John MerletteSalt Lake City, UT

5593456, Jan 14, 1997

May 17, 1994

8/243989

John Merlette - Sandy UT

CRP, Inc. - Salt Lake City UT

A61F 266

623 49

A foot prosthesis comprised of a single monolithic elongated composite member having a semi-flexible shank strut section, an ankle section, a forefoot section, and a toe section. One end of the shank strut section is connected to a socket which is adapted to receive an amputated leg stump. The other end smoothly curves downwardly, or downwardly and rearwardly, before curving forwardly of the shank strut section to the toe section. The invention is specially designed to accommodate lower limb amputee athletes participating in field and track events.

4959073, Sep 25, 1990

Jun 6, 1988

7/202821

John Merlette - Sandy UT

A61F 266

623 55

A foot prosthesis comprising an elongate composite main member having a leg section and a toe section with one end of the leg section adapted to be connected to an amputation socket and the other end smoothly curving forwardly through an ankle section into the toe section and extending to a toe end, and a heel member extending from the toe end rearwardly generally along the toe section and then diverging from the toe section and extending to a heel tip. The main member and heel member are preferably of one piece construction with continuous fibers of the composite material extending through the main member and around the toe tip and through the heel member. A resilient material, such as rubber, is bonded between the toe section and heel member where the two are generally adjacent and the properties of the resilient material may be made adjustable by the wearer where the toe section and heel member diverge. In making the prosthesis, the uncured composite material is layed up with uncured rubber in desired position and the two materials cured together. It is preferred that the prosthesis device be removably attachable to an amputation socket by means of an aligned recess in the amputation socket which securely accepts the upper end of the leg portion of the main member.

6261324, Jul 17, 2001

May 26, 1999

9/320393

John B. Merlette - Sandy UT

CRP, Inc. - Salt Lake City UT

A61F 266

623 55

An improved foot prosthesis is disclosed which is durable in performance and inexpensive to manufacture, yet effective in accurately duplicating the feel and dynamic performance characteristics of the natural human foot. The prosthesis incorporates a single composite member having a forefoot portion beneath which is molded a unitary elastomeric sole that projects rearwardly from the composite member to define a heel. The elastomeric sole also projects laterally from the composite member so as to provide a degree of lateral stability that matches the inversion/eversion resistance of the normal human foot. In addition, a separate height adjuster and/or stiffness adjuster can be removably attached to the underside of the elastomeric sole, to enable the user to selectively adjust the prosthesis' heel height and/or stiffness.

4030754, Jun 21, 1977

Jan 21, 1976

5/651373

John Barton Merlette - Sandy UT

Hercules Incorporated - Wilmington DE

B60B 502

301 98

A composite lightweight wheel rim for spoke wheels having an inner and an outer ring separated by a low density rigid foam core. The inner and outer rings are formed from a composite fiber/resin material having the fibers positioned in a predetermined orientation. This structure forms a stiff, lightweight wheel rim suitable for many spoked wheel applications.

5156631, Oct 20, 1992

Sep 16, 1991

7/760151

John Merlette - Sandy UT

A61F 266
A61F 260

623 52

A foot prosthesis and multi-step process for making same, has an upper main member and a sole member as dual segments of the prosthesis and arrangements for removably securing the prosthesis to a stump socket. The upper member has a U-shaped shank strut and flat ankle transition zone and an anterior toe section. The sole member has a plantar toe section and heel section. The invention is specially design to accommodate construction from fiberglass composite materials although the design will accommodate construction from other composite materials or even other materials that are not of the composite type. The process for making the foot prosthesis comprises the steps of forming the two segments. Then the formed segments are bonded together using a compatible resilient elastomer material, such as a high elongation, polyurethane elastomer, a silicone adhesive, or fiber reinforced versions of such elastomers.