US1310589A - Artificial hand - Google Patents

Description

R. TRAUTMAN..

ART|F|CIAL HAND. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 21, I918.

1,310,589.. Patented July 22 1919.

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ARTIFICIAL HAN'D.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Application filed September 21, 1918. Serial No. 255,136.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAY TRAUTMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Hands, of which the following is a specification.

My inventionrelates to artificial hands of the type in which a pair of finger members are pivotally connected to each other and have their ends bent into hook shape, the hook ends being normally held together by resilient means for gripping articles. 'An object of my invention is to provide a construction which will enable the wearer of the device to grasp various articles .and tools more firmly and to hold them to better advantage than is possible with devices of this character now in use.

The full objects of my invention will appear in connection with the detailed description thereof and the novel features embodied in my inventive idea are particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings which illustrate the application of my invention in one form,

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a view as the device appears looking at the bottom of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view as the device appears looking toward the right hand portion of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on the line H of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Referring to the drawings 10 designates the outer end of a socket member, the inner end of which is intended to be fastened to the stump of an amputated arm in the usual manner. main finger member is adapted to be screwed into a screw threaded opening in the end of the socket member. The main finger member consists of a straight portion 11 and an oflset curved portion 16 while a movable finger member consists of a straight portion 18 and an offset curved portion 20. The two finger members cross each other between their relatively offset portions so that, as shown in F ig. 2, the two offset portions 16 and 20 are oppositely disposed with relation to the portions 14: and 18. These members where they cross each other are provided with registering holes through which passes a bolt having a notched head 22, the other end of the bolt being screw threaded to receive a nut 24. The movable finger The screw threaded end 12of amember is therefore pivoted to the main finger member in such a manner that wear between the parts can be readily taken up. The straight portions 14 and 18 are normally held together by any suitable resilient or elastic means such as rubber bands 26 placed around the portions of the members which are on the opposite-side of the pivot from the free or outer ends of these me .1- bers. The portion 16 of the main finger member is curved upwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, to formthe curved portion 28 while the portion 20 of the movable finger member is curved downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1 and is also curved outwardly as shown in Fig. 2 to form the curved portion 30, the double curvature of this portion being best shown in Fig. 3. The two portions 28 and 30, therefore, curve in opposite directions away from each other while the portion 30 curves laterally away from the plane of the curved portion 28, as will be seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The two finger members are formed with hook shaped extremities 32 and 34 of the same radius which are flattened where they are adapted to contact with each other and are preferably provided at this place with a milled or roughened surfacein order to provide a better grip. The offset portion 20 of the movable finger is provided with a member 36 which is curved downwardly substantially as far as the extremities 32 and 31 and is then curved upwardly so that its free'end is opposite the place of attachment to the portion 20. On account of the deep curve of the member 36 it forms an efiicient rest for handles of implements which are gripped by theextremities 32 and 34. The free end of the member 36 is provided with a hole 38 in which may be secured the end of the customary cord which extends up the arm to the shoulder and which is commonly used in devices of this character. The straight portion 14 of the main finger mem ber is provided with a hole through which is passed the upper screw threaded end of. a hook member 40.

By means of a thumb nut 42 on its screw threaded end the hook may be drawn up toward the portion 141 so as to firmly hold the handle of various implements which it may be desirable to hold in fixed position upon the artificial hand.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description. By placing the retractive means on the portions of the finger members which are on the other side of the pivot from the gripping extremities it results that when the movable finger has been opened for grasping an article and this finger is then released, an increased leverage is obtained and the article will be held with a firm grip. ear between the finger members may be readily taken up on account of the pivot bolt being provided with a notched head on one end and a nut on the other end. 011 account of the manner in which the portions 28 and 30 are curved they are adapted to receive between them various articles such as bails of buckets or handles of recep tacles while curved articles without handles, such as drinking glasses, may be securely held. The formation of the member 36 provides a rest for the handles of implements held by the extremities of the finger members so that such implements may extend outwardly in a longitudinal direction. The provision of the hook member 40 enables the wearer of my device to securely hold articles such as handles of tools in fixed position with relation to the artificial hand.

I claim:

1. An artificial hand of the hook type comprising a main finger member, a movable finger member pivoted to said main finger member, and retractive means acting directly upon the portions of said finger members which are on the opposite side of the pivot from the free grasping ends of said finger members whereby said grasping ends are normally urged toward each other.

2. An artificial hand of the hook type comprising a main finger member provided with an offset portion, a movable finger member provided with an offset portion, said members crossing each other between their respective offset portions, a pivot member extending through said members at their place of intersection, and retractive means acting directly upon the portions of said finger members which are on the opposite side of the pivot from the free grasping ends of said finger members whereby said grasping ends are normally urged toward each other.

3. An artificial hand comprising a main finger member and a movable finger member pivoted to said main finger member, said members being provided with hook shaped free ends and being bowed upwardly and downwardly respectively at their portions which are between the hook shaped portions and the pivot, and one of said portions being also bowed laterally.

4:. An artificial hand comprising a main finger member, a movable finger member pivoted to said main finger member, said members being provided with hook shaped free ends, and a curved member attached to one of said finger members between its hook shaped portion and the pivot, said curved member being bowed so as to extend downwardly substantially as far as the extreme ends of the hook shaped portions.

5. An artificial hand comprising a main finger member, a movable finger member pivoted tov said main finger member, said members being provided with hook shaped free ends and a hook adjustably mounted on one of said finger members between its book shaped portion and the place of attachment of said artificial hand.

6. An artificial hand comprising a main finger member, a movable member pivoted to said main finger member, said members being provided with hook shaped free ends, a hook adjustably mounted on said main finger member between itshook shaped portion and the place of attachment of said artificial hand, and a curved member attached to said movable member between its hook shaped end and its pivotal connection.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

RAY TRAUTMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0.

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