Patent ID: 8317875

Claim:
A prosthetic device, comprising: a prosthetic component disposed at least partially at a location corresponding to a location of a natural human ankle; a prosthetic foot member; and an articulating connection that pivotably couples the prosthetic component and prosthetic foot member, the articulating connection comprising: one or more first articulating connection members coupled to the prosthetic component, one or more second articulating connection members in the foot member and configured to movably receive the first articulating connection member therein, and an actuation member disposed at least partially within a recess of the prosthetic foot member and configured to move in unison with the foot member relative to the prosthetic component, the actuation member configured to apply a force on the first articulating connection member to eccentrically align the first articulating connection member relative to the second articulating connection member so that the first articulating connection member continuously follows and contacts a bearing surface of the second articulating connection member during use of the prosthetic device, thereby inhibiting noise generation from the interaction of the first and second articulating connection members.