Patent Application
20170333225
The present invention relates generally to a prosthesis carrying barrel suction-attaching joint with locking function, which is provided for regulating tightness between a stump of a user and a prosthesis and is characterized in that a vacuum condition of a carrying barrel can be released through one button actuation, while simultaneously releasing a locking pin of an internal lining sleeve of the prosthesis, so as to simplify a complicated process of dismounting the prosthesis.
To mount a prosthesis on a user, a stump is often first covered with a prosthesis lining sleeve that is made of a soft material and is set to mate a carrying barrel of a corresponding size. An assisting device is operated to remove, through evacuation, excessive air between the stump and the prosthesis carrying barrel in order to maximize vacuum therebetween. However, heretofore, to prevent detachment of the prosthesis resulting from breaking or failure of air-sealing measures, the vacuum regulation structure is often used in combination with a locking structure. The two structures do not interfere with each other in the operations thereof, but for a user, complication and inconvenience of dismounting the prosthesis do indeed exit.
An example is U.S. Pat. No. 627,787, of which the feature is that a locking assembly is provide to mate, through a one-way ratchet, a locking pin. A knob is operated, through a spring, in combination with a centering shaft to cause the one-way ratchet to rotate or to be fixed, allowing the prosthesis lining sleeve locking pin to get into and out of the locking assembly. Although the locking assembly is also provided with a one-way relief air valve, no external connection with a vacuum evaluation device is provided, nor do a prosthesis carrying barrel suction force releasing mechanism. It can be easily appreciated that the locking assembly provides only a connection function, and is not provided for vacuum attachment of a prosthesis carrying barrel.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,876 features a locking mechanism arranged inside a carrying barrel and combined therewith to define an airtight space. When the locking mechanism is released, external air is simultaneously drawn in so that the suction force induced in the prosthesis carrying barrel is released. Such a structure is simple and shows an advantage in respect of reduced number of parts involved. However, such a device is not provided with a one-way air release valve and continuous release of air from the carrying barrel is not possible when an unlocking device is not kept in activation. Consequently, it is not possible to maintain the suction force of the carrying barrel during a period when a user walks. Further, this device is not provided with a measure of external connection with a vacuum evacuation device and is not provided for vacuum attachment of a prosthesis carrying barrel.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,211,187 features a slide valve comprising a channel that allows for evacuation to induce vacuum therein by external connection with a vacuum pump or introduction of external air therein to release the vacuum condition. Although a locking mechanism is provided in the carrying barrel, deactivation of the locking mechanism does not allow for simultaneous release of the suction force of the prosthesis carrying barrel. Consequently, with an attempt to take off the prosthesis, a user must first move off the slide valve and then pushes a unlocking device of the locking mechanism to enable release of connection and fixation of the prosthesis. In actual application, this device does help improve inconvenience of operation for the use, but the operability may be further improved.
WO 2015002955 A1 is another example and discloses a structure featuring an air passage formed in a locking pin, allowing for external connection with a vacuum pump to induce a vacuum condition inside the barrel. And, a locking device is provided to improve operation security. However, this device does not comprises a one-way air discharge valve and consequently, when the vacuum pump malfunctions, air that flows into the carrying barrel would break the vacuum condition. In addition, this device does not comprise a measure for releasing the vacuum condition. Apparently, there inconvenience of operability and further improvement may be needed.
In view of the forgoing, the prior art structures related to locking pins and vacuum regulation mechanism are complicated or they are constructed as separate designs in respect of functionalities thereof. It is desired to provide a solution that overcomes such drawbacks.
In view of the above problem that the prior art structures are complicated and cannot be operated easily, an object of the present invention is to integrate or combine the functions or structures of vacuum regulation and coupling as one unitary device, this being the primary concern of the present invention.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a prosthesis carrying barrel suction-attaching joint with locking function, which comprises, structurally, a positioning pin that has a conical surface and is received in a positioning pin hole formed in a positioning mechanism. The positioning mechanism is provided, in a lateral direction, with a penetration passage and a vacuum release passage and in communication with the positioning pin hole. An end of the penetration passage is provided with a regulation assembly for regulating a vacuum condition and an opposite end is provided with a locking assembly that functions to fix or release the positioning pin.
By using the regulation assembly according to the present invention to conduct regulation of vacuum, and the locking assembly for easily releasing and fixing, the two functions of vacuum regulation and pin locking can be integrated together to allow a user to operate easily for timely adjustment for the best comfortableness.
The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
A preferred embodiment generally according to the present invention will be described, in detail, with reference to
Referring to
Referring to
When the locking assembly (2) is not pushed or depressed, the spring (24) pushes and biases the constraint block (23) and the seal ring (22) is tightly interposed between the constraint block (23) and an inside flat plane of the base (11) to prevent air from passing through the penetration passage (112) to result in leakage of vacuum. When the locking assembly (2) is pushed or depressed, the seal ring (22) is moved together with the constraint block (23) so that the seal ring (22) is separated from the inside flat plane of the base (11) thereby breaking the sealing engagement and air is allowed to directly pass through the penetration passage (112) and the vacuum release passage (113) to flow into the chamber (114) and release the vacuum.
Another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
Referring to
When the locking assembly (2) is not pushed or depressed, the spring (24) pushes and biases the constraint block (23) and the seal ring (22) is tightly interposed between the constraint block (23) and an inside flat plane of the base (11) to prevent air from passing through the penetration passage (112) to result in leakage of vacuum. When the locking assembly (2) is pushed or depressed, the seal ring (22) is moved together with the constraint block (23) so that the seal ring (22) is separated from the inside flat plane of the base (11) thereby breaking the sealing engagement and air is allowed to directly pass through the penetration passage (112) and the vacuum release passage (113) to flow into the chamber (114) and release the vacuum.
The above description provided for two embodiments clearly illustrate, with reference to the drawings, that with the positions where the plug (35) and the hose connector (34) are arranged, the regulation structures of the two are different. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an integrated or combined arrangement for two functions of vacuum regulation and pin locking, making it easy for a user to operate and use and allowing for timely adjustment of comfortableness. Also, all connections involved are of standard specifications, allowing a user to interchange the joint or fitting without replacement of the carrying barrel, and may be used in combination with any vacuum product available in the market to provide the entire structure with excellent adaptability for assembly and use.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claims of the present invention.
