DE112021006712T5 - Spreader for tubular footwear articles - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a spreader (10) for widening footwear articles, which comprises the following: two bars (12, 14) and a first crossbar which comprises a first wing (22) which is perpendicular to said bars (12, 14). - a second crossbar (24) mounted slidably on said two bars (12, 14) and comprising a second wing (30); - at least one lever (34) connected to said second crossbar (24) is connected in order to be able to drive said second crossbar translationally between a position approaching said first crossbar (20) and a position spread apart from said first crossbar; at least one of said rods (12, 14) has a rack (64), while said second cross member (24) comprises a support device (72) adapted to cooperate with said rack (64); and said support means (72) moves out of reach of said rack (64) after said second cross member is driven from said spread position in a direction opposite to said first cross member (20).

Description

The present invention relates to a spreader for tubular footwear articles, which allows them to be expanded to make them easier to put on.

One intended area of application is particularly, but not exclusively, that of venous compression, which requires placing both legs in narrow tubular orthoses.

These tubular orthoses, commonly referred to as “compression socks,” allow controlled pressure to be exerted on the lower limbs, thereby promoting venous return.

Now, to be effective, these tubular orthoses are made from materials that contain elastic fibers with a high coefficient of stiffness. As a result, they are difficult to attract, especially to the elderly who need them most. In fact, when putting it on, high coefficients of friction arise between the leg and the orthosis.

Therefore, devices and in particular spreaders have been developed which allow the tubular article of footwear to be expanded in order to facilitate donning.

A type of spreader, the subject of the document FR 2 837 688 comprises two parallel bars connected by a first crossbar and a second crossbar slidably mounted on the two bars. The crossbars are each equipped with two opposing arched wings, and when the two crossbars are brought closer together, the two wings are also brought closer together and can be pushed into the footwear article. The spreader also includes two levers connected to each other by a handle and each pivotally mounted along the rods on the first crossbar, as well as two pivot arms (biellettes), the first two ends of which are each hinged to the two levers, while the other two Ends are designed so that they can be hinged to the second crossbar.

In this way, the two levers are set up to be able to be pivotally driven in order to move the second crossbar translationally by means of the pivot arms and thus to forcibly spread the two wings. This expands the footwear article with force and one can easily insert the foot and then the leg into the footwear article by gradually pushing the footwear article upwards so that it gradually separates from the two wings. When the article of footwear is completely removed, the two crossbars can be separated from each other in order to easily release the leg so stocked from the spreader.

If such a spreader is operated, the backstop of the second crossbar towards the first crossbar when the footwear article is expanded is only effective when the two levers have been pivoted completely along the rods on which they can be hung, for example.

Likewise, a problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a spreader in which the backstop of the second crossbar towards the first crossbar is better ensured.

• - zwei Stangen und eine erste Querstrebe, um die genannten beiden Stangen parallel zueinander zusammenzuhalten, wobei die genannte erste Querstrebe einen ersten Flügel umfasst, der sich im Wesentlichen senkrecht zu den genannten Stangen erstreckt;
• - eine zweite Querstrebe, die gleitend an den genannten beiden Stangen montiert ist und einen zweiten Flügel umfasst, der sich gegenüber dem genannten ersten Flügel erstreckt;
• - mindestens einen Hebel, der mit der genannten zweiten Querstrebe verbunden ist, um die zweite Querstrebe translatorisch bewegen zu können zwischen einer an die genannte erste Querstrebe angenäherten Position, in der ein röhrenförmiger Fußbekleidungsartikel über die genannten beiden Flügel gezogen wird, und einer entfernten bzw. gespreizten Position, in der die genannten beiden Flügel den genannten Fußbekleidungsartikel weiten.

To solve this problem, a spreader for expanding tubular footwear articles is proposed, comprising:

• - two bars and a first crossbar for holding said two bars together parallel to each other, said first crossbar comprising a first wing extending substantially perpendicular to said bars;
• - a second crossbar slidably mounted on said two bars and comprising a second wing extending opposite said first wing;
• - at least one lever connected to said second crossbar for being able to move the second crossbar in translation between a position close to said first crossbar, in which a tubular article of footwear is pulled over said two wings, and a distant or spread position in which said two wings expand said footwear article.

Furthermore, at least one of said rods has a rack, while said second crossbar has a support device (béquille) which is suitable for cooperating with said rack to facilitate the movement of said second crossbar towards the first crossbar between said spread position and the stated approximate position. And said support device is beyond the reach of said rack in order to facilitate the return movement of said second cross strut to allow said first crossbar after said second crossbar has been driven from said spread position in a direction opposite to said first crossbar.

Thus, a feature of the present invention is the use of a rack on at least one of the racks, and a support device pivotally mounted on the second cross member to cooperate with the rack. In this way, the second crossbar can be moved away from the first crossbar in steps that correspond to the distance between two teeth of the rack. This allows the two wings to be gradually spread, gradually making the footwear article wider.

Furthermore, if the second crossbar is driven translationally beyond a predetermined maximum distance from the first crossbar, the support device, thanks to the subject matter of the present invention, escapes the influence of the rack, so that the second crossbar can be brought closer to the first crossbar again in order to move the two wings to thread into a new footwear item.

As will be explained in more detail below, each of the two rods is provided with a rack, while the second crossbar has two levers that are connected to one another by a T-handle.

In addition, and according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one of said rods has a longitudinal groove which is suitable for receiving said support device. In this way, the support device is articulated to the crossbar, while its free end is suitable for projecting into the groove. Furthermore, the longitudinal groove has a bottom which is provided with teeth which form the rack. In this way, the free end of the support device is adapted to cooperate with the teeth in the bottom of the groove.

Advantageously, said longitudinal groove has a T-shaped profile. It has this shape over its entire length between the two opposite ends, which have essentially different shapes. In other words, the groove has a wide bottom and a narrowed neck, which form two shoulders, as will be explained later in the description. In addition, the support device has a widened free end. In this way, the free end of the support device is caught in the groove between these two ends. In fact, the free end of the support device has a width greater than the width of the neck of the groove.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, said at least one of the rods has a ramp which extends within said groove in order to be able to pull said support device out of the groove when said second cross strut moves from said spread position in a direction opposite to first crossbar is pulled. Thus, beyond the teeth of the rack, when the second crossbar is driven in a direction opposite to the first crossbar, the free end of the support is guided by the ramp which pivots it to bring it out of the groove, as below is explained. The groove has no shoulders at this point, so that the support device, more precisely its extended free end, can be extended.

Preferably, the ramp is elastically deformable to allow the support to exit the groove as the ramp deforms and to prevent the support from entering the groove when the second cross member is returned to the first cross member.

Thanks to the deformable ramp, the support device can be driven out of the groove if the second crossbar is further away from the first crossbar while the ramp is descending. As soon as the widened end of the support device escapes and emerges from the shoulders of the groove, the elastically deformable ramp assumes its shape again and closes the groove again. In this way, it prevents the free end of the support device from engaging in the groove when the second crossbar is brought back to the first crossbar. The free end of the support device is thus carried along with sliding friction on the rod above the longitudinal groove.

Furthermore, in a particularly advantageous manner, said longitudinal groove has a local widening in the vicinity of said first crossbar in order to enable said support device to penetrate into said groove. In this way, when the second crossbar supporting the second wing is driven towards the first crossbar and the free end of the support device slides on the rod above the longitudinal groove, this extended free end penetrates into the groove through the local extension. The second crossbar can again be driven translationally and moved away from the first crossbar while the free end of the support device interacts with the rack at the bottom of the groove.

Preferably, the support device is provided with a return spring in order to drive it in a pivoting manner towards the bottom of the groove.

Advantageously, said second crossbar comprises two cylindrical passageways forming slide rails for receiving said rods. In this way, the rods are adapted to slide in the cylindrical passageways while the second crossbar is translationally driven with respect to the first crossbar.

Preferably, said lever is pivotally mounted on said first crossbar, while said second crossbar comprises a further rack, and said lever is equipped with a pivot arm adapted to cooperate with said further rack to form said second crossbar to be able to drive step by step translation. In this way, a short lever can be used, which makes it possible to drive the second crossbar translationally by alternating pivoting clockwise and counterclockwise, while the second crossbar is held back translationally by the support device, which cooperates with the rack of the groove bottom.

In a further embodiment variant, the lever is pivotally mounted on the second crossbar in order to sequentially rotate a gear wheel that interacts with said further rack. As a result, the second cross strut can be driven in translation in the same way relative to the first cross strut.

Furthermore, and according to a further embodiment, the spreader comprises two removable arms terminating in a handle and adapted to be attached to the second crossbar substantially perpendicular to the bars. In this way, when the footwear article has been placed on the wings and the wings have been pulled apart by removing the two crossbars from each other as described above, the assembly (l'ensemble) can be easily carried thanks to the two removable arms at the end of the feet, in order to be able to put on the footwear article, as will be explained in more detail later in the description.

• [1] eine schematische Seitenansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Spreizers in einem ersten Zustand ist;
• [2] eine partielle schematische Draufsicht des in [1] gezeigten Spreizers in einem zweiten Zustand ist;
• [3A] eine partielle schematische Seitenansicht des in [1] gezeigten Spreizers in einem dritten Zustand ist;
• [3B] ein Schnitt durch die Ebene IIIB eines in [3A] gezeigten Elements ist;
• [3C] ein Schnitt entlang der IIIC-Ebene eines in [3A] gezeigten Elements ist;
• [3D] ein Schnitt entlang der IIID-Ebene eines weiteren in [3A] gezeigten Elements ist; und,
• [4] eine schematische Ansicht eines komplementären Elements des Spreizers ist, wie es in [1] dargestellt ist.

Further features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of a specific embodiment of the invention, which is exemplary but not restrictive, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• [ 1 ] is a schematic side view of the spreader according to the invention in a first state;
• [ 2 ] a partial schematic top view of the in [ 1 ] shown spreader is in a second state;
• [ 3A ] a partial schematic side view of the in [ 1 ] shown spreader is in a third state;
• [ 3B ] a section through plane IIIB of one in [ 3A ] element shown is;
• [ 3C ] a section along the IIIC plane of one in [ 3A ] element shown is;
• [ 3D ] a section along the IIID plane of another in [ 3A ] element shown is; and,
• [ 4 ] is a schematic view of a complementary element of the spreader as shown in [ 1 ] is shown.

The [ 2 ], to which reference is made initially, illustrates a spreader 10 according to the invention in a top view and partially. It comprises two rods, a left rod 12 and a right rod 14, each having a beveled free end 16 opposite a connected end 18. The two connected ends 18 are connected to one another by means of a first crossbar 20, which makes it possible to hold the two rods 12, 14 in a fixed position parallel to one another. The first crossbar has a first upper surface 15, which is in [ 2 ] you can see. In addition, the first cross member 20 includes a first wing 22, which extends substantially equidistant from the two rods 12, 14 in a direction that is substantially perpendicular thereto and protrudes from the first top 15. The first wing 22 has a cylindrical profile.

In addition, the spreader 10 includes a second crossbar 24, which has a second top 25 and which is slidably mounted on the two rods 12, 14. For this purpose, the second cross strut 24 has two parallel cylindrical passageways, a left passageway 26 and a right passageway 28, into which the two rods 12 and 14 each engage. In addition, the second cross strut 24 has a second wing 30, which also has a cylindrical profile. The two wings 22, 30 each have a concavity and their concavities are directed towards each other. In addition, the two wings 22, 30 are in relation to each other Relative to a plane symmetrical that intersects the two rods 12, 14 perpendicularly.

In addition, the spreader 10 has an axial symmetry plane Pa, which intersects the two cross struts 20, 24 and extends between the two rods on the left 12 and right 14.

It is therefore understandable that the second crossbar 24 is translationally movable with respect to the first crossbar 20 and that it is guided in this movement by the rods 12, 14. Therefore, the two wings 22, 30 are movable between a position close to one another, in which they extend edge to edge along their surface lines, and a position apart from one another, as will be explained in more detail later in the description.

Furthermore, it can be observed that the rods 12, 14 each have a fork head 32 at their connected end 18, with which a lever 34, as in [ 1 ] shown, can be mounted pivotably. [ 1 ] is a view of the spreader 10 according to the in [ 2 ] shown arrow I, to which the lever 34 was attached.

In [ 1 ] the straight rod 14 can be seen extending between its connected end 18 and its free end 16. The second cross strut 24 can also be seen in a position close to the first cross strut 20 and thus the two wings 22, 30 lie edge to edge.

In [ 1 ] a single lever 34 also appears. It extends between a fastening end 36, which is connected to the fork head 32 via a pin 38, and an opposite free actuating end 40. A second parallel lever, not shown, is on the fork head 32 of the left rod 12 attached, and the two levers are connected to one another at their free actuating end 40 by a T-handle.

The part of the second crossbar 24 which is located in the area of the (au droit du) right-hand passageway 28 and which cooperates with the lever 34 which is attached to the corresponding right-hand rod 14 will be described in detail. It should be noted that, symmetrically thereto, the part of the second crossbar 24 located in the area of the left passage 26 can cooperate in the same way with the lever 34 attached to the left rod 12.

Thus, the part of the second crossbar 24, which is located in the area of the right passageway 28, has a plurality of first external locking teeth or locking teeth or stop teeth (dents d'arrêt) 42, which are evenly spaced from one another and protrude from the second upper surface 25 extend. Each of the outer stop teeth 42 has a straight flank 44 directed towards the clevis 32 of the shaft 14 and an opposite inclined flank 46 directed away from the clevis 32. The plurality of first outer stop teeth 42 thus forms an outer rack.

In addition, the lever 34 is provided with a pivot arm (biellette) 48 having a connecting end 50 hingedly mounted on the lever 34 and an opposite supporting end 52 adapted to rest on the straight flank 44 of the first outer stop teeth 42 comes to the facility. The connecting end 50 is mounted at a distance from the fastening end 36 of the lever 34.

In this way it becomes clear that the drive of the lever 34 in [ 1 ] at a relatively small angle in the counterclockwise direction allows the movement of the swivel arm 48, the support end 52 of which can engage between two first outer stop teeth 42 and can come into contact with the straight flank 44 of one of these teeth. From then on, a clockwise pivot drive of the lever 34, by means of the pivot arm 48 and the corresponding external stop tooth 42, causes the exertion of a force on the part of the second crossbar 24 which is located in the area of the right passageway 28. Such a force causes the translational drive of the second cross strut 24 in a direction opposite to the first cross strut 20.

Of course and in parallel to this, the other lever 34, equipped with its pivot arm 48, on the other side has the same effects on the part of the second cross strut 24 which is located in the area of the left passageway 26. In this way, the second crossbar 24 can be forcefully and symmetrically moved away from the first crossbar 20 while remaining parallel.

In [ 1 ] it can be seen that the right bar 14 is hollow, as is the left bar 12, and its structure will now be viewed in terms of [ 2 ], [ 3A ], [ 3B ] and [ 3C ] described.

This is how in [ 2 ] It can be seen that the rods 12, 14 each have a longitudinal groove 54 in the shape of an inverted T, as explained below, extending from its free end 16 to its bound end 18. The longitudinal groove 54 has a local extension 56 at its end, which lies towards the connected end 18.

Also in [ 3A ] and [ 3B ] the right rod 14 and its cross section at the local extension 56 can be seen. Furthermore, one finds in [ 3C ] its cross section substantially halfway between the two opposite ends 16, 18 of the rod 14 and its groove 54 in the shape of an inverted T defining a neck 58. The inverted T-shaped groove then defines two opposing shoulders 60.

The groove 54 has a protruding base 62 from which a plurality of second teeth 64 extend. The second teeth 64 are evenly spaced apart. They each have a second straight flank 66, which is directed towards the beveled free end 16 of the rod 14, and a second inclined flank 68, which is directed in the opposite direction. In this way, the plurality of second teeth 64 form an inner rack that is inverted compared to the outer rack of the second crossbar 24. In addition, one finds in [ 3A ] partly the second cross strut 24 in the area of the right passageway 28. Furthermore, [ 3D ] exactly a cross section of the part of the second cross strut 24 in the area of this right passageway 28. This is suitable for slidably receiving the right rod 14.

Thus, the second cross member 24 also includes an upper rib 70 which is designed to engage with the longitudinal groove 54 along the latter. And the rib is equipped with a support device 72 pivotally mounted about an axis 74 perpendicular to the upper rib 70 and perpendicular to the axis of the straight passageway 28. In addition, the support device 72 has an enlarged free end 76, the width of which is greater than the width of the neck 58 of the longitudinal groove 54.

Note that the second crossbar 24 in the area of the left passageway 26 has the same structure and the same elements.

It will appear again on [ 1 ] to describe the beveled free end 16 in more detail before describing the operation of the spreader 10. The free end 16 thus ends beveled and the groove 54 thus opens axially from this free end 16. Accordingly, the rod 14, which has an upper wall 78 opposite a lower wall 80, includes an upper free end edge 82 which is relative to a lower free end edge 84 of the lower wall 80 is set back.

In this way, a flexible inverted V-shaped blade 86 is installed on the bottom 62 of the groove 54. Its width is significantly smaller than the neck 58 of the groove 54, so that its apex 88 can protrude exactly into the neck 58 near the upper free end edge 82 when the blade 78 is in the rest position.

Therefore, the flexible inverted V-shaped blade 86 has a first portion (pan) 90 located inside the rod 14 and a second portion 92 located outside.

In view of this [ 1 ], the first steps of using the spreader 10 according to the invention are described.

Thus, in the position in which the two crossbars 20, 24 are brought closer to each other and the two wings 22, 30 lie edge to edge and form an almost closed, flattened cylindrical surface, a specific article of footwear of the "support stocking" type is placed over these two wings 22, 30 drawn. The support stocking is put on so that the foot of the stocking reaches the free end of the two wings 22, 30.

The levers 34 are then actuated by a pivot drive in the direction of the rods 12, 14. As a result, the pivot arms 48 cause the second cross strut 24 to be driven in translation until the enlarged free end 76 of the support device 72 comes to rest behind the first second adjacent tooth 64. The two wings 22, 30 have now begun to expand the support stocking. In return, this then exerts a force on the two wings 22, 30, which tends to bring them closer together. As a result, when the levers 34 are released and pivoted away from the rods 12, 14, the enlarged free end 76 of the support device 72 is supported on the second right flank 66 of the adjacent tooth 64. This allows the support device 72, which is inclined substantially at 45° to the bottom 62 and toward the connected end 18 of the rod, to translationally block the second crossbar 24 back to the first crossbar 20.

The pivotally driven levers 34 in turn make it possible to bring the supporting end 52 of the pivot arms 48 into engagement behind a first adjacent tooth 42 against its first straight flank 44.

The levers can then be pivotally driven again in order to be moved closer to the rods, so that the second crossbar 24 is further away from the first crossbar 20 and thus the two wings 22, 30 are further apart from one another. In this way, the support stocking is expanded by a further step and the support device 72 now plays its role Area of the next tooth 64 to be able to hold the second crossbar 24 in a fixed position while the extended support stocking exerts an even greater force which tends to bring the two wings 22, 30 closer together.

In this way, the compression stocking is gradually expanded to the maximum, into the interior of which the foot and then the leg can be inserted starting from the sides opposite the tops 15, 25.

To facilitate this process, two arms 94 of the in [ 4 ] of the type shown is used. The arm 94 has an end 96 which forms a longitudinal handle and, on the opposite side, a hook-shaped end 98 which terminates in an axially slotted free shaft 100. The free shaft 100 extends substantially perpendicular to the arm 94 and has a thickened free end 102.

In addition, [ 2 ] on each side of the second cross strut 24 two opposite lateral straight blocks (pavés) 104, 106, into which an axial opening 108 is introduced, which runs essentially parallel to the respective passageway 26, 28.

Consequently, when the support stocking is maximally expanded, the arms 94 are brought to each side of the spreader by the free shafts 100 engaging in the two axial openings 108, respectively. The arms 94 then extend substantially perpendicular to the rods 12, 14 and thus enable the spreader equipped with the expanded compression stocking to be easily brought to the foot end.

Then, by pulling on the arms 94, the compression stocking is gradually tightened up to the thigh without any effort, while the leg passes through the spreader 10 between the two cross struts 22, 24.

After putting on the compression stocking, no more forces act on the wings 22, 30, so that it is easy to move the second cross strut 24 translationally in order to move it even further away from the first cross strut 20.

Out of [ 1 ] it is thus seen that the support device 72 and in particular its enlarged end 76 is slidably driven on the first portion 90 of the flexible inverted V-shaped blade 86 towards its apex 88. Furthermore, the flexible V-shaped blade 86 tends to flatten to allow the passage of the enlarged free end 76 of the support device 72 and its extraction from the longitudinal groove 54.

Then the support device 72 relaxes and its enlarged free end 76 is slidably moved over the second section 92, as shown in [ 3A ] is shown as the flexible V-shaped blade 86 returns to its original position with its apex 88 located near the upper free end edge 82.

The second crossbar 24 can then be completely detached from the rods 12, 14, so that the leg over which the compression stocking has been pulled is released.

Conversely, when the second crossbar 24 is reconnected to the two rods 12, 14, the two beveled free ends 16 are inserted through the two passageways 26, 28, respectively, and the enlarged free end 76 of the support device 72 acts with the flexible V- shaped blade 86 and in particular with the second section 92 to guide the enlarged free end 76 of the support device 72 outside the upper wall 78 of the rod so that it does not penetrate into the interior of the longitudinal groove 54. If the second crossbar 24 is moved further towards the first crossbar 20 while the rods 12, 14 slide in the passageways 26, 28, the two support devices 72 are slidably supported outside the rods 12, 14. This remains the case until its enlarged end 76 reaches the height or in the area of the local widenings 56. The enlarged ends 76 then enter the longitudinal grooves 54 while the two cross struts 20, 24 are brought closer to one another and the wings 22, 30 lie edge to edge. In this way, a new support stocking can be pulled over the wings 22, 30.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• FR 2837688 [0006]

Claims (7)

Spreader (10) for expanding tubular footwear articles, comprising: - two bars (12, 14) and a first crossbar for holding said two parallel bars together, at least one of said bars (12, 14) having a rack (64) and said first cross member comprises a first wing (22) substantially perpendicular to said bars (12, 14); - a second crossbar (24) slidably mounted on said two bars (12, 14) and comprising a support device and a second wing (30) extending opposite said first wing (22); - at least one lever (34) connected to said second crossbar (24) for translationally moving said second crossbar between a position approximated to said first crossbar (20) in which a tubular article of footwear is placed over said two wings ( 22, 30), and to a remote or spread position in which said two wings expand said article of footwear, said support device being adapted to cooperate with said rack (64) to facilitate the movement said second crossbar (24) to said first crossbar (20) between said spread position and said approximated position; characterized in that said support device (72) has an enlarged free end (76), while said at least one of said rods (12, 14) has a T-shaped longitudinal groove (54) which is designed to receive said support device ( 72) is suitable; and in that said support device (72) is out of reach of said rack (64) to allow return movement of said second crossbar (24) to said first crossbar (20) after said second crossbar is out of said spread position has been driven in a direction opposite to said first cross strut (20). spreader after Claim 1 , characterized in that said longitudinal groove (54) has a bottom (62) provided with teeth (64) forming said rack. spreader after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that said at least one of said rods (12, 14) has a ramp (90) which extends within said groove (54) in order to be able to pull said support device (72) out of said groove, when said second cross member (24) is driven from said spread position in a direction opposite to said first cross member (20). spreader after Claim 3 , characterized in that said ramp (90) is elastically deformable to allow said support device (72) to emerge from said groove (54) while said ramp deforms and to allow said support device (72) thereto is prevented from entering said groove (54) when said second cross member (24) is driven to be returned to said first cross member (20). Spreader according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said longitudinal groove (54) has a local extension (56) located near said first cross member (20) to accommodate said support device (72). enable to penetrate into the groove (54) mentioned. Spreader according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said second crossbar (24) has two cylindrical passageways (26, 28) forming slide rails to accommodate said rods (12, 14). A spreader according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said lever (34) is pivotally mounted on said first crossbar (20), while said second crossbar (24) comprises a further rack (42), and thereby in that said lever is equipped with a pivot arm (48) which is suitable for interacting with said further rack (42) in order to be able to drive said second crossbar (24) in a stepwise translation.

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