Prosthetic foot having curved ankle section

Abstract

Abstract of Disclosure A prosthetic foot characterized by a foot portion and an ankle portion. The foot portion and ankle portion may be fabricated from polymer impregnated and encapsulated laminates, including such laminates as carbon fibers and/or fiberglass or synthetic fibers such as Kevlar. The ankle portion may include an upper end positioned near or below about the location of a natural human ankle joint, a lower end, and an elongated intermediate section at least a portion of which curves downward and forward between the upper end and the lower end. The foot portion may be curved and have a heel section, an arch section and a toe section. The foot portion may be connected to a lower attachment section of the ankle portion, with at least the heel section of the foot portion extending rearwardly from the lower attachment section and below the upper end of the ankle portion.

Claims 
     
         1.  34. A prosthetic foot, comprising: 
       
         an ankle portion having a substantially rectangular transverse cross-section and including an upper end positioned near or below about the location of a natural human ankle joint, a lower end, and an elongated intermediate section at least a portion of which curves downward and forward between the upper end and the lower end, the ankle portion also including a lower attachment section adjacent the lower end of the ankle portion, wherein the ankle portion is integrally formed between the upper end and the lower end; and 
       
       
         a curved foot portion having a heel section, an arch section and a toe section, the foot portion having a substantially rectangular transverse cross-section, a rearward extremity and a forward extremity, the foot portion being connected directly against the lower attachment section of the ankle portion at least at about the intersection of the arch section and the toe section, at least the heel section of the foot portion extending rearwardly from the lower attachment section and below the upper end of the ankle portion, and the toe section terminating at the forward extremity of the foot portion at about the location of natural human toes; 
       
       
         wherein each of the ankle portion and the foot portion is formed from a fiber-reinforced polymer material. 
       
     
     
         2.  35. The prosthetic foot of  Claim 34 , wherein the foot portion is connected to the lower attachment section of the ankle portion with an adhesive. 
     
     
         3.  36. The prosthetic foot of  Claim 34 , wherein each of the ankle portion and the foot portion is fabricated from superimposed laminates maintained in operative relationship by an encapsulating polymer. 
     
     
         4.  37. The prosthetic foot of  Claim 34 , wherein at least a portion of the elongated intermediate section is vertically oriented. 
     
     
         5.  38. The prosthetic foot of  Claim 34 , wherein the upper end of the ankle portion is positioned at about the location of a natural human ankle joint. 
     
     
         6.  39. A prosthetic foot, comprising: 
       
         a first support member including an upper end positioned near or below about the location of a natural human ankle joint, a lower attachment section positioned downward and forward from the upper end, and an elongated intermediate section between the upper end and the lower attachment section, wherein the first support member is integrally formed between the upper end and the lower attachment section; and 
       
       
         a second support member having a rearward extremity and a forward extremity, the second support member being attached to the lower attachment section of the first support member, the second support member including a heel section extending rearwardly from the lower attachment section and below the upper end; 
       
       
         wherein each of the first support member and the second support member is formed from a fiber-reinforced polymer material. 
       
     
     
         7.  40. The prosthetic foot of Claim  39 , wherein each of the first support member and the second support member has a substantially rectangular transverse cross-section. 
     
     
         8.  41. The prosthetic foot of Claim  39 , wherein at least a portion of the elongated intermediate section curves downward and forward between the upper end and the lower attachment section. 
     
     
         9.  42. The prosthetic foot of Claim  39 , wherein the second support member is curved. 
     
     
         10.  43. The prosthetic foot of Claim  41 , wherein the second support member includes an arch section forward of the heel section. 
     
     
         11.  44. The prosthetic foot of Claim  39 , wherein the second support member includes a toe section terminating at the forward extremity of the second support member. 
     
     
         12.  45. The prosthetic foot of Claim  44 , wherein the toe section terminates at the forward extremity of the second support member at about the location of natural human toes. 
     
     
         13.  46. The prosthetic foot of Claim  44 , wherein the toe section extends forwardly from the lower attachment section. 
     
     
         14.  47. The prosthetic foot of Claim  39 , wherein the first support member and the second support member are adhesively bonded to one another. 
     
     
         15.  48. The prosthetic foot of Claim  39 , wherein at least a portion of the first support member is substantially vertically oriented. 
     
     
         16.  49. The prosthetic foot of Claim  39 , wherein the upper end is substantially vertically oriented. 
     
     
         17.  50. The prosthetic foot of Claim  39 , wherein the first support member terminates in a toe section at about the location of natural human toes. 
     
     
         18.  51. The prosthetic foot of Claim  39 , wherein the first support member is tapered between the upper end and the lower attachment section. 
     
     
         19.  52. The prosthetic foot of Claim  39 , wherein the second support member is tapered toward the rearward extremity. 
     
     
         20.  53. The prosthetic foot of Claim  39 , wherein the upper end of the first support member is positioned at about the location of a natural human ankle joint. 
     
     
         21.  54. A prosthetic foot, comprising: 
       
         an ankle portion having an upper attachment section, an elongated intermediate ankle section capable of providing energy storage and release during utilization of said foot, and a lower attachment section; and 
       
       
         a substantially horizontal foot portion connected to the lower attachment section of said ankle portion along an under surface of said ankle portion, said foot portion being curved and extending between a forward extremity and a rearward extremity, said forward extremity terminating at about the location of natural human toes, said foot portion including a heel section extending rearwardly from the lower attachment section and below the upper attachment section; 
       
       
         wherein each of the ankle portion and the foot portion is formed from a fiber-reinforced polymer material. 
       
     
     
         22.  55. The prosthetic foot of Claim  54 , wherein each of the ankle portion and the foot portion has a substantially rectangular transverse cross-section. 
     
     
         23.  56. The prosthetic foot of Claim  54 , wherein the foot portion includes an arch section forward of the heel section. 
     
     
         24.  57. The prosthetic foot of Claim  54 , wherein the ankle portion and the foot portion are adhesively bonded to one another. 
     
     
         25.  58. The prosthetic foot of Claim  54 , wherein the ankle portion is tapered between the upper attachment section and the lower attachment section. 
     
     
         26.  59. The prosthetic foot of Claim  54 , wherein the foot portion is tapered toward the rearward extremity. 
     
     
         27.  60. The prosthetic foot of Claim  54 , wherein the elongated intermediate ankle section includes at least a portion that curves downward and forward. 
     
     
         28.  61. A prosthetic foot, comprising: 
       
         an ankle portion having an upper attachment section, an elongated intermediate ankle section capable of providing energy storage and release during utilization of said foot, and a lower attachment section; and 
       
       
         a substantially horizontal foot portion connected to the lower attachment section of said ankle portion along an under surface of said ankle portion, said foot portion including a toe section and a heel section, said heel section extending rearwardly from the lower attachment section and below the upper attachment section, wherein said foot portion contacts said under surface of said ankle portion at least at a location intermediate said toe section and said heel section; 
       
       
         wherein each of the ankle portion and the foot portion is formed from a fiber-reinforced polymer material. 
       
     
     
         29.  62. The prosthetic foot of Claim  61 , wherein each of the ankle portion and the foot portion has a substantially rectangular transverse cross-section. 
     
     
         30.  63. The prosthetic foot of Claim  61 , wherein said foot portion is curved. 
     
     
         31.  64. The prosthetic foot of Claim  63 , wherein said foot portion includes an arch section between the toe section and the heel section, said foot portion contacting said under surface of said ankle portion along at least a portion of said arch section. 
     
     
         32.  65. The prosthetic foot of Claim  61 , wherein the ankle portion and the foot portion are adhesively bonded to one another. 
     
     
         33.  66. The prosthetic foot of Claim  61 , wherein the elongated intermediate ankle section includes at least a portion that curves downward and forward. 
     
     
         34.  67. The prosthetic foot of Claim  61 , wherein the toe section terminates at a forward extremity of the foot portion at about the location of natural human toes.