GAP-ADJUSTABLE/ELIMINABLE SHOCK ABSORPTION STRUCTURE

Abstract

A gap-adjustable/eliminable shock absorption structure includes a shock-absorbing ankle body having a thread adjustment portion. An elastic body and a driving piston are provided on a spring carrier pivotally mounted inside the shock-absorbing ankle body. The driving piston is connected, through screwing, to an inverted T-shaped connector. A cylinder extending from the driving piston is fit into a friction bushing, such that a surface of the cylinder is closely fit to an inside surface of the friction bushing. The friction bushing has an oblique outside surface that is closely fit to an internal wall of the shock-absorbing ankle body. The thread adjustment portion receives a fastening ring and an adjusting ring to screw thereto such that fine adjustment is achieved through displacement caused by rotation of the adjusting ring to set up tight engagement with the friction bushing as being closely fit to the surface of cylinder surface.

Claims

1. A gap-adjustable/eliminable shock absorption structure, comprising: a shock-absorbing ankle body, which includes a thread adjustment portion protruding from a top end thereof and a primary pivoting hole formed in a side edge of a bottom end thereof; a spring carrier, which includes a secondary pivoting hole in alignment with the primary pivoting hole to receive a pivot axle to extend therethrough to have the spring carrier pivotally mounted in an interior of the shock-absorbing ankle body, an elastic body and a driving piston being arranged, in sequence, on the spring carrier, the driving piston having a top end connected by means of a thread formed in an interior thereof to an inverted T-shaped connector through screwing engagement therebetween to form a connected condition, wherein a friction bushing is fit over a cylinder extending from the driving piston, and the cylinder has a cylinder surface that is closely fit to an inside surface of the friction bushing, the friction bushing having an outside surface that is made an inclined surface matching with and is closely fit to an internal wall of the shock-absorbing ankle body, the thread adjustment portion receiving, in sequence from bottom to top, a fastening ring and an adjusting ring to screw thereto for connecting, wherein the adjusting ring is rotatable for displacement upwards or downwards to achieve fine adjustment, so as to set in tight contact engagement with the friction bushing to maintain a completely and closely fit state with respect to the cylinder surface to extend a service life of the driving piston.

2. The gap-adjustable/eliminable shock absorption structure according to claim 1, wherein the outside surface of the friction bushing is of a convergent arrangement in a manner of tapering from an upper end to a lower end.

3. The gap-adjustable/eliminable shock absorption structure according to claim 1, wherein the driving piston is of an arrangement of polygonal shape to prevent inappropriate rotation of the driving piston that causes deviation of sole positioning and causes support instability during walking.

4. A gap-adjustable/eliminable shock absorption structure, comprising: a shock-absorbing body that is formed with an interior space for receiving a driving portion to dispose therein for connecting, a friction bushing being arranged between the driving portion and the shock-absorbing body, the shock-absorbing body being formed a thread portion protruding from a top end thereof, the thread portion receiving, in sequence from bottom to top, a fastening ring and an adjusting ring, connected thereto as being screwed therewith, wherein the adjusting ring is rotatable for displacement upwards or downwards to achieve fine adjustment, so as to ensure and maintain the friction bushing in a state of being completely and closely fit between the driving portion and the shock-absorbing body, so as to extend a service life of the driving portion.

5. A gap-adjustable/eliminable shock absorption structure, which is arranged below an artificial joint to be used for connecting, comprising: a driving piston, which is provided, on a top end thereof, with an elastic base that is for constraining a structure that is disposed in an interior of the driving piston for cushioning purposes and is positioned by a plurality of fastening bolts penetrating through the artificial joint to engage the elastic base; a piston barrel that receives a driving piston to insert therein from a top thereof and connect thereto, the piston barrel being formed, on an outside surface of a lower portion thereof, with a thread adjustment portion, wherein a friction bushing is fit over a cylinder extending from the driving piston, the cylinder having a cylinder surface that is closely fit to an inside surface of the friction bushing, the friction bushing having an outside surface that is made an inclined surface matching and closely fit to an internal wall of the piston barrel, the thread adjustment portion receiving, from top to bottom in a manner of being screwed therewith, a fastening ring, an adjusting ring, and an inverted T-shaped connector, wherein the adjusting ring is rotatable for displacement upwards or downwards to achieve fine adjustment, so as to tightly contact the friction bushing to ensure and maintain a completely and closely fit state with respect to the cylinder surface to extend a service life of the driving piston.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention shown in FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an initial, uncompressed state of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the initial, uncompressed state of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a compressed state of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 6 is cross-sectional view showing the compressed state of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a first alternative embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the first alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 7.

[0017] FIG. 9 is a schematic view, partially sectioned, of the first alternative embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the second alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 10.

[0020] FIG. 12 is a schematic view, partially sectioned, of the second alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] A preferred feasible embodiment according, generally, to the present invention will be described, in detail, with reference to FIGS. 1-12, for better understanding of the present invention. The present invention provides a gap-adjustable/eliminable shock absorption structure, which comprises a shock-absorbing ankle body (10), which is formed with a thread adjustment portion (101) protruding from a top end thereof and a primary pivoting hole (103) formed in a side edge of a bottom end of the shock-absorbing ankle body (10); a spring carrier (20), which includes a secondary pivoting hole (201) generally aligned with the primary pivoting hole (103) to receive a pivot axle (11) to extend therethrough in order to have the spring carrier (20) pivotally mounted in an interior of the shock-absorbing ankle body (10) and an elastic body (21) and a driving piston (30) that are arranged, in sequence, on the spring carrier (20) to cushion a downward pressing force. Here, the downward pressing force is referred to a force resulting from the weight of a user and successive movements of walking that the artificial limb has to bear. The driving piston (30) has a top end that is connected, through an internal thread formed in an inside surface thereof, with an inverted T-shaped connector (70) that is formed with an external thread to form a connected condition.

[0022] A friction bushing (40) is fit over a cylinder (31) extending from the driving piston (30). The cylinder (31) has a cylinder surface (32) that is closely fit to an inside surface of the friction bushing (40), while an outside surface of the friction bushing (40) is of a convergent arrangement in a manner of tapering from an upper end to a lower end.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, which show an initial, uncompressed state, it can be seen that the outside surface of the friction bushing (40) is an oblique or inclined surface, which matches an arrangement of an internal wall (102) of the shock-absorbing ankle body (10) that is formed as an inclined surface to provide close fitting therebetween. The thread adjustment portion (101) receives, in sequence from bottom to top, a fastening ring (50) and an adjusting ring (60) connected thereto as being screwed therewith.

[0024] Further referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, when the inverted T-shaped connector (70) is caused to drive the driving piston (30) to move downwards, a compressed state is formed. When the compressed state and the uncompressed state are switched repeatedly in an extended period of time, since metallic materials that make the structure itself would suffer abrasion and wear to generate a gap therebetween, the gap would causes oscillation or shaking, or un-smoothness and noise, during state switching.

[0025] Thus, the adjusting ring (60) is made rotatable for displacement upwards or downwards to achieve fine adjustment, so as to ensure and maintain the friction bushing (40) in a state of being completely and closely fit to the cylinder surface (32), this helping extend the service life of the driving piston (30). Further, the driving piston (30) is of a design of polygonal shape to help prevent deviation of sole positioning, resulting from inappropriate, undesired rotation of the driving piston (30), which causes support instability during walking.

[0026] Further referring to FIGS. 7-9, another embodiment of the present invention is shown. A shock-absorbing body (80) is formed with an interior space for receiving a driving portion (81) to dispose therein for connecting. A friction bushing (40) is arranged between the driving portion (81) and the shock-absorbing body (80). The shock-absorbing body (80) is formed a thread portion (801) protruding from a top end thereof. The thread portion (801) receives, in sequence from bottom to top, a fastening ring (50) and an adjusting ring (60) connected thereto as being screwed therewith. The adjusting ring (60) is made rotatable for displacement upwards or downwards to achieve fine adjustment, so as to ensure and maintain the friction bushing (40) in a state of being completely and closely fit between the driving portion (81) and the shock-absorbing body (80), so as to help extend the service life of the driving portion (81).

[0027] Further referring to FIGS. 10-12, a further embodiment of the present invention is shown, which is provided generally as a structure arranged below an artificial joint (90) to be used for purposes of connecting. A driving piston (30) is provided, on a top end thereof, with an elastic base (22) that is for constraining a structure that is disposed in an interior of the driving piston (30) for cushioning purposes and is positioned by a plurality of fastening bolts (92) penetrating through the artificial joint (90) to engage the elastic base (22). Further provided is a socket head bolt (93) extending through the artificial joint (90) and engaging an outside surface of the piston barrel (91) to form constraint thereto.

[0028] The piston barrel (91) is structured to allow a top portion thereof to receive the driving piston (30) to insert therein from a top thereof and connect thereto. The piston barrel (91) is formed, on an outside surface of a lower portion thereof, with a thread adjustment portion (101). A friction bushing (40) is fit over a cylinder (31) extending from the driving piston (30). The cylinder (31) has a cylinder surface (32) that is closely fit to an inside surface of the friction bushing (40), while an outside surface of the friction bushing (40) is made an inclined surface that matches with and is closely fit to an internal wall (102) of the piston barrel (91). The thread adjustment portion (101) receives, in sequence from bottom to top, a fastening ring (50), an adjusting ring (60), and an inverted T-shaped connector (70) connected thereto as being screwed therewith. The adjusting ring (60) is rotatable for displacement upwards or downwards to achieve fine adjustment, so as to tightly contact the friction bushing (40) to ensure and maintain a completely and closely fit state with respect to the cylinder surface (32), helping extend the service life of the driving piston (30).

[0029] In summary, the present invention provides a gap-adjustable/eliminable shock absorption structure, which includes an arrangement of a friction bushing (40) in an interior of a shock-absorbing ankle body (10) to reduce and cushion an external force applied thereto and also allowing for fine adjustment made through the fastening ring (50) and the adjusting ring (60) to set the friction bushing (40) in a state of being completely and closely fit to the driving piston (30) in order to extend the service life of the entire structure.