1. Field
The present invention relates to methods and devices that may assist in placement of sock, stocking, or the like, over a foot.
2. Background
For various reasons, such as lack of mobility, an individual may have trouble putting on an article of clothing, such as a sock, a stocking, and the like. Although well known in the art, conventional sock donning devices may be inadequate due to difficulty of use. A need exists for enhanced methods and devices for assisting in placement of a piece of clothing over an individual's foot.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the present invention can be practiced. The term “exemplary” used throughout this description means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other exemplary embodiments. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the exemplary embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the novelty of the exemplary embodiments presented herein.
It is noted that the term “sock,” as used herein, includes any like clothing device, such as, for example only, a legging, a stocking, a sleeve, or a combination thereof.
Second portion 104 includes major surfaces 105 and 107. First portion 102 includes a first surface 106 and a second surface 108, which is opposite first surface 106. First surface 106 and second surface 108 may be substantially perpendicular to major surfaces 105 and 107 of second portion 104. It is noted that first surface 106 may comprise a planar surface. It is noted that first portion 102 may also be refereed to herein as a “head element.” Second portion 104 may extend perpendicularly from second surface 108. Second portion 104 may also be referred to herein as a “handle element.” It is noted that, according to one exemplary embodiment, second portion 104 may comprise a hook at an end, opposite first portion 102. According to another exemplary embodiment, second portion 104 may comprise a shoe-horn at an end, opposite first portion 102. As illustrated in
Second surface 108 of first portion 102 may comprise a groove 120A and a groove 120B, wherein groove 120A and groove 120B are each proximate second portion 104. Furthermore, first portion 102 may also include grooves 122A and 122B on second surface 108. Additionally, a knob 124A is positioned between groove 120A and 122A and a knob 124B is positioned between groove 120B and 122B. First portion 104 may also include a knob 126B proximate groove 122B and a knob 126A proximate groove 122A. Knob 126A and knob 126B may each be referred to herein as an “ear.”
It is further noted that at least a top portion of knob 126A may be bent inwardly, as represented by arrow 130A, toward a center of the “u-shape” formed by first portion 102. Similarly, at least a top portion of knob 126B may be bent inwardly, as represented by arrow 130B, toward a center of the “u-shape” formed by first portion 102. Stated another way, at least a top portion of each of knob 126A and knob 126 may be at an angle with respect to second portion 104. Stated yet another way, a distance between surface 108 at knob 126A and surface 108 at knob 126B may be less than a distance between surface 106 substantially directly beneath knob 126A and surface 106 substantially directly beneath knob 126B.
A contemplated use of device 100 will now be described. Initially, a sock (e.g., sock 150 of
Furthermore, to release device 100 from sock 150, a user may move device 100 a short distance (e.g., one inch) in a direction (i.e., a direction toward foot). Thereafter, the user may remove device 100 from sock 150. It is noted that, due to being bent inwardly, as noted above, knobs 126A and 126B may enable the user to easily detach device 100 from the sock after the sock has been positioned in a desired location.
Accordingly, exemplary embodiments of the present invention may assist an individual having a lack of mobility (e.g., due to pregnancy, obesity, age, etc.) or a disabled individual, such as, for example only, a one arm amputee, surgery patients (e.g. hip or back surgery), a stroke victim, a person with paralysis, arthritis or an injury (e.g. injured wrist, shoulder, or arm, or carpal tunnel), in positioning an article of clothing (e.g., a sock) over a limb (e.g., a foot).
The previous description of the disclosed exemplary embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these exemplary embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the exemplary embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.