1. Technical Field
The invention generally relates to devices for the removal, retrieval and/or donning of footwear. Specifically, the invention provides a device for donning footwear. The device can assist, for example, in donning a sock or a shoe. Additionally, the device can be configured to further assist in removing and retrieving footwear.
2. Background Art
Many people have a varying lack of mobility. As a result, the donning, removal and retrieval of a sock, a shoe, and other footwear become difficult tasks to perform.
Several devices are available to assist individuals in donning footwear. However, many of these devices have costly, multi-part assemblies that do not incorporate all of the required functionality, require an unduly amount of preparation, are difficult to use and/or have awkward setup and storage requirements. Consequently, these devices fail to account for all the needs of a disabled individual.
For example, several devices require the user to lift a foot to place the foot into the opening of a sock secured on the device. Many users may find this task difficult to perform independently, because of the balancing required and/or the strength required in the legs. Therefore, an individual may require assistance to use the device, defeating its purpose. Additionally, several devices have parts and/or joints that are not flexible. A lack of flexibility increases the difficulty of operating these devices and also increases the likelihood of damaging the footwear due to use of the device.
As a result of the deficiencies described above, there exists a need for a device to assist an individual in donning, removing and/or retrieving footwear that is inexpensive and can easily be operated independently by a disabled individual.
The current invention provides a footwear donning device. The device can further assist in removing and retrieving footwear.
A first aspect of the invention provides a footwear donning device, comprising: a carriage for holding the footwear; a fore handle coupled to the carriage, wherein the fore handle is flexible; and a handle coupled to the fore handle for donning the footwear.
A second aspect of the invention provides a device for donning and removing a sock, comprising: a handle for donning the sock; a fore handle coupled to the handle, wherein the fore handle is flexible; a carriage for holding the sock during donning, wherein the carriage is coupled to the fore handle; and a horn for removing the sock coupled to the handle opposite the fore handle.
A third aspect of the invention provides a footwear donning device, comprising: a carriage for holding the footwear, the carriage including: a carrier plate having a pair of opposing sides and a rounded end; a pair of hook lobes, each hook lobe attached to a side of the carrier plate using a flexible joint; a pair of stems attached to the carrier plate opposite the rounded end, wherein each stem is located proximate a hook lobe; and a pair of yokes, wherein each yoke is located adjacent a stem; a fore handle attached to the carriage, wherein each yoke is further adjacent the fore handle; and a handle attached to the fore handle for donning the footwear.
The exemplary aspects of the present invention are designed to solve the problems herein described and other problems not discussed, which are discoverable by a skilled artisan.
These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
It is noted that the drawings of the invention are not to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements between the drawings.
The current invention provides a device for donning footwear. The device allows a user to retrieve, don and remove footwear, for example, a sock, with minimal or no bending at the waist.
Turning to the figures,
As shown in
Carriage 12 is configured to secure the particular footwear that a user desires to don.
Carriage 12 is shown further including a pair of opposing hook lobes 26 that can be used to hold the footwear open during donning. Hook lobes 26 are each attached to a side 20, 22 of carrier plate 18 by a joint 28. As shown in
Fore handle 14 can be flexible to allow for easy application of the footwear. However, fore handle 14 should also be sufficiently firm to allow a user to easily control the movement and location of carriage 12 when holding handle 16. Handle 16 can be either semi-rigid or rigid and can be held by a user to operate the device. For example, handle 16 can be graduated to about a ten degree oval to reduce flexibility and increase its rigidity. Alternatively, handle 16 can be laterally curved, have a circular, square, triangular, etc. shape, and/or comprise a material that is not flexible, for example, wood, metal, a composite material, etc. Lateral curvature of handle 16 may also assist a user in gripping and operating device 10. The form of handle 16 may be selected to appropriately assist a user in gripping and operating device 10.
Device 10 is shown further comprising a horn 34 coupled to handle 16. As shown in
Carrier plate 18 can have a distance 40 between opposing sides 20, 22 that is appropriate for a particular sized foot. For example, to accommodate a user having a wide foot, i.e. EEEE shoe size, distance 40 can be about four inches. Relative to distance 40, carrier plate 18 extends only a short distance 42 beyond fore handle 14. This allows for a minimal amount of surface resistance during use to smoothly bring carrier plate 18 under the foot, around the heel and up the leg. For example, for a larger foot as described above, distance 42 would be at most approximately two and a half inches. Additionally, fore handle 14 can be a desired length 44 depending on the size of a user's foot. For example, length 44 can be about nine inches to easily accommodate a long foot (i.e. size fifteen plus). It should be noted, however, that a particular length 44 is not necessary for a particular foot size, rather a particular length 44 can make operation of device 10 easier for a particular foot size.
As discussed above, joints 28 can be short in comparison to distance 42 (shown in FIG. 4). For example, if distance 42 is approximately two and a half inches as described above, joints 28 would have a length 46 of approximately three-quarters of an inch. Maintaining relatively short joints 28 as compared with distance 42, allows carrier plate 18 to maintain greater flexibility. To accommodate most users, when fully extended, device 10 can have a total length 48 of about twenty-eight inches from one end of handle 16 (or horn 34) to the rounded end 24 of carrier plate 18.
As shown in
As discussed previously, fore handle 14 and joints 28 can maintain limited flexibility to assist in operating the device. Additionally, other parts, including, carrier plate 18, hook lobes 26, stems 30, handle 16 and horn 34 can maintain limited flexibility in the respective shapes of the parts so that use of device 10 can be made easier.
Donning, removing and retrieving a sock are exemplary applications of device 10. To begin donning, the sock must be secured onto carriage 12.
Once secured onto carriage 12, sock 50 is ready to be donned. As shown in
Removing a sock from a foot can be performed using horn 34 and/or snare 36 shown in
Device 10 can also be used to retrieve sock 50 from the foot or floor area. For example, after removing a sock as discussed above, handle 16 and/or horn 34 may remain in the sock. Alternatively, a user can position a portion of handle 16 and/or horn 34 into a sock. As shown in
While the previous descriptions depict exemplary uses of the device, other methods of use are possible and are readily apparent based on this description. Additional aspects of using the device are also readily apparent, for example, the device can be used in an upright, sitting or reclined position.
The foregoing description of various aspects 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, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.
The current application claims priority to co-pending provisional application Ser. No. 60/280,914, filed on Apr. 2, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20020139819 A1 | Oct 2002 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60280914 | Apr 2001 | US |