Apparel apparatus – Putting on or removing garments – Stockings from forms
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-01
2001-09-04
Mohanty, Bibhu (Department: 3741)
Apparel apparatus
Putting on or removing garments
Stockings from forms
C223S111000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283342
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to aids for physically challenged persons and, in particular, the present invention relates to a device to aid physically challenged persons when donning footwear.
2. Background of the Invention
Physically challenged persons frequently encounter difficulty when attempting to don footwear. Such persons may be physically challenged due to limited bending, reaching, or gripping ability, lack of coordination, or other impediments. These, or other disabilities, often occur subsequent to onset of strokes, spinal chord injuries, arthritis, or surgeries such as for hip or knee replacement. Devices such as shoe spoons have long been known, but may be nonetheless of limited utility to these physically challenged persons. There is then a need for a device to assist persons in donning footwear. There is a particular need for a device to easily, readily, and simply provide assistance to persons donning footwear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention substantially meets the aforementioned needs by providing a device to assist persons when donning footwear. The device may include means for grasping the device and an insertion member. The insertion member may include a resilient, substantially flexible central member, a plurality of guides, and a connecting member. The central member may be dimensioned to be accommodated by a footwear opening in footwear such as a shoe, the footwear opening accommodating insertion of a person's foot. The central member may be generally arcuate in cross-section and may define a generally central cavity. The central member may further include a first and second end. The first and second ends may be conformed to being spaced apart, thereby defining a gap. The plurality of guides may be disposed on the flexible member proximate the gap. The connecting member may be in mechanical communication with the central member and with the device grasping means.
The present invention provides a footwear donning assistance device, which includes a substantially resilient positioning member and a substantially resilient insertion member. The insertion member may be generally C-shaped in cross-section and may be attached to the positioning member. The insertion member may include a central element and first and second wing elements. The wing elements may extend generally transversely from the central element to define a channel. The wing elements may be spaced apart to accommodate a user's foot therebetween and to spread the footwear proximate the footwear opening and prevent the footwear from being folded or rolled by the user's foot when the footwear is being donned. Upper portions of the wing elements may be flared outwardly to further guide the user's foot into channel.
One advantage of the present footwear donning assistance is that the handle allows footwear to be donned without requiring the user to bend or stoop.
Another advantage of the present footwear donning device is that the sides of the footwear are held out of the way by the insertion member and are thus prevented from being rolled or folded inwardly when the footwear is being donned.
Yet another advantage of the present footwear donning device is that the notch and contours of the insertion member lower rim allow the insertion member to be tilted rearwardly without tilting the footwear when the footwear is being donned.
Still another advantage of the present footwear donning device is that the outwardly flared portions of the insertion member help guide the user's foot into the insertion device when a piece of footwear is being donned.
Yet still another advantage of the present footwear donning assistance device is that the concave upper extension guides the user's heel into the shoe heel when a piece of footwear is being donned.
Additional objects, advantages, and features of various embodiments of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of various embodiments of the invention may further be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
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Mohanty Bibhu
Peterson, Thuente, Skaar & Christensen, P.A.
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