Adjustable pyramidal link plate assembly for a prosthetic limb

A link plate assembly for adjustably coupling a first prosthetic limb component to a second prosthetic limb component, the link plate assembly comprising,

• a base plate member including a dome extending from a distal end of the base plate member and a cavity opening onto a distal apex of the dome, the cavity having an inner circumferential surface;
• a rotatable member including a first portion positioned within the cavity and a frustopyramidal boss portion extending distally through the opening in the distal apex of the dome, the first portion having an outer circumferential surface and the frustopyramidal boss portion having at least two opposing, outwardly angled faces;
• and
• a retainer disposed within the cavity retaining the first portion of the rotatable member within the cavity of the base plate member;
• the inner circumferential surface of the cavity having a diameter that widens with the distance from the distal apex of the dome and the outer circumferential surface of the first portion of the rotatable member having a diameter that widens with the distance from the distal apex of the dome;
• whereby when distal pressure is applied to the vertical faces of the frustopyramidal boss portion, the rotatable member is pulled in the distal direction, causing the outer circumferential surface of the first portion of the rotatable member to press against the inner circumferential surface of the cavity, thereby substantially prohibiting further rotation of the rotatable member with respect to the base plate member.

A link plate assembly for coupling a prosthetic limb upright assembly to a prosthetic limb component, the link plate assembly comprising,

• a base plate member including a dome extending from a distal end of the base plate member and a cavity opening onto a distal apex of the dome, the cavity having a conical portion with a diameter that widens with the distance from the distal apex of the dome;
• a rotatable member including a substantially conically shaped body positioned within the conical portion of the cavity of the base plate member and having a boss extending distally therefrom and extending through the opening in the distal apex of the dome, the boss having at least two opposing, outwardly angled faces, and the conically shaped body having a diameter that widens with the distance from the distal apex of the dome;
• a retainer disposed within the cavity retaining the conically shaped body of the rotatable member within the cavity of the base plate member;
• and
• a means for securely mounting the base plate member to a prosthetic limb component.

A link plate assembly for adjustably coupling a first prosthetic limb component to a second prosthetic limb component, the link plate assembly comprising,

• a base plate member including a dome extending from a distal end of the base plate member and a cavity opening onto a distal apex of the dome, the cavity having an inner circumferential surface;
• and
• a rotatable member including a first portion positioned within the cavity and a frustopyramidal boss portion extending distally through the opening in the distal apex of the dome, the first portion having an outer circumferential surface and the frustopyramidal boss portion having at least two opposing, outwardly angled faces;
• the inner circumferential surface of the cavity having a diameter that widens with the distance from the distal apex of the dome and the outer circumferential surface of the first portion of the rotatable member having a diameter that widens with the distance from the distal apex of the dome;
• whereby when distal pressure is applied to the vertical faces of the frustopyramidal boss portion, the rotatable member is pulled in the distal direction, causing the outer circumferential surface of the first portion of the rotatable member to press against the inner circumferential surface of the cavity, thereby substantially prohibiting further rotation of the rotatable member with respect to the base plate member;
• a proximal end of the base plate member further including a proximal plate and a distal plate, the proximal and distal plates being stacked upon one another and laterally slidable with respect to each other;
• and
• the base plate member further including a releasable lock for inhibiting lateral movement of the proximal plate with respect to the distal plate.

A link plate assembly for coupling a prosthetic limb upright assembly to a prosthetic limb component, the link plate assembly comprising,

• a base plate member including a dome extending from a distal end of the base plate member and a cavity opening onto a distal apex of the dome, the cavity having a conical portion with a diameter that widens with the distance from the distal apex of the dome;
• a rotatable member including a substantially conically shaped body positioned within the conical portion of the cavity of the base plate member and having a boss extending distally therefrom and extending through the opening in the distal apex of the dome, the boss having at least two opposing, outwardly angled faces, and the conically shaped body having a diameter that widens with the distance from the distal apex of the dome;
• and
• a means for securely mounting the base plate member to a prosthetic limb component;
• the base plate member further including a proximal plate and a distal plate, the proximal and distal plates being stacked upon one another and laterally slidable with respect to each other;
• and
• the base plate member further including a releasable lock for inhibiting lateral movement of the proximal plate with respect to the distal plate.

A link plate assembly for coupling a prosthetic limb upright assembly to a prosthetic limb component, the link plate assembly comprising,

• a base plate member including a dome extending from a distal end of the base plate member and a cavity opening onto a distal apex of the dome, the cavity having a conical portion with a diameter that widens with the distance from the distal apex of the dome;
• a rotatable member including a substantially conically shaped body positioned within the conical portion of the cavity of the base plate member and having a boss extending distally therefrom and extending through the opening in the distal apex of the dome, the boss having at least two opposing, outwardly angled faces, and the conically shaped body having a diameter that widens with the distance from the distal apex of the dome;
• and
• a means for securely mounting the base plate member to a prosthetic limb component;
• the base plate member further including a proximal plate having a dove-tail shaped projection extending from a distal surface of the proximal plate;
• and
• the base plate member further including a distal plate having a dove-tail shaped groove extending into its proximal end and receiving the dove-tail shaped projection therein;
• the dove-tail shaped groove being laterally longer than the dove-tail shaped projection, thereby allowing the dove-tail shaped projection to be laterally slidable within the dove-tail shaped groove.

A prosthetic limb, comprising:

• a prosthetic limb component having a distal end;
• an upright assembly including an annular socket member extending proximally therefrom, the annular socket member including at least two diametrically opposed set screws extending radially into a central bore of the annular socket member, the set screws being angled distally;
• a link plate assembly coupling the upright assembly to the distal end of the prosthetic limb component, the link plate assembly including,
• a base plate member having a dome extending from a distal end of the base plate member and a cavity opening onto a distal apex of the dome, the cavity having an inner circumferential surface with a diameter that widens with the distance from the distal apex of the dome, and
• a rotatable member, having a first portion positioned within the cavity, the first portion having an outer circumferential surface with a diameter that widens with the distance from the distal apex of the dome, the rotatable member also having a boss portion extending distally through the opening in the distal apex of the dome, the boss portion having at least two opposing, outwardly angled, faces;
• and
• a means for securely mounting the base plate member to the distal end of the prosthetic limb component;
• the boss portion being inserted within the central bore of the annular socket member and the set screws being tightened against the opposing faces of the boss portion, causing the rotatable member to be pulled in the distal direction, and in turn causing the outer circumferential surface of the first portion of the rotatable member to press against the inner circumferential surface of the cavity, thereby substantially inhibiting rotation of the rotatable member with respect to the base plate member;
• whereby rotatable adjustment of the upright assembly with respect to the prothetic limb component is performed by loosening the set screws to allow rotation of the rotatable member with respect to the base plate, rotating the upright assembly to the desired orientation, and then tightening the set screws again;
• a proximal end of the base plate member further including a proximal plate and a distal plate, the proximal and distal plates being stacked upon one another and laterally slidable with respect to each other;
• and
• a the base plate member further including releasable lock for inhibiting lateral movement of the proximal plate with respect to the distal plate.