Patent ID: 6120547
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A device configured for joining a prosthetic appendage to a prosthetic limb, comprising:rotatable bearing means having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said proximal portion being configured to be affixed to an end of a prosthetic limb, and said distal portion being configured to be affixed to said appendage, the proximal and distal portions being limited to rotational motion with respect to one another about an axis of rotation;a generally cylindrical sleeve of resilient material having a top portion, a bottom portion, a central portion, an inside surface, and an outside surface, said sleeve oriented so as to surround the bearing means with a long axis colinear to the axis of rotation of the bearing means, the inside surface of the top portion of the sleeve being affixed to the proximal portion of the rotatable bearing means, the inside surface of the bottom portion of the sleeve being affixed to the distal portion of the rotatable bearing means, such that when the proximal and distal portions of the bearing means are rotated relative to each other, such rotation is resiliently resisted by torsional flexure of the central portion of the sleeve; anda bulge, formed around the circumference of the sleeve and directed away from the rotatable bearing means, to provide additional unfixed sleeve material to reduce the magnitude of torsional resistance provided by the central portion of the sleeve.