DEVICES AND METHODS FOR ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS WHEN DONNING AND REMOVING SOCKS

Devices and methods for assisting individuals when attempting to don or remove a sock, shoe, or other garment from their lower extremities. Such a device includes a base having a longitudinal central section, two flanges along oppositely-disposed longitudinal sides of the central section, and oppositely-disposed distal and proximal ends. The central section and the flanges define a trough that is open at the distal and proximal ends and along a longitudinal side of the base opposite the central section. A handle is coupled to and extends from the base. The handle is rigid and comprises arms attached to the base and a crossmember that connects the arms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to devices for assisting individuals with limited flexibility or dexterity. The invention particularly relates to a device for assisting an individual when donning or removing a sock, shoe, or other garment from their feet.

Individuals with limited flexibility or dexterity may experience difficulties when leaning forward or bending to the side to don or remove a sock, shoe, or other garment from their lower extremities, such as their feet. While various devices have been produced to address these issues, there is an ongoing demand for improved devices capable of assisting individuals in these activities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides devices suitable for assisting individuals with limited flexibility or dexterity when attempting to don or remove a sock, shoe, or other garment from their lower extremities.

According to one aspect of the invention, such devices include a base comprising a longitudinal central section, two flanges along oppositely-disposed longitudinal sides of the central section, and oppositely-disposed distal and proximal ends. The central section and the flanges define a trough that is open at the distal and proximal ends and along a longitudinal side of the base opposite the central section. A handle is coupled to and extends from the base. The handle is rigid and comprises arms attached to the base and a crossmember that connects the arms.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of using the device described above includes placing the sock over the base by inserting the distal end of the base through an opening of the sock, continuing until the sock covers at least a portion of the base, the opening of the sock is near the proximal end of the base, a toe of the sock is near the distal end of the base, and the sock encloses at least a portion of the trough formed by the central section and flanges of the base, donning the sock by inserting a foot of the individual through the opening of the sock near the proximal end of the base and, while the sock and the opening thereof are held open by the central section and the flanges of the base, passing the foot through the opening of the sock and through the trough formed by the central section and flanges of the base until the sock is fully on the foot, and the removing the base from between the sock and the individual so that the sock remains on the foot.

Technical effects of devices as described above preferably include the capability of assisting individuals when donning and removing socks, shoes, and other garments from their feet.

Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be appreciated from the following detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 3represent a nonlimiting embodiment of a device10for assisting an individual when donning or removing a sock, shoe, or other garment from their foot. The device10generally includes a base12, a handle14, and an optional stand16. The base12has a scoop-like shape with a longitudinal central section18, two side flanges20along longitudinal sides of the central section18, a distal end22opposite the handle14, and a proximal end24adjoining the handle14. The central section18and flanges20define a trough or channel that is open at the distal and proximal ends22and24and along the longitudinal side of the base12opposite the central section18. Arms26of the handle14are shown attached each flange20of the base12, with a lower crossmember28of the handle14secured beneath an upstanding flange30of the stand16.

During use, a sock (not shown) may be placed over the base12by inserting the distal end22through the opening of the sock, and continuing until the sock covers at least a portion and more preferably most of the base12, the opening of the sock is near the proximal end24of the base12, and the toe of the sock is near the distal end22of the base12. In so doing, the sock also encloses at least a portion of the trough formed by the central section18and flanges20of the base12. Thereafter, an individual may don the sock while it is installed on the base12by inserting their foot through the opening of the sock near the proximal end24of the base12, and while the sock and its opening are held open by the central section18and flanges20of the base12. In this process, the individual's foot passes through the opening of the sock and through the trough formed by the central section18and flanges20of the base12until the sock is fully on their foot, after which the base12can be removed from between the sock and the individual's leg so that the sock remains on their foot. Although the invention will be described hereinafter in reference to donning a sock with the device10shown in the drawings, it will be appreciated that the teachings of the invention are more generally applicable to other types of applications, such as, but not limited to, devices for donning shoes and other garments adapted to be placed on or around an individual's leg or foot.

The drawings represent the base12of the device10as formed by multiple adjacent planar portions that form the central section18and flanges20, although other configurations are foreseeable. Preferably, the base12is tapered and sized such that the size of the opening of a sock installed on the base12is determined by the location of the sock on the base12. For example, the device10ofFIGS. 1 through 3is configured such that the opening of a sock has an initial opening size when the sock surrounds the distal end22of the base12and, as the sock is moved along the base12from the distal end22toward the proximal end24, the size of the opening of the sock gradually increases to an opening size that is greater than its initial opening size. In the embodiment shown, this gradual increase in the size of the opening is achieved by an increase in the widths of each of the central section18and flanges20of the base12.

As noted previously, the handle14comprises two arms26that are attached to the flanges20of the base12at the proximal end24. The crossmember28of the handle14can be employed as a grip portion connecting the two extension arms at ends thereof opposite the base12. The arms26are preferably attached to the oppositely disposed flanges20of the base12in order to not create an obstruction to the opening of the trough at the proximal end24of the base12, as well as promote an even distribution of the weight of the base12on the handle14. It is foreseeable that the handle14and the base12may be integral components, or separate individual components coupled by any suitable means, such as but not limited to welding or fasteners.

During use, the handle14provides an individual with an extended reach such that the base12and a sock located thereon may be placed near their foot with less bending and/or leaning than would otherwise be necessary. Preferably, the handle14is a rigid body in order to promote ease of control when donning a sock with the device10. The crossmember28of the handle14may be oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis of the base12, the arms26, and/or the opening of a sock during use of the device10to further promote ease of use. As shown by the embodiment in the drawings, the flanges20of the base12have rounded or chamfered edges adjacent the distal and proximal ends of the base12to reduce the likelihood of damage to the sock and/or injury or discomfort to the individual during use.

If included, the stand16is preferably capable of removably coupling with handle14and holding the base12in an upright position (relative to a surface such as ground or a floor) in order to allow an individual to pick up the device10with limited bending or leaning.FIG. 1represents the stand16as including a base32to which the upstanding flange30is attached to define a cavity therebetween that is sized and configured to removably receive and hold the crossmember28of the handle14.

While the invention has been described in terms of a particular embodiment, it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the configuration of the device10and its components could differ from that shown, and various materials and processes could be used to produce the device10and its components. As such, it should be understood that the above detailed description is intended to describe the particular embodiment represented in the drawings and certain but not necessarily all features and aspects thereof, and to identify certain but not necessarily all alternatives to the represented embodiments and described features and aspects thereof. As a nonlimiting example, the invention encompasses additional or alternative embodiments in which one or more features or aspects of the disclosed embodiment could be eliminated. Accordingly, it should be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to any embodiment described herein or illustrated in the drawings, and that the purpose of the above detailed description and the phraseology and terminology employed therein is to describe the illustrated embodiment, and not necessarily to serve as limitations to the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.