Improvements in artificial limbs / [Amos Lincoln Woodland].

  • Woodland, Amos Lincoln.
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Improvements in artificial limbs / [Amos Lincoln Woodland]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    N° 6666 A.D. 1898 10 Date of Application, 19th Mar,, 1898 Complete Specification Left, 19th Dec., 1898—Accepted, 18th Mar., 1899 PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. Improvements in Artificial Limbs. I, Amos Lincoln Woodland, of Midland, County of El Paso, State of Colorado, united States of America, Professional Cook, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :— The object of this invention is to provide artificial limbs with joints which will work 5 freely but with sufficient friction to move more naturally and with a motion similar to that of the natural limb. Other advantages pertaining to the invention will suggest themselves to those persons wearing the lirnt*s. I will describe my invention as applied to a leg and foot, but it will he obvious that the same mechanism is equally applicable to arms. The upper or thigh portion of the leg is rounded to fit and work in the socket formed by the peculiar shape of the upper edge of the hollow lower or calf portion. A horizontal bolt, preferably made of wood boiled or soaked in oil, extends across the hollow upper limb, just above the joint, and can move up and down in an oval shell or sleeve having a screw-threaded shank screwed into an aperture in the lower 15 rounded part of the upper limb and by means of which it is held in position. A spring or springs may be inserted between the shell and wooden bolt to create the necessary close contact of the two parts of the limbs. A set-screw, passing through the screw-threaded shank and bearing against the shank of a half circular hoop which partly encircles and supports the wooden bolt, serves to regulate the friction caused 20 by the spring. A metal rod, passed longitudinally through the wooden bolt, extends outwards beyond the outer opposite surfaces of the upper part of the limb, and has ' straps projecting up from and secured to the lower limb, buttoned over its ends and secured thereon by a nut or the like. Similar mechanism is fitted in the lower part of the limb; but in this case the oval 25 casing projects out of the lower part of the limb beneath and at the back of the lowest part of the upper portion of the limb and is secured thereto, in that position, by straps depending downwardly from the upper portion of the limb, in the same manner as afore described. Moreover the shank of the half circular band upon which the wooden bolt rests projects downwardly into the lower portion of the limb and 30 through a cross stay or web therein. Coiled springs are arranged upon the rod, are adjustable by a nut or nuts, and are compressed by the bending of the joint. I he foot of the limb, if an artificial leg—is made of various pieces, comprising the instep-piece, sole, heel-piece, and toe-piece which are united by rubber or other springs in such manner that, when walking, the joints can bend and 35 resume their normal position when the strain upon them is released, as when the foot is raised. Dated this 18th day of March 1898. R. RAINSFORD, Agent for Applicant. [Price 8<L]