Patent Application
20150190006
NOT APPLICABLE
1. Field of the Invention
This application relates to multi functional apparatuses allowing users a means to perform footwear dressing, placement, removal, and retrieval, particularly for users with limited mobility.
2. Description of Prior Art
The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant:
The large number of individuals needing assistance with placing and removing clothing on the body continues to grow. Aging baby boomers, injured veterans, injuries from vehicle accidents, on the job injuries, and those born with limited mobility frequently require help in dressing. One of the most difficult parts of the body to dress is the foot. Back injuries, neck injuries, arthritis, muscle and joint diseases, and excessive weight all contribute to the difficulties of retrieving the sock, placing the sock on the foot, and removing the sock.
Thus, if feet are difficult to dress, that means many suffer from an inability to dress the feet. Putting on and removing socks can be difficult and sometimes impossible for individuals with limited mobility. Individuals depending on others to assist them in placing socks on their feet find it can be a painful process for the receiver and the one assisting the receiver. A caregiver attempting to use U.S. Pat. No. 3,883,052 to Wilson (1975) would likely cause injury to the receiver and the caregiver. The need for a device that can solve the problem of placing footwear on the foot with little effort, not having to touch the foot, removing the footwear, and retrieving the footwear would be a welcome device for many people.
Deprived of an opportunity to wear footwear results in increased infections to the feet due to stepping on items and exposing skin to bacteria. The most dangerous bacteria feet can be exposed to is the flesh-eating bacteria known as necrotizing fasciitis. Many individuals have experienced foot amputation due to an inability to place socks on feet. Protecting feet from exposure to danger requires foot apparel, preferably in the form of a sock.
The reason it is useful and important to have a device to assist in the placement of footwear is to possibly save a foot, a life, prevent infections, and aid in comfort. It is equally important to have a device that an assistant or caregiver can use with little effort. A device that receives the foot into the sock with the caretaker not touching the foot or leg reduces the chance of pain, infections, and saves time.
Manufactures of mobile assistant devices have long sought a means of effectively placing socks on the feet. It is a matter of providing the user with a means of having adequate freedom of movement to accomplish the process of placing the sock on the foot, removing the sock, and retrieving the sock when the sock is dropped. Several variations of mechanical devices have been proposed and designed to assist persons who are unable or require the services of others during the process of clothing the foot with a sock or removal of socks.
Devices have been proposed to assist in sock placement—for example, U.S. Patent Pub. No. 0272772A1 to Sullivan & Gullick (2009), the handle appears awkwardly positioned for ease in use when donning the sock on the foot.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,154 to French (1992) requires bending to accomplish donning of the footwear. Minimized bending is preferred during sock placement. U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,171 to Santamaria (2002) proposes a curve between handle portion and heel portion. The width of the device bend would complicate the movement required by the assistant in disengaging leg and foot from device after donning of footwear. U.S. Pat. No. 8,215,524 B1 to Swisher (2012) is for a user that has ample strength in the hands to operate controls. Limited mobility of the hands often occurs with persons having difficulties in dressing the feet.
U.S. Pub. No. 0139819A1 to Ferraioll, (2002) is attempting to store two socks within a very small handle member. In addition to prior art lacking the mobility to follow the contour of the foot and ankle, prior art also lacks the ability for an assistant or caretaker to place a sock on the receiver's foot with ease and efficiency. The objective is to avoid (touching) contact with the foot or leg. A large number of individuals needing assistance are in medical facilities or in the care of caretakers.
The general objective of the invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is an improved device for footwear placement, removal, and retrieval.
Accordingly several advantages of one or more aspects are as follows: Inside bend of angle end of elongate main member allows for the contour of the foot, ankle, and leg. Thus member allows for easy insertion of the foot entering the open sock. This solves the previously existing problem of having to touch the foot and leg and allows for limited interaction on the part of the person or an assistant.
The U-shaped member can retrieve a sock that is dropped by using either end of the opening of the U-shaped member by sliding it under the dropped sock. This solves the problem of bending by scooping the sock off the floor with the open end of the U-shaped member.
The scissor type circular handle member solves the problem of storing footwear. Each circular opening can store one sock. Storing the footwear with the device solves the problem of having to locate footwear. Locating footwear can be a burden to the person with limited mobility.
The sock remover conveniently aids in the removal of socks with little mobility. Other advantages of one or more aspects will be apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuring description.
Referring to the drawings, and particularly to
The device 12 comprises of a generally U-shaped footwear support member 14, which is dimensioned to receive the foot of the user inserted with ample clearance. The support member 14 is of one-piece construction and comprises a base 16 extending to curve sidewalls 18 which are separated by a gap 20. The footwear support member 14 has mounted therein an adhesive layer 22.
In accordance with the embodiment of the device illustrated in the drawing the adhesive layer 22 extends around the interior periphery of he footwear support member 14. The adhesive layer 22 comprises a strip of pressure sensitive tape of the type having adhesive material formed on both sides thereof. By this means the tape is adhesively secured to the footwear member 14 and simultaneously provides an adhesive surface extending around the entire periphery of the footwear support member.
The footwear support member 14 is attached to elongate rod member 24 at the end of the angle bend in rod member 26, preferably attached by welding. Footwear is folded around support member 14 with minimum interference. Improved member for ease of insertion is the angle bend in rod member 26 connected to U-shaped rod member 14 at the base of U-shaped 16.
The use of the invention is illustrated in
After the stocking has been mounted on the support member 14, the handle 28 and the elongate rod 24 of the device 12 are manipulated to position the device for insertion of the foot of the user into the open sock S and through the underlying support member 14. The handle 28 and the rod 24 are then used to pull the sock over the foot with the foot resting on the angle bend of rod member 26, thus creating easy insertion of foot into sock. The improved means of using angle bend in rod member 26 to angle foot into sock allows for ease of insertion and disengaging from the stocking support member 14. Sock is disengaged from support member 14 by a slight turn of member 24 and device is removed. One method is to slide the support member 14 down the leg of the user and turn member 24 outwardly from member 26 to open the gap 20 sufficiently to permit the support member to be removed from the leg of the user.
Referring to
Sock remover member 40, consisting of the rectangle base member 38 attached by welding to elongate rod member 24. Extending from the base of hook member 38 is the elongate rod member 34. Within approximately one inch of elongate rod member 34 is the angle bend member 30 attached to the base member 38 preferably by welding. At the opposite end of base member 38 is the rubber tip hook member 36, Member 38 attached by welding to member 24 and member elongate hook attached to member 30 preferably by welding. Embodiments can be attached in many different ways depending on material used.
Member 28 consists of two joined circular shapes, and so dimensioned to be conveniently grasped by using hands or fingers. Member 28 is an improved means for storing footwear. A sock can be placed through each circular opening. Thus said embodiment member 28 has multi purpose, storing and gripping. Member 28 is joined to support member 24 preferable by welding together.
The device 12 is preferably formed from conventional materials adapted for mass production. The entire device can be manufactured from tough plastic such as ABS, or the like. Device 12 can also be manufactured from various metals including aluminum and stainless steel. Public preference appears to be stainless steel from reported use by nursing homes and medical facility personnel.
Accordingly the reader will see the purpose and usefulness of the improved embodiments in relationship to assisting growing numbers of people experiencing limited mobility.
The expressed usefulness includes, but not limited to, improved embodiments for placement of footwear, (the angle in elongate rod for foot support) the U-shaped embodiment for retrieval of socks from the floor, the embodiment for sock removal and the handle for storing socks.
The examples, figures, and descriptions appear to be adequate to enable one ordinarily skilled in the art to understand how and why the improved device is useful. The novelty of the multi functional device for footwear, placement, and retrieval is the many functions. The embodiment that is most surprising to those in the field of caring for people with limited mobility is the elongate rod that angles to support the foot during engagement. The surprising aspect is the assistant doesn't have to touch the foot or leg in the process of sock placement and removal. The surprise of storing the socks in the handle and the simplicity of removing the sock and retrieving the sock from the floor, all with the same device is surprising.
Descriptions should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but merely providing illustrations of some of several embodiments.
For example, the elongate rod, handle, sock remover, and holder can vary in size and diameter. Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalent, rather than the examples given. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the device. One modification is a spring type mechanism used in the U-shape member to allow for abnormal size feet, ankles and legs.
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/848,651 filed 2013 Jan. 9 by present inventor. Confirmation No. 7813
