GB2479948A - A device for putting on, and taking off, socks - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for putting on and taking off socks and the like comprises two poles 4, a base 1,2 and a pair of sock pads 5,6,7. The poles are pivotally connected to the base, and arranged so that they can pivot by up to around 30°from the vertical in a common plane. In use, a sock is folded over the sock pads when the poles are in vertical position, so that the user can employ the leverage conferred by the poles to stretch open the sock and put it on, the sock being firmly held on the device so that the sock can easily be passed over the user's heel, with no part of the device contacting the user's heel.. The same leverage can be applied in the opposite direction, pushing the poles towards each other, to take a sock off. The pads are preferably of different shapes, with one being profiled so as to assist the user in removing socks.

Description

A device for putting on, and taking off, socks.

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a device that a person can use to put his, or her, socks on and also to take them off, without requiring the assistance of another person, without having to stoop or to reach the hands farther down than the knees, and while remaining comfortably seated, even in a reclined position. Also, the said invention can be used to put socks on, and to take them off, while lying on a bed.

Background to the invention

Although this might often not be recognized, a lot of people experience difficulties in putting on, and taking off, their socks, while many others have become totally unable to carry out these apparently simple daily chores. Various factors can lead to this degrading deficiency. Old age, naturally, is the main factor causing this kind of problem, especially since the average life span has prolonged considerably in modern times.

There are, however, other circumstances that can afflict anyone in this way: a back affected by some disabling disease or by an injury -obesity -crippling diseases such as arthritis, Parkinson's, Motor Neuron, and Multiple Sclerosis -hip replacements -and more. When people begin to experience difficulties to put their socks on and to take them off, or are unable to do it any more, it is such a frustrating and humiliating experience that it can become a contributing factor leading to despair.

Therefore, the present invention is particularly aimed at helping people who find themselves in a situation where they have difficulties, or are unable, to put their socks on and to take them off; the said invention thus seeks at improving their quality of life by making a daily chore a lot easier, less humiliating, or simply possible. Furthermore, this invention can play a useful role in hospitals and nursing homes where it could be made available to certain patients and residents who will thus be able to put on and take off their socks themselves, instead of requiring the assistance of a nurse. This, on the one hand, frees up time for nurses towards more urgent duties and, on the other hand, is generally much more satisfying and less humiliating for the said patients and residents.

Various aids for putting on socks are available on the market at present. However, these are generally, at best, rather awkward to use, as most people struggle to use these aids, while many others are simply unable to use them. Although these devices may look somewhat different, most of the aids available on the market at present are more-or-less based on the same principle. Typical examples of this said principle are the patents US 056171 and US 6932252, which basically consist of some sort of open shell over which a sock has to be stretched wide open, and on which handles or straps are attached. A user then has to introduce a foot in the open sock and pull the device up with the sock on it, and drag the whole thing under the foot and over the heel.

The difficulties that many people encounter while trying to use these devices mainly stem from the three following factors: 1) To put a sock on with these existing devices, a user still needs to reach the hands down fairly far down towards the feet, but that is precisely the difficulty people who need such a device have in the first place.

2) As those systems all involve the stretching of a sock wide open over some device, and pulling it all on and over one's foot, many people struggle with that or are simply unable to do it.

3) When using any of these existing aids for putting on socks at present, there is invariably one step in the procedures involved that turns out to be particularly difficult-passing the sock over the heel.

Because it is at the heel that a sock is rather hard to pass, it is mainly at this stage where either these devices, or their users, often struggle or fail; this particular hurdle, with these devices, is furthermore amplified considerably because the supporting shell over which the sock is stretched finds itself awkwardly between the sock and the sole of the foot to begin with, and has to be pulled over the heel together with the sock. Other devices, then again, are based on a different principle, as in patent US D414313, which consists basically of a solid tubular structure with a central frame over which a sock is to be stretched wide open so that a foot can be introduced in it, while lateral structures serve as handles. A device of this nature, however, not only presents the same three difficulties mentioned above, but is furthermore particularly unwieldy.

Summary of the invention

The main advantages of the invention, its efficiency, and ease-of-use, all stem from its five following unique aspects: 1) To use the invention there is no need to stoop as the hands don't have to reach farther down than the knees, and one can use it while remaining seated, and even reclined, or while lying on a bed.

2) Using the said invention does not require much effort; even people with very feeble hands and little strength are able to use it.

3) When using the invention to put socks on, the passing of a sock over the heel is easy and does not constitute an obstacle as not one part of the device comes in contact with the user's heel, neither directly nor indirectly with some part of a sock in between.

4) Socks can be put on tightly on the foot, and all the way up the lower leg.

5) In stark contrast with all the devices that are available on the market at present, which are all designed only to put socks on, people can also use the said invention for taking their socks off; furthermore, removing socks with the said device is particularly easy to do, even for users who are physically severely diminished.

Figure 1 shows that the invention consists of five basic components: a base (1 + 2), two levers/handles (4 / 8), and two sock pads of flexible but rigid material (5 + 7 & 6 + 7) Two long, narrow levers (4) are each fastened at one extremity by pivots that are a small distance apart, and that are anchored in a separate piece that forms the base. The other extremities of the levers (8) are used as handles. On the inside of both levers, the sock pads are affixed near the middle of each lever and at a small distance off each lever.

When the levers are pushed together the two sock pads, which have specific yet different shapes, face and touch each other.

Figure 2 furthermore illustrates that when the base stands on the ground, and the two levers stand vertically together, they can both swivel sideways in one plane approximately 30 degrees, but not more, as hard rubber stoppers (3) are incorporated into the base.

How to use the invention to put a sock on Sitting on a chair, for instance, the user holds the base (1 + 2) of the device on the ground between the feet while holding the levers/handles (4 / 8) vertically together between the knees. When these two levers/handles are pushed inwards between the knees, the two sock pads (5 +7 & 6 + 7) come to rest against each other. Then, to proceed for putting on one sock, a user pulls both levers/handles slightly away from each other so that the sock pads are approximately 8 cm apart, and then holds a sock from its top end while positioning it between the sock pads, with the toe end of the sock pointing forward, and the top end of the sock at approximately 10 cm above the upper edges of the sock pads. Then, by pushing the levers/handles together with the knees, the sock pads come to rest against each other again yet this time with the sock held in place between them, which frees both hands of the user at this stage. The next step consists of pulling the top part of the sock, which sticks out above the sock pads, down and over the outer sides of both sock pads, and underneath the lower edge of the larger sock pad as much possible towards the centre of its lower edge; this can be done easily because it only requires very little stretching of the sock.

Next, while remaining seated, and holding both handles (8), the user then pushes the base (1 + 2) in front of the feet until the extremities of the handles (9) are in the hands above the knees. This can also be done easily as the device is lightweight and as its base slides smoothly along any floor or carpet. Then, by moving the handles (8) apart sideways only about 20 cm at the top of the handles (9), and with the hands only at knee level, a user can thus easily stretch the top of the sock open as these handles deliver a considerable amount of leverage. Hence the top end of the sock opens sufficiently so that the user can easily introduce a foot in it while the sock remains firmly in place on the sock pads. Also, due to the length of these levers/handles, the thus opened sock can easily be held close to ground level, which means that a user does not need to lift a foot much off the ground to introduce it in the sock.

After that, and while keeping the handles apart as they were, the user pulls the handles gently, and slowly brings the opening of the sock over the heel; this is best done by gently wriggling and pushing the foot at the same time. So once the opening of the sock has passed the heel, the user can ease the outward pressure on the handles, as the top of the sock is still doubled over the sock pads, which holds them together pressed against the lower part of the leg.

Then the user can slide the hands slightly forward along the handles (8), re-establish a grip wherever it is most suitable, start pulling again, and continue to put the sock on. At the same time, there again, the sock can be fitted tightly on the foot by slightly wriggling the foot.

And finally, when the sock has been put on as high as possible up the lower leg, with the top end of the sock still doubled down over the sock pads, pulling the handles a little more makes the sock slip off the sock pads thus releasing the device and leaving the sock pulled tightly on the foot and all the way up the lower leg.

How to use the invention to take a sock off At this stage, a little attention is required, because the two outer parts of the sock pads (5 & 6) have different shapes and dimensions. The reason for this is the following: to put a sock on, a device fitted with two identical pads similar to the larger one works perfectly well; however, when using such a device for taking a sock off, the larger pad (5) at the inside of the lower leg digs into the inside ankle, which makes the procedure difficult and even painful; therefore, the smaller sock pad (6) has been specially designed to pass smoothly under the inside ankle when pushing the device down to take a sock off. Therefore, before beginning to take a sock off, the user needs to position the device so that the smaller sock pad (6) finds itself at the inside of the foot on which the sock is to be placed. Then, sitting on a chair for instance, the user holds the base (1 + 2) of the device on the ground in front of the foot from which the sock is going to be removed, and holds the handles (8) so that their extremities (9) rest in the palm of the hands.

Then the user holds the device so that the two sock pads are positioned on each side of the lower leg, with the lowest parts of the sock pads (7) slightly higher than the top of the sock that is going to be removed. In this position, the user then gently presses the top of the handles (9) towards each other so that the sock pads press firmly against the lower leg, on both sides. Next, while maintaining the pressure on the sock pads against the lower leg, the user then pushes the handles down in the direction the lower leg is pointing, and preferably with the end of the handles (9) still in the palm of the hands. Hence the lower tips of the sock pads (7) are being pushed between the lower leg and the sock, and thus catch the sock as they are being pushed down. Then, after gently passing the small sock pad (6 + 7) under the inside ankle, and once the heel is out of the sock, the user just needs to slowly raise the handles while gently pressing them towards each other.

So once the sock is off the toes, the sock pads come to rest against each other and, generally, which might require a bit of practice, the removed sock becomes caught between them.

This way, while holding the handles gently pressed against each other, which thus holds the removed sock in place between the sock pads, and while bringing the device back in vertical position in front of the knees, the removed sock is conveniently returned to the user at hand's reach. This way, a user can remove a sock, and have the removed sock back in hand, while remaining comfortingly seated throughout the entire procedure, and without having to bend down or reach the hands farther than the knees, or to the floor to pick up the removed sock. So once this simple procedure is completed, to take the sock off the other foot, the user needs to keep in mind to simply turn the device around so that the smaller sock pad is positioned at the inside of the foot from which the sock is to be removed. After that, it's just a question of repeating the same procedure as described above.

Other ways of using the invention Although the way of using the device as described above is, generally, the easiest and most efficient method, according to their respective abilities and to the nature and extend of their impediments, users can adapt slightly different ways of using the device they might prefer, or certain variations of the procedure they might find easier to carry out. Another easy way of using the device, for instance, is on a bed; while sitting upright on a bed, and reclined against a cushion at the headboard, one can use the device very easily to put socks on, and take them off, and while remaining comfortably in the same position.

Manufacturing the invention It is important to note, at this stage, that there are different ways and methods of manufacturing the invention.

Firstly, there is a choice to be made among a range of suitable materials to make all the components from, secondly, there are different ways and methods of fashioning these components, and thirdly, there are different ways and methods of attaching these components together; such decisions are generally the province of any given manufacturer, and are mainly made according to the financial parameters, the available machinery, and the workforce at hand.

Thus, the materials that have been chosen for manufacturing the invention, and the methods that have been chosen for fashioning and assembling its various components, in the present description, represent only one of the many possible ways of manufacturing this invention.

This chosen method of manufacturing and assembling the invention, however, has been chosen mainly because it does not require any specially-made components, like moulded ones for instance, and because no sophisticated machinery is required to manufacture and to assemble the invention in this way.

Description of the preferred embodiment:

The base: Figure 2 and Figure 3 illustrate that the main components of the base, for this chosen embodiment, are two pieces (1 + 2), which are attached together with hard rubber spacers (3) in between. The main purpose of the said base is to serve as an anchoring piece for two levers/handles (4 / 8).

The main components of the base, in this case, are two rectangular pieces of 10 mm high-density polypropylene measuring 85 x 254 mm. Looking at both pieces in a horizontal position, the two upper corners are cut round at a radius of mm, and the lower corners and all edges are slightly rounded and smoothed.

Four holes are drilled perpendicularly through piece 1 with a 6.5 mm drill bit. Through piece 2, however, the holes are drilled with an 8 mm drill-bit, yet centred on the same positions as the holes in piece 1. These holes are positioned as follows: looking at each piece in a horizontal position, two holes are drilled at 20 mm down from the top edge, 122 mm apart and centred, and two more holes at 50 mm down from the top edge, 194 mm apart and centred.

The purpose of these four holes, in this particular embodiment, is to attach the pieces 1 and 2 together with M6 x mm stainless steel machine screws (10) with flat countersunk heads, and countersunk sleeve nuts (11) Furthermore, when attaching the two pieces together, a 20 mm round hard rubber spacer (3) of 33 mm in diameter, and drilled with a 6.5 mm drill bit in its centre, is fitted around these 4 machine screws in between the pieces 1 and 2 so that these two pieces can be solidly fixed together while leaving a distance of 20 mm between them.

Figure 2 and Figure 3 also illustrate that the two upper rubber spacers (3), centred at 20 mm down from the upper edge of the pieces 1 and 2, apart from holding them together, also serve as stoppers for the levers (4), allowing them to swivel at a maximum angle of approximately 30° sideways from their vertical position.

Furthermore, two other 6.5 mm holes are drilled in piece 1, and two 8 mm holes in piece 2, all centred at 50 mm down from the top edge, 60 mm apart and centred; the purpose of these holes is to lodge two M6 x 30 mm stainless steel machine screws (10) with flat countersunk heads and countersunk sleeve nuts (11) that will anchor the two levers (4), on both sides of which a stainless steel washer (12) is placed to facilitate their movement. Also, all holes are drilled to countersink the heads of the screws and sleeve nuts.

The levers/handles: In the present preferred embodiment, which is best represented in figure 1, for manufacturing these two levers/handles (4 / 8) chrome finish metal tubing has been chosen, with an external diameter of 19 mm, and cut in two lengths of 1.2 m.

These two tubes have a double function: 1) As levers, they offer ample leverage, so that even a user with severely diminished physical strength can easily put a sock in place on the device and stretch open the said sock.

2) As handles, because of their length, they allow a user to put on, and take off, his or her socks without having to bend down, and while remaining seated in a comfortable position.

In each tube three 6.5 mm holes are drilled, which are positioned as follows: one 6.5 mm hole is drilled through the median axis of each tube, and perpendicularly to it, at 20 mm of one of its extremities.

Furthermore, two other 6.5 mm holes are drilled, one at 540 mm from the opposite extremity of each tube and the other at 570 mm from it. These two holes, which are thus 30 mm apart, are both also drilled through the median axis of each tube, and perpendicularly to it, yet at an angle of 900 in relation to the direction of the drilling of the first hole at 20 mm from the other end of the tubes.

The larger sock pad: Figure 4 and Figure 5 illustrate that, for this preferred embodiment, the main components of the said sock pad are 2 pieces (5 + 7) . The kind of material used to make these pieces, their shapes, and the way they are positioned, are all extremely crucial for the efficiency of the device. As the material needs to be hard, rigid, and flexible, and have a smooth surface and edges, for the present embodiment, flexible polyurethane sheet of 4 mm has been chosen for manufacturing the said sock pads, because it is hard-wearing, smooth, and hygienic, which is important as it comes in direct contact with the skin of the user. However, other materials such as semi-rigid polyethylene or PVC, for instance, can be equally suitable. Furthermore, some variations in the shapes, sizes, and positions, of the pieces & 7, or the use of a different material altogether, can be preferable according to circumstances, or can turn out to be more suitable for particular or extreme situations.

Yet in this. chosen embodiment, looking at the larger piece (5) in a horizontal position, its basic shape is rectangular, and measures 130 x 70 mm; the top and the bottom edges are straight, but the side edges are rounded and indented in a particular way. Also, all edges are rounded and smoothed down.

Furthermore, two holes of 6.5 mm are drilled along its vertical central axis, one at 25 mm from the top edge, end the other at 55 mm from the top edge; these two holes are thus 30 mm apart.

Looking at the smaller piece (7) in a vertical position, it has a basic size of 30 x 90 mm. The top if fully rounded and the lower part is slightly tapered starting from 30 mm from the bottom, and finishing into a rounded lower tip of 10 mm in diameter. Furthermore, two holes of 6.5 mm are drilled along its vertical central axis, one at 15 mm from the top edge, end the other at 45 mm from the top edge; these two holes are thus also 30 mm apart.

-10 -The two pieces (5 & 7) are attached together through their corresponding holes with M6 x 60 mm stainless steel machine screws with flat countersunk heads (13) and a 24 mm washer (14) and nut (15) . The screws are introduced on the side of the smaller piece (7), in which the heads of the screws become embedded. Once attached, the ends of both screws protrude about 53 mm on the other side of the larger piece (5).

Thus assembled, the whole sock pad is attached to one lever (4); the screws are passed through the corresponding holes in the lever and are fitted with hexagon domed cap nuts (16) and 12 mm washers (17) on the outside of the lever, and secured with a standard nut (15) and washer (17) on the inside. The sock pad is thus solidly positioned at a distance of about 27 mm off the inside of the lever/handle.

The smaller sock pad: Figure 4 and Figure 5 illustrate that, for this preferred embodiment, the main components of the said sock pad are 2 pieces (6 + 7) . The kind of material used to make these pieces, their shapes, and the way they are positioned, are all extremely crucial for the efficiency of the device. As the material needs to be hard, rigid, and flexible, and have a smooth surface and edges, for the present embodiment, flexible polyurethane sheet of 4 mm has been chosen for manufacturing the said sock pads, because it is hard-wearing, smooth, and hygienic, which is important as it comes in direct contact with the skin of the user. However, other materials such as semi-rigid polyethylene or PVC, for instance, can be equally suitable. Alternatively, as for the larger sock pad, some variations in the shapes, sizes, and positions, of the pieces 6 & 7, or the use of a different material altogether, can be preferable according to circumstances, or can turn out to be more suitable for particular or extreme situations. Yet in this chosen embodiment, looking at the larger piece (6) in a vertical position, its basic shape is a quadrilateral that measures 70 mm in height, with a top side of 50 mm, and the bottom side of mm. The top two corners are rounded at a radius of 15 mm, and the two bottom corners are rounded at a radius of 10 mm.

Furthermore, two holes of 6.5 mm are drilled along its vertical central axis, one at 25 mm from the top edge, end the other at 55 mm from the top edge; these holes are thus 30 mm apart.

The two pieces (6 & 7) are attached together through their corresponding holes with N6 x 60 mm stainless steel machine screws with flat countersunk heads (13) and a 24 mm washer (14) and nut (15) . The screws are introduced on the side of the smaller piece (7), in which the heads of the screws become embedded. Once attached, the ends of both screws protrude about 53 mm on the other side of the larger piece (6).

-11 -Thus assembled, the whole sock pad is attached to the other lever (4); the screws are passed through the corresponding holes in the lever and are fitted with hexagon domed cap nuts (16) and 12 mm washers (17) on the outside of the lever, and secured with a standard nut (15) and washer (17) on the inside. The sock pad is thus solidly positioned at a distance of about 27 mm off the inside of the lever/handle.

Final assembling of the invention Figure 1 shows that once the two levers (4) are fitted with their respective sock pads (5 + 7 & 6 + 7), they are attached through the hole at 20 mm from their end in the base (1 + 2), and through the two holes that are positioned at 50 mm down from the top edge of the base and 60 mm apart and centred, with two M6 x 30 mm stainless steel machine screws (10) with countersunk heads on one side of the base and countersunk sleeve nuts (11) on the other side. Washers (12) are required on both sides of the levers at their anchoring points inside the base, as the levers/handles scan swivel at a maximum angle of approximately 30° sideways, a limit which is set by the two rubber stoppers that are positioned at 20 mm down from the top edge of the base. And finally, a rubber sleeve (8) is fitted to cover about 45 cm of the top end of each lever, which thus forms the handle part, and a small rubber cap (9) is fitted at the very top of the handle.

Claims (6)

1. -12 -Claims 1. A device for putting on, and taking off, socks comprising two poles that act as levers and handles, that can each swivel about 300 sideways from their vertical position, that are anchored by one pivot each in a base, and that have each a pad affixed inside and at a certain distance off the poles, over which a sock can be placed easily when the poles are in vertical position, and which thus confer ample leverage for a user to stretch open the said sock without difficulty and to insert his or her foot in it, and to put it on tightly on the foot, and all the way up the lower leg.
2. 2. The specific nature, positions, and shapes of the two sock pads inside and at certain distance off the poles, on which a sock is to be placed, are such that a sock remains firmly in place while putting it on so that the sock can easily be passed over the heel and pulled tightly all the way up the lower leg without slipping off the said pads and that, with an extra little pulling, can be easily released from the sock.
3. 3. The said device can be used for taking socks off too.
4. 4. The two procedures, of putting a sock on, and of taking a sock off, can be easily carried out by a user while remaining comfortingly seated, even in a reclined position, or lying on a bed, as the hands do not have to reach farther down than the user's knees, and as only very little physical strength is required, these two procedures can also be carried out by people who are physically severely diminished.
5. 5. When using the device to put socks on, there is not one part of the said device that comes in contact with the user's heel, neither directly nor indirectly with some part of a sock in between.
6. 6. When using the device to take socks off, and once a sock is off the user's foot, the removed sock can be held in the device so that the user can bring the removed sock in hand's reach while remaining in the same position, and without having to stoop or to pick up the sock from the ground.Amendment to the claims have been filed as follows Claims # 1) A device for putting on socks comprising a base member and two pivotal poles extending there from, a pad mounted on each pole in such a way that in use the open end of a sock can be folded over the pads and then stretched open easily by pulling the poles apart as they confer ample leverage and thus allow a user to conveniently place a foot within the sock and put it on tightly all the way up the leg, while the same device can also be used to take socks off.# 2) A device for putting on socks according to claim 1, in which two poles that act as handles and as levers are anchored by one pivot each in a base, and that can both swivel about 30° sideways from their vertical position.# 3) A device for putting on socks according to claim 2, in which two poles that act as handles and as levers have each a special sock pad affixed inside at a certain distance off the poles, over which a sock can be placed easily when the poles are in vertical position.# 4) A device for putting on socks according to claim 3, in which the specific nature, position, and shapes, of the two sock pads on which a sock is to be placed are such that a sock remains firmly in place while putting it on without slipping off the said sock pads.# 5) A device for putting on socks according to claim 4 that, with a little extra pulling, can easily be released from a sock once it has been put on.# 6) A device for putting on socks according to claim 1, which can also be used for taking socks off.# 7) A device for putting on socks according to claim 1, and to take socks off according to claim 6, with which both procedures can easily be carried out by a user while remaining comfortingly seated, even in a reclined position, or lying on a bed, as the hands do not have to reach farther down than the S.....* * user's knees, and as only very little physical strength is required, these two procedures can also be carried out by people who are old and frail or physically severely diminished. * S S* # 8) A device for putting on socks according to claim 4, where not one part of the said device comes in contact with the user's heel, neither directly nor indirectly with some part of a sock in between, while using it to put a sock on.* # 9) A device for putting on, and taking off socks according to claim 6, when using it to take socks off, and once a sock is off the user's foot, with which the removed sock can be held in the device so that the user can bring the removed sock in hand's reach while remaining in the same position, and without having to stoop or to pick up the sock from the ground.