Prosthetic foot
A prosthetic foot including a ground-engaging base in the form of a generally planar and resiliently flexible foot bed which extends between two or more platforms to form one or more flexible hinges therebetween. The platforms include a toe platform, a mid-section platform and a heel platform. A support shank is disposed above the platforms so as to be generally positioned above an ankle area of the foot. A first spring extends from the toe platform to the support shank. A second spring extends from the support shank to the mid-section platform. A third spring extends from the support shank to the heel platform. Typically, the springs are curvilinear springs.
1. A prosthetic foot, comprising:
a ground-engaging base having a toe platform, a mid-section platform and a heel platform;
a flexible hinge extending between the toe and mid-section platforms;
a first spring extending from the toe platform to a support shank, wherein the support shank is disposed above the platforms so as to be generally positioned above an ankle area of the foot;
a second spring extending from the support shank to the mid-section platform; and
a third spring extending from the support shank to the heel platform.
2. The prosthetic foot of claim 1 , wherein the platforms are spaced apart and generally aligned with one another.
3. The prosthetic foot of claim 1 , including a second flexible hinge extending between the mid-section and heel platforms.
4. The prosthetic foot of claim 3 , wherein the flexible hinges comprise a foot bed extending between lower surfaces of the platforms.
5. The prosthetic foot of claim 4 , wherein the foot bed is resiliently flexible.
6. The prosthetic foot of claim 4 , wherein the foot bed is generally planar.
7. The prosthetic foot of claim 1 , wherein the first spring extends from a front portion of the support shank to the toe platform.
8. The prosthetic foot of claim 1 , wherein the second spring extends from a back portion of the support shank to the mid-section platform.
9. The prosthetic foot of claim 1 , wherein the third spring extends from a front portion of the support shank to the heel platform.
10. The prosthetic foot of claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third springs comprise curvilinear leaf springs.
11. The prosthetic foot of claim 10 , wherein the second curvilinear leaf spring includes an elongated slot adapted to receive the third curvilinear spring therethrough so as to permit the third curvilinear spring to travel along at least a partial length of the second curvilinear spring in response to forces applied to the prosthetic foot.
12. The prosthetic foot of claim 10 , wherein the first curvilinear spring includes a forked end defining two ends, the ends being attached to laterally spaced apart toe platforms.
13. The prosthetic foot of claim 12 , wherein the flexible hinge comprises a generally planar and resiliently flexible foot bed extending between lower surfaces of the platforms, and wherein the foot bed includes a slit between the laterally spaced apart toe platforms.
14. The prosthetic foot of claim 1 , wherein the second spring comprises a pair of springs extending from the support shank to a pair of mid-section platforms, each second spring being disposed on opposite sides of the third spring.
15. The prosthetic foot of claim 1 , wherein the first spring comprises a pair of springs, each spring extending from the support shank to a pair of laterally spaced apart toe platforms.
16. The prosthetic foot of claim 15 , wherein the flexible hinge comprises a generally planar and resiliently flexible foot bed extending between lower surfaces of the platforms, and wherein the foot bed includes a slit between the laterally spaced apart toe platforms.
17. The prosthetic foot of claim 1 , wherein the platforms are substantially rigid.
18. The prosthetic foot of claim 1 , wherein the mid-section platform is defined by a forward portion and the heel platform is defined by a rear portion of a unitary platform.
19. A prosthetic foot, comprising:
a ground-engaging base having generally aligned and spaced apart toe, mid-section and heel platforms;
flexible hinges extending between the platforms;
a first curvilinear spring extending from the toe platform to a support shank disposed above the platforms so the support shank is positioned generally above an ankle area of the foot;
a second curvilinear spring extending from the mid-section platform to the support shank; and
a third curvilinear spring extending from the heel platform to the support shank.
20. The prosthetic foot of claim 19 , wherein the flexible hinges comprise a generally planar and resiliently flexible foot bed extending between lower surfaces of the platforms.
21. The prosthetic foot of claim 19 , wherein the first spring extends from a front portion of the support shank to the toe platform, wherein the second spring extends from a back portion of the support shank to the mid-section platform, and wherein the third spring extends from a front portion of the support shank to the heel platform.
22. The prosthetic foot of claim 19 , wherein the second curvilinear spring includes an elongated slot adapted to receive the third curvilinear spring therethrough so as to permit the third curvilinear spring to travel along at least a partial length of the second curvilinear spring in response to forces applied to the prosthetic foot.
23. The prosthetic foot of claim 19 , wherein the second spring comprises a pair of springs extending from the support shank to a pair of mid-section platforms, each second spring being disposed on opposite sides of the third spring.
24. The prosthetic foot of claim 19 , wherein the first spring includes a forked end defining two ends, each end being attached to laterally spaced apart toe platforms.
25. The prosthetic foot of claim 24 , wherein the flexible hinges comprise a generally planar and resiliently flexible foot bed extending between lower surfaces of the platforms, and wherein the foot bed includes a slit between the laterally spaced apart toe platforms.
26. A prosthetic foot, comprising:
a ground-engaging base having generally aligned and spaced apart first and second platforms, the first platform defining a toe platform and the second platform defining a mid-section platform at a forward portion thereof and a heel platform at a rearward portion thereof;
a flexible hinge extending between the first and second platforms;
a first curvilinear spring extending from the toe platform to a support shank disposed above the platforms so the support shank is positioned generally above an ankle area of the foot;
a second curvilinear spring extending from the mid-section platform to the support shank; and
a third curvilinear spring extending from the heel platform to the support shank.
27. The prosthetic foot of claim 26 , wherein the flexible hinge comprises a generally planar and resiliently flexible foot bed extending between lower surfaces of the platforms.
28. The prosthetic foot of claim 26 , wherein the first spring extends from a front portion of the support shank to the toe platform, wherein the second spring extends from a back portion of the support shank to the mid-section platform, and wherein the third spring extends from a front portion of the support shank to the heel platform.
29. The prosthetic foot of claim 26 , wherein the second curvilinear spring includes an elongated slot adapted to receive the third curvilinear spring therethrough so as to permit the third curvilinear spring to travel along at least a partial length of the second curvilinear spring in response to forces applied to the prosthetic foot.
30. The prosthetic foot of claim 26 , wherein the second spring comprises a pair of springs extending from the support shank to a pair of mid-section platforms, each second spring being disposed on opposite sides of the third spring.
31. The prosthetic foot of claim 26 , wherein the first spring includes a forked end defining two ends, each end being attached to laterally spaced apart toe platforms.
32. The prosthetic foot of claim 31 , wherein the flexible hinge comprises a generally planar and resiliently flexible foot bed extending between lower surfaces of the platforms, and wherein the foot bed includes a slit between the laterally spaced apart toe platforms.