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:
Sep. 01, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 10, 1997
John Edwin Cooper, Haslemere, GB;
Robert E Arbogast, Mount Sterling, OH (US);
Jay H Kinsinger, Cedarville, OH (US);
Sujatha Srinivasan, Mount Sterling, OH (US);
Ohio Willow Wood Company, Mount Sterling, OH (US);
Abstract
A knee mechanism for a lower limb prosthesis which maintains knee stability over an initial range of flexion and includes an upper member for connection to or forming part of the thigh component of a prosthesis, a lower member for connection to or forming part of the shin component of a prosthesis, and a slider and a crank connecting the upper member to the lower member. The locus of the instantaneous center of rotation of the mechanism is a curve which commences above the knee and posterior to the load line and which, over an initial range of flexion of the mechanism, moves continuously downwards and to the posterior, the curve being convex towards the posterior. The lower member, the slider and the crank preferably constitute a slider crank mechanism with the crank pivotally connected to the upper and lower members and the slider pivotally connected to the lower member and slidably connected to the upper member. At full extension the crank is inclined posteriorly and upwardly, with the pivotable connection with the upper member located below the pivotable connection with the lower member. The slider is located in a track which forms part of the upper member and may move with a rolling or sliding contact. The pivotal connection of the slider with the lower member is located posterior to the pivotal connection with the crank.