Patent US3779654A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3779654A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Artificial joint
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-08-06
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1991-08-06
Abstract
Abstract An artificial joint for simulating motion of a natural slide and hinge joint of the body, such as those at the knee, elbow or ankle. The disclosed joint comprises rigid overlapping plates connected by a pivot and slide arrangement. First and second pivot bearing elements engage first and second arcuate bearing surfaces on the respective plates to interconnect the plates for controlled sliding and pivoting action relative to one another. One bearing surface has a configuration approximating the convex extremity of one member in the simulated joint. The remaining bearing surface controls the spacing of the two pivot axes to introduce proper forward or rearward displacement thereof in simulating joint movement. The joint may be utilized as a lateral brace for a natural joint, or may be utilized as a lateral brace for a natural joint, or may be modified to serve as an articulating joint in an artificial limb.
Inventors
- 👤 R Horne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/50; A61F2/54; A61F2/58; A61F2/582; A61F2/60; A61F2/64; A61F2/642; A61F2/646; A61F2/66; A61F2/6607; A61F5/00; A61F5/01; A61F5/0102; A61F5/0123; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B2017/567; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30329; A61F2002/30518; A61F2002/30523; A61F2005/0132; A61F2005/0137; A61F2005/0139; A61F2005/0165; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; F; F16; F16C; F16C2316/00; F16C2316/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32008; Y10T403/32081
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
455 words
An artificial joint for use in braces, artificial limbs and the like, for simulating the functions of the articulating members in a natural slide and hinge joint of the body, such as the knee, elbow, or ankle, comprising: first and second joint elements having overlapping end portions and being movable with respect to one another to one side of a position wherein the joint elements are in longitudinal alignment; first arcuate bearing surface means formed across the end portion of said first joint element within the zone of overlap of said joint elements, said first arcuate bearing surface means including a curved edge surface substantially corresponding in curvature to a lateral projection of the curvature of the convex extremity of one member in the natural body joint being simulated; second arcuate bearing surface means formed across the end portion of said second joint element within the zone of overlap of said joint elements, said second arcuate bearing surface means including a curved edge surface having a radius of curvature differing from that of the curved edge surface of said first arcuate bearing surface means; first pivot and bearing means mounted to said second joint element about a first axis, said first pivot and bearing means being engageable with the curved edge surface of said first arcuate bearing surface means; second pivot and bearing means mounted to said first joint element about a second axis spaced from said first axis, said second pivot and bearing means being engageable with the curved edge surface of said second arcuate bearing surface means; the centers of curvature of the curved edge surfaces of said first and second bearing surface means being respectively offset from said first and second axes; first and second stop surfaces formed respectively on said first and second joint elements and located respectively at corresponding ends of said curved edge surfaces of said first and second arcuate surface bearing means in the path of movement of said first and second pivot and bearing means for engagement therewith when the first and second joint elements are longitudinally aligned, said curved edge surfaces extending to one side of a line through said first and second axes when said first and second pivot and bearing means are in engagement with said first and second stop surfaces; said curved edges through the first and second axes converging toward one another as they extend to said one side of said line when the first and second joint elements are in longitudinal alignment, whereby the spacing between said first and second axes is varied in response to movement of said first and second pivot and bearing means along the curved edge surfaces during relative motion between said first and second joint elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
455 words
An artificial joint for use in braces, artificial limbs and the like, for simulating the functions of the articulating members in a natural slide and hinge joint of the body, such as the knee, elbow, or ankle, comprising: first and second joint elements having overlapping end portions and being movable with respect to one another to one side of a position wherein the joint elements are in longitudinal alignment; first arcuate bearing surface means formed across the end portion of said first joint element within the zone of overlap of said joint elements, said first arcuate bearing surface means including a curved edge surface substantially corresponding in curvature to a lateral projection of the curvature of the convex extremity of one member in the natural body joint being simulated; second arcuate bearing surface means formed across the end portion of said second joint element within the zone of overlap of said joint elements, said second arcuate bearing surface means including a curved edge surface having a radius of curvature differing from that of the curved edge surface of said first arcuate bearing surface means; first pivot and bearing means mounted to said second joint element about a first axis, said first pivot and bearing means being engageable with the curved edge surface of said first arcuate bearing surface means; second pivot and bearing means mounted to said first joint element about a second axis spaced from said first axis, said second pivot and bearing means being engageable with the curved edge surface of said second arcuate bearing surface means; the centers of curvature of the curved edge surfaces of said first and second bearing surface means being respectively offset from said first and second axes; first and second stop surfaces formed respectively on said first and second joint elements and located respectively at corresponding ends of said curved edge surfaces of said first and second arcuate surface bearing means in the path of movement of said first and second pivot and bearing means for engagement therewith when the first and second joint elements are longitudinally aligned, said curved edge surfaces extending to one side of a line through said first and second axes when said first and second pivot and bearing means are in engagement with said first and second stop surfaces; said curved edges through the first and second axes converging toward one another as they extend to said one side of said line when the first and second joint elements are in longitudinal alignment, whereby the spacing between said first and second axes is varied in response to movement of said first and second pivot and bearing means along the curved edge surfaces during relative motion between said first and second joint elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
A joint as set out in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second bearing surface means comprises a groove having equally spaced curved convex and concave edge surfaces facing inwardly toward one another and engageable by said first and second pivot and bearing means respectively; said first and second stop surfaces comprising end surfaces extending between the convex and concave surfaces of the grooves to define the limits of travel of said first and second pivot and bearing means along said grooves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
A joint as set out in claim 2 wherein sAid joint elements are in the form of sheets or plates of structural material having planar outer surfaces; said grooves being formed through said sheets or plates; said pivot and bearing means each having radially enlarged heads at their outer ends bearing against the planar outer surfaces of said joint elements and maintaining them in adjacent, overlapping, parallel positions along their zone of overlap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
381 words
An artificial joint structure for simulating the motion of the articulating members in a natural slide and hinge joint of the body, such as the knee, elbow or ankle, comprising: a pair of rigid plates adapted to be secured to the articulating members of the joint for movement therewith to one side from a position of longitudinal alignment of the members, the plates each having an end portion arranged in overlapping relation to one another; pivot and slide means interconnecting the end portions of said pair of rigid plates, comprising: a first pivot unit mounted to the end portion of one plate about a first axis perpendicular thereto; a first groove across the end portion of the remaining plate defining opposed convex and concave edges engaged by said first pivot unit and approximating in curvature a lateral projection of the curvature of the convex extremity of the articulating members of the natural joint being simulated; a second pivot unit mounted to the end portion of the remaining plate about a second axis perpendicular thereto and spaced from said first axis; a second groove across the end portion of said one plate defining opposed convex and concave edges engaged by said second pivot unit, the curvature of the second groove differing from that of said groove; the centers of curvature of said first and second grooves being respectively offset from said second and first axes; said first and second grooves terminating at corresponding ends thereof along first and second stop surfaces between their convex and concave edges in the paths of movement of said first and second pivot units for engagement therewith when the plates are at said position of longitudinal alignment of the joint members, said grooves extending to one side of a line through the first and second axes when the first and second pivot units are in engagement with said first and second stop surfaces; said grooves converging toward one another as they extend to said one side of said line through said first and second axes when the plates are at said position of longitudinal alignment of the joint members, whereby the spacing between the first and second axes is varied in response to movement of said pivot units along the grooves during relative motion between the plates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
381 words
An artificial joint structure for simulating the motion of the articulating members in a natural slide and hinge joint of the body, such as the knee, elbow or ankle, comprising: a pair of rigid plates adapted to be secured to the articulating members of the joint for movement therewith to one side from a position of longitudinal alignment of the members, the plates each having an end portion arranged in overlapping relation to one another; pivot and slide means interconnecting the end portions of said pair of rigid plates, comprising: a first pivot unit mounted to the end portion of one plate about a first axis perpendicular thereto; a first groove across the end portion of the remaining plate defining opposed convex and concave edges engaged by said first pivot unit and approximating in curvature a lateral projection of the curvature of the convex extremity of the articulating members of the natural joint being simulated; a second pivot unit mounted to the end portion of the remaining plate about a second axis perpendicular thereto and spaced from said first axis; a second groove across the end portion of said one plate defining opposed convex and concave edges engaged by said second pivot unit, the curvature of the second groove differing from that of said groove; the centers of curvature of said first and second grooves being respectively offset from said second and first axes; said first and second grooves terminating at corresponding ends thereof along first and second stop surfaces between their convex and concave edges in the paths of movement of said first and second pivot units for engagement therewith when the plates are at said position of longitudinal alignment of the joint members, said grooves extending to one side of a line through the first and second axes when the first and second pivot units are in engagement with said first and second stop surfaces; said grooves converging toward one another as they extend to said one side of said line through said first and second axes when the plates are at said position of longitudinal alignment of the joint members, whereby the spacing between the first and second axes is varied in response to movement of said pivot units along the grooves during relative motion between the plates.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |