Artificial Foot Spring Connections for Stable Gait
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Solution Overview
Problem
Artificial feet often compromise either gait stability or standing security, as the load introduction into the artificial foot does not align with the ankle joint axis, causing torque and shifting of the body vector during weight distribution.
Innovation Solution
Designing the artificial foot with approximately linear contact surfaces and positioning the body vector between 40% and 48% of the nominal foot length from the heel, and adapting spring connections to maintain the body vector's position within ±4% of the nominal foot length during varying loads, ensuring a secure feeling during both standing and walking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the body vector position is allowed to shift during loading, then ease of operation is improved, but standing security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through the spring connections that continuously adjust the contact surface positions in response to applied loads. The springs provide real-time force feedback that maintains the body vector within the optimal range, ensuring standing security while adapting to varying loading conditions during both standing and walking.
2Ease of operation
If curved contact surfaces are used, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the foot structure into distinct components (connector part, contact surfaces, spring connections) that can be manufactured separately with high precision. The contact surfaces are designed as defined geometric elements (points, lines, or small areas) rather than continuously curved surfaces, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining operational adaptability through the spring-mediated relative movements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The artificial foot provides a secure feeling akin to a healthy foot, maintaining the body vector's position within a predetermined range, ensuring stable stance and natural gait, even under varying weight loads.
Implementation Method 1
adapting the spring connections between the connector part and the contact surfaces in such a way that, during the loading according to method step d), the body vector shifts by less than ±4% of the nominal foot length
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for producing an artificial foot, comprising a medial plane (M) in a longitudinal axis, in which a nominal foot length (l) is defined as a distance from a heel to a foot tip of a natural foot replaced by the artificial foot, and designed having a top side connecting piece (4) for torsionally rigidly connecting a foot insert (2) extending substantially over the length of the foot (l), and contacting two contact surfaces (6, 7) over the length (l), of which a first heel side contact surface (7) is located in the heel area and a second ball side contact surface (6) is located in the ball area, and designed so that the connecting part (4) is connected to the contact surfaces (6, 7) of the foot part by means of spring connections.