Year: 1898

page_text: I, RICHARD EDWIN DANIELS, of No. 3, Garden Row, Shawclough, Rochdale, in
the County of Lancaster, Weaver, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to certain important improvements in relation to artificial
legs or limbs which are adapted for use and application to accomodate all the
variety of circumstances and nature of amputations whether such be above or
below the knee joint. According to my arrangement I am enabled to provide
an artificial limb of the nature above referred to which shall conform to the
movements of the natural limb and embrace many important features, viz.:
lightness in weight, noiseless when in use, and facility of application to the
wearer. I will now proceed to describe my invention or artificial limb. Accord-
ing to my construction I provide a stud or pin which is at the ankle part of
the foot and is secured to side irons which extend from the ankle upward
terminating at the knee joint the said stud I term the "ankle joint" which
ankle joint is seated or supported in a bearing of leather or other pliable material.
In proximity to the "ankle joint" I employ a second stud or pin which is
also secured to the lower part of the side irons which irons are situate opposite
to each other within the space forming the leg and encased by an outer shell
to be described the stud now referred to I term the ankle stop joint.
The leather bearing carrying the ankle joint and a cavity or space within which
the ankle stop joint is capable of and free to move or oscillate is enclosed by
means of suitably formed covering the said bearing resting upon a metal bearing
piece provided at the upper part of the foot piece such bearing is firmly bound
between the foot and the metal cap by means of screw threaded piece's which pass
to the underside of the foot near the heel.
The foot is so arranged with relation to the leg as to allow of a free and easy
movement with relation to each other by means of suitable connections which
maintain the normal position of the foot with relation to the leg and allow of
the movements by means of suitably arranged springs or spiral coils. The two
pieces connecting the leg with the foot are attached to the leather bearing and
cap respectively either directly by means of link connections of some pliable
material the said connecting pieces are attached to fixed attachments situate
within the leg. On each of the said pieces are fixed adjustable plates and pro-
vided between which are situate the coil springs the adjustable parts allow of
the adjustment more or less to regulate more or less the movement of the foot
with relation to the leg.
The foot is as just before described connected with the leg by means of the

page_text: cap and screw threaded pieces the normal position and movements of each member,
i.e. leg or foot are governed by the spring connections. The said foot portion
of my invention may be made of some light material such as wood willow alu-
minium or other suitable substance."
The front or toe part of the foot is provided with a hollow or air space which is
provided with a suitable inlet valve thro which atmospheric air may be forced or
pumped thus forming to such extent a pneumatic foot or toe.
The said air space
may extend around or at the whole of the underside of the foot if desired.
At the heel part of the foot I provide a suitable substance such as rubber the
wood or metal foot portion being suitably hollowed out to rest upon a rubber
cushion the whole of the said foot formed in manner above described is covered
with a covering of canvass or other convenient material. The upper part of the
foot is suitably hollowed out at the part connected with the foot, and the leg is
correspondingly formed to fit within the foot so as to allow of the free and easy
movements of the foot with the leg.
The leg is formed of the side irons before named and certain stay or band pieces
situate at suitable parts the whole forming the framework of the leg with addi-
tional laths or strips the whole when covered with canvass or partly built up
of a wood casing or shell or pieces in sections forms the outer form or shape of the
limb a facsimile of the natural limb.
At the upper parts of the side irons, i.e., extending from the ankle joint to the
knee joint, I employ extending pieces or irons from the knee joint to the thigh
which part is jointed thereto but so arranged by means of a piece or plate pro-
vided thereon to allow of the thigh portion to move only to a limited extent which
may be more or less according to the position of the plate but preferably so as to
allow only of the thigh assuming at its fullest extent a perpendicular portion of
the thigh piece with relation to the leg-piece.
The side thigh pieces is provided with or attached to a thigh cover piece of
stout leather material which is provided with a novel form of fastening consisting
of sockets or apertures on the one edge of the piece the other edge being provided
with hooks which which enter the sockets on the other edge by this arrangement
I form a novel form of fastening avoiding the cumbrous method of lacing now
used.
.
.
I employ a novel construction of suspending apparatus for suspending the leg
to the ordinary shoulder straps this consists of a peculiar form of buckle but the
prongs of the buckle being in one piece with the frame or part against which the
prongs usually rest. The two prongs are provided each with a spiral coil which
coils have connection with the leg by means of bands or straps so arranged that
the elasticity of the springs support the weight or pressure of the leg.
I further employ a spring or arrangement and strap at the back of the thigh
connecting the thigh piece with the calf of the leg the object of which is to deafen
the sound of the knee flex when walking.
I would have it understood that I may employ many modifications of the relative
positions of the ankle joint and the ankle stop joint adapted to accomplish the
requirements of particular circumstances as the case may be for example a person
having a stiff knee joint where the bend of the foot at the ankle cannot be called
into requisition or for many other reasons such changing of the relative positions
of the said joints may be varied without departing from the principle of my
invention.
I employ in the case of an amputation below the knee a heel device which passes
through the bearing of the ankle joints and extends to the heel part this device is
principally composed of rubber which forms a support at the necessary part of
the foot.
When in use the operation of the my invention is as follows
When the person performs the act of walking pressure is exerted on the ankle
joint thro the medium of the two side irons one situate on each side of the leg, the
pressure exerted on the foot during the walking allows the space around the stop

page_text: joint to move about the stop joint stud and the ankle joint stud to turn in its
bearing thus allowing the free bending of the foot with relation to the leg and
the foot after this action is pulled back to its normal position, by the aid of the
springs within the leg.
The knee joint is limited in its movement forward by the check herein before
named thus when the thigh side irons have moved to their fullest extent the side
irons forms rigid pieces from thigh to ankle joint thus the leg controls the whole
action of the foot as in the natural limb by the use of spring buckles shocks
between the leg and the shoulder are minimised. The pneumatic foot and the
rubber heel pieces form a noiseless limb when in use.
Total thin 4th love of Tonuowy 1808
J. H. BUTTERWORTH & Co.,
Rochdale, for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Artificial Legs or Limbs.
I, RICHARD EDWIN DANIELS, of No. 3, Garden Row, Shawclough, Rochdale, in
the County of Lancaster, Weaver, 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 certain important improvements in relation to artificial
legs or limbs which are adapted for use and application to accommodate all the
variety of circumstances and nature of amputations whether such be above or
below the knee joint. According to my arrangement I am enabled to provide
an artificial limb of the nature above referred to which shall conform to the
movements of the natural limb and embrace many important features, viz.:
lightness in weight, noiselessness when in use, and facility of application to the
wearer.
My improvements will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, the lower part in section of an artificial limb with my
improvements attached thereto.
Fig. 1 shews a section through about the line A-B on Fig. 1.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation in section of another artificial limb with ankle joint
and knee joint similar. Fig. 3 (Sheet 2) is a section taken at right angles to
Fig. 2, the section running through the heel and the upper part shewing a con-
struction suitable for an amputation nearer the knee joint than that shewn at
Fig. 2. Fig. 2 shews a detached part applicable to Fig. 2. Figs. 2º, 2º, 3^, 3º, 3º,
and 4 shew modified forms or arrangements of ankle joint.
Fig. 5 shews a face view of one of the spring straps hereafter described
Figs. 5 and 5, show parts of a spring strap or link when a rubber buffer is
used in place of a coiled spring.
Figs. G. and 6 show modified forms of joint pins for the ankle joint.
Fig. 7 is a section showing how my pneumatic toe and heel can be applied to
a foot with stiff ankle joint.
Fig. 8 is an external elevation thereof, and Fig. 9 shews detached the bolt
fixing the foot and the band for securing the pneumatic casing.
Fig. 10 shews in elevation one form of the thigh piece or cover,
and knee joint

page_text: similar to that shown on Fig. 1; the cover being unfastened and the removable
tongue or socket strip displayed, the knee joint being merely an auxiliary to a
natural joint, where the amputation is below the knee.
Fig. 10 shews an elevation of the catch plate with hooks corresponding to the
eyes in the socket strip or tongue.
Fig. 11 shews an inner side elevation of a thigh cover with the form of knee
joint suitable for amputation above the said joint the latter being shewn in
section, and this figure illustrates how the inner side of the thigh piece is
supported by the band or strap shewn detached at Fig. 12.
Figs. 13 and 14 are detached views of the buckles which I propose to use as
hereafter described. Figs. 15, 16, and 17 shew their application to straps or
bands.
According to my construction I provide a stud or pin a which is at the ankle
part of the foot and is secured to side irons or steels which extend from the
ankle upwards terminating at the knee joint the said stud I term the "ankle joint."
This ankle joint a is seated or supported in a bearing of leather or other pliable
material c. In proximity to the ankle joint I employ a second stud or pin d
which is also secured to the lower part of the side irons b which irons are situate
opposite to each oner with the
shell to be described; the stud pace forming the leg and encased by an outer
now referred to I term the ankle stop joint.
The leather bearing c carrying the ankle joint a and a cavity or space within
which the ankle stop joint d is free to move or oscillate, is enclosed by means of
suitably formed covering or cap c', the said bearing c resting upon a metal bearing
piece provided at the upper part of the foot-piece; this bearing c is firmly
bound between the foot e and the metal cap c¹ by means of screw threaded pieces
or bolts as shewn which pass to the underside of the foot e near the heel; a plate
is provided which locks the nuts of the said bolts.
Fig. 3 however shews the yielding material so disposed between and beneath
the plates c, c, that the parts c* of the said material are stopped by the stop pin d,
the parts being elastic and acting as springs or buffers.
The foot e is so arranged with relation to the leg as to allow of a free and easy
movement with relation to each other by means of suitable connections which
maintain the normal position of the foot with relation to the leg and allow of the
movements by means of suitably arranged springs or spiral coils.
I would here remark that though I have hitherto described this joint a, c, c', c², d,
as applied to the ankle it can with equal advantage be applied to the knee, as will
be readily understood on reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 11, the same letters of re-
ference being applied to the parts whether at the knee or ankle.
In the case of application to the knee the bearing c c c would be fitted to the
thigh part of the leg as shewn.
The rear of this bearing is connected by a strap 9 or if desired a link 9 and
metal or rubber spring g to a point g about one third of the way up or down
the shank part of the leg and the front of the bearing is connected by a link or
strap looped around the plate ci and a spring to a second point h¹ at about
the same level, the central spindle around which the springs g* h work are
preferably provided with a leather or other suitable protection as seen at a Fig. 4,
to prevent the metal spring from clicking or wearing against the spindle.
If a strap g is used without a spring which is preferable in the case of a knee
joint (see Figs. 1 and 11) these two links g and h are connected to a lever i pivotted
to the side irons of the shank of the limb, and resting against the stop ¹. The
strap g then acts as a check when the leg is coming forwards in walking.
A great advantage in this arrangement is that the front spring may in the
case of a knee joint be so arranged with regard to the pivot or joint a as to have
three actions; it will hold the shank normally straight with the thigh it will
allow the bending of the knee joint when the wearer is sitting down for example,
and will effect the further motion of the shank say to draw the foot beneath a seat
without manual assistance.

page_text: I
may in some cases connect the thigh to the rear or heel part of the foot (say
the plate) by a spring and strap as dotted at Fig. 2 and dispense with the back
or check strap g of the knee joint. This arrangement also serves to point or
draw down the toe when moving the foot forward.
The springs g h work within the metal loop or strap 92 h respectively, and
an sliding bridge piece g³ ³ preferably made of leather adjustable by a nut or
collar on the spindle regulates the strength or resistance of the spring 9 or h³.
A similar leather piece 9 h (Fig. 4) lines the end of the metal loop, and in the
case of the rear spring g³ a collar g and leather or other buffer g is fixed on the
central spindle to limit the action of the spring. Or a rubber. buffer, may be
used instead of a metal spring as seen at 9** (Figs. 5ª, 5º, 3º).
The studs or pins a and d forming the pivot and stop of the ankle joint may
be somewhat barrel shaped or made with globular enlargement at the centre as
shewn detached at Figs. 6 and 64, to allow lateral and diagonal flexion as well
as the ordinary backward and forward flexion of the ankle joint in case the foot e
is pressed down on a small stone or uneven surface.
In some cases the ankle joint pin a and stop pin d may be fixed to the foot e
as seen at Fig. 3, the springs g* h* being reversed and passing into a cavity in
the foot e, and the bearing c c c being fixed to the side irons of the shank.
This Fig. 3 shews the side iron and the plate c¹ combined in one piece; and
in some cases where there is no room for the springs g h and their adjuncts
above the foot (in the case of very low amputation) I use one central spring link
(Fig. 2) h in a cavity in the front of the foot and a lever * pivotted to the
stop pin this lever rests on the joint pin a and works around it when the ankle
joint is bent until the end of the lever is stopped by a projection ex on the
plate cor foot e and further motion is checked by the spring ** which bears
against the under side of the projection e" and this checks the joint just before
the stop pin d comes into contact with the bearing or cap c¹.
In all cases these springs g* h* ** act as compressor springs and are already
compressed to resist the extension of check straps or links which hold the joint
in place, and this takes a great strain off the joint pins and bearing plates.
A special advantage of this form of joint is that the bearing or yielding material
may be made thicker and thus the leg can be to a certain extent lengthened if
such adjustment is required.
The front part of the foot e whether in the form of a wooden block or shell-
piece of aluminium or otherwise formed is, shorter than usual and preferably
inclined upward at e from the ball of the foot towards the front or point, to act
in place of a hinged joint, and this part of the foot is enclosed in an inflated air
cushion & forming the toes of the foot e.
The foot e is preferably covered with a rubber cap e which protects the same
and also ensures an air tight joint with the pneumatic cushion (Fig. 4).
Such air cushion or space may extend to ki beneath the heel also (see Fig. 7)
and is in any case preferably connected to the foot by a cord, or the link ³
around the instep or ankle and beneath the arch of the foot, (say as seen at
Fig. 2 or at Figs. 1 or 7) the foot being preferably grooved for the cord to make
a firmer binding of the pneumatic casing k or k k thereon. The upper edge of
the casing which is preferably in the form of a galosh may be strengthened or
thickened to further secure the fastening.
Thus when the pneumatic case is at both toe and heel I have a pneumatic foot k
with a wooden or other core e therein, and there will be no sharp angle bearing
upon the cushion and likely to wear the same. is the inflating tube for the
cushion.
In some cases I employ a heel device consisting of a rubber block e¹ provided
with a bolt el passing through the bearing of the ankle joint (see Fig. 2).
Or the heel of the foot e may be mortised or grooved (as seen at Fig. 3) and a
block of rubber e¹ (see also Figs. 1, 2, 3, 3, 4 and 7) is let into the groove or

page_text: mortise to form an elastic cushion for the heel, the groove in the heel is tapered
inwards to fit the taper of the dovetailed part of the block el shewn at Fig. 3
The upper part of the foot is hollowed out for the bearing and to allow free
play of the foot e, the bottom of the shank fitting into the foot (see Figs. 1, 2
and 3).
The shank is formed of the side irons or steel b before named and at certain
parts is made with stay or band pieces in the form of side projections 6 or
extensions in width to which bands or half bands of metal 7 may be rivetted at 1*
by D shaped holes and rivets to complete a frame upon which canvas or other
suitable material may be stretched, or built to form the leg.
These projecting parts b¹ may also be made with downwardly or upwardly ex-
tending points or fingers 62 and may be placed at any suitable parts upon which
the casing may be suspended by suitable sockets or pockets; or wooden shell-
pieces may be used or other parts or sections forming the shape of a natural limb.
The extensions b₁ allow of the rivetting of parts to the side irons b without
weakening the latter which have really to support the weight put on the leg or
foot, and the points 62 allow for readily removing the casing to get at the enclosed
working parts for adjustment or repair.
The side irons or steels b are or may be jointed to extensions or further side
irons or steels 63 on the thigh cover for thigh piece and the irons or steels 63
are provided with a stop b4 the upper end of the shank side irons being pro-
vided with a cam shaped piece to prevent the knee joint thus formed from
bending inwards that is, backwards, on its pivot 67 (see Figs. 1 and 10) I prefer
to fix the stop in a reversible plate 68 provided with a second stop pin 640 as
shewn, but the stop 64 may be a simple pin extending through both side irons,
or steels.
Further the back of the shank at m and of the thigh
connected by a check strap f* and spring fl see Fig. 10.
prevent the noise at the knee joint when walking.
piece at m¹ may be
This will deaden or
The thigh side irons 63 are fitted to the thigh cover f (Fig. 10) which is open
from top to bottom as usual but provided along one edge with hooks or a plate n
having hooks n¹ seen detached at Fig. 10, and along the other edge with a
removable flap or tongue n2 having holes n³ into which the hooks engage.
dispenses with the usual lacing which is a tedious operation.
This
The inner upper edge of the thigh cover f may in the case of amputation above
the knee be provided with a pulley o on a loop attached to one of my spring
buckles hereafter described and guides o¹ (Fig. 11) under which a suspending
cord P is passed; and this cord is attached to straps or bands or webbing
connected to a yoke preferably of webbing q¹ provided with a loop g² through
which is passed the arm and shoulder at the side of the body opposite to the
artificial limb, the straps q passing over the second shoulder (see Fig. 12). The
two straps q connected to the same yoke q¹ are passed also at front and back
of the second shoulder and connected together at their lower end where they are
attached to a spring buckle o pivotted at 95 to the outer side of the thigh cover f.
This form is the support which I prefer to employ as it is a very easy fitting
efficient support for the artificial limb which is thus hung directly from the
shoulder immediately above it and the raising of the limb by this shoulder is
quite natural when walking. In the case of amputation of both legs g2 might be
dispensed with.
The side irons 6 and 63 may be made hollow or tubular and those of the shank
may be made, in parts so as to be adjustable in length if desired. This is effected
as seen at Fig. 2 the two parts being connected together by a plate 66 which can
be replaced by a longer plate 66, seen detached at Fig. 2 if desired. The side
irons b³ also be made with a series of rivet holes so that they can be let
down upon the cover f as seen at Fig. 10 to lengthen the thigh if desired.
Those of the shank are so arranged also as to carry more weight at the back
may

page_text: of the knee joint pin than at the front and thus they will swing forward auto-
matically at every step in walking.
I propose to fasten a strip or strips of leather. f around the top of the rear part
of the thigh cover f to strengthen the same.
The buckler which I have invented for the suspension of the limb (or for
other parts requiring such a buckle) is made with the prong r¹ or prongs in one
part with the frame (see Figs. 13 and 14) and if desired in one with a spring 2
holding it or them to the frame r.
For a spring buckle (as seen at Figs. 12, 15 and 16) I fit a spring s around
each prong or around all the prongs (Fig. 16) bearing against the cross bar 72
and against a looped strap 3 through which the prongs pass and which is connected
to one y of the ends or parts to be joined by the buckle, the frame r being fastened
as usual by the prongs to the other end or part so that the weight of the limb
is suspended on the springs s, the action of which are limited by plates s* fixed
to the prongs r¹.
I sew the cover of the limb to both sides of the side irons as seen at Fig. 1^,
and 1 protect the stitching by strips of leather , placed between the projec-
tions this prevents the covering from working up and down on the side
irons or steels and allows the cover to be in some cases entirely supported by the
stitching on the projections b¹.
When a person wearing one of the artificial limbs above described performs the
act of walking pressure is exerted on the ankle joint and if desired the knee joint
through the medium of the two side irons one situate on each side of the leg the
pressure exerted on the foot and shank during the walking allows the space
around the stop joint to move about the stop joint stud d and the joint stud a
to turn in its bearing e thus allowing the free bending, of the foot or knee and the
foot or shank after this action is pulled back to its normal position by the aid of
the springs within the leg or foot.
The knee joint is limited in its movement forward by the check hereinbefore
named thus when the thigh side irons have moved to their furthest extent the
side irons form rigid pieces from thigh to ankle joint thus the leg controls the
whole action of the foot as in the natural limb; and by the use of spring buckles
shocks between the leg and the shoulder are minimised. The pneumatic toe
and the rubber heel pieces form a noiseless limb when in use.
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. A joint for artificial limbs consisting of a pivot or joint pin and a stop pin
secured to one part and a bearing block of soft material secured by suitable cap
or plates and bolts to the other part, substantially as described.
2. A joint for artificial limbs consisting of a pivot or joint pin, stop pin,
bearing block of soft material, and securing cap or plate a spring connection being
made between the front of the bearing block and a point on the shank and a
check strap between the two parts joined together substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated.
3. A joint for artificial limbs consisting of a pivot pin or joint, stop pin and
bearing block of soft material, and securing cap or plate, a spring connection being
made between the front of the bearing block and a point on the shank and a
spring check strap between the two parts jointed together substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated.
4. A knee joint with cam piece on the shank side iron and reversible stop plate
or pin on the thigh side iron or steel, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated.
5. The side irons or steels of an artificial leg made with side stay or band pieces
or enlargements to which the casing can be attached (say by rivets screws or
stitching) substantially as herein before described.

page_text: 6. A pneumatic foot or toes for artificial foot as hereinbefore described.
7. The improved buckle for suspension of limb, substantially as herein before
described.
8. The fastener for the thigh piece of cover made substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of October 1898.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
Agents for the Applicant,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.