Pants assisting device

Abstract

The present invention comprises a device used for assisting a person in putting on pants. In its preferred embodiment the present 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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field assisting devices. More specifically, the invention comprises a device for assisting in putting on a pair of pants.

2. Description of the Related Art

Oftentimes an elderly or injured individual needs assistance in dressing themselves. Pants, in particular, can be difficult to put on. Putting on a pair of pants requires an individual to bend their body considerably while keeping a firm grasp on the pants. An elderly or injured individual may not be capable of bending far enough over to slip each foot into a pant leg and pull the pants up to their waist.

A caregiver or family member is typically asked by the injured or elderly individual to assist in putting on their pants. This can be both embarrassing and impractical.

Therefore what is needed is a device that allows the user to hold the pants at the desired position, such that the user can easily slip each leg into the pants, without bending over. The present invention achieves this objective, as well as others that are explained in the following description.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a device used for assisting in putting on pants. In the preferred embodiment the present 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.

In order to use the device the clips are secured onto the waist portion of the pants. The non-flexible nature of the beam allows the waist of the pants to be held open. The user grasps the handles as the user drops the device and pants to the floor. When the device and pants are proximate to the floor the user can maneuver the device into a comfortable position to slip each of the user's legs into the pants. By lifting the handles, thereby pulling upward on the rope, device and pants themselves, the user can easily and effectively put the pants on around the user's waist.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, showing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the attachment of the clip to the beam of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross section view, showing the attachment of the clip to the beam of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the attachment of the end cap to the beam of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view, showing the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, showing the present invention in use.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, showing the present invention in use.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

10	present device	12	beam
14	clips	16	clip attachments
18	end caps	20	ropes
22	handles	24	bolts
26	hollow tube	28	bolt holes
30	beam arms	32	rope attachment point
34	pants	36	waistband
38	opposing jaws

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the present invention in the preferred embodiment. The present device 10 is generally made up of beam 12, clips 14 and rope 20. Beam 12 has two ends that are covered by end caps 18. End caps 18 are attached to beam 12. End caps 18 can be attached to beam 12 by any means known in the prior art, such as where end caps 18 frictionally engage with the internal wall of beam 12 or end caps 18 snap into place inside of beam 12. Clips 14 are attached to beam 12 at clip attachment 16. Clips 14 are located proximate and equidistant from said end caps 18. Clips 14 are preferably located closer to end caps 18 than to the center of beam 12. One rope 20 is attached to each end cap 18 of beam 12. Ropes 20 extend away from beam 12 terminating at handle 22. Handle 22 is preferably a soft, flexible handle that is easy to grip and is sized to fit in the palm of the user's hand.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the manner in which clips 14 attach to beam 12 at clip attachment 16. As shown in FIG. 2, bolt 24 passes through clip attachment 16 at bolt hole 28 and into beam 12. FIG. 3 shows a cross-section view of the attachment of clip 14 to beam 12. Clip attachment 16 fully encircles beam 12 and contains two bolt holes 24 which allow bolts 24 to pass through. Upon entering into bolt hole 28 bolts 24 pass through beam 12 and act to secure clip attachment 16 to beam 12. Bolts 24 have adequate room to extend into hollow area 26 located inside of beam 12. Clip 14 extends downward away from beam 12. Clip attachment 16 and clip 14 are preferably one integrated unit however, one skilled in the art will recognize that clip 14 could be attached to clip attachment 16 by any means known by one skilled in the art. Additionally, clip 14 could be any device known in the prior art that would attach beam 12 to waistband 36, such as suspender clips or alligator clips.

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of a means of attaching end cap 18 to beam 12. End cap 18 inserts into hollow area 26 inside of beam 12 and frictionally engages with the internal walls of beam 12. The arrows shown in FIG. 4 illustrate the manner in which end cap 18 is inserted into beam 12. Rope attachment point 32 is a small hole that rope 20 (as shown in FIG. 5) fits through in order to secure rope 20 to end cap 18.

The illustration in FIG. 5 shows the present device from the side. Rope 20 attaches to end cap 18 at rope attachment point 32 located at the center of end cap 18. Clip 14 is shown extending downward away from beam, which is hidden in the current view. Clip 14 preferably has a pair of opposing jaws 38 which are biased toward each other in order to grasp waistband 36 (shown in FIG. 6).

FIG. 6 shows the present device 10 attached to a pair of pants 34 with a waistband 36. Pants 34 are secured to present device 10 at waistband 36 by clips 14. The structure of beam 12 is such that clips 14 are held at a fixed position in relation to the waistband 36, thereby holding the pants 34 rigidly apart. Beam 12 is preferably long or at least one-third as long as the length of waistband 36 in order to hold waistband 36 sufficiently apart such that user's legs can easily slip into the opening in pants 34 created by the present device.

As the user changes into pants 34, as shown in FIG. 7, the user grasps handles 22 in the palm of user's hand and pulls upward on handles 22 thereby pulling beam 12 and pants 34 upward towards the user's waist. To use the present device 10 clips 14 should be attached to pants 34 at waistband 36 prior to changing into pants 34. The user then holds onto handles 22 and drops present device 10 to the floor with pants 34 attached at clips 14. The user can then easily, without bending over, slip each foot into each pant leg and pull pants 34 up over the user's legs to the user's waist. Beam 12 length allows waistband 36 of pants 34 to be rigidly held apart such that waistband 36 will not bunch together.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 8. Arms 30 of beam 12 extend rearward away from beam 12 at approximately 45-90 degrees, creating a “U” shape. Thus, beam 12 contains two bends in beam 12. Beam 12 has a bend between the first end of beam and the middle portion of beam, creating the first arm 30. Second arm 30 of beam is created between the middle portion of beam 12 and the second end of beam 12. Three clips 14 attach to beam 12. Preferably, clips 14 are attached to beam 12 at front edge of pants 34 and on each arm 30 of beam. Each rope 20 attaches at two rope attachment points 32 on beam 12, two rope attachment points 32 located on the front of arms 30 of beam 12 and the other rope attachment points 32 located on the back of arms 30 of beam 12. Clips 14 attach to pants 34 at waistband 36. Waistband 36 is held apart by the rigidity and shape of beam 12 allowing user to more easily slip the user's legs into pants 34.

The preceding description contains significant detail regarding the novel aspects of the present invention. It should not be construed, however, as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. As an example, the beam 12 could be either curved or straight. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.

Claims

1. A device for assisting a user in putting on pants having a waistband, said waistband having a length, comprising:

a. a rigid beam having a first end and a second end;

b. a first clip attached to said rigid beam proximate said first end, said first clip being configured to attach to said waistband;

c. a second clip attached to said rigid beam proximate said second end, said second clip being configured to attach to said waistband;

d. a first rope having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being attached to said rigid beam proximate said first end of said rigid beam; and

e. a second rope having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being attached to said rigid beam proximate said second end of said rigid beam.

2. A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising

a. a first handle attached to said distal end of said first rope; and

b. a second handle attached to said distal end of said second rope.

3. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein said first and second handles are soft, flexible and sized to fit within the palm of said user's hand.

4. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second clips include a pair of opposing jaws which are biased toward each other.

5. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said rigid beam is at least one-third as long as said length of said waistband.

6. A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a third clip attached to said beam between said first and second clips.

7. A device for assisting a user in putting on pants, said pants having a waistband, said waistband having a length, comprising:

a. a rigid beam having a first end and a second end;

b. a first clip attached to said rigid beam proximate said first end, said first clip being configured to attach to said waistband;

c. a second clip attached to said rigid beam proximate said second end, said second clip being configured to attach to said waistband;

d. a first rope having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being attached to said rigid beam proximate said first end of said rigid beam;

e. a second rope having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being attached to said rigid beam proximate said second end of said rigid beam; and

f. wherein the distance between said first and second clips is at least one-third as long as said length of said waistband.

8. A device as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

a. a first handle attached to said distal end of said first rope; and

b. a second handle attached to said distal end of said second rope.

9. A device as recited in claim 8, wherein said first and second handles are soft, flexible and sized to fit within the palm of said user's hand.

10. A device as recited in claim 8, wherein each of said first and second clips include a pair of opposing jaws which are biased toward each other.

11. A device for assisting a user in putting on a pair of pants having a waistband, said waistband having a length, comprising:

a. a rigid beam having a first end, a middle portion, and a second end;

b. wherein said rigid beam includes a first bend between said first end and said middle portion;

c. wherein said rigid beam includes a second bend between said middle portion and said second end;

d. wherein said first end, said middle portion, and said second end of said rigid beam all lie in a single plane;

e. a first clip attached to said rigid beam proximate said first end, said first clip being configured to attach to said waistband;

f. a second clip attached to said rigid beam proximate said second end, said second clip being configured to attach to said waistband;

g. a third clip attached to said rigid beam at said middle portion, said third clip being configured to attach to said waistband;

h. a first rope having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being attached to said rigid beam proximate said first end of said rigid beam; and

i. a second rope having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being attached to said rigid beam proximate said second end of said rigid beam.

12. A device as recited in claim 11, wherein:

a. said first rope includes a second attachment to said first end of said rigid beam, with said second attachment being made proximate said first bend; and

b. said second rope includes a second attachment to said second end of said rigid beam, with said second attachment being made proximate said second bend.

13. A device as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

a. a first handle attached to said distal end of said first rope; and

b. a second handle attached to said distal end of said second rope.

14. A device as recited in claim 12, wherein said first and second handles are soft, flexible, and sized to fit within the palm of said user's hand.

15. A device as recited in claim 11 wherein each of said first, second clips, and third clips include a pair of opposing jaws which are biased toward each other,

16. A device as recited in claim 11 wherein said middle portion of said rigid beam is at least one-third as long as said length of said waistband.

17. A device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a third clip attached to said rigid beam between said first and third clips.

18. A device as recited in claim 8 further comprising a third clip attached to said rigid beam between said first and third clips.

19. A device as recited in claim 2 further comprising a third clip attached to said rigid beam between said first and third clips.

20. A device as recited in claim 9 further comprising a third clip attached to said rigid beam between said first and third clips.