Patent Publication Number: US-8528796-B1

Title: Sock donning appliance

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to sock donning devices and more particularly pertains to a new sock donning device for allowing a person to put on a sock with minimal physical exertion or bending. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a pole having a top end and a bottom end. A plate is coupled to the bottom end of the pole. A support bracket is coupled to the pole and has opposed side portions whereby the support bracket is configured for holding a top end of a sock in an open position. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top front side perspective view of a sock donning appliance according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a top front side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new sock donning device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the sock donning appliance  10  generally comprises a telescopic pole  12  having a top end  14  and a bottom end  16 . A grip  36  may be coupled to the top end  14  of the pole  12 . A push button  20  may be positioned proximate the top end  14  of the pole  12  to facilitate manipulation of the push button  20  by a person grasping the pole  12 . The push button  20  may be operationally coupled to a release mechanism that permits expansion or contraction of the pole  12  using conventionally known structure for selectively locking a telescopic pole such as the pole  12  into a desired length. 
     A plate  18  is pivotally coupled to the bottom end  16  of the pole  12 . The plate  18  provides a broad base and frictional engagement to a supporting surface  24  preventing slippage of the appliance  10  during use. A support bracket  22  is coupled to the pole  12 . The support bracket  22  has opposed side portions  26 , 28  whereby the support bracket  22  is configured for holding a top end  30  of a sock  32  in an open position  34 . The side portions  26 , 28  of the support bracket  22  include a static side portion  26  relative to the pole  12  and a movable side portion  28  relative to the pole  12 . The movable side portion  28  is slidably inserted into the static side portion  26 . A set screw  38  is coupled to the static side portion  26  of the support bracket  22 . The set screw  38  engages the movable side portion  28  to hold the movable side portion  28  in a static position relative to the static side portion  26 . 
     A connection bracket  40  is coupled to and extends between the pole  12  and the static side portion  26  of the support bracket  22 . The connection bracket  40  is L-shaped having a distal arm  42  relative to the pole  12  and a proximal arm  44  relative to the pole  12 . The distal arm  42  couples to a bottom side  64  of the static side portion  26  of the support bracket  22 . Thus, the proximal arm  44  of the connection bracket  40  relative to the pole  12  is positioned in vertically spaced relationship to the support bracket  22  to prevent interference with the top end  30  of the sock  32 . A clip  46 , or a pair of clips  46 , is removably coupled to the support bracket  22 . Each clip  46  is configured for coupling the sock  32  to the support bracket  22 . A tether line  48  may be employed to couple to and extend between the clip  46  and the support bracket  22 . 
     In use, the support bracket  22  is adjusted to the desired size and spacing for the individual user. The set screw  38  is tightened to hold the support bracket  22  in the desired position. The sock  32  is then positioned on the support bracket  22  and the clips  46  are used to hold the sock  32  in the open position  34 . The pole  12  may be adjusted to a desired length. The plate  18  is positioned on the supporting surface  24  to hold the bottom end  16  in place. The user may then insert a foot  66  through the top end  30  of the sock  32  and pivot the pole  12  as desired to facilitate insertion of the foot  66  into the sock  32 . When the foot  66  is fully inserted into the sock  32  the clips  46  are removed. The clips  46  may be immediately released without fear of losing the clips  46  because the clips  46  are secured to the support bracket  22  by tether lines  48 . The appliance  10  may be used again for a second sock or may be stored until needed again. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.