IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL LIMBS
Year: 1885

page_text: We, GEORGE BEACOCK, and TERENCE SPARHAM, both of Brockville, in the
County of Leeds, in the Province of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, do
hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL
LIMBS, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
This invention has relation to artificial limbs of that class which are constructed
of rawhide; and it refers particularly to the novel features of construction herein-
after described and specifically set forth in the claims.
REFERRING TO THE DRAWINGS:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation and partial vertical central section of an artificial leg
constructed in accordance with our invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective of one member of the knee-joint.
Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of the knee-joint.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the foot, the section being taken through the main
pivot bolt at X, Fig. 5.
.
:
Fig. 5 is a plan of the foot.
Fig. 6. a plan of the blank from which the foot is formed.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a shoulder cap and attached arm.
Fig. & is a side elevation and partial longitudinal vertical section of an arm
constructed in accordance with our invention.
Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the thumb.
Fig. 10 is a plan of the thumb inverted.
Fig. 11 is a detail hereinafter described.
Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures.
:
Referring to Figures 1 to 6, A, represents the usual band of a leg, which band is
laced about. the stump, and is provided with a pocket, A¹; for the reception of one
member of the knee-joint. A similar pocket is formed on the opposite side of
the band to receive a similar member on the opposite side of the knee-joint as is
usual.
The knee-joint consists of a pin or bolt B, the inner end of which is flanged
as at B 1, and the outer end screw threaded interiorally for the reception of a

page_text: screw B2; the body portion of the bolt being long enough to pass through one
wall of the leg proper D, and in this instance, a reinforce D 1, and through the
remaining member C, of the joint, all as clearly shown in Fig. 3.
The upper member C, of the knee-joint is made entirely of rawhide, and is
provided at its lower end with an aperture C1, which is adapted to snugly fit the
pin B, and is curved as at C2, and projected in suitable form to be inserted into
the pocket A 1, of the band A.
We have demonstrated by actual use material advantages in making at least
one of the members of the joint of rawhide, and we also, if desired, make the
pin B, or its equivalent, of the same material, as we find by experience that it is
less liable to wear, does not require oiling,. never squeaks or rattles, and is
Bufficiently firm at the joint for the required strength, and at the same time,
is somewhat pliable a distance from the joint to permit of a free and easy move-
ment of the parts connected thereby.
D 2, represents the usual chamois lining which is inserted within and over the
edges of the top of the leg proper.
The leg terminates in a shape adapted to overlap the upper part of the foot, and
is extended down to or below the centre of the foot, and is perforated at each side
for the passage therethrough of the main pivot rod E; said rod being placed
substantially in a vertical line coinciding with the front of the leg, a location of
the pivot which reduces to the minimum any semblance of limping by the user of
legs so constructed.
The foot, F, is made of a single piece or blank of the shape shown in Fig. 6, in
the base of which is formed a slit F1, terminating in two diverging slots F 2.
By the use of this blank a single seam F 3, extending from the toe to and up the
top of the heel, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, is all that is required in a foot so
made; and, although advantageously located, we do not limit our invention to such
à specific location of a single seam in the foot.
It will be noticed that the outlines of the instep and of the heel, at the point
where the lower edges of the leg come in contact therewith, are on a circle, the
centre of which coincides with the centre of the main pivot bolt E, and that the
front edges of the lower end of the leg are cut to form an arch which more or less
strictly conforms to the outline of the instep, so that in the movement of the leg
on its pivot E, said edges saddle of bear upon said circular outline of the instep
whereby all tendency to crush the hollow foot, formed of a single piece of rawhide,
is avoided, by the snug embrace of the foot by the edges of the leg as described.
We consider this peculiar feature of the joint one of the essential novelties of
our invention. The point of contact of the edges of the leg at, along, and upon
the arch, F7 of the instep, is rendered servicable by forming that arch in a circle
centred at the centre of pivot E. In order to limit the pivotal movement of the
foot, we provide in the foot slots F 4, through which a pin G, secured at its ends
in the lower end of the leg, passes. The pin G, passes from side to side of the leg
and is firmly mounted therein; and it not only serves to limit the movement of
the foot upon the pivot E, but when the heel is bearing the weight, the pin G,
bears against the bottom of the slots, and in connection with the pivot E, forms
à solid support for the weight of the body of the wearer, and when the leg is
inclined to the front and its front edges are straddling the arch of the instep, as
herein before set forth, the pin G, strikes against the upper end of the slots F4,
and further adds to the strength of the construction employed. The pivot rod E,
passes through the walls of the foot and of the leg, which being both made of
rawhide, secures a joint at this part which possesses all of the advantages set forth
in relation to the knee-joint above described.
To further strengthen the hollow foot and to prevent the necessity of using any
internal blocks which are commonly used, we may provide a sleeve, H, and
washer, I, either independent of or integral with said sleeve, and mount the same
upon the bolt E, which may, or may not as desired, be reduced in size at the centre
as shown in Fig. 4, in order to reduce the weight of the leg as a wholė,

page_text: A single tendon, J, is employed in our invention, and is connected, in the form
of a coiled spring, directly to the tip F 5 of the instep of the foot, by being hooked,
or otherwise connected thereto, in this instance by passing a coil of spring through
an aperture F 6, formed in the tip.
The opposite end of the spring is connected to cords J1, which pass through
apertures in the leg at the calf, where they are tied to each other after being
strained to put the spring under proper tension to adapt the leg to be worn with a
light shoe or heavy boot as desired.
The leg and foot in certain cases are preferably made integrally, or of one piece
of rawhide, without an ankle joint.
Referring to Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11:-
K, represents a socket conforming in outline to an arm, and of any desired
length, and being made of rawhide and hollow, may be adapted in any desired
usual manner for the reception of the stump of the wearer. The lower end of the
part K, is substantially cylindrical, and is provided with a suitable pivot or
rod K 1, for the connection therewith of the fore-arm L. The joint between the
part K, and the fore-arm is substantially of the same character as that referred to in
the leg, in that the contour of the part K, at the point where the edges of the fore-
arm come in contact therewith, is formed as at K 2, on a circle, the centre of which
coincides with the centre of the pivot bolt or rod K. 1, whereby a close, firm, and
servicable joint is secured. The fore-arm L, and hand L1, are formed of a single
piece of rawhide over any suitable mold, and having a single seam which may
extend along the lower side of the arm, wrist, palm of the hand, little finger,
and about each of the other fingers, after the manner of locating the seams in
gloves.
Within the palm of the hand, as at L 2, we form an aperture, preferably angular
in outline to serve as a rest for the ends of knives, forks, or other articles, which
are to be held by the hand in a manner hereinafter described.
Within the palm L 3, of the hand, and at the natural location of the thumb,
we form an opening L4 for the thumb M, the upper outline of said opening being
arch-shaped, and the lower outline being straight as shown at K 5, Fig. 11.
The thumb M, is made hollow as clearly shown in Fig. 8, and at the point where
it joins the palm of the hand is provided with notches M 1, from which the thumb
extends backward and terminates in a rounded end M 2. While the hide of which
the fore-arm, wrist, and hand are formed is damped for the purpose, the thumb is
forced through the opening L 4, and the palm of the hand is then allowed to dry;
when, by reason of the inward shrinkage thereof the straight edge L5 of the
opening L 4, is embraced by the notches M 1, of the thumb, and in this manner
we secure a servicable, strong, snug, and simple joint, one that is not liable to
become loose by use, and one in which sufficient freedom of action of the thumb
is secured without danger of rattling or squeaking.
To give the thumb a holding or bripping function upon articles held between the
first and second fingers and the thumb, we provide a coiled spring N, one arm N 1,
resting in a depression formed in a block of leather, O, secured within the wrist,
or fore-arm, while the opposite arm N 2, of the spring, is curved to embrace the
round head M 2, of the tail piece or extension of the thumb, so that the resilliency
of the spring serves to force the head M 2, upwardly and toward the palm of the
hand, thereby allowing freedom of movement of the end of the thumb upwardly
away from the fingers, and to cause said end of the thumb to return towards said
fingers when pressure is removed therefrom. 'R, is a draw-wire, attached to the
tail piece and passes out through the arm, to be seized by the uninjured hand or
attached to a cord connecting with the shoulder, for separation of the thumb and
finger by a pull or a shrug in picking up articles.
P, is a shoulder cap to which an artificial arm is hung to swing by a button O.
The cap is held in position by the coat of the wearer, and by passing a strap over
the shoulder and attaching the ends to the fore-arm it may be raised by a shrug
of the shoulder,

page_text: "
.
To maintain the limb on the stump, instead of the ordinary manner of lacing, as
shown in Fig. 1, or its equivalent, we insert in the upper portion of the arm or leg
a partition 25, to form an air chamber 26, provided on the outside with a valve 27,
which opens outwardly so that when the stump of the natural limb is inserted in
the chamber into which it accurately fits the valve will yield to allow egress of
air displaced by the stump, and when the stump is full inserted, the pressure of air
on the valve will keep it closed, and the pressure of air around the chamber will
keep the stump firmly therein, but when the valve is forcibly opened air will be
admitted to the chamber, and the stump can then be withdrawn to remove the
artificial limb.
い
We do not limit ourselves to any special construction of valves or to any
particular formation of the air chamber.
Instead of the method herein shown of connecting the thumb to the hand
portion of the arm, the thumb and hand portion may be perforated at V. Fig. 8,
the latter at the points for the passage therethrough of rawhide strap or thong,
round at the middle and flattened and gradually thinned down to its ends, so
that when wet and inserted through the perforations in the thumb and hand, it
may be drawn snugly against the former and inserted into the hole below the
thumb, and the ends turned or clinched, whereby said thong when dry, becomes
hard and rigid, and forms a serviceable pivot and a strong means for securing the
thumb to the hand.
Although in the present instance we construct the several sections of the limbs
of rawhide, yet we do not confine ourselves to wholly use that material, as several
features thereof are capable of being used in connection with artificial limbs made
of other substances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1. In an artificial limb, the combination of a leg the front lower edges of which
are cut to straddle the instep of a foot, with a foot the instep of which is arched
or formed on a circle, substantially as specified.
2. In an artificial limb, the combination of a leg and a foot, a pivot passing
through both of these members at a point substantially in a vertical line with the
front of the leg, and a bar passing through both of these members and adapted
to move it slots formed in the foot, substantially as specified.
3. In an artificial limb, a joint, one member of which is made entirely of rawhide,
substantially as specified.
4. The combination with the leg D, and band A, having the pockets A 1, of the
rawhide arm or joint C, adapted to fit the pin B of the leg and the pockets A 1, of
the band, substantially as specified.
5. The combination of the leg D, the reinforce D 1, the pin B, having the
flange B1, the arm or joint C, and the screw and washer B2, substantially as
shown and described.
i
6. An artificial foot made of a single piece of rawhide, substantially as specified.
7. An artificial foot made of a single piece of rawhide and having but one seam,
substantially as specified. -
8. An artificial foot made of a single piece of rawhide and having slots F 4, in
combination with the leg D, and the bolts or rods E, G, substantially as shown and
'described.
9. The combination of the leg D, the foot F, the pivot E, the sleeve H,
washers I, the rod G, the spring J, and the cords J 1, substantially as shown and
described.
13
.
1
+
C
10. The blank (for a foot F,) substantially of the shape shown, and having the
slits F 1, F 2
1
11. A leg and foot made of one piece of rawhide.

page_text: 12. The fore-arm, wrist, and hand, made of one piece of rawhide, substantially
as specified.
13. A fore-arm, wrist, and hand, made of one piece of rawhide, and provided
with a thumb passed through the palm of the hand and pivoted on the edge
thereof, substantially as specified.
14. In an artificial hand, a thumb held in position by the shrinkage of the
material of which the hand portion is made, substantially as specified.
15. The combination of the thumb M, having the notches M 1, and the head M 2,
the fore-arm L, and the spring curved to fit the head of the thumb, substantially as
described.
16. The combination of the thumb M, having the head M2, the spring N,
having the curved arm N 2, and the block O, substantially as shown and described.
17. The combination of the socket K, pivot K1, fore-arm L, and thumb M, the
whole being made of rawhide, substantially as shown and described.
18. The thumb M, made of a single piece of rawhide, cut away as at M1, and
provided with the head M 2, substantially as shown and described.
19. The combination of the shoulder cap P, button Q, and arm, substantially as
shown and described.
20. An artificial limb having an air chamber, provided with a valve, to secure
the natural stump inserted therein, by atmospheric pressure, as described.
21. The combination of the thumb M, having a tail piece, spring N, and draw-
wire R, for tilting the thumb, as described.