion along each of their lengths, for providing flexion of the leaf springs during the walking movements;
• and
• d) wedge inserts positionable in the cavities of the upper and lower ends of the prosthesis for frictionally engaging the upper and lower ends of the leaf spring members within the respective ends of the prosthesis.

In a prosthetic limb, of the type having a lower prosthetic ankle portion, an upper prosthetic knee portion, and a calf portion intermediate the ankle and knee portions, the improvement comprising:

• a. a pair of leaf spring members, each of the members having an upper and lower end, and including a bowed region along their length;
• b. a first single wedge insert engaged between the upper ends of the leaf spring members within a cavity formed in the knee portion for engaging the upper ends of the leaf spring members and at least a pair of wedge inserts engaging the lower ends of the leaf spring members within the cavity formed in the ankle portion of the prosthesis;
• and
• c. socket means in the knee portion secured to the upper ends of the spring members, for accommodating the stump of an amputee.