Patent Application - Adjustable Support For A Residual Limb Of An Amputee > Claims

1. A supporting device for a residual limb of an amputee comprising: a curved plate having a concave upper surface and a convex lower surface;a padding structure adjacently attached to said concave upper surface of said curved plate;a tubular member comprising a top end attached to said lower surface of said curved plate;a tubular leg being telescopically received within a lower end of said tubular member; anda height adjustment device to position said tubular leg within said tubular member to control the height of said supporting device.
- 2. The supporting device for said residual limb as recited in claim 1 wherein said curved plate further comprises slots along peripheral edges thereof to receive at least one strap there through, said at least one strap securing said supporting device to said residual limb.
  - 3. The supporting device for said residual limb as recited in claim 2 wherein said padding structure has matching slots with said slots on said covered plates, said matching slots also receiving said straps there through.
    - 4. The supporting device for said residual limb as recited in claim 3 wherein said padding structure comprises a first layer of padding adjacent said concave upper surface of said curved plate, and a second layer of padding adjacent said first layer of padding.
    - 5. The supporting device for said residual limb as recited in claim 3 wherein said first layer of padding is firmer padding than said second layer of padding.
    - 6. The supporting device for said residual limb as recited in claim 3 wherein said height adjustment device comprises a pin spring loaded within said tubular leg and extending through an aperture there through, and extending outwardly to engage at least one of a plurality of vertical holes in said downwardly extending tubular member, wherein a position of said pin engaging said at least one vertical hole defines said height.
      - 7. The supporting device for said residual limb as recited in claim 6 wherein said height adjustment device further comprises a pin housing disposed within said tubular leg, and said pin is spring loaded within said pin housing and extending outwardly through an aperture in said pin housing, said aperture corresponding to said aperture of said tubular leg.
        10. The supporting device for said residual limb as recited in claim 7 wherein said lower surface of said plate comprises a receiving slot for receiving said top end of said tubular member, said top end of said tubular member having a predefined portion of a smaller diameter than the rest of said tubular member.
        12. The supporting device for said residual limb as recited in claim 10 wherein said tubular leg comprises a foot on the bottom thereof.
      - 9. The supporting device for said residual limb as recited in claim 6 wherein said lower surface of said plate comprises a receiving slot for receiving said top end of said tubular member, said top end of said tubular member having a predefined portion of a smaller diameter than the rest of said tubular member.
    - 8. The supporting device for said residual limb as recited in claim 3 wherein said lower surface of said plate comprises a receiving slot for receiving said top end of said tubular member, said top end of said tubular member having a predefined portion of a smaller diameter than the rest of said tubular member.
    - 11. The supporting device for said residual limb as recited in claim 3 wherein said tubular leg comprises a foot on the bottom thereof.
13. A method for combating contracture of muscles in the residual limb of an amputee comprising the steps of: sitting substantially upright;placing a posterior portion of said residual limb on a padding structure of a supporting device, said supporting device comprising a plate adjacently below said padding structure, a tubular member adjacently below said plate and extending downward therefrom, a tubular leg telescopically disposed within said tubular member, and a height adjustment device to adjust the height of said supporting device; andadjusting said height of said supporting device to stretch said muscles in said residual limb of said amputee.
- 14. The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising the step of attaching said supporting device to said residual limb after said placing step.
  - 15. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein said supporting device comprises a plurality of slots along a periphery of said plate, and extending through said padding structure, and at least one strap extending through said slots, and said attaching step comprises strapping said supporting device to said residual limb.
    - 16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said adjusting step comprises the steps of compressing a spring-loaded pin, said spring loaded pin being disposed within said tubular leg, extending through a hole there through, and extending through at least one of a plurality of vertical holes on said tubular member;sliding said tubular leg within said tubular member to adjust said height of said supporting device;aligning said spring-loaded pin with said at least one of said plurality of vertical holes of said tubular member; andreleasing said spring-loaded pin.