AN ARTICULATED ARTIFICIAL LEG
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Horace Brandon, Civil Engineer, of 13,
Rue Gaillon, Paris, in the Empire of France, for the Invention of
"AN ARTICULATED ARTIFICIAL LEG."-A communication from Doctor
William Becker, residing in Paris, in the Empire of France.
Sealed the 17th April 1868, and dated the 21st October 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Horace Brandon
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st October 1867.
I, ALEXANDER HORACE BRANDON, Civil Engineer, of 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris,
in the Empire of France, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN ARTICULATED ARTIFICIAL LEG," to be as follows:-
In the construction of the improved artificial leg I make use of an external
envelope composed of a mass of hardened papier mâché, which I first coat
with a solution of gum and then with a second covering made of leather, or
if economy be an object this last may be of linen cloth. These envelopes are
pierced with small holes in order to counteract the effects of perspiration.

page_text: By this improved construction I reduce considerably the weight of the leg,
which scarcely exceeds four pounds for an ordinary size, the envelope only or
casing averaging about a pound and a half. Thus formed the limb presents
the appearance of a masculine and well formed leg. The axles or joints
forming the bend of the knee and of the instep are made preferably of copper,
and work interiorily with a cylindrical rotation or joint across rounds of steel
bands; they are rivetted externally on a copper plate. Bands and a circle
for the thigh are solidly fixed to the envelope. Steel bands are attached to
the foot, and envelope it in the form of a stirrup. A heel in steel encloses the
heel in walnut wood. Between the two is a leathern tongue to break the
shocks which might react upon the stump.
The circle and the bands are placed externally on the thigh in order not to
compress the stump of the bottom of the leg, which are concealed and act in
the interior.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Horace Brandon in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 21st April 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
HORACE BRANDON, Civil Engineer, of 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris, in the Empire
of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Alexander Horace Brandon, Her special licence that I, the said
Alexander Horace Brandon, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Alexander Horace Brandon, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "AN ARTICULATED ARTIFICIAL LEG," being a communication to
me from Dr. William Becker, also residing in Paris, in the Empire of France,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Horace Brandon,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,

page_text: or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
'
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Horace Brandon, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, relates
to a novel mode of constructing articulated artificial legs, whereby ample
means of flexure is provided, while at the same time strength and lightness are.
secured and proper control over the limb by the wearer.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a side view. of the improved leg;
Fig. 2 is a front view; Fig. 3 a back view of the same; Fig. 4, a view of
the sole of the foot; these several Figures illustrate only those parts which
are most prominently presented to view when the leg is seen in front, side,
back, and plan respectively.
Fig. 1 (the side view) shews the method of placing the springs which
operate respectively the knee and ankle joints, H being the ankle joint spring
and L the knee joint spring; K is a steel plate situate at the heel to receive
the pressure of the spring H; this Figure also shows the foot with the heel
(in walnut wood) T, the incision G, the knee in copper D, the splints in steel
P, Q, R, and the circle or band in steel S surrounding the thigh.
Fig. 2 (front view) shews the vertical band A holding the foot like a stirrup ;
it passes by B over the knee D by C and O up to the buckle, where the band
can be tightened as desired. When the wearer of the leg is standing upright
the band A rests on his shoulder and pulls upon the whole mechanism. The
knee cannot bend when the heel is placed upon the ground.
contrary the person is sitting the band slips by B and C so as
natural bend of the knee, which it makes by the slit in the
covering.
When on the
to permit the
outer leather
Fig. 4 (view of the sole of the foot) shews the application to the sole of the
foot of a spring plate, which by means of the articulation G (Fig. 1) bends up
and down as the foot is placed upon or lifted up from the ground.
Fig. 3 (side view) shews the spring H as rivetted on a plate I which is
ixed between the two splints Q of the tibia; this spring pushes the heel K

page_text: when the foot is put down on the ground. The spring acting upon the point
of the foot it permits at the same time the bend of the ankle and the firm
tread of the toes upon the ground, an advantage unknown before, for the foot
advancing by direct or circular sliding movement was exposed to strike against
any obstacle and cause a fall. The coiled spring L is attached at its lower end
by a hook to the upper end of the plate I, and at its upper end with a leather
strap N, which is fixed to the thigh; it only acts when the stump of the thigh
is lifted, which is fixed in the upper part (thigh) of the apparatus. By this
lifting movement the stump acts upon the mechanism and produces the bend
of the knee. The action of the band after the bending of the knee allows the
limb to be drawn into its natural position to extend the limb and to make a
step in advance. From thence, and quite naturally, the weight of the body
thrown forward acting upon the articulation of the foot aids the person to
make another step in advance, and so on.
The exterior envelope of the limb is composed of papier mâché hardened,
covered with a layer of gum, and then enveloped in leather, which can be
substituted by cloth when economy is an object; these envelopes are pierced
with small holes V to avoid injurious action from perspiration.
The weight of the limb of ordinary size with its accessories is about four and
a half pounds, or a few ounces more for a large limb; the outer covering
weighs barely three ounces; the whole appearance is that of a well formed
muscular leg.
The axle M of the knee joint and the axle of the ankle are in brass, and
work inside with a cylindrical gudgeon through the washer on the steel splints;
they are rivetted outside on the brass plates. The splints Q and R and the
circle S of the thigh are fixed solidly in the casing. To the foot are attached
steel splints, which envelope it like a stirrup. The steel heel K surrounds
the walnut wood heel, and pads of leather or other suitable material are
inserted between the joints to break the shock which would otherwise affect
the stump when the limb was in action. On the thigh the circle and the
splints are placed outside, so as not to compress the stump; they go to S, where
they join the splints of the lower part of the leg, which are hidden and work
in the inside.
Having now explained the Invention communicated to me, and set forth
the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practice,
I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent
I claim, the construction of articulated artificial leg herein described (which
substantially acts as the natural limb), especially the manner in which the

page_text: articulations of the ankle and knee joint are constructed for the above
purpose.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Horace Brandon, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Fifteenth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
W. MORGAN BROWN.
A. H. BRANDON. (L.s.)