Patent ID: 6589288
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A male coupling assembly for locking engagement with a locking device of a prosthetic limb comprising:a housing having an internal cavity and a center-hole extending into its distal end, communicating with the internal cavity, where the cavity includes a proximal-facing inner surface and a distal-facing inner surface; a cradle retained within the cavity, having a distal-facing outer surface that is laterally slidable with respect to the proximal-facing inner surface of the cavity, and the cradle including a male coupling component extending distally therefrom, the male coupling component being adapted to be coupled to a female locking component of a prosthetic limb socket assembly, and the male coupling component further extending distally through the center-hole of the housing; wherein the cradle includes a center hole extending axially therethrough and the male coupling component includes a head positioned on a proximal end thereof, the head having a substantially spherical distal surface; wherein the substantially spherical distal surface of the head has a diameter larger than the diameter of the center hole of the cradle; and wherein the head of the male coupling component is seated in the center hole of the cradle to provide a ball joint coupling between the cradle and the male coupling component; whereby the cradle, and, in turn, the male coupling component provides, at least, multiple degrees of lateral adjustability with respect to the housing and whereby the male coupling component also has multiple degrees of rotational and/or pivotal adjustability.