Sock stretcher

A sock stretcher comprising a plurality of hollow and generally cylindrical sleeves telescopically arranged within each other, the sleeves having progressively smaller outside diameters such that a second and next largest sleeve would have an outer diameter somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of a first and largest sleeve, the second sleeve having a radially outwardly directed lip at its upper end adapted to engage with a radially inwardly directed lip at the lower end of the first sleeve in which the second sleeve is received when the sleeves are moved towards an extended telescopic condition. A transverse support bar extends across the first sleeve adjacent the upper end thereof, and a second transverse supporting bar extends across the upper end of the smallest sleeve. A rotatable threaded shaft extends along the longitudinal central axes of the sleeves and threadedly engages a threaded hole at the center of the first transverse bar, the lower end of the threaded shaft being connected to the second bar for movement of the second bar with respect to the first bar, the threaded shaft being freely rotatable with respect to the second bar, and a handle at the upper end of the shaft for rotation of the shaft, whereby a damp sock can be placed over the sleeves in their retracted telescopic condition. The open end of the damp sock can be clamped to the upper end of the first sleeve, whereby, upon rotation of the shaft, the sleeves will move to their fully extended telescopic condition to stretch the damp sock.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a device for stretching socks and, more 
particularly, to a sock stretcher for stretching socks which go over a leg 
stump or arm stump which is inserted into an artificial leg or artificial 
arm. 
2. Prior Art 
When it becomes necessary to amputate an arm or a leg for any reason, 
oftentimes it is possible to leave a leg stump or arm stump which can be 
fitted into an artificial arm or leg sometimes referred to as a 
prosthesis. The prosthesis will have a cavity which conforms in size and 
shape to the size and shape of the stump. However, care must be taken to 
provide the proper lining between the stump and the prosthesis to prevent 
irritation of the stump. A woolen sock is customarily employed directly 
over the stump. The woolen sock used by the amputee is not the same as the 
conventional woolen sock worn over the normal foot; the woolen sock of the 
type referred to herein is much thicker than a conventional woolen sock 
and is also of a much finer weave. Additional cotton socks can be placed 
over the woolen sock for additional padding or lining, if desired. 
The amputee who will be wearing the prothesis described above will perspire 
during the normal course of events and the woolen sock will absorb 
perspiration from the stump. This means that the sock which covers the 
stump must be washed every day. This also means that the sock, being made 
of wool, will shrink unless steps are taken to prevent its shrinkage. The 
woolen sock of the type referred to herein, being thicker and of a finer 
weave than a conventional woolen sock is very difficult to stretch. After 
several washings, the woolen sock begins to become too small to use. 
Amputees have tried to stretch these socks over ice tea glasses and boards 
which are shaped to conform with the longitudinal cross-sectional shape of 
the sock, but, still, after twenty or thirty washings, the socks become 
unusable. Other attempts have been made to deal with this problem, but no 
satisfactory solution has been reached prior to the present invention. 
A preliminary patentability search was conducted on the present invention 
and the following listed United States patents were uncovered in the 
search. 
______________________________________ 
342,049 1,990,013 
3,103,302 
594,963 2,065,372 
3,273,765 
1,038,792 2,519,276 
3,471,068 
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None of the above patents are considered to be sufficiently pertinent as to 
require any comment. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention involves a sock stretcher for stretching a sock of 
the type normally worn over an arm stump or leg stump which is interfitted 
with an artificial prosthesis. The sock stretcher comprises three sleeves 
each in the form of a hollow cylinder, nested one within the other and 
disposed in a generally vertical direction. The sleeves can telescope from 
an extended telescopic condition to a retracted telescopic condition. The 
middle sleeve has an outer diameter somewhat smaller than the inner 
diameter of the outer sleeve. The middle sleeve has a circumferential lip 
at its upper end which extends radially outwardly towards the inner 
surface of the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve has a lip at its lower end 
which projects radially inwardly towards the outer surface of the middle 
sleeve. A similar lip arrangement is provided at the top of the inner 
sleeve and the bottom of the middle sleeve. The sleeves can telescope 
outwardly until the outwardly extending lips described above come into 
contact with the inwardly projecting lips on the adjacent outerlying 
sleeves. 
Movement of the sleeves to their extended telescopic condition, or to their 
retracted telescopic condition is effected by an alongated threaded shaft 
which is mounted along the vertical central axes of the sleeves. The 
outermost sleeve is provided with a transverse bar extending diametrically 
across this sleeve below the top thereof. The threaded shaft passes 
through a threaded hole in the center of this first transverse bar. A 
second transverse bar is mounted adjacent the top of the innermost sleeve. 
The lower end of the threaded shaft is connected to the second bar so as 
to be able to exert a force against the bar in both directions of 
movement, but the lower end of the threaded shaft is freely rotatable with 
respect to this second bar. A handle is provided at the upper end of the 
threaded shaft to permit the turning thereof. 
If it is desired to stretch a sock of the type referred to above with the 
sock stretcher of the present invention, the open end of the sock is 
inserted over the sleeves in their retracted telescopic condition. The 
open end of the sock will be adjacent the top of the outermost sleeve. The 
top of the sock will be secured to the top of the outermost sleeve by a 
suitable cicumferential clamp. Now the handle is turned to rotate the 
threaded shaft in a given rotary direction to move the sleeves towards 
their extended telescopic condition. After the sleeves have been extended 
to the requisite distance, the sock stretcher is put to one side so that 
the sock can dry thereon. After the sock has dried, the clamp is released 
and the sock is removed. Preferably, the sleeves are downwardly and 
inwardly tapered.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a sock stretcher 10 
comprising three generally cylindrical members or sleeves 12, 14, and 16. 
Although three such cylindrical members are shown, it should be understood 
that the sock stretcher of the present invention could be composed of two 
cylindrical members or more than three cylindrical members, if desired. 
The cylindrical members or sleeves are preferably made of durable plastic 
material and are hollow and open ended; they are somewhat tapered and 
telescopically slidable within each other. Thus, the sleeve 12 has an 
inner diameter which is larger than the outer diameter of the sleeve 14, 
and the inner diameter of the sleeve 14 is somewhat larger than the outer 
diameter of the sleeve 16. 
The lower end of the sleeve 12 is provided with a radially inwardly 
directed flange or lip 18 which is adapted to cooperate with a radially 
outwardly directed flange or lip 20 at the top of the sleeve 14. 
Similarly, the lower end of the sleeve 14 is provided with an inner lip or 
flange 22 which cooperates with an outwardly directed flange or lip 24 at 
the top of the sleeve 16. The upper end of the sleeve 12 is also provided 
with an outwardly projecting lip or flange 26 so that this cylinder can, 
if desired, cooperate with the lower lip of an even larger sleeve (not 
shown) in which the sleeve 12 could be slidably and telescopically 
received. 
The lower end 28 of the smallest sleeve 16 is shown as being closed over 
and rounded; however, it should be understood that the lower end of the 
sleeve 16 could also be provided with an inwardly directed flange or lip 
(not shown) similar to the lips 18 and 22, in the event that it was 
desired to use a further sleeve (not shown) smaller than the sleeve 16 and 
which would be slidably and telescopically received within the sleeve 16. 
Of course, in such a circumstance the lower end of the sleeve 16 would be 
open as is the case with the sleeves 12 and 14. 
In FIG. 1, the sleeves 12, 14, and 16 are shown essentially in their fully 
extended telescoping relationship; in FIG. 2 these same elements 12, 14, 
and 16 are shown in their fully retracted telescoping relationship. 
In order to move the elements from their respective positions shown in FIG. 
1 to the positions shown in FIG. 2, and vice versa, an elongated threaded 
shaft or rod 30 is mounted for rotation within the members 12, 14, and 16 
along their longitudinal central axes. The upper end of the threaded rod 
or shaft 30 (as it appears in FIG. 1) is threadedly received within a 
threaded hole 32 in a cylindrical bar or cross member 34. This cross 
member 34 is preferably made of nylon or other durable plastic material 
capable of receiving and maintaining a threaded opening therethrough. The 
ends of the cross member or bar 34 are connected to the sides of the 
sleeve 12 below the lip 26 such that the bar 34 extends diametrically or 
transversely across the sleeve 12. An L-shaped handle 36 is attached to 
the upper end of the threaded rod 30 to permit the turning thereof. 
The lower end of the threaded rod 30 (below the threaded portion thereof) 
is provided with a ball 38 of reduced diameter (with respect to the 
diameter of the threaded portion of the rod). The ball 38 is adapted to be 
received in a spherical recess 40 in a cylindrical cross member 42 which 
is similar to, but preferably smaller than, the cross member 34. The cross 
member 42 is connected to the sides of the lower sleeve 16 below the upper 
lip 24 thereof in essentially the same manner that the cross member 34 is 
connected to the sleeve 12. Both the cross members 34 and 42 can be glued 
or fused to the sides of their respective sleeves 12 and 16. 
In order to hold the ball 38 in the recess 40, the rod 30 is provided with 
an annular groove 44 immediately above the ball. An arcuate clip 46 is 
adapted to be received on the cross member 42 and is horizontally slidably 
thereon. As best shown in FIG. 1, this clip 46 engages the outer surface 
of the cross member 42 for more than 180.degree. so that it cannot be 
easily pulled off. Of course, the clip 46 will be sufficiently flexible 
that it can be forced onto the cross member 42 to snap into the position 
shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. As best shown in FIG. 3, the upper end of the 
clip 46 is provided with a horizontal slot 48 whose width is equal to the 
inner diameter of the annular groove or recess 44 above the ball 38. If it 
is desired to release the ball 38 from its engagement with the sperical 
recess 40 in the cross member 32, one can slide the clip 46 to the left 
(as it appears in FIG. 2) or upwardly (as it appears in FIG. 3) until the 
slot 48 is out of engagement with the recess 44 and so that the ball 38 
can clear the edge of the clip 46. 
Summarizing, the sleeves 12, 14, and 16 can be moved from their respective 
positions shown in FIG. 1 to their positions shown in FIG. 2, and vice 
versa, by merely turning the handle 36 and rotating the shaft 30 in a 
given rotary direction. Now, it if were desired to stretch a woolen sock 
of the type worn over the stub of an amputated leg or arm, for example, 
such a (damp) sock 50 (see also FIG. 4) would be placed over the device 10 
when the elements occupied their respective positions shown in FIG. 2. The 
upper open end of the sock would be secured or clamped to the upper end of 
the sleeve 12 by means of a clamp 52. This clamp 52 is shown as the 
conventional type of metal strap which is used for connecting the ends of 
hoses over pipes and which can be tightened simply by a screw driver. 
Obviously, any other type of suitable clamp could be employed, if desired. 
After the (damp) sock 50 is slipped over the elements shown in FIG. 2 and 
the clamp 52 is applied, the handle 36 can be rotated to move the sleeves 
12, 14, and 16 into their outwardly telescoped positions as shown in FIGS. 
1 and 4. The damp sock shown in FIG. 4 is now in its stretched condition 
and will be allowed to remain on the sock stretcher 10 in the FIG. 4 
position until the sock has dried, at which time it will be essentially 
the same size as a new sock. 
Although the cross member 34 has been described as being a solid 
cylindrical member preferably made of nylon, it is possible to use a 
hollow cylindrical cross member 34a as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In such a 
case, the threaded rod 30 would engage a nut 54 received on the rod 30 in 
the interior of the hollow cross member 34a. The nut 54 could be 
restrained from rotating by means of an elongated pin or rod 56 attached 
to one side of the nut 54 and extending longitudinally within the cross 
member 34a. 
Although the lower end of the threaded rod 50 was previously described in 
terms of a ball 38 which was received in a spherical recess 40 in the 
cross member 42, it is possible to employ a hollow cross member 42a as 
shown in FIG. 7. In such a case, the lower end of the threaded rod 30 
would simply extend through an opening on the upper side of the cross 
member 42 and through a washer 58 which would be received within the 
hollow portion of the cross member 42a. A cotter pin 60 would pass through 
a suitable transverse hole in the shaft 30 below the washer 58 to permit 
retracting of the lower sleeve 16. For the purposes of extension, a pair 
of lock nuts 62 are received on the shaft 30 immediately above the cross 
member 42a. The lower nut of the two lock nuts 62 constitutes a bearing 
surface which exerts a force on the cross member 42a to move the lower 
sleeve 16 towards its extended telescoping position. 
Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relation to 
the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and 
further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be 
made within the spirit and scope of this invention.