Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is related to U.S. patent application No. 60/726,955 filed Oct. 14, 2005 entitled Stocking Aid Device, which is incorporated fully herein by reference. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to stockings and the like, and more particularly, relates to devices for facilitating putting on stockings especially for people with limited strength and/or mobility. 
   BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
   For people with limited strength and/or mobility, such as the elderly, the ability to dress independently is of prime concern. Often, many of these people find putting on stocking and socks, particularly compression and orthopedic stockings, very challenging in part due to their relatively remote location on the body. The problem is further compounded by the design of compression and orthopedic stockings which, by their nature, are very constrictive and difficult to spread over one&#39;s foot. 
   Accordingly, what is needed is a device that allows someone with limited strength and/or mobility to retain their ability to dress independently. The device should preferably facilitate putting on socks and stocking, especially compression and orthopedic stockings. It is important to note that the present invention is not intended to be limited to a system or method which must satisfy one or more of any stated objects or features of the invention. It is also important to note that the present invention is not limited to the preferred, exemplary, or primary embodiment(s) described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention is a novel device, system, and method for facilitating placement of footwear. An exemplary device may have a lower member, a handle, and a spreader. The lower member may have a first side and a second side. The first side and second side are sized to fit within footwear when the lower member is in a retracted position. The handle may be coupled to the lower member and sized to allow a user to position the lower member when the user is in a seated position. The spreader for moving the first side and the second side from a retracted position to a extended position wherein the first side and second side are sided to receive a foot of a user in the extended position. 
   Exemplary embodiments may have one or more of the following features. According to one exemplary embodiment, the first side and second side of the lower portion may be separated in the extended position to allow the foot of the user to fit between as the footwear is positioned on the foot. In another embodiment, the spreader may have a removable handle sized to allow the user in a seated position to turn the handle of the spreader. In another embodiment, the spreader may have a motor for turning a gear screw coupling the first side and second side of the spreader. The first side and second side may each have a heel bend configured to prevent slipping of the footwear from the lower portion. In another embodiment, the gear screw may have one or more stops to prevent over expansion or over retraction. 
   It is important to note that the present invention is not intended to be limited to a system or method which must satisfy one or more of any stated objects or features of the invention. It is also important to note that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary or primary embodiments described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a front plan view of one embodiment of the stocking aid device according to the present invention in the retracted position; 
       FIG. 2  is a front plan view of one embodiment of the stocking aid device according to the present invention in the expanded position; 
       FIG. 3  is an end plan view of one embodiment of the stocking aid device according to the present invention in the retracted position; 
       FIG. 4  is an end plan view of one embodiment of the stocking aid device according to the present invention in the expanded position; and 
       FIG. 5  is a front plan view of another embodiment of the stocking aid device having an additional handle according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   According to one embodiment, the present invention features a stocking aid device  10 ,  FIG. 1 , which facilitates putting on a sock or stocking, especially for someone with limited strength and/or mobility. The stocking aid device  10  includes a handle region  11 , a sock retainer  13 , and a spreader  22 . As will be explained in greater detail hereinbelow, a sock is inserted over the sock retainer  13  while in a retracted position as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The sock retainer  13  is expanded as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4  using the spreader  22  which causes the sock to be stretched open. Using the handle region  11 , the user slips the expanded sock over their foot. The spreader  22  expands the sock retainer  13  (and consequently the sock) sufficiently such that the sock exerts minimal resistance when the user slips it over their foot. 
   The handle region  11  preferably includes two handles  12  each disposed proximate a first end  15  of an elongated vertical member  14 . The handles  12  optionally include a gripping area (such as neoprene or a soft, mold material, rubberized coating). The handle region  11  is preferably long enough such that the user to can hold the handles  12  while putting the sock on over their foot with minimal bending. Optionally, the stocking aid device  10  may also feature one or more additional handles  76  disposed proximate the stock retainer  13  which provides another grasping point that further aids and facilitates the gripping of the stocking aid device  10 . In the preferred embodiment, the additional handles  76  feature a single handle  76  extending outwardly from the pivot  65  and away from handle region  11 . 
   The sock retainer  13  is preferably connected to the handle region  11  and includes a first and a second side  21 ,  23  that are substantially mirror images of each other and which are sized and shaped to accept at least a potion of a sock. As will be explained in greater detail hereinbelow, the first and second sides  21 ,  23  are expanded and retracted by the spreader  22  to facilitate putting on a sock over a user&#39;s foot. The handle region  11  and sock retainer  13  may be constructed of a metal alloy, plastic or composite. In an exemplary embodiment, the stocking aid device  10  may be made with a tubular aluminum alloy. 
   Each side  21 ,  23  of the sock retainer  13  includes a heel region  24  disposed between the second ends  17  of the elongated vertical members  14  of the handles  12  and the lower substantially horizontal member  16  of the sock retainer  13 . A flared region  20  connects the lower substantially horizontal member  16  to the upper substantially member  18 . The flared region  20  preferably includes a generally “U” shaped area that flares outward and away from the longitudinal axis A of the upper and lower substantially horizontal members  16 ,  18  while in the retracted position. 
   With the stocking aid device  10  in the retracted position as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the opening of the sock is inserted over the flared region  20  and the lower and upper substantially horizontal members  16 ,  18  of the sock retainer  13  such that substantially only the toe portion of the sock is disposed around the flared region  20 . The flared region  20  spreads the sock in the toe region thereby accommodating a wide variety of foot and toe shapes including bunions or other sensitive foot and toe disfigurements. The bottom half of the sock is pulled along the length of the lower horizontal member  16  until the heel and ankle portions of the sock are disposed about the heel region  24  of the sock retainer  13 . As best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the heel region  24  of the sock retainer  13  forms a lip  30  that is sized and shaped to engage the heel portion of the sock and prevent the sock from accidentally slipping off the sock retainer  13 . The top half of the sock is pulled along the length of the upper horizontal member  18  such that ankle portion of the sock is proximate a second end  31  of the upper horizontal member  18 . 
   Once the sock has been placed over the sock retainer  13 , the spreader  22  is used to move the sock retainer  13  from the retracted position as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3  to the extended position as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . The spreader  22  preferably moves the first and second side  21 ,  23  of the sock retainer  13  generally outwardly and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A of the upper and lower substantially horizontal members  16 ,  18 . 
   The spreader  22  includes any device or mechanism for altering the distance between the first and second side  21 ,  23  of the sock retainer  13 . In the preferred embodiment, the spreader  22  includes a screw gear or the like  41 . The screw gear  41  includes a threaded rod  43  disposed through a first aperture  45  and at least a second aperture  47  proximate the second ends  31  of the upper substantially horizontal members  18 . In the preferred embodiment, the second aperture  47  is internally threaded and engages the threads of the threaded rod  43 . Alternatively, the first aperture  45  could be threaded. 
   To expand the stocking aid device  10 , the threaded rod  43  is rotated using a hand crank  50 , electric motor (for example, but not limited to, a battery operated drill  60  or the like as shown in  FIG. 4 ), or any other device known to those skilled in the art. As the threaded rod  43  is rotated, the threads of the threaded rod  43  engage the internal threads of the second aperture  47  thereby causing the second aperture  47  (and consequently the first and second sides  21 ,  23  of the sock retainer  13 ) to move along the longitudinal axis B of the threaded rod  43 . The treaded rod  43  may also incorporate stop points to prevent the over expanding or over retracting of the stocking aid device  10 , for example, a locking bolt configuration (not shown) may be used to prevent the threaded rod&#39;s  43  movement through the second aperture  47 . The hand crank  50  may be permanently coupled to the thread rod  43  or may be removably coupled to the thread rod  43 . 
   In the preferred embodiment, the spreader  22  also includes a pivot  65 . Referring specifically to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , in the retracted position the lower horizontal members  16  are in very close proximity to each other while the upper horizontal members  18  are slightly spread apart. As the stocking aid device  10  is moved from the retracted position ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ) to the extended position ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ), the pivot  65  causes the lower horizontal member  16  to move outwardly more than the upper horizontal members  18 . This creates a larger opening for the user. Additionally, the apertures  45 ,  47  pivot to adjust the changing geometry of the handles  12 ,  14  as they pivot about the pivot  65 . 
   While the spreader  22  has been described as a screw gear  41 , those skilled in the art will recognize that other devices for causing the first and second sides  21 ,  23  of the sock retainer  13  to expand and retract are possible and the present invention is not limited to just this arrangement unless otherwise specifically claimed as such. 
   As mentioned above, the present invention is not intended to be limited to a system or method which must satisfy one or more of any stated or implied object or feature of the invention and should not be limited to the preferred, exemplary, or primary embodiment(s) described herein. The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as is suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 1