Patent ID: 9474636
Filing Date: 2016-10-25
CPC Classification: A61F

Claim Text:
1. A valve for a prosthetic socket defining a socket cavity, the valve comprising: a body defining an upper opening, a lower opening adapted to be in fluid communication with the socket cavity, and a shaft having a passageway formed between the upper and lower openings; a membrane flexibly seated on the body over the upper opening and movable between a closed position, in which the upper opening is sealed by the membrane such that fluid communication between the upper opening and the lower opening is inhibited, and an open position, in which the upper opening is unsealed such that fluid can flow through the passageway, the membrane having an attached part arranged to cover a first portion of the upper opening, and a free part arranged to cover a second portion of the upper opening, the attached and free parts being defined along a length of the membrane; a housing secured on the body and over the membrane, and the housing defining an interior cavity; a release element pivotally connected to the housing and located in the interior cavity of the housing, the release element attaching to the attached part of the membrane, the release element operable within the housing to move the attached part between the open and the closed positions and the free part operable to move the membrane to the open position in response to a buildup of pressure inside the socket cavity independent of operation of the release element.