Improvements in Artificial Limbs.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Artificial Limbs.
I, FRANCIS VINCENT MCPARLIN, of 84, Adams Street, Chicago, in the State of
Illinois, United States of America, Chiropodist, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in artificial limbs; and more particularly
to that class of devices used by persons who are afflicted with talipes-equinus; and
the object is to provide a simple and effective device of this character to relieve
and cure the deformity, and enable the person to assume a natural gait.
To this end, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrange-
ment of the device as will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly
pointed out in the claims.
The accompanying drawings show my invention in the best form now known
to me, but many changes in the details might be made within the skill of a good
mechanic, without departing from the spirit of my invention, as set forth in the
claims at the end of this specification.
The same reference characters indicate the same parts of the invention in the
several views.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved artificial foot.
Figure 2 is a bottom plan view.
Figure 3 is a detail view.
Fi
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the insole removed from the foot.
Figure 5 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the device as applied to an
artificial limb.
1 denotes the elastic toe-form, and 2 the sheet metal heel which is connected
at its forward end to said toe-form.
3 represents the sheet metal instep formed with lateral slotted ears, by means
of which it is adjustably secured by the screws 4 to the forward extension of the
heel 2. 5 denotes the rear section of the bottom sole, which is preferably formed
of aluminum on account of its extreme lightness, and it is secured to the heel
piece by the screws 6-6.
7 denotes the forward section of the lower sole, preferably formed of spring
steel, and it is secured to the toe-form by the screws 8-8. The rear portion of
this section 7 is formed with a series of slots 9-9, through which the screws 10-10
extend into the rear section 5, so that the form may be adjusted longitudinally
to snugly fit different sized shoes.
12 denotes the upper sole for the foot to rest upon. and it is made of a single
piece of metal, being curved to conform to the shane of the foot, the forward end 13
being turned upward and rearward, to form a socket for the toes to rest in.
14 14 denote slotted overlapping braces, or stays, adjustably secured trans-
versely across the bottom of the sole 12, by means of the screws 15 and their outer
ends are turned at a right angle to form the lugs 16-16, which are also slotted
to receive the screws 17, by means of which said sole is adjustably secured to the
sheet metal heel 2, so that it may be adjusted as a whole with reference to the heel
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page_text: piece, or the center or ends, or either end adjusted independently to exactly con-
form to the inclination or angle of the talipes, the sole 12 being formed of a fine
grade of spring steel readily permitting of this adjustment.
18 represents the sheet metal ankle brace and counter for the heel, its lower
end being formed with vertical parallel slots 19-19, to receive the screws 20, by
means of which it is adjustably secured to the heel 2 to ensure ease and comfort
for the foot.
Referring to Fig. 5 in which the foot is shown applied to an artificial limb,
1 is the elastic toe-form, in this case applied to the foot of the limb 2 the heel,
21 a double concave elastic disk or block, and 22 the artificial limb.
23-23 denote the ankle springs, formed at their lower ends with an eye 24
to receive the screw 25, by means of which they are secured to the heel 2, and
their upper ends are formed with a rectangular hook 26 terminating in a button
or disk 27, by means of which they are adjustably held in place in the vertical
slots 28-28, in the extension limb 22, so as to approximate the human ankle in
the operation of walking. This limb 22 is made the proper length, and the exten-
sion foot fitted to its upper end so as to receive the deformed foot, as in the first
instance.
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. An extension foot for the treatment of talipes-equinus, comprising the elastic
toe form 1, the sheet metal heel 2, the lower sole 5-7 adjustably connected together
and removably secured to said toe and heel, the instep 3, and the sole 12 adjustably
secured to said heel 2, substantially as shown and described.
2. The elastic toe-form 1, and the sheet metal heel 2 adjustably secured thereto,
in combination with the sheet metal instep 3, the upper sole 12, and the sheet
metal ankle brace 18 adjustably secured to said heel, the bottom sole section 5
removably secured to said heel, and the forward section 7 adjustably secured to said
rear section 5, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 24th day of October 1898.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, Agents.