Patents Assigned to The Ohio Willow Wood Company, Inc.
  • Patent number: 4865612
    Abstract: An artificial foot includes a hollow, rigid, compression-molded composite keel made from aramid fiber-reinforced plastic for connection to a prothesis and to an improved composite carbon-fiber material acting as a spring for improving the energy absorbing and releasing characteristics of the foot to aid movement of the amputee. The spring includes a pair of thin, forwardly-extending composite spring members capable of lateral movement with respect to each other and connected to the keel. An auxiliary deflection spring or plate is interposed between the primary deflection plate and the keel and includes a forwardly-extending upwardly-oriented portion to aid in energy absorption and release during flexing of the foot. The plates are surrounded by a suitable abrasion resistant material, such as a Kevlar sock, surrounded by a low density flexible foam urethane. A medium density flexible foam urethane wedge is interposed beneath the heel portion of the keel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: The Ohio Willow Wood Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Arbogast, C. Joseph Arbogast