Dressing Aid
An apparatus for aiding a person getting dressed comprises a framework including a top member, a bottom member, a left member, a right member, and a horizontal middle member between the top member and the bottom member. A first clip coupled adjacent the left member, the clip is configured to retain and release a section of an article of clothing. A second clip coupled adjacent the right member, the clip is configured to retain and release another section of an article of clothing. A hook having a flat end positionable over a top edge of a door to allow the door to be opened and closed while the framework is hanging from the door, and a second end configured to engage the top member of the framework.
There are many situations where a person may need help getting dressed. For example, elderly persons and surgery patients with limited shoulder mobility often find it difficult to put on a shirt or jacket by themselves. While it helps to have someone else standing nearby to hold one side of the garment as the person is pulling his or her arm through the other side, it is common for people to be alone while getting dressed. This may be because the person lives alone, or no one else may be home to help at the time. It is also common for people to want to be able to stand or sit while putting on a shirt, sweater and/or jacket.
SUMMARYIn some embodiments, an apparatus for aiding a person getting dressed comprises a framework, and a retainer coupled to the framework. The retainer is vertically movable relative to the framework between an upper position corresponding to shoulder height of a person when standing, and a lower position corresponding to shoulder height of a person when seated. An adjuster is configured to hold the retainer in any selected location along the framework between the upper position and the lower position. A first holder on the retainer, the first holder is configured to retain and release a section of an article of clothing. A second holder positioned on the retainer at a predetermined distance from the first holder, the second holder is configured to retain and release another section of the article of clothing.
In other embodiments, an apparatus for aiding a person getting dressed comprises a framework including a top member, a bottom member, a left member, a right member, and a horizontal middle member between the top member and the bottom member. A first clip coupled adjacent the left member, the clip is configured to retain and release a section of an article of clothing. A second clip coupled adjacent the right member, the clip is configured to retain and release another section of an article of clothing. A hook having a flat end positionable over a top edge of a door to allow the door to be opened and closed while the framework is hanging from the door, and a second end configured to engage the top member of the framework.
Embodiments disclosed herein may be better understood, and their numerous objects, features, and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.
Embodiments of an apparatus for aiding a person getting dressed are disclosed that hold an article of clothing, such as a shirt or jacket, in an open position to allow a person to slide their arms through the armholes of the article. The vertical position of the components on the apparatus that retain the clothing can be adjusted (raised or lowered) to allow the person to sit or stand while getting dressed.
Referring now to
Framework 102 can be suspended from or attached to a panel such as a door by suitable means such as one or more hooks 114, nails (not shown), screws (not shown), cord (not shown), and/or adhesive (not shown). An example of a hook 114 that can be used is shown in
The retainer 104 can be vertically movable relative to the framework 102 between an upper position 116 and a lower position 118. For example, when the framework is suspended in place on a door, the upper position 116 can correspond roughly to shoulder height of a person when standing and the lower position 118 can correspond roughly to shoulder height of a person when seated. The retainer 104 can also be positioned anywhere between the upper and lower positions 116, 118, as well as on the top and bottom members 106, 108 of the framework 102.
The embodiment of retainer 104 shown in
Note that two or more articles can be held by the holders 122, 124 at one time. For example, the sleeves of a shirt may be inserted in the sleeves of a jacket, and holders 122, 124 can hold the ends of the necklines, the collars, or the shoulders of both garments. A person can slip one arm into the sleeves on one side, and then slip the other arm into the sleeves on the other side of the garments. Downward pressure can be exerted to release the garments, or the clips may be manually opened to release the garments. Other suitable holders 122, 124 for retaining and releasing one or more articles of clothing can be used on retainer 104, in addition to, or instead of, a clip. Additionally, different size holders 122,124 can be used interchangeably, depending on the number and weight of the garments.
Retainer 104 can also include a bar 126 coupled to a back side of the retainer 104 in a manner that allows some space between the back side of the retainer 104 and the bar 126. For example, bar 126 can be positioned through two or more U-bolts 128 fastened to the back side of panel 120, as best shown in
As shown in
Referring to
U-shaped bolts 128 are sized to fasten to panel 120 while leaving enough space between the bar 126 and the back of the panel 120 to allow a hook 114 to fully engage the bar 126 as the retainer 104 is positioned on the framework 102, as shown in
A first clip 316 is coupled adjacent the left member 310 and is configured to retain and release a section of an article of clothing. A second clip 316 is coupled adjacent the right member 312 and is configured to retain and release another section of an article of clothing. The framework 302 can be suspended from at least one hook 114 having a flat end positionable over a top edge of a door to allow the door to be opened and closed while the framework 302 is hanging from the door. A second end of the hook 114 can be configured to engage the top member 306 of the framework 302. A flexible extender 314 can be coupled between an eye screw or other suitable fastener and the clips 316, 318.
The first and second clips 316, 318 are coupled to a retainer 104 that is movable between the bottom member 308 and the top member 306 using a pulley 320 that is attached to the framework 302. One or more cords 322 are coupled to the retainer 104 and wrapped around the pulley 320 to enable the retainer to be raised and lowered. The cords 322 may, for example, be tied to the bar 126. Alternatively, other suitable structure such as an eye screw can be included on the retainer 104 to provide an anchor for fastening the cords 322 to the retainer 104. The pulley 320 can hang from a ring 324 engaged in a hook 114 that is coupled to the framework 302. A cleat 326 can be positioned in a convenient location on the apparatus 300, such as side member 310 to hold the retainer 104 in position when the cord 322 is engaged in the cleat 326.
Referring to
Other devices for raising, lowering, and holding the retainer 104 in place can be used in addition to or instead of the pulley 320 and cleat 326, and the cord lock 412.
A hook 608 or other device is included with the retainer 604 to hang the retainer 604 from the door 602. The hook 608 can include two or more telescopic pole sections 608′, 608″ to vertically shorten and lengthen the apparatus 600 as required. A twist lock 610 or other suitable locking device can be included on the telescopic pole sections 608′, 608″ to prevent the length of the hook 608 from changing after it has been adjusted to the desired height. An example of a commercially available twist lock 610 that can be used is the Twist Lock Collar available from Class 1, a unit of IDEX Corporation in Ocala, Fla. The length of the telescopic pole sections 608′, 608″ can be such that the overall length of the apparatus 600 suspended from the door holds a garment at shoulder height for the person getting dressed while standing. If the person is seated while getting dressed, then the length of the apparatus 600 can be adjusted so that the garment is held at should height while the person is seated. Note that apparatus 600 may be adjusted while a person is seated or standing.
The width of the retainer 604 on the apparatus 600 may also be configured with telescoping linear section(s) 612′, 612″ that are adjustable in width between approximately 1 foot and 2 feet. A twist lock 610 or other suitable locking device may also be used on telescoping sections 612′, 612″. Other suitable locking devices may include, for example, rubber gaskets, a clutch mechanism, and/or by placing a pin through aligned holes in retainer 604.
The retainer 504 can be coupled to telescopic pole 608 in any suitable manner, such as welding, one or more clips, a hook, or other formed as a unitary piece with pole section 608′.
In light of the principles and embodiments described and illustrated herein, it will be recognized that the illustrated embodiments can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. For instance, alternative embodiments may use approaches like those described above to create assemblies with other types and sizes of frameworks, retainers, holders, other types of components, etc.
Also, the foregoing discussion has focused on particular embodiments, but other configurations are contemplated. In particular, even though expressions such as “in one embodiment,” “in another embodiment,” or the like are used herein, these phrases are meant to generally reference embodiment possibilities, and are not intended to limit the invention to particular embodiment configurations. As used herein, these terms may reference the same or different embodiments that are combinable into other embodiments.
In view of the wide variety of useful permutations that may be readily derived from the example embodiments described herein, this detailed description is intended to be illustrative only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. What is claimed as the invention, therefore, are all implementations that come within the scope of the following claims and all equivalents to such implementations.
Claims
1. An apparatus for aiding a person getting dressed comprising:
- a framework;
- a retainer coupled to the framework, the retainer is vertically movable relative to the framework between an upper position corresponding to shoulder height of a person when standing, and a lower position corresponding to shoulder height of a person when seated;
- an adjuster configured to hold the retainer in any selected location along the framework between the upper position and the lower position;
- a first holder on the retainer, the first holder is configured to retain and release a section of an article of clothing; and
- a second holder positioned on the retainer at a predetermined distance from the first holder, the second holder is configured to retain and release another section of the article of clothing.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:
- hook portions configured on the framework to engage a top edge of a panel and allow at least a portion of the framework to rest against one side of the panel.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:
- the framework includes a horizontal member between a first edge piece and a second edge piece, the first and second edge pieces engage respective first and second side members of the framework.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising:
- the first and second edge piece and a second edge piece are movable along respective first and second side members of the framework to raise and lower the retainer.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:
- a first pulley attached to the framework; and
- a cord coupled to the retainer and wrapped around the first pulley to enable the retainer to be raised and lowered.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising:
- the pulley is configured to hang from a hook coupled to the framework.
7. The apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising:
- a cleat positioned on the apparatus and configured to hold the retainer in position when the cord is engaged in the cleat.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:
- a cord lock positioned on the apparatus; and
- a cord coupled to the retainer and threaded through the cord lock to enable the retainer to be raised and lowered, and to hold the retainer in position when the cord in engaged by the cord lock.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:
- a first flexible extender coupled to the first holder.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:
- the framework includes a plurality of horizontal members spaced vertically and positioned between first and second side members of the framework.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:
- the retainer is a flat panel.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising:
- a bar coupled to a back side of the retainer to allow some space between the back side of the retainer and the bar;
- the first and second holders are coupled to the front side of the retainer; and
- hook portions positionable on one of the horizontal members to engage the bar on the back side of the retainer, the hooks are movable among the horizontal members to adjust the vertical position of the retainer portion.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:
- the first and second holders are clips.
14. An apparatus for aiding a person getting dressed comprising:
- a telescopic pole that is height adjustable;
- a retainer positionable on the pole, the retainer includes curved sections on either end that curve in a horizontal plane away from the pole;
- a first holder positioned on a curved section of the retainer, the first holder is configured to retain a section of an article of clothing and to release the section of the article of clothing; and
- a second holder positioned on another curved section of the retainer at a predetermined distance from the first holder, the second holder is configured to retain another section of the article of clothing and to release the other section of the article of clothing.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising:
- the retainer includes a telescopic linear section that is adjustable in width between approximately 1 foot and 2 feet.
16. The apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising:
- a mounting stand configured to support the telescopic pole in a vertical orientation.
17. The apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising:
- a stool configured to support the telescopic pole in a vertical orientation and to allow a person to be seated adjacent to the article of clothing.
18. The apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising:
- a locking device on the telescoping pole operable to maintain the vertical height of the pole.
19. An apparatus for aiding a person getting dressed comprising:
- a framework including a top member, a bottom member, a left member, a right member, and a horizontal middle member between the top member and the bottom member;
- a first clip coupled adjacent the left member, the clip is configured to retain and release a section of an article of clothing;
- a second clip coupled adjacent the right member, the clip is configured to retain and release another section of an article of clothing; and
- a hook having a flat end positionable over a top edge of a door to allow the door to be opened and closed while the framework is hanging from the door, and a second end configured to engage the top member of the framework.
20. The apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising:
- the first and second clips are movable between the bottom member and the horizontal middle member.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 7, 2010
Publication Date: Sep 6, 2012
Inventor: Richard O. Wheeler, SR. (AUSTIN, TX)
Application Number: 12/899,688
International Classification: A47G 25/90 (20060101);