IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL LIMBS.
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Ashman, of Swansea, Glamorganshire, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL
LIMBS.'
Sealed the 23rd January 1857, and dated the 24th July 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Ashman at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on tho 24th.
July 1856.,
I, JAMES ASHMAN, of Swansea, Glamorganshire, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
ARTIFICIAL LIMBS," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to manufacture artificial limbs of a lighter
and more durable material than that now used, and to give greater freedom of
action and more play to these mechanical appliances.
The first part of this Invention consists of the use of a new material for
the manufacture of artificial limbs; this is composed of butt leather, which
is further hardened by being treated with a solution of naptha and gum
shellac, or other similar matters. Over this material a surface of waterproof
lining cloth is to be placed, and the whole is to be covered with buck
leather.
Secondly, the Invention consists of the use of a peculiar joint for fastening
the upper or thigh part of an artificial leg to the leg and foot, and of a new
and peculiar joint for the foot and ancle, so constructed as to give lateral
motion to the foot.
Thirdly, of the use of an arrangement of mechanism at that part of the
foot called the os calcis, consisting of a tube containing four or more metallic

page_text: spiral springs, actuated by a leathern bar, which is fastened to the limb so as
to resemble the tendon achilles.
And, lastly, of a peculiar means of supporting the knee joint, by means of
a strap fastened to the thigh part of the leg and below the knee by means
of a scroll steel spring, giving free motion to the joint in walking, sitting, or
riding. In the arm, a similar joint to that of the knee in the leg is used for
the elbow, and the material for the socket is the same as that described for
the lor
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Ashman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th January 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
ASHMAN, of Swansea, Glamorganshire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Ashman, Her special licence that I, the said James Ashman,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Ashman, 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 "FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL LIMBS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said James Ashman, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should parti-
cularly 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 James Ashman, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The object of. this Invention is to manufacture artificial limbs of a lighter
and more durable material than now used for the purpose, and also, by the

page_text: particular mechanical arrangements herein-after described, to give greater
freedom of action to the different parts of the limb. The material I use to
form the body of the artificial limb or limbs is hide treated or prepared with
a solution of naptha and gum shellac, or preparation of other gums, dissolved
in alcohol; or papier machi or vulcanite may be used for the purpose, but I
prefer the prepared hide. This treatment of the hide renders it of a horny.
hardness, and when so prepared it has a semi-transparent appearance, closely
resembling horn. The stiffness and rigidity thus imparted to the hide renders
it particularly applicable to the manufacture of artificial limbs, as it is capable.
of supporting a considerable, weight, yet possesses sufficient flexibility to.
accommodate itself to the stump of the limb.
I will now describe my improvements in constructing artificial limbs,.
referring to the Drawings accompanying and forming a part of this Speci-.
fication, and to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Fig. 1 represents an artificial leg for a case in which the natural limb has,
been amputed above the knee. A is a triangular-shaped piece of prepared
hide or leather, secured to the high part of the leg B by a pin or screw, on
which it turns freely; the piece A fits the hip of the wearer, and the leg is
supported partly by a brace or strap, which is attached to the upper corners
of the piece A and passes over the shoulder of the wearer. a¹, a¹, are two
bands of vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable material; these bands
admit of the piece A moving in either, direction and adapting itself to the
movements of the body, the bands a', a', serving to restore the hip piece A to..
a perpendicular position when the wearer rises from a sitting position. The
thigh and leg pieces B, C, are both made of prepared hide or leather, blocked
upon a suitable model or mould; they are attached to each other by a pair of
joints D. A side view of one of these joints is shown at Fig. 2. d' is the
lower part of the joint; a portion of the metal is cut away so as to form a
shoulder, a circular form being given to the upper part of the remaining
portion . The upper part of the joint at e is made of a corresponding form,
and the two parts are connected together by a pin at e'; this pin is made with
an elliptical-shaped head, as shown by the front view, Fig. 1. Through the
lower part of the head a screw or pin passes; the joint is thus secured by
two pins; the weight, however, is not borne by either of them. It will be.
seen, upon referring to Fig. 2, that the shoulders made in the upper and lower
parts of the joint receive the weight; the thinner portion of each part d'
and e' rests upon the shoulders, thereby relieving the pin e' from all strain or
wear. Inside the leg piece C is fitted a spindle, which passes through the leg;
upon this is fixed a metal box or case containing a scroll spring.

page_text: Fig. 3 is a front view of this part of the mechanism; Fig. 4 a side view of the
same. F is the arbor or spindle; G, the scroll spring; H, the box. The spring
is fastened at one end to the small barrel on the spindle F, and at the other to
the box H; a band or strap I is fastened to the outside of the box. The
position of the box is shown by the dotted lines in Figs. 1,2. The strap.
or band I is carried up between the leg and thigh pieces, and fastened.to the
front of the latter. When the wearer sits. down the heel is pressed on the.
floor; the bending of the knee joint causes the strap I to turn the barrel and
wind the spring G on the spindle F. When the wearer rises, the pressure on
the spring being removed, the strap I is coiled round. the barrel, and by this
action the limb is straightened. The central part of the foot is made of light.
wood as far as the fore joint; the whole is covered with leather; it is attached
to the leg piece by a stout piece of leather K, Fig. 5, which represents the:
foot detached from the leg. The joint K. is made very strong, and has a
certain amount of lateral action, resembling the natural joint; it is secured to
the knee piece by a pin L, which passes through the sides of the leg. piece!
and part K. At the heel of the foot is placed a spring or springs M, Fig. 5;
if more than one spring is required, they are placed one within the other; the
spring or springs are depressed by a stud N projecting from the back part of
the leg piece. This arrangement of the springs is designed to imitate the
action of the tendon achilles. When the heel is placed upon the ground and
the weight of the body thrown upon the springs, their upward pressure brings.
the foro part of the foot down, in a manner closely resenibling. the action. and
elasticity of the natural foot. Upon the instep is secured a piece of leather Q;
this is for the purpose of resisting the pressure of the boot at that part which.
would otherwise interfere with the free action of the leg at the ancle. The
fore part of the foot is made with a joint, and shaped. so.as. to. closely
resemble the human foot. The thigh part B is made with eyelot. holes, by
which it may be laced firmly to the stump. Figs. 6, 7. represent an artificial.
limb, similar in construction to the foregoing, but adapted for a leg amputated
just below the knee; in this the lower part of the thigh piece B is made.to:
receive the knee, the stump is kept bent at a right angle to the thigh; the:
upper part of the leg piece is slightly modified to adapt it to the form.of.
the thigh piece. Figs. 8, 9 represent thigh and knee pieces for cases where
amputation has been performed some distance below the knee, but in which.
the weight of the body is borne by the thigh piece. The foot used with the
foregoing modifications is the same as before described, and shown by Fig. 5.:
My improvements in the manufacture of artificial arms and hands consist
in making tho sockets of prepared hide or leather, as before described,.and.

page_text: constructing the joints in manner similar to that herein-before described in
reference to the knee joint, Figs. 1, 2.
My improvements in the construction of the artificial hand consists in
applying to the back of the fore and middle fingers two spiral springs,
extending along the back of the hand and imbedded in the material of which
it is made; from these springs two artificial ligaments, made of strips of
leather, are carried through the fingers and fastened to the fore joints. By
this arrangement the fingers are readily contracted by bending them down-
wards, the springs serving to hold them in that position, or they may as easily
be kept extended. In this position the springs are elongated.
The artificial limbs above described are finally covered with leather, and
their shape made to correspond closely with the natural limbs they are
substituted for.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of carrying
the saine into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise arrangement of the mechanical details herein-before
described, as the same may be varied without departing from the Invention ;
but what I claim, and desire to secure under the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent, is,-
Firstly, manufacturing the principal parts of artificial limbs of prepared
hide or leather, papier maché, or vulcanite, as herein-before described.
Secondly, I claim the hip piece, the joint D, whether applied to artificial
legs or arms, and the scroll spring and band for straightening the leg, and to
assist the action of walking with an artificial leg.
Thirdly, I claim the particular construction of the foot, and the application
of one or more springs at the heel, as above described.
Fourthly, I claim the application of springs to the back of the artificial
band, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Ashman, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
CHARLES BARLOW, Patent Agent,
89, Chancery Lane, London.
JAMES ASHMAN. (L.S.)