US20100200622A1

US20100200622A1 - Self-dressing aid device

Info

Publication number: US20100200622A1
Application number: US12/368,338
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis FUSARO
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-10
Filing date: 2009-02-10
Publication date: 2010-08-12

Abstract

A self-dressing aid device for assisting an individual in dressing is provided. The device is designed to be simple and inexpensive such that it can be used to aid disabled, impaired, handicapped or incapacitated individuals to dress themselves. The device can include a garment frame that is shaped, sized and configured to hold a garment, at least one linear first post attached to the garment frame, at least one linear second post in a sliding arrangement with the at least one linear first post, and a base connected to the at least one linear second post and positioned in a horizontal relationship with respect to the at least one linear second post, which is positioned in a vertical or angled relationship with respect to the base. The garment frame can be movable with respect to the base to assist an individual in putting on a garment.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates to a device that can be used to aid disabled, impaired, handicapped or incapacitated people or patients to dress themselves. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a device that allows these individuals to easily dress their lower bodies without assistance. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a device that allows individuals who are unable to bend down to pull on their pants or undergarments from a sitting position independently, without manual assistance from others.
2. Discussion of Background Information
Advances in science, nutrition, disease control, and medicine have led to an increase in average life expectancy. Many people are living well into their eighties and nineties. As people age, they frequently start to experience increased health problems. Some older people find themselves with limited mobility. Other people find that a disability or an accident impairs their mobility. As a result, many people find themselves having to use a wheelchair to get around.
Other health problems are often coupled with this decrease in mobility. Frequently, people find themselves with an array of health problems to which they must attend. However, most people, no matter how numerous their health problems, like to be as self-reliant as possible. They are looking for products that allow them to take care of their health while providing them with the freedom to care for themselves instead of needing to rely on others.
There are a number of products that have been specifically designed to help the elderly and others with severe impairments to continue to care for themselves. Grab bars, and stools in tubs and showers, allow people to continue to bathe themselves even as they lose mobility. Ramps and electric doors allow people in wheelchairs and those using walkers to maneuver without asking others for assistance.
While products such as these have helped to improve independence, there are still a large number of areas where the elderly, or those who are incapacitated, would welcome innovations that would allow them to continue to maintain a high degree of independence.
In order to be able to stay at home and care for themselves, people must be able to perform basic functions such as going to the restroom, bathing, dressing and eating without assistance. Patients who have had spinal surgery, back problems, hip surgery, or abdominal surgery often have a decreased range of motion and find it difficult to bend over. This can make it impossible for them to dress themselves without assistance because they cannot bend down to pull on their pants and undergarments.
Previous to this invention, there were some devices that could be used to assist incapacitated people in moving and dressing. One example of such a device is disclosed by McKenney et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,640. McKenney describes a dressing-aid-and-transfer device for assisting attendants and patients in moving and dressing. The device includes a space frame with support legs of the space frame defining a device perimeter. A chest support is provided to support the weight of the patient being moved. The space frame is designed so as to provide a stable and lightweight transfer device that is transportable and easy for a single person to operate. The support legs and reinforcing cross-pieces are configured to provide structural stability without interfering with an attendant's ability to easily remove and place clothing on a patient's lower body. The support legs pivot at the base of the space frame in order to reduce the force required to transfer a patient to and from a sitting position. Optional features include a rotatable base and the use of actuators to reduce the effort required to tilt the space frame.
The device according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,640 is designed for assisting attendants or patients in moving and dressing, by which a patient can be lifted from a sitting position and positioned on the device, and the patient then can be assisted by the attendants. In other words, this device is designed to provide a stable and lightweight patient support mechanism that ensures patient safety and comfort. However, there is no simple device that can be used by disabled or incapacitated people who cannot bend over to assist themselves in dressing in pants or undergarments from a sitting position without assistance from others.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to a first aspect of the present invention, disabled, impaired, handicapped or incapacitated individuals are provided with a simple, portable, manual and inexpensive self-dressing aid device. According to a further aspect of the present invention, individuals who cannot bend over to dress themselves are enabled to do so. According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a self-dressing aid device that can hold pants or undergarments in an opened position so they can then slide down a specially designed frame until a user can place his or her legs in the openings of the pants or undergarments, and then move the frame until the user can grasp the pants or undergarments, which can then be released from the device, and the user can then finish dressing himself or herself.
The aspects of the invention described above are achieved through the present disclosure, which according to one aspect of the present invention, relates to a self-dressing aid device for assisting an individual in putting a garment on a garment frame that is shaped, sized and configured to hold the garment, at least one linear first post being attached to the garment frame, at least one linear second post being disposed in a sliding arrangement with the at least one linear first post, and a base is connected to the at least one linear second post, wherein the base is positioned in a horizontal relationship with respect to the at least one linear second post which is positioned in a vertical or angled relationship with respect to the base, wherein the garment frame is configured to be movable with respect to the base to assist an individual in putting the garment onto the body of the individual.
According to one or more embodiments, the garment frame can include at least one attaching element configured to hold the garment. The at least one attaching element can be two or more pegs positioned on the garment frame and configured to hold the garment. The at least one linear first post can be two posts, and the at least one linear second post can be two posts. Furthermore, the base of the device can include two rods, a bracket connected to the two rods, and two side supports which can be configured to attach to two posts of the at least one linear second post so that the at least one linear second post is positioned in a vertical or angled relationship with respect to the base. The device can further include two variable locking elements fixed to the two side supports and configured to change the vertical or angled relationship of the two posts of the at least one linear second post with respect to the two rods of the base and then lock the two posts of the at least one linear second post in a fixed position with respect to the two rods of the base.
Also according to one or more embodiments, the at least one linear first post can have a sleeve configured to slide over the at least one linear second post.
According to one or more embodiments, the device further can include at least one variable locking element configured to change the vertical or angled relationship of the at least one linear second post with respect to the base and then lock the at least one linear second post in a fixed position with respect to the base.
Also according to one or more embodiments, the garment frame can have a shape of one of, a rectangle, a square and an oval. At least one of the edges of the rectangle or the square can be tapered in order to be ergonomic and enhance usage by the individual.
According to one or more embodiments, at least one of, the at least one linear first post and the at least one linear second post can have a cross-sectional shape of one of, a rectangle, a square and an oval. At least one of the edges of the rectangle or the square of the cross-sectional shape can be tapered in order to be ergonomic and enhance use by the individual.
According to one or more embodiments, the device can be made of at least one of, plastic, aluminum, aluminum alloy, metal, metal alloy, wood, and a combination thereof.
Further according to one or more embodiments, at least one of, the garment frame, the at least one linear first post, the at least one linear second post, and the base can be detachable from one another.
In another aspect of the present invention, a device is provided for assisting an individual in putting on a garment, in which the device can include a garment frame that is shaped, sized and configured to hold the garment, at least one linear first post that can be attached to the garment frame, and a base that can be connected to the at least one linear first post, wherein the at least one linear first post can be in a sliding arrangement with the base, wherein the garment frame is configured to be movable with respect to the base, so as to assist an individual in putting the garment on.
According to one or more embodiments, the base can include at least one track or groove and the at least one linear first post can be slideable in the at least one track or groove. The base can have a horizontal edge and the at least one track or groove can be positioned in a vertical or angled relationship with respect to the horizontal edge of the base.
Further according to one or more embodiments, the at least one linear first post can be two posts and the at least one track or groove can be two tracks or grooves.
According to one or more embodiments, device for assisting an individual in putting on a garment is provided, the device comprising a garment frame that is shaped, sized and configured to hold the garment, wherein the garment frame comprises at least one attaching element configured to hold the garment. The device further comprises at least one linear first post attached to the garment frame, wherein the at least one linear first post comprises two posts and the sleeve configured to slide over the at least one linear second post. The device further comprises at least one linear second post in a sliding arrangement with the at least one linear first post, wherein the at least one linear second post comprises two posts. The device further comprises a base connected to the at least one linear second post, wherein the base is positioned in a horizontal relationship with respect to the at least one linear second post, and the at least one linear second post is positioned in a vertical or angled relationship with respect to the base, wherein the base comprises two rods, a bracket connected to the two rods, and two side supports are configured to attach to the two posts of the at least one linear second post so that the at least one linear second post is positioned in a vertical or angled relationship with respect to the base. Finally, the device further comprises two variable locking elements fixed to the two side supports and configured to allow a change in the vertical or angled relationship of the two posts of the at least one linear second post with respect to the two rods of the base and then lock the two posts of the at least one linear second post being in a fixed position with respect to the two rods of the base. The garment frame of the device is configured to be movable with respect to the base to assist an individual in putting the garment onto the body of the individual. At least one of, the garment frame, the at least one linear first post, the at least one linear second post, and the base is detachable from one another.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for assisting an individual to dress in a garment. The method can include providing a device for assisting the individual in dressing in a garment. The device can have a garment frame that is shaped, sized and configured to hold the garment, at least one linear first post that can be attached to the garment frame, at least one linear second post in a sliding arrangement with the at least one linear first post, and a base connected to the at least one linear second post. The base can be positioned in a horizontal relationship with respect to the at least one linear second post, and the at least one linear second post can be positioned in a vertical or angled relationship with respect to the base, wherein the garment frame can be configured to be movable with respect to the base to assist an individual in putting the garment onto the body of the individual. The individual can be positioned in front of the device and use the device to assist himself or herself in dressing in the garment.
In this method, the use of the device to assist the individual in dressing in the garment can include removing the garment frame from the device while the garment frame is still attached to the at least one first linear post, detaching the at least one first linear post from the at least one second linear post, placing the garment frame on the lap of the individual, attaching the garment to the garment frame, reattaching the garment frame to the device and letting the garment frame with the at least one first linear post slide down towards the at least one second linear post, pulling the sliding frame up until the garment is high enough to be reached by the individual, taking hold of the garment with one hand, releasing the sliding frame and allowing the garment frame to drop back down, pushing the device away from the individual, and standing up to finish putting on the garment.
Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the present invention may be ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of embodiments of the present disclosure, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1A is a simplified perspective view of a self-dressing aid device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B is a top plan view of a garment frame of the self-dressing aid device that is shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a simplified side elevational view of the self-dressing aid device that is shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a simplified perspective view of a self-dressing aid device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a simplified side elevational view of the self-dressing aid device that is shown in FIG. 2A; and

FIG. 2C is a top plan view of a garment frame of the self-dressing aid device that is shown in FIG. 2A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C, a self-dressing aid device 1 according to one or more embodiments of one aspect of the present disclosure can include a garment frame 11 that is shaped, sized and configured to hold a garment, two linear first posts 12, 13 attached to the garment frame 11, two linear second posts 14, 15 in a sliding arrangement with the two linear first posts 12, 13, and a base 10 connected to the two linear second posts 14, 15. The two linear second posts 14, 15 are positioned in a vertical or angled relationship with respect to the base 10, and the garment frame 11 is configured to be movable with respect to the base 10 to assist an individual in putting the garment onto the body of the individual. Therefore, the base 10 is positioned in a horizontal relationship with respect to the at least one linear second post 14, 15.
Although in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, a pair of each of the parts are shown, i.e., two linear first posts, two linear second posts and two rods for the base (as further described below), it can be appreciated that other configurations are possible. For example, the self-dressing aid device can comprise one linear first post, one linear second post and one rod for the base instead of a pair of each, and can still be operational as long as there is structural integrity in the self-dressing aid device. Such other configurations can be used, for example, if the self-dressing aid device is made of a material that is strong enough to withstand the stresses to which it may be subjected. For example, if wood is chosen as a material for the self-dressing aid device, which is a weaker material than, for example, metal, the self-dressing aid device is therefore preferably comprised of two linear first posts, two linear second posts and two rods instead of one of each. However, if metal is chosen as a material for the self-dressing aid device, which is generally considered a stronger material than wood, then the self-dressing aid device can comprise one linear first post, one linear second post and/or one rod.
Furthermore, it shall be understood that other configurations of the parts of the self-dressing device can be used as long as the functions of the individual parts are met. For example, the purpose of the base is for supporting the linear first post, the linear second post and the frame, on a horizontal surface. Configurations of the base are possible other than the base being comprised of two rods as shown in FIG. 1A. For example, a unitary circular or oval base can be used instead of two rods. Thus, even further modifications for the base or other parts of the self-dressing aid device can be accomplished by those skilled in the art that would provide further benefits to the self-dressing aid device, without negating the primary purpose and advantages according to the present disclosure. For example, the base can have additional features, such as being textured on its surface to prevent sliding on a smooth floor, or being smooth on its surface to allow some movement on a carpeted floor. Thus, many other configurations are possible without departing from the scope according to the present invention.
As seen in FIG. 1B, the garment frame 11 can comprise at least one attaching element configured to hold the garment. For example, the garment frame 11 can include two or more pegs 23 that are configured to hold the garment. Attachment elements other than pegs are possible, such as, but not limited to, clips, pins, magnets and the like, as long as the attachment elements accomplish their purpose, which is to hold the garment securely until the individual can grasp the garment while allowing easy detachment of the garment from the garment frame 11 during the process of self-dressing (as further described below).
In one or more embodiments, the garment frame 11 can have two notches 24, 25 which allow the garment frame 11 to be coupled to the two linear first posts 12, 13. Each of the two linear first posts 12, 13 can have at least one protrusion 112, 113, so that the protrusions 112, 113 can interact with the notches 24, 25 on the garment frame 11 in a way that the garment frame 11 can be attached to the two linear first posts 12, 13, held in place securely while holding the garment, and then can be detached easily when desired. The attachment of the garment frame 11 to the two linear first posts 12, 13 by the use of the notches 24, 25 and the protrusions 112, 113 can be in a manner indicated by the large arrow shown in FIG. 1A. Of course, other ways of accomplishing these steps are possible by providing different configurations of the garment frame and the at least one linear first post. For example, configurations of notches and protrusions other than what are shown in FIG. 1A are possible, and other elements can be used for the same purpose, including but not limited to, magnets, strings, clips, nails, screws, nuts, bolts and the like. Thus, as can be seen in FIGS. 1A and 1C, in these embodiments, the two linear first posts 12, 13 can have a sleeve S configured to slide over the two linear second posts 14, 15. The sliding of the two linear first posts 12, 13 over the two linear second posts 14, 15 can be in a manner indicated by the four large arrows in opposing directions depicted in FIG. 1B.
As stated above, the base 10 of the self-dressing aid device 1 can include two rods 16, 17 in a preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 1A. A bracket 18 can be used to connect the two rods 16, 17 to each other. Two side supports 19, 20 can be used and configured so that the two second posts 14, 15 are attached to the bracket 18 and so that the two second posts 14, 15 can be positioned in a vertical or angled relationship with respect to the base 10. As can be seen in FIG. 1A, each of the rods 16, 17 can further include a bottom rod support 26 and a rubber protector 27 in order to provide added stability and protection for the individual from injuring himself or herself by hitting his or her foot against the ends of the rods. Thus, the base 10 can comprise the rods 16, 17, the bracket 18 and the side supports 19, 20, while it can optionally include bottom support rods 26 and rubber protectors 27. As discussed above, other variations of the base 10 are possible. The number of parts of the base 10 can be modified by one skilled in the art, and the optional elements, i.e., the bottom support rods 26 and rubber protectors 27, may not be needed, or additional optional elements may be added, while not departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The base 10 can be unitary in design or the parts of the base 10 can be connected together by any methods known in the art, such as but not limited to, screws, nails, glue and the like. Of course, how the parts of the base 10 (and other parts of the self-dressing aid device 1) are connected together may be dependent on the type of materials that are used, which can include metal, alloys, wood, plastic and the like.
In one or more preferred embodiments, the self-dressing aid device 1 further includes two variable locks 21, 22 configured to allow a change in the vertical or angled relationship of the two linear second posts 14, 15 with respect to the base 10 and then to lock the two second posts 14, 15 in a fixed position with respect to the base 10. The purpose of the variable locks 21, 22 is to allow a change of the angle relationship easily but also to lock in the angle so that the upper parts of the self-dressing aid device 1 are secured after the angle is changed. Thus, the variable locks 21, 22 can comprise a wing nut, a bolt and a screw along with a planar element (such as the side supports 19, 20) so that the wing nut, the bolt and the screw can be passed through a hole on the planar element and a hole in the at least one linear second post 14, 15 to securely connect the it to the base 10. However, other configurations of the variable locks are possible as long as they meet the purpose of allowing a change of the described angle relationship. It is noted that although FIG. 1A shows two variable locks 21, 22 where two rods 16, 17 and two linear second posts 14, 15 are utilized, other embodiments as described above which utilize only one rod and one linear second post can thereby utilize only one variable lock.
The garment frame 11 can have an overall shape of one of, a rectangle, a square and an oval. If the overall shape is a rectangle or a square, one or more edges of any of the edges (or corners) of the garment frame 11 can be tapered. Additionally, as can be seen in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2C, some of the edges of the garment frame 11 can have a tapered surface.
Furthermore, according to one or more embodiments, at least one of, the at least one linear first post 12, 13 and the at least one linear second post 14, 15 can have a cross-sectional shape of one of, a rectangle, a square and an oval. If the cross-sectional shape is a rectangle or a square, one or more edges of any of the edges of the at least one linear first post 12, 13 and the at least one linear second post 14, 15 can be tapered.
As described above, the self-dressing aid device 1 can be made of one or more materials. As such, the self-dressing aid device 1 can be made of material of at least one of, plastic, aluminum, aluminum alloy, metal, metal alloy, wood and a combination thereof. Other materials are possible. Thus, one part of the self-dressing aid device 1 can be made of one material while another part can be made of another material, or alternatively the entire self-dressing aid device 1 can be made of one material as long as structural integrity is provided.
Also, according to one or more preferred embodiments, at least one of, the garment frame 11, the at least one linear first post 12, 13, the at least one linear second post 14, 15, and the base 10 can be detachable from one another. However, as described above, certain parts of the self-dressing aid device 1, including these parts, but also including smaller parts such as the bracket 18, the variable locks 21, 22 and the rods 16, 17, for example, can be detachable or non-detachable from one another.
In other embodiments of the present invention, a device 30 for assisting an individual in dressing themselves in a garment, is provide as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C. This self-dressing aid device 30 can include a garment frame 32 that is shaped, sized and configured to hold the garment, at least one linear first post 33, 34 attached to the garment frame 32, and a base 31 connected to the at least one linear first post 33, 34, wherein the at least one linear first post 33, 34 is in a sliding arrangement within groove 36 of the base 31, and wherein the garment frame 32 is configured to be movable with respect to the base 31 to assist an individual in putting the garment onto the body of the individual.
As can be seen in FIGS. 2A to 2C, in these embodiments, the at least one linear first post 33, 34 can comprise two linear first posts. The base 31 can include an open box-like configuration which may or may not have openings, for aesthetic construction and ease of use, the box having grooves 36 in which the two linear posts 33, 34 can slide up and down, and a bottom support 37. The grooves 36 are positioned in an angled relationship with respect to the bottom support 37. The garment frame 32 can include one or more pegs 35. Thus, the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C are very similar to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, but with the major differences in that a box is used for the base which serves the purpose of stabilizing the self-dressing aid device while providing a fixed angle for the garment frame based on the fixed/non-adjustable grooves, and that linear second posts are not needed (thus decreasing the number of parts while maintaining or increasing stability). In these embodiments, items with respect to the base that were described with respect to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, such as a bracket, a rubber protector, etc., are not necessary. However, it is to be understood that many of the features described previously for the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C can be utilized for the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C as well because such modifications would be within the scope of one skilled in the art. For instance, although a frame with tapered edges is not shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the frame having such features shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 1A to 1C can be used in the self-dressing aid device 30 shown in FIGS. 2A-2C.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method for assisting an individual to dress in a garment is provided. The method can include providing the self-dressing aid device 1 or the self-dressing aid device 30 as described above. The method further comprises positioning the individual in front of the self-dressing aid device 1 or 30, and using the device to assist the individual in dressing in the garment.
In one or more embodiments according to this aspect of the invention, the use of the device to assist the individual in dressing in the garment comprises: removing the garment frame from the device, the garment frame still being attached to the at least one first linear post, and the at least one first linear post being detached from the at least one second linear post; placing the garment frame on the lap of the individual to be dressed; attaching the garment to the garment frame; replacing the garment frame in the device, and letting the garment frame with the at least one first linear post slide down towards the at least one second linear post; pulling the sliding frame up until the garment is high enough to be reached by the individual; grasping the garment with one hand and then releasing the sliding frame to allow the garment frame to drop back down; and pushing the device away from the individual, standing up and finish putting on the garment.
Of course, this embodiment applies to using the self-dressing aid device 1 instead of the self-dressing aid device 30 because the latter has a base 31 instead of the at least one second linear post 14, 15. However, the differences in using the self-dressing aid device 30 versus the self-dressing aid device 1 would be readily apparent based on the apparent differences in structural features.
The benefits of using the self-dressing aid device are numerous, some of which have been described above. Different embodiments also have been described, while other possibilities or modifications by a skilled artisan also are described above. The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present disclosure only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present disclosure. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present disclosure in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present disclosure, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present disclosure may be embodied in practice.
It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods, and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for assisting an individual in dressing in a garment, the device comprising:

a) a garment frame that is shaped, sized and configured to hold the garment;

b) at least one linear first post attached to the garment frame;

c) at least one linear second post in a sliding arrangement with the at least one linear first post; and

d) a base connected to the at least one linear second post, wherein the base is positioned in a horizontal relationship with respect to the at least one linear second post, and the at least one linear second post is positioned in a vertical or angled relationship with respect to the base,

wherein the garment frame is configured to be movable with respect to the base to assist an individual in putting the garment onto the body of the individual.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the garment frame includes at least one attaching element configured to hold the garment.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one attaching element comprises two or more pegs positioned on the garment frame and configured to hold the garment.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one linear first post comprises two posts and the at least one linear second post comprises two posts.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one linear first post is a sleeve configured to slide over the at least one linear second post.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein the base comprises two rods, a bracket connecting to the two rods, and two side supports configured to attach to the two posts of the at least one linear second post so that the at least one linear second post is positioned in a vertical or angled relationship with respect to the base.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a variable locking element configured to allow change of the vertical or angled relationship of the at least one linear second post with respect to the base and then locking the at least one linear second post in a fixed position with respect to the base.

8. The device according to claim 6, further comprising two variable locking elements fixed to the two side supports and configured to allow change of the vertical or angled relationship of the two posts of the at least one linear second post with respect to the two rods of the base and then locking the two posts of the at least one linear second post in a fixed position with respect to the two rods of the base.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the garment frame has a shape of one of, a rectangle, a square and an oval.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein at least one of any edges of the rectangle or the square garment frame is tapered.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of, the at least one linear first post and the at least one linear second post has a cross-sectional shape of one of, a rectangle, a square and an oval.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the edges of the rectangle or the square of the cross-sectional shape are tapered.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is made of a material of at least one of, plastic, aluminum, aluminum alloy, metal, metal alloy, wood and a combination thereof.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of, the garment frame, the at least one linear first post, the at least one linear second post, and the base is detachable from one another.

15. A device for assisting an individual in dressing in a garment, the device comprising:

a) a garment frame that is shaped, sized and configured to hold the garment;

b) at least one linear first post attached to the garment frame; and

c) a base connected to the at least one linear first post, wherein the at least one linear first post is in a sliding arrangement with the base,

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the base comprises at least one track or groove, and the at least one linear first post is slideable in the at least one track or groove.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the base has a horizontal edge and the at least one track or groove is positioned in a vertical or angled relationship with respect to the horizontal edge of the base.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the at least one linear first post comprises two posts and the at least one track or groove comprises two tracks or grooves.

19. A device for assisting an individual in dressing in a garment, the device comprising:

a) a garment frame that is shaped, sized and configured to hold the garment, wherein the garment frame comprises at least one attaching element configured to hold the garment;

b) at least one linear first post attached to the garment frame, wherein the at least one linear first post comprises two posts and at least one sleeve configured to slide over the at least one linear second post;

c) at least one linear second post in a sliding arrangement with the at least one linear first post, wherein the at least one linear second post comprises two posts;

d) a base connected to the at least one linear second post, wherein the base is positioned in a horizontal relationship with respect to the at least one linear second post, and the at least one linear second post is positioned in a vertical or angled relationship with respect to the base, wherein the base comprises two rods, a bracket connecting to the two rods, and two side supports configured to attach to the two posts of the at least one linear second post so that the at least one linear second post is positioned in a vertical or angled relationship with respect to the base; and

e) two variable locking elements fixed to the two side supports and configured to allow change of the vertical or angled relationship of the two posts of the at least one linear second post with respect to the two rods of the base and then locking the two posts of the at least one linear second post in a fixed position with respect to the two rods of the base,

wherein the garment frame is configured to be movable with respect to the base to assist an individual in dressing the garment onto the body of the individual.

20. The device for assisting an individual in dressing a garment of claim 19, wherein at least one of, the garment frame, the at least one linear first post, the at least one linear second post, and the base is detachable from one another.