The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 21, 1978
Filed:
Sep. 16, 1976
John H Loveless, Silver Spring, MD (US);
Abstract
An electrically controlled pawl and ratchet mechanism on a prosthetic device to increase the lifting ability of the system throughout the excursion range thereof and without opening the system's terminal device. A ratchet wheel is positively connected to and driven by the forearm pulley assembly of the prosthetic system and an electrically controlled pawl is used therewith to provide uni-directional braking action, which inhibits opening of the associated terminal device. The device is self-locking on engagement of the pawl with the ratchet wheel under torque application conditions. Reduction of the applied torque to zero subsequently causes disengagement of the pawl, and the terminal device may then be freely used. The pawl is controlled by a solenoid which is energized for a timed period by a timer operated responsive to command energization of the system motor.