Apparatus for assisting a user to wear an apparel

A system for an apparatus for assisting a user in donning an apparel is disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises a first brace element and a second brace element that is connectable to the first brace element. These supports allow for mounting a garment thereon for allowing a user to insert their feet through a garment foot opening while the garment is held by the first brace element and the second brace element. A handle is mounted to the brace elements and is used for pulling up the brace elements having the garment installed thereon, thereby assisting the user in getting dressed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to the field of assist devices for donning apparels. In particular, the present disclosure relates to the field of assist devices for donning apparels such as pants, shorts, and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

Individuals with low mobility, either from old age or any other form of ailments typically find it difficult to put on apparels such as pants, shorts, and the like mainly because of the movement that is required in donning them. Such individuals typically need the help of a care-person to don the aforementioned apparels. As such, there is need for a device or an apparatus that can help such individuals to perform the task of putting on their clothes with complete independence.

Several designs for devices for assisting users in donning apparels have been designed in the past. None of them, however, include a device for aiding in in donning clothing comprising a pair of semi-cylindrical foot and shin covers, which are joined by a coupling member attached to the mid-point of each foot cover. The present invention functions through a simple operation which allows the user to don the apparel easily and quickly by allowing the user to insert their feet in a foot accommodating region and pulling the device from there, thus requiring minimal movement of the legs. Once the user has mounted their desired garments over the present invention. The user can then pull the present invention up towards their waist area to get dress. Upon doing so the user is assisted in getting dressed by the present invention without needing to preform otherwise uncomfortable body movements. Garments such as pants, underwear or shorts can be donned by the present invention.

Applicant believes that a related reference corresponds to U.S. Patent Publication No. US20100078450 filed by James E. Longhurst. The Longhurst reference discloses a device used for assisting a person in putting on pants. In its preferred embodiment the device is generally comprised of a non-flexible beam, a plurality of clips, two ropes and two handles. The beam has two ends and each rope is attached to each end of the beam. Each rope terminates at a soft, rubberized handle. The clips are attached to the beam in a downward facing manner by clip attachments. Clips then attach to the person's pair of pants for use. However, the device disclosed in the Lonhhurst reference fails to disclose feet accommodating region that allows a user to pull the device from there, thus requiring minimal movement of the legs while wearing the apparel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for assisting a user to don an apparel having a simple operation which allows the user to wear the apparel easily and quickly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for assisting a user to don an apparel that allows the user to insert their feet in a feet accommodating region of the apparatus and pulling the device up from there, thus requiring minimal movement of the legs or body while getting dressed to wear the apparel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now toFIGS. 1 through 5, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral10, it can be observed that an apparatus for assisting in donning apparels10, hereinafter referred to as apparatus10, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, comprises a first brace element12, a second brace element14connectable to first brace element12, a handle16connectable to first brace element12and second brace element14, and a wing nut18for assembling first brace element12and second brace element14with handle16.

Apparatus10comprises first brace element12and second brace element14. First brace element12and second brace element14are connectable to each other wherein first brace element12and second brace element14form supports for installing a garment thereon for allowing a user to insert user's foot in the garment while the garment is held by first brace element12and second brace element14.

First brace element12includes a first foot accommodating section12A and second brace element14includes a second foot accommodating section14A that defines a foot accommodating region. In an assembled configuration of apparatus10, as seen inFIG. 1, first foot accommodating section12A and second foot accommodating section14A define an area in which the user can insert his or her feet. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, first foot accommodating section12A and second foot accommodating section14A each have a semicircular cross section. However, it is to be noted that first foot accommodating section12A and second foot accommodating section14A are not limited to having a semi-circular cross section, and can have any other cross section that allows user's feet to be optimally inserted into the foot accommodation area defined by the foot accommodating sections.

First brace element12includes a first garment installation section and second brace element14include a second garment installation section14B extending from each of first foot accommodating section12A and second foot accommodating section14A, respectively, for allowing a garment to be installed thereon, as seen inFIG. 5. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, each of first garment installation section12B and second garment installation section14B each have a rectangular cross section. However, it is to be noted that first garment installation sections12B and second garment installation section14B are not limited to having a rectangular cross section and can have any other cross section that allows user's garment to be supported thereon.

First brace element12includes a first connector flange12C and second brace element14includes a second connector flange14C each having a plurality of openings configured thereon. The openings are further defined as first element openings12D and second element openings14D. More specifically, the first connector flange12C and second connector flange14C extend from first foot accommodating section12A and second foot accommodating section14A, respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Apparatus10further comprises a handle16. Handle16is connectable to first brace element12and second brace elements14for pulling up first brace element12and second brace element14together, in an assembled configuration thereof. Resulting in having garment20being installed thereon, thereby assisting the user in donning garment20. Handle16is an elongated element having a substantially L-shaped configuration. At an operative bottom end of handle16, a fastener16A is configured, wherein fastener fits into aligned first element openings12D and second element openings14D configured on of first brace element12and second brace element14. In an embodiment, fastener16A is a screw having thread formations configured thereon.

Apparatus10further comprises wing nut18. Wing nut18is configured to fit onto fastener16A. Fitment of wing nut18on fastener16A, when fastener16A is inserted in aligned first element opening12D and second element opening14D on first connector flange12C and second connector flange14C, facilitates assembly of first brace element12and second brace element14with handle16.

In an embodiment, plurality of first element openings12D and second element openings14D on first connector flange12C and second connector flange14C, respectively, are aligned in accordance with a measurement of user's hips for facilitating the user to comfortably put on garment using apparatus. Referring toFIG. 5, garment20is fitted on first garment installation section12B and second garment installation section14B. Once garment20is installed on first garment installation section12B and second garment installation section14B, the user can then insert their feet into the space defined between garment20and first garment installation section12B and second garment installation section14B. The user's feet can be then pushed thereinto until they reach first foot accommodating section12A and second foot accommodating section14A, subsequent to which handle16is used to pull garment20up to fit on the user's hips. Thereby resulting in aiding a user in donning apparels without the need to be very mobile due to various circumstances. Additionally, it can be seen that first brace element12includes a first element support12E and second element14includes a second element support14E. First element support12E and second element support14E are mounted at a lower section of the respective element. First element support12E and second element support14E aid in maintaining the present invention stable when on a ground surface. First element support12E and second element support14E help to make donning clothing even easier and secure for users.

It should be understood that first brace element12and second brace element14cover the shins of a person and as such may be shin covers. The portions that cover the feet and shins or more specifically, first brace element12and second brace element14of the person are coupled together by a coupling member such as first connector flange12C and second connector flange14C which attach to a mid-point of each of first foot accommodating section12A and second foot accommodating section14A or of first brace element12and second brace element14.