COMPRESSION SOCK, DEVICE FOR DONNING/REMOVING THE SOCK, AND METHOD FOR DONNING/REMOVING THE SOCK
A method for donning/removing a compression stocking includes: providing a compression stocking, the compression stocking includes: a tubular compression stocking covers at least an ankle and has lateral sides, and a pair of tubular tunnels, each tunnel has a length, a diameter, and a longitudinal axis, the length is greater than the diameter, one tunnel of the pair affixed to each lateral side, the longitudinal axis of each tunnel is generally horizontal and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the other tunnel; providing a device for donning/removing a compression stocking comprises: a pair of vertical braces, and a pair of horizontally projecting prongs disposed between the pair of braces; inserting the prongs into the tunnels; inserting the foot into the stocking; and donning or removing the stocking by moving the braces as required.
The invention is directed to compression socks (or stockings), a device for donning/removing the sock, and a method for donning/removing the sock.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCompression socks (or stockings) are a medical device used to treat or to prevent certain disorders, such as venous disorders. Some patients, who use or wear such socks, may be elderly and/or may have challenged mobility (e.g., flexibility, strength, and/or dexterity). Such patients may find it difficult to don (or put on) and/or to remove the sock without assistance of another. This may diminish the patient's self-esteem.
Accordingly, there is a need for a new compression sock (or stocking) that may be donned and/or removed by the patient without assistance of another, a device for donning/removing such sock, and a method for donning/removing such sock.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA method for donning/removing a compression sock or stocking on a patient's leg and foot comprises the steps of:
providing a compression sock or stocking, the compression sock or stocking comprises: a tubular compression stocking covers at least an ankle and has a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a front side, and a rear side, and a pair of tubular tunnels, each tunnel has a length, a diameter, and a longitudinal axis, the length is greater than the diameter, one tunnel of the pair affixed to the first lateral side and the other tunnel of the pair affixed to the second lateral side, the longitudinal axis of each tunnel in a pair is generally horizontal and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the other tunnel;
providing a device for donning/removing a compression sock or stocking comprises: a pair of vertical braces, and a pair of horizontally projecting prongs disposed between the pair of braces;
inserting the prongs of the device in to the tunnels of the sock or stocking;
inserting the foot into the sock or stocking; and
donning or removing the sock or stocking by moving the braces as required.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form that is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown, in
Stocking 14, see
The device 12 may be configured into several embodiments, for example, see
In the open configuration 12 of the device, see
Open configuration 12 may be used as follows: the tunnels 16 of the stocking 14 are slipped over prongs 22, the patient 10 from either a sitting position (chair not shown) or a standing position (see
In the closed configuration with base 12′, see
Closed configuration with base 12′ may be used as follows: the tunnels 16 (and/or 16′) of the stocking 14 are slipped over prongs 22 (and/or 22′) with the toe of the stocking pointed into the beam 28, the patient 10 from either a sitting position (chair not shown) or a standing position (not shown) slips their foot (toe first) into the stocking on the prongs (alternatively, the device 12 may be tipped to facilitate insertion of the foot into the stocking), then the patient may, if necessary, pull the stocking up onto their leg, and thereafter the patient simply slides their leg out of the device (removing the prongs from the tunnels). To remove the stocking, the procedure is reversed.
The closed configuration without base 12″, see
Closed configuration without base 12″ may be used as follows: the tunnels 16 (and/or 16′) of the stocking 14 are slipped over prongs 22 (and/or 22′) with the toe of the stocking pointed into the beam 28, the patient 10 from a supine position (not shown, for example, laying in a bed) slips their foot (toe first) into the stocking on the prongs, then the patient may, if necessary, pull the stocking up onto their leg by pull on the braces, and thereafter the patient simply slides their leg out of the device (removing the prongs from the tunnels). To remove the stocking, the procedure is reversed.
The present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and the essential attributes thereof, and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A method for donning/removing a compression sock or stocking on a patient's leg and foot comprises the steps of:
- providing a compression sock or stocking, the compression sock or stocking comprises: a tubular compression stocking covers at least an ankle and has a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a front side, and a rear side, and a pair of tubular tunnels, each tunnel has a length, a diameter, and a longitudinal axis, the length is greater than the diameter, one tunnel of the pair affixed to the first lateral side and the other tunnel of the pair affixed to the second lateral side, the longitudinal axis of each tunnel in a pair is generally horizontal and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the other tunnel;
- providing a device for donning/removing a compression sock or stocking comprises: a pair of vertical braces, and a pair of horizontally projecting prongs disposed between the pair of braces;
- inserting the prongs of the device in to the tunnels of the sock or stocking;
- inserting the foot into the sock or stocking; and
- donning or removing the sock or stocking by moving the braces as required.
2. The method for donning/removing the compression sock or stocking compression sock or stocking of claim 1 wherein the tubular compression stocking covers an ankle and a knee and has two pairs of tubular tunnels, one pair adjacent the ankle and the other pair of tunnels adjacent the knee.
3. The method for donning/removing the compression sock or stocking of claim 1 wherein the tubular compression stocking covers an ankle, a knee, and a thigh and has three pairs of tubular tunnels, the first pair of tunnels adjacent the ankle, the second pair of tunnels adjacent the knee, and the third pair of tunnels adjacent the thigh.
4. The method for donning/removing the compression sock or stocking of claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a removable base upon which the pair of braces is removably attached and the pair of prongs are disposed above the base.
5. The method for donning/removing the compression sock or stocking of claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a vertical beam disposed between the braces and upon which the pair of prongs is affixed.
6. The method for donning/removing the compression sock or stocking of claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a beam carries more than one pair of prongs and the beam is disposed between the braces.
7. The method for donning/removing the compression sock or stocking of claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a generally horizontally projecting handle associated with each brace.
8. The method for donning/removing the compression sock or stocking of claim 1 wherein each brace is adjustable for height.
9. A compression sock or stocking comprises:
- a tubular compression stocking covers at least an ankle and has a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a front side, and a rear side, and
- a pair of tubular tunnels, each tunnel has a length, a diameter, and a longitudinal axis, the length is greater than the diameter, one tunnel of the pair affixed to the first lateral side and the other tunnel of the pair affixed to the second lateral side, the longitudinal axis of each tunnel in a pair is generally horizontal and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the other tunnel.
10. The compression sock or stocking of claim 9 wherein the tubular compression stocking covers an ankle and a knee and has two pairs of tubular tunnels, one pair adjacent the ankle and the other pair of tunnels adjacent the knee.
11. The compression sock or stocking of claim 9 wherein the tubular compression stocking covers an ankle, a knee, and a thigh and has three pairs of tubular tunnels, the first pair of tunnels adjacent the ankle, the second pair of tunnels adjacent the knee, and the third pair of tunnels adjacent the thigh.
12. A device for donning/removing a compression sock or stocking with a pair of tunnels disposed on lateral sides of the sock or stocking comprises:
- a pair of vertical braces, and
- a pair of horizontally projecting prongs disposed between the pair of braces, each prong is adapted to fit into one tunnel of the pair.
13. The device of claim 12 further comprises a removable base upon which the pair of braces may be removably attached and the pair of prongs are disposed above the base.
14. The device of claim 12 further comprises a vertical beam disposed between the braces and upon which the pair of prongs is affixed.
15. The device of claim 12 further comprises a beam carries more than one pair of prongs and the beam is disposed between the braces.
16. The device of claim 12 further comprises a generally horizontally projecting handle associated with each brace.
17. The device of claim 12 wherein each brace is adjustable for height.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 27, 2017
Publication Date: Aug 30, 2018
Inventor: Ralph L. Leonard (Charlotte, NC)
Application Number: 15/442,770