The present disclosure relates to the field of assist devices for donning apparels. In particular, the present disclosure relates to the field of assist devices for donning apparels such as pants, shorts, and the like.
Individuals with low mobility, either from old age or any other form of ailments typically find it difficult to put on apparels such as pants, shorts, and the like mainly because of the movement that is required in donning them. Such individuals typically need the help of a care-person to don the aforementioned apparels. As such, there is need for a device or an apparatus that can help such individuals to perform the task of putting on their clothes with complete independence.
Several designs for devices for assisting users in donning apparels have been designed in the past. None of them, however, include a device for aiding in in donning clothing comprising a pair of semi-cylindrical foot and shin covers, which are joined by a coupling member attached to the mid-point of each foot cover. The present invention functions through a simple operation which allows the user to don the apparel easily and quickly by allowing the user to insert their feet in a foot accommodating region and pulling the device from there, thus requiring minimal movement of the legs. Once the user has mounted their desired garments over the present invention. The user can then pull the present invention up towards their waist area to get dress. Upon doing so the user is assisted in getting dressed by the present invention without needing to preform otherwise uncomfortable body movements. Garments such as pants, underwear or shorts can be donned by the present invention.
Applicant believes that a related reference corresponds to U.S. Patent Publication No. US20100078450 filed by James E. Longhurst. The Longhurst reference discloses a device used for assisting a person in putting on pants. In its preferred embodiment the device is generally comprised of a non-flexible beam, a plurality of clips, two ropes and two handles. The beam has two ends and each rope is attached to each end of the beam. Each rope terminates at a soft, rubberized handle. The clips are attached to the beam in a downward facing manner by clip attachments. Clips then attach to the person's pair of pants for use. However, the device disclosed in the Lonhhurst reference fails to disclose feet accommodating region that allows a user to pull the device from there, thus requiring minimal movement of the legs while wearing the apparel.
Other documents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for assisting a user to don an apparel having a simple operation which allows the user to wear the apparel easily and quickly.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for assisting a user to don an apparel that allows the user to insert their feet in a feet accommodating region of the apparatus and pulling the device up from there, thus requiring minimal movement of the legs or body while getting dressed to wear the apparel.
Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing any limitations thereon.
With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring now to
Apparatus 10 comprises first brace element 12 and second brace element 14. First brace element 12 and second brace element 14 are connectable to each other wherein first brace element 12 and second brace element 14 form supports for installing a garment thereon for allowing a user to insert user's foot in the garment while the garment is held by first brace element 12 and second brace element 14.
First brace element 12 includes a first foot accommodating section 12A and second brace element 14 includes a second foot accommodating section 14A that defines a foot accommodating region. In an assembled configuration of apparatus 10, as seen in
First brace element 12 includes a first garment installation section and second brace element 14 include a second garment installation section 14B extending from each of first foot accommodating section 12A and second foot accommodating section 14A, respectively, for allowing a garment to be installed thereon, as seen in
First brace element 12 includes a first connector flange 12C and second brace element 14 includes a second connector flange 14C each having a plurality of openings configured thereon. The openings are further defined as first element openings 12D and second element openings 14D. More specifically, the first connector flange 12C and second connector flange 14C extend from first foot accommodating section 12A and second foot accommodating section 14A, respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Apparatus 10 further comprises a handle 16. Handle 16 is connectable to first brace element 12 and second brace elements 14 for pulling up first brace element 12 and second brace element 14 together, in an assembled configuration thereof. Resulting in having garment 20 being installed thereon, thereby assisting the user in donning garment 20. Handle 16 is an elongated element having a substantially L-shaped configuration. At an operative bottom end of handle 16, a fastener 16A is configured, wherein fastener fits into aligned first element openings 12D and second element openings 14D configured on of first brace element 12 and second brace element 14. In an embodiment, fastener 16A is a screw having thread formations configured thereon.
Apparatus 10 further comprises wing nut 18. Wing nut 18 is configured to fit onto fastener 16A. Fitment of wing nut 18 on fastener 16A, when fastener 16A is inserted in aligned first element opening 12D and second element opening 14D on first connector flange 12C and second connector flange 14C, facilitates assembly of first brace element 12 and second brace element 14 with handle 16.
In an embodiment, plurality of first element openings 12D and second element openings 14D on first connector flange 12C and second connector flange 14C, respectively, are aligned in accordance with a measurement of user's hips for facilitating the user to comfortably put on garment using apparatus. Referring to
It should be understood that first brace element 12 and second brace element 14 cover the shins of a person and as such may be shin covers. The portions that cover the feet and shins or more specifically, first brace element 12 and second brace element 14 of the person are coupled together by a coupling member such as first connector flange 12C and second connector flange 14C which attach to a mid-point of each of first foot accommodating section 12A and second foot accommodating section 14A or of first brace element 12 and second brace element 14.
The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4898309 | Fischer | Feb 1990 | A |
5630534 | Maier | May 1997 | A |
7070074 | Landsberger | Jul 2006 | B2 |
8215524 | Swisher | Jul 2012 | B1 |
8657165 | Liu | Feb 2014 | B1 |
9282840 | Moscato | Mar 2016 | B2 |
9445680 | Bean | Sep 2016 | B2 |
10292517 | Lawver | May 2019 | B1 |
20100078450 | Longhurst | Apr 2010 | A1 |
20170105561 | Cooper | Apr 2017 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2921552 | Apr 2009 | FR |