Prosthetic Blade Attachment System

Abstract

An attachment system for use with a prosthetic device includes a first component including a first surface, and further including one of a channel and a projection disposed on an opposite side of the first component than the first surface. A second component including a second surface, and including the other of the channel and the projection disposed on an opposite side of the second component than the second surface, the other slidably engaging the channel or the projection to selectively couple the first component and the second component together. One of the first surface and the second surface is operable to be attached to the prosthetic device, and the other is operable to be attached to a sole structure having a ground-engaging surface.

1 . A prosthetic device attachment system comprising:
 a first component including a first surface attached to a convex, ground-facing surface proximate a distal end of a prosthetic device, the first component including one of a channel and a projection disposed on an opposite side of the first component than the first surface; and   a latch mechanism including a first portion attached to and extending from the convex, ground-facing surface of the prosthetic device, the latch mechanism being disposed closer to a proximal end of the prosthetic device than is the first component.   
     
     
         2 . The prosthetic device attachment system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second component including a second surface operable to be attached to a sole structure having a ground-engaging surface, the second component including the other of the channel and the projection disposed on an opposite side of the second component than the second surface. 
     
     
         3 . The prosthetic device attachment system of  claim 2 , wherein the other of the channel and the projection slidably engages the one of the channel and the projection to selectively couple the first component and the second component together. 
     
     
         4 . The prosthetic device attachment system of  claim 3 , wherein the latch mechanism is automatically moved into a latched state to fix the relative position between the first component and the second component when the projection is moved into the channel a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         5 . The prosthetic device attachment system of  claim 2 , wherein the channel and the projection cooperate to selectively provide a dovetail connection between the first component and the second component. 
     
     
         6 . The prosthetic device attachment system of  claim 2 , wherein the sole structure includes a cushioning layer disposed between the second surface and the ground-engaging surface. 
     
     
         7 . The prosthetic device attachment system of  claim 6 , wherein the ground-engaging surface is formed by the cushioning layer. 
     
     
         8 . The prosthetic device attachment system of  claim 6 , wherein the ground-engaging surface is formed by an outsole layer that is attached to the cushioning layer. 
     
     
         9 . The prosthetic device attachment system of  claim 2 , wherein the latch mechanism includes a second portion fixed for movement with the second component, the second portion engaging the first portion when the latch mechanism is in a latched state. 
     
     
         10 . The prosthetic device attachment system of  claim 1 , wherein the prosthetic device is one of a foot prosthetic device and a blade prosthetic device. 
     
     
         11 . A prosthetic device attachment system comprising:
 a first component including a first surface operable to be attached to a sole structure having a ground-engaging surface, the first component including one of a channel and a projection disposed on an opposite side of the first component than the first surface and extending along a concave surface of the first component that faces a convex, ground-facing surface of a prosthetic device; and   a latch mechanism including a first portion attached to and extending from the convex, ground-facing surface of the prosthetic device, the latch mechanism being disposed closer to a proximal end of the prosthetic device than is the first component.   
     
     
         12 . The prosthetic device attachment system of  claim 11 , further comprising a second component including a second surface attached to the convex, ground-facing surface proximate a distal end of the prosthetic device, the second component including the other of the channel and the projection disposed on an opposite side of the second component than the second surface. 
     
     
         13 . The prosthetic device attachment system of  claim 12 , wherein the other of the channel and the projection slidably engages the one of the channel and the projection to selectively couple the first component and the second component together. 
     
     
         14 . The prosthetic device attachment system of  claim 13 , wherein the latch mechanism is automatically moved into a latched state to fix the relative position between the first component and the second component when the projection is moved into the channel a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         15 . The prosthetic device attachment system of  claim 12 , wherein the channel and the projection cooperate to selectively provide a dovetail connection between the first component and the second component. 
     
     
         16 . The prosthetic device attachment system of  claim 12 , wherein the sole structure includes a cushioning layer disposed between the first surface and the ground-engaging surface. 
     
     
         17 . The prosthetic device attachment system of  claim 16 , wherein the ground-engaging surface is formed by the cushioning layer. 
     
     
         18 . The prosthetic device attachment system of  claim 16 , wherein the ground-engaging surface is formed by an outsole layer that is attached to the cushioning layer. 
     
     
         19 . The prosthetic device attachment system of  claim 12 , wherein the latch mechanism includes a second portion fixed for movement with the first component, the second portion engaging the first portion when the latch mechanism is in a latched state. 
     
     
         20 . The prosthetic device attachment system of  claim 11 , wherein the prosthetic device is one of a foot prosthetic device and a blade prosthetic device.