Untitled record

Application filed November 21,1885. Serial No. 183,493. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Henry M. Kreemer, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New 5 Jersey, have invented certain new and useful

Improvements in Artificial Legs, of which the following is a specification.

_ My invention relates to improvements inartificial legs, by which, in walking, a natural io motion is imparted to the foot. I attain this by the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings similar letters of reference indicate similar parts.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of an artificial leg, showing a side view of my mechanism. Fig. 2 is another sectional view, showing a front view of my mechanism.

In Fig. 1, A is the leg, composed of the thigh 20 part A', calf part A, and foot part A'.

Within the calf part A are journaled the wheels or pulleys Β B. In Fig. 1 but one of these is shown, as one lies immediately back of the other; but in Fig. 2 they are shown in 25 a front view and side by side. Near the knee of the part A' is fastened a cord, which passes back over a pulley B, and, passing down through the part A, fastens securely to the part A' just below and in front of the ankle30 joint. In this cord is placed, near its lower end, a spiral spring, D'. Iu the rear of the knee, iu part A', is fastened another cord, G, which passes forward over the other pulley B and down through the part A, and fastens 35 securely to the heel of A'. In this cord I also place a spiral spring, O'. These pulleys B move freely on their journals, and are grooved on their peripheries to retain in place the cords C and D.

The method of fastening the cords C and D to the parts A' and A' is immaterial, as any proper method can be used. I preferably use the spiral springs 0' and D'; but any spring of the requisite tension and elasticity can be used.

It will be seen that’when the knee of the leg 45 is bent forward the toe of the foot is raised, and that as the leg is straightened the foot resumes its position, and that as the whole leg is thrown forward the toe is lowered toward the ground, giving the motion natural in walk- 50 ing. I thus avoid the striking of the heel first upon the ground and the backward kicking motion so common to other makes of artificial legs. In using my appliances, also, any gait can be taken natural or desired by the wearer. 55 The constant tension of the cords by means of the springs alsokeeps the joints close and firm, even if somewhat worn.