Device to facilitate the act of putting on hosiery

Abstract: Device (1) to help an elderly or disabled person to put on hosiery, wherein it comprises: hollow means (2) of tubular shape and having hole (2a) which allows insertion and admission of the end of the lower limb; hole (2a) has an outer edge (2b) which allows an item of hosiery to be slipped over it and slid axially along the outside of tubular means (2) ; means (5, 6, 7) capable of varying the dimensions of hole (2a); means (5) capable of rotating tubular means (2) around longitudinal axis (K-K); support means (8) for holding up device (1).

Description: This invention relates to the field of devices which can be used to help an elderly, feeble or disabled person perform simple tasks such as putting on clothing, tasks essential to daily life. In particular, the device which is the object of this invention is designed to help an elderly, feeble or disabled person put on any type of hosiery, including elasticized hosiery or therapeutic hosiery. Such a device in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 is known from DE 43 15 338 A. Putting on hosiery is especially difficult for these individuals because of the movements required to perform the act, which necessarily include a deep flexing of the torso and bending of the lower limbs so that all the joints are on the same level, not to mention the fact that in the case of elastic hose, considerable physical effort is required. To assist individuals in need, the inventor of this invention has designed a device which makes it possible to put on hosiery while making only those movements which are easy for the majority of individuals, including those with congenital or noncongenital temporary or permanent disabilities. The device according to the invention is characterized by the hollow means having an essentially tubular shape and by comprising means capable of varying the dimensions of said hole within predetermined limits. Preferred features of the device are set out in the dependent claims. A more detailed description will hereby be given of several embodiments of the invention and its method of use, with reference to the attached diagrams which represent the following: Figure 1 shows a lateral view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in rest position; Figure 2 shows a lateral view of a situation in which the entrance hole of the hollow means is dilated to allow insertion of a lower limb; Figures 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E are lateral views of only that part of the hollow means which includes the hole, at four successive moments during use of the device; Figure 4 shows a front view of another embodiment of the device in rest position; Figure 5 shows the same view as Fig. 4, but in another embodiment, with the hole of the hollow means dilated to allow insertion of a lower limb. Figure 1 shows one preferred embodiment of the invention, which comprises support 8 with triangular cross-section located below and mounted on rotating bodies 9 such as wheels or the like. Attached to support 8 is stirrup 10 and curved guide 7. Stirrup 10 is hinged at point A of support 8, at the vertex of the triangle formed by said support, thereby being supported while freely rotating. Also hinged to stirrup 10 at predetermined points B and C located at their median zones there are two symmetrical mirrored parts 2', 2" which are two halves facing one another, forming a hollow casing 2 of tubular shape. Each of these two halves 2', 2" has at one end a part with semicircular edge so that by bringing the two together to face one another, a more or less circular hole 2a is formed having edge 2b. At the other end, these two halves 2', 2" are connected via jointed elements (arms) 13 to member 6 which acts more or less like a strut and which is inserted into device 1 in such a way as to be able to slide along longitudinal axis K-K of casing 2 formed by the two halves 2', 2". Aforementioned curved guide 7 is removed from and/or connected to support 8 of device 1 in such a way that its center of curvature 0 does not coincide with point A through which the hinge axis of said stirrup 10 passes. Consequently, using any one, but preferably two levers 5 with grip, stirrup 10 can be made to rotate in the clockwise direction as shown by arrow F in Fig. 1, with member 6 sliding along guide 7 and consequently also sliding along longitudinal axis K-K of casing 2, thereby causing the two halves forming this casing to rotate twice in the opposite direction around their hinge points B, C, with the result that their ends connected to member 6 come together, and the opposite ends which form hole 2a of casing 2 are drawn away from one another, consequently dilating hole 2a to a predetermined size as shown in Fig. 2. The inventor intends the mechanical operation described above to be executed in the following way, which is also illustrated in Figs. 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E: with the device in a rest position, that is, with hollow casing 2 in a vertical position as shown in Fig. 1, the garment 14 -- whether a sock or elastic stocking or whatever it may be -- is put on, turning it up around edge 2b of hole 2a, which in this position is small, and sliding it, still turned up, along the outer walls of casing 2 in the direction of arrow E as per Figs. 3 and 3A, until closed end 14a of garment 14 -- stretched to its full length -- blocks hole 2a (as per Fig. 3A). If casing 2 is rotated in a clockwise direction by working lever 5, hole 2a can be dilated until it reaches a size which will allow insertion of the end of the lower limb (that is, the foot, ankle and possibly part of the calf) into casing 2 (Fig. 3B). By inserting limb 3 and exerting pressure on end 14a of garment 14 which is blocking hole 2a, then this part can be axially pulled into casing 2, causing the edges of the garment which have been slipped around casing 2 to slide outward (see arrow H in Figs. 3C and 3D) and then, after limb 3 is inserted in a particular way, the garment can be put on over this limb (Fig. 3E) without having to flex the torso and without having to assume positions which are ergonomically uncomfortable for an elderly or disabled person. This embodiment as described and diagrammed is a preferred embodiment: other embodiments are possible by modifying the shape and/or operation of the parts which comprise device 1. For example, Figs. 4 and 5 show another two embodiments conceived by the inventor: hole 2a can be dilated using a series of compound levers 16, 17 connected to lever 15, and in the second case, with a system of rotating levers 5 and cams 19. Rotation of the levers is shown by arrow P; levers 5 and 15 can also be made in such a way as to telescopically extend and retract, to occupy a minimum amount of space when the device is not in use. The inventor suggests that for edge 2b of hole 2a, the outer surface of hollow casing 2 be made with materials having a low coefficient of friction so as to enable the material composing stocking 14 or other garment to slide easily along the casing when device 1 is in use. To avoid puncturing garment 14 on the corners of the ends of the semicircular edges of two halves 2', 2" of casing 2, the inventor designed it so that two halves 2', 2" can be smoothly connected using two parts of flexible tubing 18 (Fig. 5) threaded on over top of them and made for example of synthetic resin with a low coefficient of friction, joining the two facing ends of the edges of these two halves. Thus no matter how dilated hole 2a is, edge 2b remains closed while the hosiery is easily slid along. It is not necessary for casing 2, when its two halves 2', 2" are facing one another, to be completely closed on the sides; but it is advisable that, as in the scenarios represented, the casing have enough empty space on the sides to allow easy movement of the limb and to allow the ends of the two halves of edge 2b to be connected as described. Obviously, there are a great number of other embodiments conceivable which would not depart from the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims: Device (1) to help an elderly, feeble or disabled person to put on hosiery (14), comprising: hollow means (2) having a hole (2a) which hollow means (2) allows along its longitudinal axis (K-K) insertion and admission of the end of the lower limb (3) up to a predetermined distance, said hole (2a) having an outside edge (2b) which allows an item of hosiery (4) to be put on around it and slid axially along the outside of the hollow means (2) up to a desired length; means (5, 15) capable of rotating said hollow means (2) around an axis perpendicular to its longitudinal axis (K-K); support means (8) for holding up the device (1); characterized by said hollow means (2) having an essentially tubular shape and by comprising means (5, 6, 7, 15, 16, 17, 19) capable of varying the dimensions of the hole (2a) within predetermined limits. Device according to claim 1, wherein said means (5, 6, 7) capable of varying the dimensions of the hole (2a) is also capable of simultaneously rotating the hollow means (2). Device according to claim 2, wherein said support means (8) is mounted on rotating elements (9); and wherein said hollow means (2) comprises two halves (2', 2") facing one another and each hinged in its median zone on a stirrup (10) rotatably connected to the support means (8), each halve (2',2") having at one end a semicircular edge and being connected at the other end via a jointed element (13) to a member (6) capable of sliding along the longitudinal axis (K-K) of the hollow means (2); and comprising a curved guide (7), having center of curvature (0) which does not coincide with the hinge point (A) of the stirrup (10) on the support means (8), and along which slides an outer end (6e) of said member (6) which is slidable axially in the hollow means (2); and at least one lever (5, 15) which is grippable and connectable to the hollow means (2) in such a way as to make it rotate around its hinge point (A) on the support means (8). Device according to claim 3, wherein said lever (5, 15) is extendable and retractable telescopically. Device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the two semicircular edges forming the outside edge (2b) of the hole (2a) are smoothly connected via two parts of flexible tube (18) each of which is applied in such a way as to connect the two facing ends of the two semicircular edges.

Inventors: RODA-BALZARINI EMILIO, RODA-BALZARINI, EMILIO
Applicants: RODA BALZARINI EMILIO, RODA-BALZARINI, EMILIO
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A47G25
IPC codes: A47G25, A61G12