US2333009A - Artificial limb - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 26, 1943. A. J. HOSMER 2,333,009

ARTIFICIAL LIMB Filed Jan. 8, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l P g in INVENTOR. "I /l Oct. 26, 1943. A. J. HO SMER ARTIFICIAVL LIMB Filed Jan. 8. 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J j aa' cZy/fl INVENTOR.

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whereby many of the Patented Oct. 26, .1943

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTIFICIAL LllVIB Andrew J. Hosmer, Reno,- Nev., assignor to A. J.

Hosmer Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California 1 Application January 8, 1942, Serial No. 425,997

" 4 Claims. (Cl. 3-12) My invention relates me new and useful improvement in an-artiflcial limb and particularly resides in a construction adapted for attachment compact, light, easily and quickly attached and.

highly eflicient in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this type provided with parts which may respond, in-their movements, to the movements imparted to the muscles of the arm.

Another object of the invention is the provi-" sion, in a device of this type,.of an attachment ford a maximum amount. of comfort and em ciency in its use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this class having a gripping member which may respond to the flexing of the muscles of the arm for movement into gripping relation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this class whereby lightness and durability may be combined in the structure as well as ease in manufacture.

Forming a part of this specification are drawings in which Fi 1 is a bottom plan view of theinvention. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention with parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the invention. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view through the improvement used inv the invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a. gripping member used in the invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view illustrating the gripping member in use and shown in side elevation.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation view of fled form of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a top plan of the modified plan of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view a slightly modiof the modified form of the invention with parts removed and parts Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line I |ll of Fig. 8.

Fig. -12 is a bottom plan view of the modified form shown in Fig. 9.

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated the invention as embodying an annular member l6 which is split and secured at adjacent edges by the lacing l1 about the upper part of the arm above the elbow. Projecting outwardly from the member I6 are supporting arms l8 and I! to which are pivoted the side plates 20 and 2| of the lower portion ofthe device, the pivot points 22 being located when mounted on the arm, at substantially the elbow joint. These side plates 20 and 2| project rearwardly from a frame-work embodying the ribs 23, 24, 25 and 26these ribs being connected by the cross-bands 21, 28 and 29; these ribs projecting rearwardly from a cup-shaped formation 30. The construction is such as to lend itself for the formation of the structure from a stamping, from 'a single sheet of metal, and bands or loops, 21, 28 and 29 being overlapped and suitably secured at their ends-preferably by welding.

Mounted in this frame is a flexible sleeve 3| (Figs. 2 and 4),provided with-perforations 32 for the purposes of ventilating the structure. Mounted on the inner surface 3| are the layers 33 and 34 of a soft, yieldable material, such as around the stump of the arm, which is inserted in the forward joints and embraced by the sleeve 3|.

When this device is mounted on the arm, experience has shown that the stump may comfortably engage in the sleeve 3| without any unnecessary or undue strain, and without excessive heating of the arm portion.

Mounted on a projection forwardly from the cup-shaped member 30 (Fig. 5) is a supporting cup 36 positioned in which is a ball 31 carried by the stem 38, the stem 38 projecting outwardly through the opening 39, formed in' the forward end of the retainer 38. This stem 38 serves to carry a suitable utensil 40, which may be in the nature of a pressing member, fork, pin or any other desired article. This stem 38 may be I rocked to any desired angle and secured in position by means of V clamp ll and screw 42.

Experience has shown that a person wearing the device in question may use the arm with comfort and with a high degree of effectiveness, the construction illustrated making it possible to perform to a large degree the functions of the natural hand. 7

Projecting outwardly from the cup-shaped portion 30 is a stud 44 on which is threaded the wing nut 45. U shaped resilient clip 46 is pro-! vided at one end with the key slot 41 for fitting over the stud 48 and at its opposite end with the bayonet slot 49 for fitting over the stud 44 so that the structure may be mounted on the member 30 as illustrated in Fig. '7. Carried by this clip is the U shaped gripping member 50 which is of suflicient size as to engage it over the rim facing of the member 50 is preferably lined with some friction material such as rubber or the like so as to avoid undue slipping of the member around the rim 5|, while at the same time permitting the necessary travel of the rim 5| of the steering wheel of a vehicle. The inner through the member 50. The user by slightly supinator muscles. 'When the pronator "muscle contracts, it rolls the radius bone of the arm over the ulna of the arm and turns the palm of the hand inwardly facing .downward. when the supinator muscle contracts, the radius bone is rolled over the ulna outwardly. turning the palm upward. A modification of the structure shown in Fig. 1 is accomplished in the modified form, in order that the actions of the pronator muscles andthe supinator muscles may be transmitted to the tool holder. As clearly appears in Fig. 10, I have provided a tool holder 36' seated in which is a ball 31 projecting outwardly from which is a stem 38'. This ball may be locked in its various positions relative to the holder 36' by means of the V clamp 4| and screws 42'. This holder is not secured to the cup-shaped structure 30' and is provided with a stem 52 which is secured to and projects outwardly from the axle forming member 53 which is rotatably mounted in the bearings 54-and 55 mounted in the housing 56, which is carried by the cup-shaped structure 30' the latter being connected to the frame-work comprised of the member 23 and associated parts. Projecting outwardly from the axle forming member 53 and extending rearwardly in the frame-work described are the spaced perforated retainer 86' may be rocked on the axis of the member I53 in response to the action of the pronator and supinator muscles, thus making it possible to imitate the movement of the hand in response to such muscles. In this way an artimum comfort, which is light, durable and of maximum efliciency and at the same time so arranged that it may be economically manufactured. What I claim as new is:

1. A device of the class described, comprisingaan arm-encircling band adapted for mounting on the upper part of an arm; an arm-encircling band adapted for embracing the forearm; means for pivotallyv connecting said bands together; a retaining member; a member positioned in said second named band and movable axially thereof and adapted for snug engagement with an arm stump; tool-carrying means carried by said retainer; and means connecting said last named member and said retainer.

2. A device of the class described, comprising: a band for mounting on'the upper part of a persons arm; a band for embracing the forearm;

means for pivotally connecting said bands together; a.tubular member mounted on said sec- 0nd named band; a pair of curved plates rotatablein said second hand, and adapted for snug engagement with an arm stump; a closure for the end of said tubular member; tool-carrying means supported by said closure; and means connecting said tool carrying means and said curved plates.

3. A device of the class described, comprising:

an arm-encircling member for attachment to the upper portion of an arm above the elbow; an

plates 56 and 61 which are curved and positioned arm-encircling supporting'frame for embracing the lower portion of the arm; means pivotally connecting said frames together at substantially the location of the elbow; tool-carrying means rotatably mounted and projecting forwardly from said supporting frame; and means within said supporting frame and rotatable relatively thereto and fixedly. mounted on an arm stump in said frame and movable in response to the movements of the muscles of the arm stump and connected to said tool-supporting member for actuating movement of the same.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame for embracing a persons forearm; a tool-supporting member rotatably mounted and projecting forwardly from said supporting frame; and actuating means within said supporting frame and movable relatively thereto and adapted for mounting in fixed relation on a forearm stump and movable in response to the movements of the muscles of said stump and operatively connected to said tool-supporting member for actuating the same.

ANDREW J. HOSMER.

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