Dressing aid
A dressing aid to assist individuals with limited lower back and/or knee flexibility don under and outer garments.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/002,943 filed Dec. 19, 2007 which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/963,770 filed Aug. 7, 2007, and this application claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/002,943 and of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/963,770, both of which applications are hereby incorporated in their entirety, by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is directed generally to the field of devices to aid the physically challenged as a result of injury, illness, or the infirmities of aging to dress. Specifically, it is a simple device to assist a physically challenged individual in donning undergarments and outer garments, pants or skirts, when the individual has restricted movement at the lower back, waist and/or knees.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAn individual for various reasons may be unable to bend to insert feet and legs into and through the leg openings of undergarments and pants or through a skirt, pull the garment into proper, comfortable position, and fasten the waist band of the garment. The inability to accomplish this seemingly simple, but very necessary task may be the result of temporary or permanent, limited flexibility of the waist, lower back and/or knees.
For many elderly individuals, as well as others suffering from certain diseases and injuries, including an increasingly young population of injured Military personnel, except for the physical challenges associated with lost flexibility in the back and knees and certain losses of mobility associated with such losses that are beyond the scope of this invention, a major need for assistance is in dressing. Devices to respond to this need are recognized as making a significant contribution to an individual's independence.
A wide variety of devices has been developed to assist physically challenged individuals in their daily lives. Dramatic improvements in wheel chairs and relted mobility devices are well known, and beyond the scope of this invention. Devices that are variously described or otherwise classified as “reachers” certainly must be considered in view of the current invention.
Reachers commonly comprise a rigid shaft of varying length with some type of “jaws” at one end that are operated by a manual trigger device at the other, handle end. Such devices are used effectively to retrieve items from the floor, tables, or shelves, and have been modified to assist an individual in putting on socks and shoes. Dressing aids, including the modified reachers noted above, have been developed for a variety of specific uses: long-handled shoe horns to help those that cannot easily bend from the waist; plastic sleeves to assist in putting on socks and stockings, frequently such devices includes a “pull-stick” to move the sock/stocking into position once it is positioned over the foot and ankle. Dressing sticks comprising a stiff shaft and soft “hook” at the opposite end of the grip area are used by some to help pull-up pants legs. Examples of a comprehensive array of dressing aids that are commercially available may be viewed by visiting, for example, www.sampsonspreston.com, or by examining the Sampsons Preston catalog.
Certain dressing aids and predecessor technology are the object of United States patents. Among early art is a “grab-stick,” a shaft with pull action jaws to pick-up litter and a forerunner to “reachers” issued as U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,512 to Harold Baughman on Feb. 10, 1976. Also see U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,889 for a multipurpose dressing rod and reacher issued Nov. 18, 1997 to Douglas T. Liden.
Several patents involve technology specifically focused on putting socks or stockings on. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,604,604 issued Sep. 14, 1971 to Albert D. Ahn and U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,156 issued Jan. 14, 1975 to Ralph Lawrence.
In some instances, multiple uses are suggested as in the “shoe horn and cane” apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,316 issued to Curtis L. George and Sandra L. George on Oct. 30, 1990. In other instances the use is very specific, such as the “body sleeve” of U.S. Pat. No. 6,044,491 issued to Sylvia N. Emory on Apr. 4, 2004 which is worn around the torso and attaches to undergarments and helps the individual don the undergarment then is unfastened and removed from the body.
Some commercially available technology is seemingly ultra-simple, such as the pair clip-like devices of used to join and hold an upper garment to a lower garment when dressing and fastening buttons and the like.
There remains room in the art for a device that will assist an individual with limited flexibility of the waist, lower back and/or knees to don undergarments, pants or a skirt starting from a semi-reclining, sitting, or standing position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA first purpose and goal of the invention is a device adapted to assist individuals with restricted flexibility/mobility of the lower back and/or knees to don lower body clothing, both under and outer garments.
A second purpose and goal of the invention is a device that can be used by an individual starting in a seated position without assistance.
A third purpose and goal of the invention is a device that holds the waist-line of a garment open to facilitate positioning the garment over the feet and lower legs from a seated position.
A fourth purpose and goal of the invention is a spreader that facilitates holding the garment open and that provides a body by which the device can be manipulated to don a lower body garment.
A fifth purpose and goal of the invention is a device that will allow an individual to don lower body under and outer garments at the same time.
These and other purposes, goals, features, and benefits are achieved by a device the basic structure of which comprises a length of connective material (cord, light rope, or strap material, or the like) which is divided into two contiguous half lengths to which a grip device, such as an alligator clamp is connected at he end of each half length, such that the length of connective material may be securely attached to an inner or outer, lower body garment; an alternative configuration is a branch near each end of the length of connective material such that a member of a second pair of grip devices is connected to the end of each branch to allow to garments to be attached to the device; however, the grip device in the initial example may be adequately large to grip simultaneously a lower body under and outer garment; in an additional configuration, the ends of each half length of the connective material passes through a bar handle to separate the half lengths and the bar provides a grip by which the device may be manipulated; and in another configuration, the length of connective material is connected to a spreader device or fixed spreader unit such that the grip devices are separated and hold the fly of waist band open thereby allowing the feet and lower legs to be more conveniently positioned in the garment to which the device is attached and facilitate donning the garment starting from a seated position.
These and other purposes, features, and benefits of the invention will be better understood and appreciated by examination of the following descriptions, examples, and figures as well as examination of the appended claims.
As illustrated in
The strength of the gripe device is directly related to the strength of the spring (or force required to close the operator arms); this may vary, by way of example, not limitation, from less than 3 to 10 PSI adequately to secure a garment as it is drawn up during dressing by pulling on the length of connective material 115. The overall length 410 of the grip, by way of example, not limitation, varies from 1.0 to 3 inches, preferably 1.0 to 2.5 inches (2.5 to 7.5 cm, preferably 2.5 to 6.4 cm). The length 411 of the control arms 405A/B is normally half or more of the overall length of the grip device. Length of the control arm 411 as measured from its end to the axle 409 determines the force required to operate (open/close) the grip device and is a consideration in selecting an appropriate device. A wide variety of sizes and types of gripe devices is readily available through retail and wholesale hardware outlets known to one skilled in the art.
Example 1The dressing aid further comprises a first member of a first of a pair of grips 401A and a second member of a first pair of grips 401B. The first member of the first pair of grips 401A is firmly attached to the first end 103 of the length of connective material 115, and the second member of the first pair of grip devices 401B is similarly attached to the second end 105 of the length of connective material 115 at points 119A and 119B, respectively.
One arm of each member of the first pair of grip devices 401A/B may be secured to an end 103/105 of the length of connective material 115 in any of a variety of ways, for example, by using any of a variety of small clamp devices known to those skilled in the art, or with any of a variety of adhesives, depending on the materials from which both the grip device and connective material are made.
The length of connective material 115 may be natural, synthetic or any blend of materials commercially available and well known to those skilled in the art. Strength is not limiting, but minimum test should be approximately about 10 pounds (22 kg) with an upper limit for convenience of material of 25 pounds (55 kg). The connective material, if cord or rope, for convenience in handling, should be at least 0.25 inches in diameter (0.8 cm) to about 0.75 inch (1.9 cm), as a practical limit, but not a restriction on the invention, and if strap material should have similar strength limits and range from about 0.50 to 1.0 inches (1.3 to 2.5 cm) in width.
The function of the dressing aid 101 is simply illustrated in reference to
As illustrated, the seated individual 504 has attached the device 101 to the garment and positioned the garment on the floor, face up. With feet 505 positioned appropriately at the top of the left and right leg and the length of connective material 115 grasped in both hands with the mid-point 107 generally centered, the length of connective material 115 is pulled upward, and the pants are pulled up over the lower legs and thighs, by raising slightly, and continuing the upward pull, the pants are moved to the hips where they can be adjusted and fastened. Donning the garment requires only minimal bending of the back or knees.
A hook (or clip) device 120 may be positioned at the mid-point 107 of the length of connective material 115. The hook (or clamp) 120 device may be attached to a shirt of blouse pocket or button hole to hold the connective material and attached garment in position and free one or both hands of the individual to fasten the waistband and disconnect the two gripe devices from the garment. The hook (or clip) is attached such that it will pull free of the garment in the event of a moderate tug or jerk to minimize the risk of entanglement with the dressing aid.
Example 2The dressing aid 101 of
Functionally, the device is comparable to the function of the device as described for
Following the method described in the first figure, as the length of connective material 115 is pulled upward, the undergarment moves upward and can be positioned and the first and second members of the second grips released and removed from the undergarment and then the pants also positioned as desired and previously described.
The device described in Example 1 employing only a single pair of gripe devices is also adapted to donning inner and outer lower garments simultaneously. Unless one garment is unusually heavy or cumbersome, position the inner garment in the outer garment with the waist bands aligned along their top lines and the fly or other opening aligned. Grasp the left and the right side of each garment as with only a single garment, and before placing them on the floor to be donned, straighten the inner and outer garment legs to ensure that they are aligned and don the garment as previously described. The optional hook (or clamp) device 120 may be used as previously described.
Example 3Note in the following, reference numbers indicating pieces, parts, and elements described in FIGS. 1,2 and 4 are retained in all other figures when the piece, part, element, or function is identical to that previously described and indicated on one of the above referenced figures. This includes the positioning and use of the optional hook (or clamp 120) device as previously described.
The tube element varies in length from about approximately 4 inches to 18 inches (10 cm to 46 cm) preferably from 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 cm). The diameter of the tube varies from 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5 cm). Note, the above length and diameter dimension are exemplary and do not constitute limitations on the invention. The tube may be fabricated from any rigid, light weight material including metals. plastics, and composite materials.
A top opening 315 traverses the tube wall 313 at the mid-point of the upper longitudinal line 309 of the single tube 303. The first bottom opening 317 and the second bottom opening 319 traverse the wall 313 at a distance respectively from the first end of the single tube 327 and the second end of the single tube 329 on the lower longitudinal line 311. The lower longitudinal line 311 is diametrically opposite the upper longitudinal line 309 on the outer surface of the single tube 303. Both lines are for reference only with respect to positioning or locating the top opening 315 and the first and second bottom openings 317 and 319, respectively. The diameter of the top opening and of the first and second bottom openings is variable. The top opening must be large enough to allow free simultaneous passage of both the first half 109 and the second half 111 of the cord material, and the first and second bottom openings must allow free passage respectively of the first half 109 or the second half 111 of the cord material.
A length of the length of connective material 115 is positioned within the open chase 331 of the single tube 303 such that the end 333 of the first half-length extends downward through the first bottom opening 317, and the end of the second half-length 335 extends downward through the second bottom opening 319. The midpoint 107 extends upward through the top opening 315. The first half-length 109 and the second half-length 111 are joined for a short distance at a point below the midpoint 107 to form a loop 323. A hook element 120 may be threaded onto the cord material 115 inside the loop 323. A mechanical stop device 350 allows the passage of the cord material to be controlled as previously described.
Members of the first pair of grip devices 401A and 401B are positioned as previously illustrated and discussed with respect to
The cord material and grip device can be folded into the open chase or core of the single tube and caps positioned of the first end 327 and second end 329 of the single tube for convenient storage.
Example 4In additional configurations and modes, the dressing aid comprises a spreader element 601 and a length of connective material 115. In one alternative configuration, the first and second ends 103 and 105, respectively, of the length of connective material 115 are connected to and contiguous with a first 617A and a second 617B grip connectors. The free end of the first 617A and second 617B grip connectors is attached respectively to the first 401A and second 401B grip devices. In an alternate configuration, the first 617A and second 617B grip connectors are separate from (not contiguous with) the first 103 and second 105 ends of the length of connective material 115. The first and second ends of the length of connective material are connected directly to the spreader device. Each members of a pair of grip devices 401A and 401B is attached to one end of either the first 617A or second 617B grip connectors, and the opposite end of each of the grip connectors is connected directly to the spreader element. In one configuration, the members of the pair of grip devices 401A and 401B are attached directly to the spreader element and no grip connectors are required.
In one specific mode,
In one mode illustrated in
In an alternative mode illustrated in
As illustrated in
The spreader bar body 602 may be fabricated from a variety of natural or synthetic materials, including wood, plastics, light metals, and alloys. Preference may be giver to light weight materials that are readily sterilized. Regardless of cross section shape, the material may be solid or hollow. If it is hollow, open ends are generally secured with an appropriate cap or plug. Preferred embodiments are fabricated from non-porous materials that may readily be sanitized.
Use of the dressing aid with a spreader bar is similar to that described for the basic aid described in
As illustrated and described above, the spreader bar dressing aid is adapted to donning a single garment; however, it is anticipated that a second pair of grip devices (not illustrated) may be connected to the spreader bar as described for
In an additional best mode,
As in the spreader bar example, this mode anticipates two configurations. Both configurations comprise a length of connective material 115 with a first end 613A and a second end 613B. Members of a pair of grip devices 401A and 401B are secured to the first and to the second 613A and 613B end of the length of connective material 115. The total length of the length of connector material varies from less than 6 to 9 feet (less than 2 to 3 m) with a functional length 709 of one half the total length.
In one configuration,
In this configuration, the first end of the length of connective material 613A is passed from the top 705A of the U-base 703 through the first member of the first pair of connector chase 710A, traverses the bottom 705B of the first arm 704A and passes upward through the first member of the second pair of connector chase 712A. The length of connective material 613A extends from the second connector chase 712A and comprises the first grip connector 714A to which the first member of a pair of grip devises 401A is securely attached. In the same manner, the second end 613B of the length of connective material 115 and a the second member 401B of a pair of grip devices is positioned on the second arm 704B. The length of the grip connector 715A and 715B varies from about 1 to 2 inches (about 2.5 to 5.0 cm) and, when connected to a grip device, the distal tip 716A and 716B of that grip device is a minimum of 1 inch (2.5 cm), preferably 2.5 inches (6.3 cm) from the tip 713A of the first arm 704A. The length of connective material is secured in the in the first 710A and 710B and second 712A and 712B connector chases with an adhesive appropriate for the material from which the plate 702 is fabricated as such adhesives are commonly know to those skilled in the art and readily available in commercial channels.
The first and second grip devises 401A and 401B are attached directly to the top 705 of the first and second arms 704A and 704B respectively, at a point approximately 1.5 to 3.0 inches (3.75 to 7.50 cm) from the ends 713A and 713B from the first 704A and second 704B arm.
The use of the arm spreader dressing aid is similar to the use of the previously described bar spreader dressing aid. With the user seated, the garment is placed face up, with the fly open 622, on the user's lap. With the plate top surface 705A facing up, the arms 704A and 704B are positioned in the waist/upper leg openings of the garment, oriented with the first arm 704A positioned towards the left leg and the second arm 704B towards the right leg of the garment. The first member of the pair of grip devices 401A is connected to the left side 503A of the waist, and the second member of the pair to the right side 503B. The base 702 of the U spreader holds the fly 622 open and the arms separate the legs of the garment. With the garment attached to the two members of the pair of grip devices, the garment is pulled slightly upward and inward (towards he user). This uniformly lifts the waist of the garment and separates the legs (or left and right sides of the garment. Each foot is positioned under the spreader element 701 and the spreader element 701 is lifted slightly and pulled over the feet and pulled innards and upwards over the calves and thighs. The length of connector material may be held in one hand, or connected by the attached hook to a shirt, and the spreader element is disconnected with the length of connector material placed safely away from the feet and legs to avoid tripping. As described for other examples of dressing aids, the user grasps the spreader element or length of connection material and pulls the garment over the hips and closes the fly (or other opening in the waist to complete dressing.
As illustrated, the device has a single pair of grip devices. The U spreader device is adapted to two pairs of grip devices so that under and outer garments can be donned simultaneously, as with other modes herein described.
One skilled in the art recognizes that reference to the left and right side with respect to the parts of the device and garment are for convenience of explanation and illustration and that the sides may be reversed without changing the scope or intent of the invention.
Example 6FIGS. 8A,8B, and 8C illustrate an additional best mode of the dressing aid 801 in which the body of the devise 801 comprises a single length 802 of web material from 0.5 to 1.25 inches (1.3 to 3.8 cm) wide 802A with contiguous, equal half lengths 805A and 805B each approximately 4 feet (1.2 m) in length 805C (total length approximately 2.4 m).
The first member 804A of a pair of grip devices is attached to the first end 806A of the single length of web material 802, and the second member 804B of the pair of grip devices is attached to the second end 806B of the single length of web material 802.
The grip device may be attached to the ends 806A/B of web material 802 in a variety of manners, all of which are anticipated by the invention. Commonly, the grip device includes a connective structure or means. In a preferred configuration illustrated in
A fixed spacer unit 809 (
A spacer element 818 is positioned in the cylinder 810.
The spacer element may be manufactured from a variety of rigid, light weight tubular materials. PVC pipe is preferred because of its availability and range of diameters available; light metal and even wood is acceptable, noting that wood is more difficult to sterilize and therefore not preferred. One skilled in the art recognizes that the cross section configuration of the spacer element may be oval, rectangular or square, so long as corners are smoothed to avoid injuries in using the device.
The spacer unit is attached to the first 803A and the second half 803B of the single length of web material 802 such that the space 821 between bottom edge 817A of the cylinder and the tip of the corresponding grip device 817B is 1.5 to 2.5, preferably 2.0 inches (3.8 to 6.3, preferably 2.5 cm). This distance is preferably no more than twice the length of the grip device. See
The dressing aid 801 of this Example 6 is attached to and used in a manner similar to attachment and use illustrated, for example, by
For convenience, the garment is assumed to be pants; one of average skill recognizes the same steps apply to other garments without amplification. With the user seated, the garment is placed face up with the fly open on the users lap. One member of the pair of grip devices is attached to the waist band of the first side of the fly and the second member of the pair of grip devices is similarly attached to the waist band on the second side of the fly such that the spacer separates the two grip devices by a distance of essentially the length of the spacer element 812A. The garment and attached dressing device are placed flat on the floor, face up in front of the seated user.
Slightly raising both halves of the single length of web lifts and the garment, with the spacer element holding the fly open. The feet are positioned in the garment and the spacer element is pulled upward, pulling the garment up to or above the knees. At this point, the user can grasp the spacer element with one hand (or continue to hold the device by the web material) and stand to pull the garment to the hips/waist line. The generally, grips are disconnected while the user is seated and the fly is ready to closed. Prior to complete adjusting the garment in complete dressing, the user should gather and store the device, with care exercised to ensure that the single length of web material has been stored safely and does not present tripping or otherwise injuring the user. To ensure that the feet are extended through the garment's legs, each cuff may be folded upward until dressing is completed. Also, prior to disconnecting the dressing aid from the garment, a soft hook connected to the spacer may be loosely connected to a shirt to secure the garment in place until the fly is closed and secured.
The preceding examples may be divided and recombined to yield additional combinations all of which are anticipated by the invention, and as a result, the following claims should be accorded the broadest construction and not be restricted or limited by any single example.
Claims
1. A device to assist physically challenged individuals don under and outer garments comprising:
- a length of connective material comprising a first end, a second end, and a mid-point;
- at least one pair of grip devices, wherein the first member of said at least one pair of grip devices is attached to said first end of said connective material and wherein the second member of said at least one pair of grip devices is attached to said second end of said connective material;
- and further wherein said device comprises a spreader element wherein said spreader element comprises a bar, and wherein said bar comprises a first pair of connector chases and a second pair of connector chases, and wherein the first end and the second end of said length of connective material are anchored, respectively, in the first and second members of the first pair of connection chases; and further wherein the first end of said first grip connector is attached to the first member of said at least one pair of grip devices and the first end of said grip connector is attached to the second member of said at least one pair of grip devices; and further wherein the second end of the first and of the second grip connector are anchored, respectively, in the first and second members of the second pair of connector chases.
2. A device to assist physically challenged individuals don under and outer garments comprising:
- a length of connective material comprising a first end, a second end, and a mid-point;
- at least one pair of grip devices, wherein the first member of said at least one pair of grip devices is attached to said first end of said connective material and wherein the second member of said at least one pair of grip devices is attached to said second end of said connective material; and further wherein said device comprises a spreader element, wherein said spreader element comprises a flat, inverted U-shaped plate wherein said inverted U-shaped plate comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, and further comprises a base, a first arm, a second arm, and a first pair of connector chases; wherein the first end of said length of connective material is attached to the first member of said first pair of connector chases and the second end of said length of connective material is attached to the second member of said first pair of connector chases, and further wherein, the first member of said at least one pair of grip devices is firmly anchored on said first arm and the second member of said at least one pair of grip devices is firmly anchored on the said second arm.
3. A device to assist physically challenged individuals don under and outer garments comprising:
- at length of connective material comprising a first end, a second end, and a mid-point;
- a least one pair of grip devices, wherein the first member of said at least one pair of grip devices is attached to said first end of said connective material and wherein the second member of said at least one pair of grip devices is attached to said second end of said connective material; and further wherein said device comprises a fixed spacer unit, wherein said fixed spacer unit comprises a cylinder, wherein said cylinder comprises a first end and a second end, and said cylinder further comprises a length and a diameter, and further wherein said cylinder comprises a first closing flap attached to said first end of said cylinder and a second closing flap attached to said second end of said spacer unit further comprises a rigid spacer unit, wherein said rigid spacer unit comprises a length and a diameter and wherein said spacer unit is positioned in said cylinder and held in position by said first and said second closing flap, and further wherein the first end of said cylinder is attached near the first end of said length of connective material and said second end of said cylinder is attached near the second end of said length of connective material such that the distance from the bottom of the cylinder to the tip of the grip device at each end of said length of connective material is approximately twice the length of the connective device.
4. the device to assist physically challenged individuals don under and outer garments of claim 3 wherein said connective material is web material.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 31, 2011
Publication Date: Dec 29, 2011
Inventor: Grady L. Whitlaw (Jackson, SC)
Application Number: 13/199,469
International Classification: A47G 25/90 (20060101);