1. An apparatus for magnetically imprinting indicia into a layer on an article, the layer comprising a composition in which magnetic or magnetisable particles are suspended, the apparatus comprising:
a soft magnetisable sheet, having an outer surface arranged to face the article in use, and an opposing interior surface; and
a permanent magnet, shaped such that its magnetic field contains perturbations giving rise to indicia, the permanent magnet being disposed adjacent the interior surface of the soft magnetisable sheet, a lateral periphery of the permanent magnet in a plane perpendicular to the normal of the soft magnetisable sheet being within that of the soft magnetisable sheet;
whereby the soft magnetisable sheet enhances the perturbations of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet such that when the layer to be imprinted is located adjacent the outer surface of the soft magnetisable sheet, the magnetic or magnetisable particles are oriented by the magnetic field to display the indicia, and
wherein the permanent magnet is configured such that its lateral shape approximately corresponds to a lateral shape of an indicia which the apparatus is adapted to imprint into the layer.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the permanent magnet is arranged such that the axis defined between its north and south magnetic poles is substantially perpendicular to the sheet.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the permanent magnet is shaped such that, in the vicinity of the sheet, the direction of the magnetic field changes between the center of the permanent magnet and its lateral periphery.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of permanent magnets configured to individually or collectively give rise to the indicia.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a housing configured to support the permanent magnet(s) and soft magnetisable sheet in fixed relation to one another, the housing having an upper surface arranged to face the article in use, one or more recesses being provided in the upper surface in which the permanent magnet(s) isare accommodated, the soft magnetisable sheet being mounted on the upper surface of the housing and covering the one or more recesses.
6. An imprinting assembly comprising an array of apparatus, each in accordance with claim 1.
7. An imprinting assembly comprising a roller in which at least one apparatus according to claim 1 is disposed, the outer surface of the soft magnetisable sheet of the or each apparatus substantially conforming to the surface of the roller.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the permanent magnet has an upper surface facing the soft magnetisable sheet, a profile of which does not conform to that of the sheet.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least part of the upper surface of the permanent magnet is curved or sloped relative to the sheet.
10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the permanent magnet is substantially spherical, dome-shaped or pyramidal.
11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the permanent magnet has an upper surface facing the soft magnetisable sheet, the profile of which substantially conforms to that of the sheet, and wherein the upper surface of the permanent magnet is spaced from the interior surface of the sheet by between 0.5 and 10 mm.
12. A method of manufacturing a security element, comprising:
providing a layer comprising a composition in which magnetic or magnetisable particles are suspended;
bringing the layer into proximity with the outer surface of the soft magnetisable sheet of an apparatus for magnetically imprinting indicia into the layer so as to orientate the magnetic or magnetisable particles to display indicia;
hardening the layer so as to fix the orientation of the magnetic or magnetisable particles such that the indicia are permanently displayed;
wherein the apparatus for magnetically imprinting indicia comprises a soft magnetisable sheet, having an outer surface arranged to face the layer in use, and an opposing interior surface; and
a permanent magnet, shaped such that its magnetic field contains perturbations giving rise to indicia, the permanent magnet being disposed adjacent the interior surface of the soft magnetisable sheet, a lateral periphery of the permanent magnet in a plane perpendicular to the normal of the sheet being within that of the sheet,
whereby the soft magnetisable sheet enhances the perturbations of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet such that when the layer to be imprinted is located adjacent the outer surface of the soft magnetisable sheet, the magnetic or magnetisable particles are oriented by the magnetic field to display the indicia.
13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the permanent magnet has an upper surface facing the soft magnetisable sheet, the profile of which does not conform to that of the sheet.
14. A method according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the lateral dimensions of the layer is larger than the corresponding lateral dimension of the permanent magnet, such that the displayed indicia are within the periphery of the layer.
15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the layer is provided with one or more registration features against which the position of the indicia displayed by the layer may be judged, the registration features preferably comprising gaps in the layer andor formations in the periphery of the layer.
16. A method according to claim 12, wherein the substrate comprises a document of value, preferably a banknote, passport, identity document, check, certificate, visa or license, or a transfer film suitable for application to a document of value.
17. A method according to claim 12, wherein the magnetic or magnetisable particles comprise an optically variable structure whereby the particles reflect light having wavelengths within a first spectral band at a first angle of incidence, and light having wavelengths within a second, different spectral band at a second angle of incidence.
18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the optically variable structure is a thin film interference structure.
19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the thin film interference structure incorporates magnetic or magnetisable material therewithin.
20. A security element made in accordance with claim 12.
21. A transfer element comprising a security element according to claim 20, disposed on a support substrate.
22. A document of value comprising a security element according to claim 20.
23. An insert for a security document comprising a security element according to claim 20, wherein the insert is a security thread, patch, stripe or tape.
24. An apparatus for magnetically imprinting indicia into a layer on an article, the layer comprising a composition in which magnetic or magnetisable particles are suspended, the apparatus comprising:
a soft magnetisable sheet, having an outer surface arranged to face the article in use, and an opposing interior surface; and
a permanent magnet, shaped such that its magnetic field contains perturbations giving rise to indicia, the permanent magnet being disposed adjacent the interior surface of the soft magnetisable sheet, wherein the permanent magnet has an upper surface facing the soft magnetisable sheet, the profile of which does not conform to that of the sheet;
whereby the soft magnetisable sheet enhances the perturbations of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet such that when the layer to be imprinted is located adjacent the outer surface of the soft magnetisable sheet, the magnetic or magnetisable particles are oriented by the magnetic field to display the indicia,
wherein the permanent magnet is configured such that its lateral shape approximately corresponds to a lateral shape of an indicia which the apparatus is adapted to imprint into the layer, and
wherein at least part of the upper surface of the permanent magnet is curved or sloped relative to the sheet.
25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the permanent magnet is substantially spherical, dome-shaped or pyramidal.
26. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the permanent magnet is arranged such that the axis defined between its north and south magnetic poles is substantially perpendicular to the sheet.
27. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the permanent magnet is shaped such that, in the vicinity of the sheet, the direction of the magnetic field changes between the center of the permanent magnet and its lateral periphery.
28. An apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising a plurality of permanent magnets configured to individually or collectively give rise to the indicia.
29. An apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising a housing configured to support the permanent magnet(s) and soft magnetisable sheet in fixed relation to one another, the housing having an upper surface arranged to face the article in use, one or more recesses being provided in the upper surface in which the permanent magnet(s) isare accommodated, the soft magnetisable sheet being mounted on the upper surface of the housing and covering the one or more recesses.
30. An imprinting assembly comprising an array of apparatus, each in accordance with claim 24.
31. An imprinting assembly comprising a roller in which at least one apparatus according to claim 24 is disposed, the outer surface of the soft magnetisable sheet of the or each apparatus substantially conforming to the surface of the roller.
32. A method of manufacturing a security element, comprising:
providing a layer comprising a composition in which magnetic or magnetisable particles are suspended;
bringing the layer into proximity with the outer surface of the soft magnetisable sheet of an apparatus for magnetically imprinting indicia into the layer so as to orientate the magnetic or magnetisable particles to display indicia;
hardening the layer so as to fix the orientation of the magnetic or magnetisable particles such that the indicia are permanently displayed;
wherein the apparatus for magnetically imprinting indicia comprises a soft magnetisable sheet, having an outer surface arranged to face the layer in use, and an opposing interior surface; and
a permanent magnet, shaped such that its magnetic field contains perturbations giving rise to indicia, the permanent magnet being disposed adjacent the interior surface of the soft magnetisable sheet, wherein the permanent magnet has an upper surface facing the soft magnetisable sheet, the profile of which does not conform to that of the sheet,
whereby the soft magnetisable sheet enhances the perturbations of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet such that when the layer to be imprinted is located adjacent the outer surface of the soft magnetisable sheet, the magnetic or magnetisable particles are oriented by the magnetic field to display the indicia,
wherein the permanent magnet is configured such that its lateral shape approximately corresponds to a lateral shape of an indicia which the apparatus is adapted to imprint into the layer, and
wherein at least part of the upper surface of the permanent magnet is curved or sloped relative to the sheet.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A coupler device for connecting a residual limb socket to a lower limb prosthesis comprising:
a coupler body having a top mounting surface and a bottom mounting surface and having an anterior area and a posterior area;
said top mounting surface connecting said top mounting surface to a residual limb socket at a defined location on said top mounting surface;
said bottom mounting surface being adapted to connect said bottom mounting surface to said lower limb prosthesis at a defined location on said bottom mounting surface;
said top and bottom mounting surfaces being horizontally offset such that a longitudinal centerline of said residual limb socket is located from about 0.5 to about 4.0 inches anterior of a longitudinal centerline of the lower limb prosthesis when said residual limb socket and said lower limb prosthesis are attached to the top and bottom mounting surfaces, respectively, of the coupler device;
said top mounting surface being inclined in the posterior to anterior direction at an angle from about 5\xb0 to about 20\xb0 relative to said bottom mounting surface;
said residual limb socket having a distal end and a proximal end, and said residual limb socket being attached to a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end housing a receptacle;
wherein said coupler body further comprises an aperture on said top mounting surface receiving both an alignment bushing and a pin, said pin comprising a shaft and a series of elevated rings along said shaft and said alignment bushing includes a notch that is sized to fit a dowel pin, and a transverse aperture at the top mounting surface which intersects said aperture of said top mounting surface when said pin is inserted.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal centerline of said residual limb socket is located from about 0.5 inches to about 3 inches anterior of said longitudinal centerline of said lower limb prosthesis when the residual limb socket and the lower limb prosthesis are attached to the top and bottom mounting surfaces, respectively.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal centerline of said residual limb socket is located from about 1 inch to about 2 inches anterior of said longitudinal centerline of said lower limb prosthesis when the residual limb socket and the lower limb prosthesis are attached to the top and bottom mounting surfaces, respectively.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal centerline of said residual limb socket is located about 1.25 inches anterior of said longitudinal centerline of said lower limb prosthesis when the residual limb socket and the lower limb prosthesis are attached to the top and bottom mounting surfaces, respectively.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein said top mounting surface is inclined posterior to anterior at an angle from about 8\xb0 to about 15\xb0 relative to said bottom mounting surface.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein said top mounting surface is inclined posterior to anterior at an angle of about 10\xb0 relative to said bottom mounting surface.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal centerline of said lower limb prosthesis is aligned along or behind a patient TKA (trochanter-knee-ankle) line.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein said receptacle is threaded.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein said pin is threaded.
10. The device of claim 1 wherein said pin is shaped, dimensioned and oriented to be inserted into said receptacle, so as to pass through said aperture into said alignment bushing and pull said sleeve enclosed residuum into said residual limb socket and further attach said sleeve to said coupler body.
11. The device of claim 10 wherein said pin is centered on said distal end of said socket when said pin is engaged in said receptacle.
12. The device of claim 10 wherein said distal end of said socket further includes an attachment ring that has an inner side and a keyway and said pin passes through said keyway to attach said sleeve to said body.
13. The device of claim 12 wherein said attachment ring further comprises a set of four apertures surrounding said keyway in a standard four-hole spacing arrangement.
14. The device of claim 13 wherein said attachment ring includes three spherical grooves and has a cylindrical recess on said inner side.
15. The device of claim 13 wherein said top mounting surface further comprises a set of four apertures surrounding said aperture in a standard four-hole spacing arrangement.
16. The device of claim 15 wherein said apertures of said set of apertures of said top mounting surface receive attachment screws that attach said coupler body to said socket through said set of apertures of said attachment ring.
17. The device of claim 1 wherein said pin has a length of not more than about 2.5 inches and a locking length of about 2 inches.
18. The device of claim 1 wherein said pin has a distal tip that is semi-spherical.
19. The device of claim 18 wherein said distal tip further includes a transverse aperture.
20. The device of claim 1 wherein said body further comprises at least one recess.
21. The device of claim 20 wherein said recess is elliptical.
22. The device of claim 1 wherein said anterior area of said coupler body includes a face that is rounded.
23. The device of claim 1 wherein said bottom mounting surface further comprises a set of four apertures configured in a standard four-hole spacing arrangement.
24. The device of claim 23 wherein said apertures include lower surfaces that are threaded.
25. The device of claim 24 wherein said apertures of said set of apertures of said bottom mounting surface receive attachment screws that attach said coupler body to a connector or to a prosthetic knee joint.
26. The device of claim 1 wherein said bottom mounting surface connects to a prosthetic knee joint, which connects to a shin pylon, which connects to a tube clamp adapter, which connects to a prosthetic foot.
27. A coupler for connecting a residual limb socket to a lower limb prosthesis comprising:
a coupler body having a top mounting surface and a bottom mounting surface and having an anterior area and a posterior area;
said top mounting surface connecting said top mounting surface to a residual limb socket at a defined location on said top mounting surface;
said bottom mounting surface connecting said bottom mounting surface to said lower limb prosthesis at a defined location on said bottom mounting surface;
said top and bottom mounting surfaces being horizontally offset such that a longitudinal centerline of said residual limb socket is located from about 0.5 to about 4.0 inches anterior of a longitudinal centerline of the lower limb prosthesis when said residual limb socket and said lower limb prosthesis are attached to the top and bottom mounting surfaces. respectively, of the coupler device;
said top mounting surface being inclined in the posterior to anterior direction at an angle from about 5\xb0 to about 20\xb0 relative to said bottom mounting surface;
said residual limb socket having a distal end and a proximal end, and said residual limb socket being attached to a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end housing a receptacle;
wherein said coupler body further comprises an aperture on said top
mounting surface receiving both an alignment bushing and a pin, said pin comprising a shaft and a series of elevated rings along said shaft, and a transverse aperture at the top mounting surface which intersects said aperture of said top mounting surface when said pin is inserted, and said transverse aperture houses a locking mechanism.
28. The device of claim 27 wherein said locking mechanism further comprises a toothed plunger, a button thumbscrew, a button clutch, a needle bearing, a button housing, a spring and a set screw.
29. The device of claim 28 wherein said button thumbscrew has a thumbscrew.
30. The device of claim 28 wherein said toothed plunger comprises a pinion and a shaft.
31. The device of claim 30 wherein said pinion includes teeth that are spaced apart.
32. The device of claim 31 wherein as said pinion rotates, said pinion mates with said elevated rings of said pin and said pin is drawn into said body or exits said body.
33. The device of claim 30 wherein said pinion comprises a clutch bearing.
34. The device of claim 30 wherein said pinion comprises a one-way ratchet.
35. A method of attaching a residual limb socket to a lower limb prosthesis in which the residual limb socket is horizontally anteriorly offset from the lower limb prosthesis and the residual limb socket is posteriorly to anteriorly inclined relative to the lower limb prosthesis comprising:
providing a coupler device comprising a coupler body having a top mounting surface including an aperture and a bottom mounting surface and having an anterior area and a posterior area;
said top mounting surface connecting said top mounting surface to said residual limb socket at a defined location on said top mounting surface;
said bottom mounting surface being adapted to connect said bottom mounting surface to said lower limb prosthesis at a defined location on said bottom mounting surface;
mounting the residual limb socket to the top mounting surface of said coupler;
mounting the lower limb prosthesis to the bottom mounting surface of said coupler so that a longitudinal centerline of the residual limb socket is horizontally offset posteriorly from a longitudinal centerline of the lower limb prosthesis a distance in the range of from about 0.5 to about 4.0 inches and the residual limb socket is inclined at an angle in the range of from about 5\xb0 to about 20\xb0 from posterior to anterior relative to said lower limb prosthesis; and
disposing a locking mechanism having a toothed plunger including a pinion and a shaft within a transverse aperture of the coupler body;
inserting a pin comprising a shaft and a series of elevated rings along said shaft into the aperture on the top mounting surface;
intersecting said transverse aperture with said aperture of said top mounting surface when said pin is inserted; and
rotating said pinion such that the pinion mates with said elevated rings of said pin and said pin is drawn into said body or exits said body.
36. A coupler device for connecting a residual limb socket to a lower limb prosthesis comprising:
a coupler body including a top mounting surface comprising an aperture sized to receive an alignment pin and a bushing, and a bottom mounting surface,
said top mounting surface connecting said top mounting surface to a residual limb socket at a defined location on said top mounting surface;
said bottom mounting surface connecting said bottom mounting surface to said lower limb prosthesis at a defined location on said bottom mounting surface;
wherein said socket has a distal end and a proximal end and contains a sleeve having a distal end and a proximal end;
wherein said distal end of said sleeve houses a receptacle;
wherein said coupler body further comprises an aperture on the top mounting surface receiving an alignment pin and a bushing;
wherein said pin is sized for insertion into said receptacle, to pass through said aperture into said alignment bushing and pull said sleeve enclosed residuum into said socket and to further attach said sleeve to said coupler body; and
wherein said distal end of said socket further includes an attachment ring that has an inner side and a keyway and said pin passes through said keyway to attach said sleeve to said coupler body.