Abstract:
The present invention is an article for donning and removing hosiery whereby said article has a sock holding assembly arranged at an end distal from a user that holds a sock in an open position for donning and a grasper for removing a sock from upon a user.

Description:
INDEX TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a non-provisional of and claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/962,843 filed Nov. 18, 2013 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is common amongst persons who have various difficulties relating to dexterous and motile activities that the task of putting on and taking off hosiery is quite difficult. Although various articles are available to assist in this task, they most often do not perform as desired. The present invention addresses this task by providing a novel apparatus for assisting with the donning and removal of hosiery. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    As generally understood, the invention includes an adjustable length of an extension tube nested within the central cavity of a main body and a sock holding assembly that holds a sock opening in an open position such that a user can don a sock held in the assembly. 
         [0004]    In one embodiment, the present invention is a hosiery assist apparatus comprising; 
         [0005]    a main body having a central cavity; 
         [0006]    a telescoping member selectively extending and retracting from said main body cavity; 
         [0007]    a locking mechanism for fixing a distance of extension of said telescoping member from said main body cavity; 
         [0008]    a hosiery holding assembly including a pair of opposing hosiery holding arms and a tension pin to urge said arms outward one from another, said assembly constructed and arranged to hold open a sock foot entrance opening. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment the locking mechanism is a locking ball detent system. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment the holding arms define a region in which a foot is placed within said hosiery foot entrance opening. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment the apparatus further comprises an extendable and retractable grasper on said telescoping member. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment the apparatus further comprises an extendable and retractable grasper on said telescoping member whereby said extension and retraction is actuated with a trigger. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment the apparatus further comprises an extendable and retractable grasper on said telescoping member whereby said extension and retraction is actuated with a trigger positioned on a proximal end of said apparatus. 
         [0014]    Also contemplates is a method of donning hosiery, said method comprising the steps of: 
         [0015]    providing an apparatus according to any of the embodiments described herein; 
         [0016]    providing an article of hosiery having an entrance opening as is known whereby the opening is defined by a proximal entrance border; 
         [0017]    positioning said entrance opening about the perimeter of said holding assembly; 
         [0018]    placing one foot of a user into said hosiery positioned in said holding assembly; and 
         [0019]    moving said foot into said hosiery such that the foot is substantially within said hosiery. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment the method further comprises including actuating a retractable grasper and grasping said hosiery on a proximal end; utilizing said grasper to move said hosiery in a proximal direction in order to place said hosiery in a desired position on a user, whereby said desired position includes positioning said entrance of said hosiery between an ankle an knee of a user&#39;s leg. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of one embodiment according to the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a side plan view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of one embodiment according to the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross section side view of one embodiment of Prince of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view demonstrative of components of one about them in the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a close-up perspective view of the grasping assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view demonstrative of the article of the present invention holding a sock. 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view demonstrative of one embodiment of the present mention in position to remove a sock. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0030]    The present invention is a novel apparatus configured for the donning and removal of hosiery. As understood herein, hosiery includes, but is not limited to, all types of socks, stockings, leggings, knee highs, compression stockings, leg warmers, tights and the like. All hosiery, as is generally known and understood are formed with a foot opening that is defined and bordered by a generally circular rim of material on the proximal end. The distal end, in general, is closed and receives the foot once placed therein. 
         [0031]    In one embodiment, apparatus  200  includes handle  10  having incorporated there with trigger  12 . A first main body assembly  16  has a hollow interior cavity and a plurality of detent openings  14  along the surface, whereby each detent opening is constructed and arranged to receive a locking ball detent pin there through. First main body assembly  16  is connected to handle  10  with fastener  13 . A locking ball detent system, as is known, utilizes a spring urged detent pin  18  that, when mated with a corresponding detent opening  14 , causes a portion of detent pin  18  to protrude through detent opening  14 . As used in the present invention, detent pin  18  is affixed to extension  220  and is used to position a desired length of extension tube  20  from with in the inner cavity of first main body assembly  16 . Extension tube  20  further has incorporated thereon a grasper  22  having grip  24  on its terminal end. Grasper  22  is constructed and arranged to extend outward from extension tube  20  and subsequently retracted within the peripheral surface of extension tube  20  in channel  48 . Terminal end, as understood herein is the end not connected to extension tube  20 . 
         [0032]    Support arm  26  is connected to extension tube  20  on its proximal end. The distal end of support arm  26  has pivot arm  30  constructed and arranged with a proximal cavity through which pivot spring  60  passes there through whereby the rotational motion about pivot pin  60  is controlled by pivot lock  28 . In use, a user will adjust pivot lock  28  to provide for a fixed angular position when using the device of the present invention. 
         [0033]    Hosiery assembly  400  includes an upper holder  32  arm grips  36  holder grips  38  holder arm  42  and holder arm leg wall  46 . 
         [0034]    In one embodiment, trigger  20  is operatively associated with trigger springs  50  whereby cable  54  runs through the interior of each of the first main body assembly  16  and extension tube  20 . Cable  54  controls the extension of  22  at cable actuator  56 . In one embodiment, trigger  12  selectively controls extension of grasper  22 , retraction of grasper  22 , or each of extension and retraction. Grasper  22  is utilized to help pull the hosiery in a proximal direction, towards the user in order to position the uppermost portion, being the entrance in a desired position. Additionally, as desired, grasper  22  is utilized to grasp a sock  61  and move in a distal direction to remove the sock  61 . 
         [0035]    In use, sock  61  is positioned onto assembly  700  by engaging the opening of sock  61  on sock holder arm  42 . Each of stock arm grips  36 , stockholder grips  38  sock grip upper holder  32  and molded rubber surface of sock grip upper holder  34  fixed the sock into position such that a user passes barefoot through the opened sock  61  held on the assembly of the present invention. Torsion spring  58  provides tension to the assembly that urges sock  61  open in order for a user to insert their foot. 
         [0036]    Additionally, handle  10  has a trigger  12 . When pressed by a user, spool  52  is engaged that facilitates a smoother up and down motion as the device pulls, through cable  54 . Grasper  22  located at the bottom of the telescoping pipe  20  that engages the sock  61  for the user to take it out as demonstrated in system  600  and shown in  FIG. 9 . The trigger and the hook are each spring loaded and after trigger  12  is released, each of grasper  22  and trigger  12  to their initial position resting through urging pressure of two torsion springs ( 50 ) located inside the handle. 
         [0037]    The top part of the sleeve of the sock is folded over the device. Hooking the sleeve edges in the sox holder grips  36  and  32 . Those grips have over-molded rubber  38  and  34  for better grip. Sock  61  hangs through the inside on the sox holder arms  42 , that also have over-molded rubber  44  as seen in system  400  of  FIG. 7 . 
         [0038]    When the sock is on the device, the user, slide his/her foot in the sock. The sox holder arms opens  42  as seen in assembly  500  of  FIG. 8 , thanks to four torsion springs  58  located in the joint of the sox holder arms  4 ) and the pivot arm  30  as seen in  FIG. 7 . Creating a pivot point for the sox holder arms to open and close for more space and comfort for the user to put their foot into the sock  61  as seen in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0039]    While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.