Apparel apparatus – Putting on or removing garments – Stockings from forms
Patent
1996-06-11
1999-07-20
Mohanty, Bibhu
Apparel apparatus
Putting on or removing garments
Stockings from forms
223111, A47G 2590
Patent
active
059246090
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of taking off an elastic cover for limbs, as well as take off means which can be used therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the field of elastic therapeutic stockings, a large number of means are developed through the years in order to facilitate putting on these stockings. These developments are shown in a series of Patent Applications, i.e. DE-C-478 051, FR-A-788.477, SE-B-447 539, SE-B-455 566 and WO-A-91/05498. The first document dates back to 1928, while the last is from 1991. This shows that the problem of putting on elastic therapeutic stockings is a long existing one and solutions are still being developed.
In practise it appears, however, that not only the operation of putting on elastic therapeutic stockings, but also taking them off involve difficulties and is maybe even a bigger problem then putting on these stockings. Particularly older people do not have the power to take off the cover and in particular the elastic therapeutic stocking.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a method of taking off an elastic cover in which the problem described is removed or reduced in a surprisingly simple manner.
For this purpose, the method according to the invention is characterised by applying a wrapping of smooth material around the elastic cover and then stripping the cover from above with interposition of the smooth wrapping between the stripped away portion and the portion still in position on the limb.
By these simple measurements the required force for stripping off the elastic cover is reduced substantially because the frictional force between the stripped off portion of the cover and the portion still in position is reduced by the smooth wrapping that will also be stripped and thereby slides against itself with very low friction.
It is noted that a wrapping of smooth material is well known in the art for a long time, as shown by the documents mentioned above with respect to means for putting on, but nobody has thought of using such wrapping for taking off elastic therapeutic stockings and the like notwithstanding the long existing problem in taking off these stockings. The present inventors have therefore got out of a routine and these solution of the invention is hence not obvious.
Although the method according to the invention is suited for taking off both covers for the arm and covers for the leg, particularly the latter is an even bigger problem resulting from the presence of the heel-instep area which has a substantially larger circumference than the overlying leg part and therefore additional power is needed to pull the tight portion of the elastic stocking over this heel-instep area. In this application it is favourable to use a tapering wrapping which is put on to such an extent that it is positioned tightly against the heel and instep. This ensures that the wrapping remains stationary in this area and that the overlying portion of the wrapping slides by when the stocking is stripped off. The tapering of the wrapping also enables the use of a single wrapping size for a variety of foot and hand sizes also with inelastic wrappings. With the cover for the arm, the hand causes problems during the take off operation since the circumference thereof is larger than that of the wrist.
The invention also includes the take off means for use in the method described above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be further illustrated with reference to the drawing showing an embodiment of the invention by way of example.
FIG. 1 is a view of an exemplary embodiment of the take off means according to the invention.
FIGS. 2-4 illustrate in side view three stages of the method of taking off a therapeutic elastic stocking.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 schematically shows the take off means according to the invention in its configuration of a wrapping 1 which is formed of a thin, supple and smooth material having a very low coefficient of friction in rel
REFERENCES:
patent: 4153054 (1979-05-01), Boone
patent: 5356057 (1994-10-01), Vossen
patent: 5601220 (1997-02-01), Vossen
Stolk Robert
Wester Carolina Maria
Mohanty Bibhu
N.V. Varitex
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