IP Library › Granted Patent US 12702571
Granted Patent B2
US 12702571 · App. 16/984,280 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Prosthetic foot

Inventors: Jeff Friesen (Salt Lake City, UT); Nathan A. Williams (Salt Lake City, UT); Justin R. Smith (West Jordan, UT); Kelli D. Oborn (Erda, UT)
Assignee: Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA
A61F2/66A61F2002/5003A61F2002/5007A61F2002/6614A61F2002/6621A61F2002/6642A61F2002/665A61F2002/6657A61F2002/6678
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12702571
App. No.
16/984,280
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A prosthetic foot is provided with a forefoot spring, a heel spring and a base spring. The base spring is connected to the heel spring and to the forefoot spring. The base spring has receiving means for the forefoot spring and the heel spring, into which receiving means the heel spring and the forefoot spring can be inserted. The heel spring is connected to the forefoot spring via a coupling element, and the coupling element extends forwards along the forefoot spring at least via one portion thereof.

Claims (27)

1 . A prosthetic foot comprising:

a forefoot spring,

a heel spring,

a base spring having a toe end and a heel end, wherein the base spring is attached to or attachable to the forefoot spring and the heel spring, and

at least one pocket formed on or connected to the base spring towards the toe end of the base spring, wherein the at least one pocket is configured as a closed design having a closed rear side, a closed top side, a closed bottom side, a closed left side, a closed right side, and an insertion opening at a front side oriented towards the heel end of the base spring, and

wherein the forefoot spring has a toe end which is insertable into the insertion opening of the at least one pocket to attach the forefoot spring to the base spring, and wherein the closed design of the at least one pocket covers the toe end of the forefoot spring when inserted into the insertion opening, and

wherein the forefoot spring and the heel spring are tensioned against each other and hold the base spring under tensile stress when the toe end of the forefoot spring is inserted into the insertion opening.

2 . The prosthetic foot of claim 1 wherein the at least one pocket is integrally molded with the base spring.

3 . The prosthetic foot of claim 1 wherein the base spring comprises a composite midsection and molded ends.

4 . The prosthetic foot of claim 1 wherein the base spring comprises recesses.

5 . The prosthetic foot of claim 4 wherein the recesses are configured for accommodating screws.

6 . The prosthetic foot of claim 1 wherein the base spring, heel spring, and forefoot spring are attachable together without fasteners or glue.

7 . The prosthetic foot of claim 1 wherein the base spring, heel spring, and forefoot spring are attachable by plug in connections with each other.

8 . The prosthetic foot of claim 7 wherein the base spring has a sandal toe on the toe end which is injection molded.

9 . The prosthetic foot of claim 1 wherein the at least one pocket comprises both a first toe pocket on a medial portion of the base spring and a second toe pocket on a lateral portion of the base spring.

10 . The prosthetic foot of claim 9 wherein the base spring has a sandal toe on the toe end, and wherein the first toe pocket and the second toe pocket are on opposite sides of the sandal toe.

11 . The prosthetic foot according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one toe pocket comprises two toe pockets separated by a slit into a medial toe pocket and a lateral toe pocket.

12 . The prosthetic foot according to claim 1 , wherein the forefoot spring has a substantially straight forefoot portion which, towards a front, is oriented at a downward incline.

13 . The prosthetic foot according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one pocket holds the toe end of the forefoot spring with a form fit.

14 . The prosthetic foot according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one heel pocket formed on or connected to the base spring towards the heel end of the base spring, and

wherein the heel spring has a heel end which is insertable into an insertion opening of the at least one heel pocket to attach the heel spring to the base spring, and wherein the at least one heel pocket is configured as a closed design having a closed rear side, a closed top side, a closed bottom side, a closed left side, a closed right side, and an insertion opening at a front side oriented towards the toe end of the base spring, and wherein the closed design is configured to cover the toe end of the heel spring when inserted into the insertion opening of the at least one heel pocket.

15 . The prosthetic foot according to claim 14 wherein the at least one heel pocket holds the heel spring with a form fit.

16 . The prosthetic foot of claim 14 wherein the at least one heel pocket is integrally molded with the base spring.

17 . The prosthetic foot according to claim 1 , wherein a connecting means, provided for securing the prosthetic foot to a below-knee socket, is arranged on a proximal end of the prosthetic foot.

18 . The prosthetic foot according to claim 17 , wherein the connecting means has a shock absorber.

19 . The prosthetic foot according to claim 17 , wherein the forefoot spring is designed as a straight flat spring, and the connecting means is arranged at a rear portion of the forefoot spring.

20 . The prosthetic foot according to claim 1 , wherein the forefoot spring and the base spring each have a slit.