Patent ID: 7918898

Claim:
An artificial joint for providing pivotal movement between a first body member and a second body member comprising: (a) a main body; (b) a lower portion that connects to the first body member and is adapted to pivotally engage the main body about a control axis, the lower portion including a locking means integral therewith which pivots only about the control axis; (c) an upper portion that connects to the second body member and is adapted to pivotally engage the main body about a flexing axis and having an engagement means adapted to engage and disengage the locking means upon the pivoting rotation of the upper portion relative the main body; (d) a biasing means adapted to engage both the main body and the lower portion thereby biasing the locking means to engage the engagement means; (e) at least one stopping surface adapted to limit motion between the main body and the lower portion; and (f) at least one stopping surface adapted to limit motion of the upper portion; wherein the locking means is engaged when a load is imposed on the artificial joint that passes through a line posterior to the control axis, and is disengaged when the load passes through a line anterior to the control axis.