Abstract: An artificial knee joint (10) with a clamping member (13) is provided with a peg (11) for attachment to a thigh shaft (12). The clamping member is pivotable against a braking member or barrel (19) located inside the knee joint housing when a vertical load (44) is applied to the knee joint to arrest the swiveling movement a leg part (26). The leg part accommodates the lower leg tube of a leg prosthesis as well as a traction strap (36) impelling the knee joint back into the straightened position. By this means an uncontrolled buckling of the artificial knee joint is prevented in the event that a prosthesis wearer stumbles.

Abstract: A compact and lightweight knee joint for a prosthetic leg that can be locked or released with low operating forces comprises upper and lower members interconnected by a pin at a posterior location. A latch pivoted to one of the members for rotation about a vertical axis releasably locks into a recess in the other member to hold the joint in its extended position. The upper member has depending cheeks between which a head of the lower member is received. Adjoining horizontal faces of the upper and lower members are planar and a pad of elastomeric material attached to one of the planar surfaces serves as an extension stop buffer. The latch is blade-like and of bell-crank shape. It fits into slots in the anterior edge of each cheek and is pivoted in one of the slots with an anterior lever thereof spanning between the slots and with a latch head thereof fitting into the other slot. A cable release is fitted to the medial/lateral lever for release of the latch.

Abstract: A braked knee joint having a thigh part and a lower leg part which are provided with braking surfaces adapted to one another and which, because of the capacity for axial movement of the thigh part relative to the lower leg part, are pressed against one another during loading. The braking surfaces essentially have a contour which is circular in vertical section and which has a constant radius relative to the rotational axis. The joint includes a suitable stop to produce a jerk-free termination of the extension movement of the knee joint out of the flexed position.

Abstract: A prosthetic device comprising a knee mechanism including two discs of a large diameter, about the circumferential surfaces of which are disposed an upper and a lower gripping members to be frictionally engageable therewith so that a thigh element is firmly fastened with respect to a shank element to support the body weight of the user when the former is bent with respect to the latter.