EP0323982B1 - Device to facilitate donning articles of clothing - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/DE88/00317 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 23, 1989 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 23, 1989 PCT Filed May 28, 1988 PCT Pub. No. WO88/09637 PCT Pub. Date Dec. 15, 1988.The present invention relates to a device for making it easier to put on articles of clothing, such as coats, jackets or the like, with a holding device mounted so as to be of adjustable height on a vertical guide (1). The holding device has two half-hangers (3, 4) articulated by means of hinges (5, 6) with oblique axial directions (1, II). These half-hangers (3, 4) are tiltable forwards and obliquely downwards out of the horizontally aligned first end position into a second end position. Furthermore, a drive (7-10) actuable by the person putting on the particular article of clothing while he is putting it on is provided for varying the height h) of the holding device on the vertical guide (1). The device according to the invention affords in full and in the same way the assistance otherwise normally given by a helper in order to put on an article of clothing.

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to a device for facilitating the putting on of items of clothing such as coats, jackets or the like. With a holding device for items of clothing which is height-adjustable on a vertical guide by means of a connecting element, wherein a drive which can be actuated by the person pulling the item of clothing in each case can be actuated to change the height the holding device is provided on the vertical guide.

State of the art

Devices of the type mentioned are already known, reference being made, for example, to DE-OS 21 17 080. However, the known devices have in common that they are not able to provide the person putting on the garment comparable assistance with the usual assistance of an assistant when putting on coats, jackets or the like, even remotely.

Presentation of the invention

It is the object of the present invention to provide a device of the type mentioned at the outset which is capable of completely replacing the usual assistance of an auxiliary person.

According to the present invention, the stated and other objects are achieved by specifying a device as characterized in claim 1.

The device according to the invention completely provides the assistance otherwise usually provided by auxiliary persons when putting on coats, jackets or the like. The device according to the invention helps the person getting dressed in the coat or jacket in the usual way. It is not necessary to get used to it. The device according to the invention is simple and safe to use. It is therefore particularly suitable for the elderly and the disabled.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawing

Further advantages and features of the invention as well as the use of the device according to the invention result from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, in particular taking into account the attached drawing.

Fig. 1

eine Vorrichtung nach der Erfindung im Aufriß,

Fig. 2

die Vorrichtung nach Fig. 1 im Seitenriß, und

Fig. 3

die Vorrichtung nach Fig. 1 und 2 im Grundriß.

It shows:

Fig. 1

a device according to the invention in elevation,

Fig. 2

the device of FIG. 1 in side elevation, and

Fig. 3

the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 in plan.

In the figures, matching parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

Way of carrying out the invention

Reference is now made to the drawings. In these, 1 denotes a vertical guide, which is formed here, for example, by two parallel U-shaped bars. From the vertical guide 1, a connecting element 2 is guided in the vertical direction, to which a holding device for the clothes to be put on, but not shown, is attached, which essentially consists of the half-hangers 3 and 4. The half-brackets 3 and 4 are hinged to the connecting element 2 by means of hinges 5 and 6 and at the same height h at a distance d of about 24 cm from one another. the distance mentioned could also be smaller, e.g. B. 16 cm, or larger, e.g. B. 30 cm. It is determined by the shoulder width of the clothing. In principle, it is easily possible to make this distance d adjustable by a suitable design of the connecting element 2. For this purpose, the connecting element 2 could, for example, be formed in two parts, so that the two half-brackets 3 and 4 can be pulled apart by suitable adjusting elements, such as a gear meshing with two toothed racks, a toothed rack being connected to each part of the connecting element 2. However, this is not provided in the selected embodiment.

The two half-bars 3 and 4 preferably have a length of 30 cm each. They are hinged to the connecting element 2 by means of the hinges 5 and 6 in such a way that they are aligned horizontally along a straight line in an end position referred to below as the first and in this position about 2/3 of their length over the hinges 5 and 6 outwards and accordingly with about 1/3 of their length over the hinges 5 and 6 inwards, d. H. protrude into the area between the hinges 5 and 6.

The two half-clips 3 and 4 are preferably either bent upward in the region of their outer ends in the first end position or, as shown in the figures, have a bead there on their upper side. This bead can, but does not have to, preferably with a material such as. B. rubber, which has a high coefficient of friction for garments. Otherwise, the surface of the half-bars 3 and 4 is smooth.

The specific design of the vertical guide 1 and the connecting element 2 is not of critical importance for the present invention. It is only important that the vertical guide 1 allows an adjustment of the height h of the connecting element 2 with the holding device attached to it between about 90 cm and 210 cm above the ground and that the connecting element 2 the articulation of the half-bracket 3 and 4 at the distance mentioned Allowed 10 to 30 cm from the vertical guide 1. In addition, the connecting element 2 must allow the half-bars 3 and 4 to be folded over, as explained below. The connecting element 2 preferably has a fork-like shape.

The axial directions I and II of the two hinges 5 and 6 are inclined towards one another, specifically relative to the vertical guide 1 by approximately 45 °. The axis directions I and II mentioned intersect accordingly above the holding device, approximately at a right angle. The longitudinal direction of the two half-brackets 3 and 4 is in turn inclined by approximately 45 ° against the two axial directions I and II. From their already mentioned first end positions defined by corresponding first stops, the two half-brackets 3 and 4 can only be moved forward, ie. H. away from the vertical guide 1. Due to the alignment of the axial directions I and II of the hinges 5 and 6, they simultaneously move obliquely downwards. A second end position, as can be seen in FIG. 2, is defined by second stops at an angle of rotation of approximately 90 ° in each case.

In the first end position shown in FIG. 1, the two half-brackets 3 and 4 should preferably also be in a stable equilibrium under the action of gravity. This is achieved by slightly tilting the plane defined by the axial directions I and II of the two hinges 5 and 6 towards the rear against the vertical guide 1, as can also be seen from FIG. 2. The tilt angle α should not be more than about 10 °.

However, it is also possible, as indicated in FIG. 3, to provide activatable magnets 17 on the connecting element 2, which cooperate with corresponding counter surfaces 18 in the half-arms 3 and 4.

The magnets 17 can be connected to a power source via corresponding lines and sliding contacts, not shown, between the connecting element 2 and the vertical guide 1. This contact is preferably designed so that it is canceled after a predetermined stroke of the connecting element 2, so that the half-hangers 3 and 4 are then free in their movement for the transfer of the garment.

To adjust the height h of the holding device on the vertical guide 1, a motor drive is provided, which is formed by an electric motor 10 and a rope 7 guided over two pulleys 8 and 9. The lower pulley 9 is driven by the electric motor 10. Instead of using a rope and rope pulleys, a chain in connection with gears or other elements with the same effect could also be provided. The electric motor 10 can be set in motion by means of a foot switch 11, which is preferably a button. The foot switch 11 is arranged, for example, on a base plate 12 in such a way that it can be easily reached and actuated by the person putting the garment on while using the foot.

However, the foot switch 11 relates only to one embodiment of the invention. A remote control can also be used here, for example, for the disabled. For the disabled, whose leg motor function is disturbed, it may also be possible to switch on with hands inserted into the sleeves by touching the switch through the sleeve, for example on the vertical guide 1. There should be no limit to the invention here.

Furthermore, two limit switches 13 and 14 are provided which limit the height adjustability of the holding device between a lower and an upper extreme position, for example 70 cm or 170 cm above the floor or the base plate 12. The two limit switches 13 and 14 are preferably so trained and connected to the foot switch 11 and the electric motor 10 so that the direction of rotation of the electric motor 10 reverses when actuated by the stop of the connecting element 2 on them. In addition, two switches 15 and 16 are provided on the connecting element 2 in the circuit mentioned, which can be operated by hand and are also easily accessible there and are designed as buttons. By actuating these switches, the holding device on the vertical guide 1 can be moved up or down. These switches 15 and 16 are used to adjust the armhole height in accordance with a predetermined body size. For this purpose, for example, there may be a scale on the vertical guide 1.

The lower limit switch 14 can be designed to be manually adjustable, so that even a disabled person can easily adjust the height of the half-bars 3 and 4 according to his armhole height, which depends on the body size, without the help of another person.

Instead of an electric motor drive, a hydraulic or other suitable mechanical drive for the height adjustment of the holding device on the vertical guide 1 could alternatively be provided. However, all drives must be operable by the person putting the garment on while putting it on.

With regard to the use of the device according to the invention, this results as follows, it being assumed that the electromotive drive shown in the drawings is provided with the switches 11 and 13 to 16 also shown:
By actuating the foot switch 11 or one of the two switches 15 or 16, the holding device is first moved into a position approximately in the region of the lower extreme position. The two half-clips 3 and 4 are folded into the first end position. Then the garment to be put on is opened in the open state with its inside or lining side to the front, ie away from the vertical guide 1, with its shoulder part over the half-hanger 3 and 4, in such a way that the half-hanger 3 and 4 with the outside of the Shoulders and not in contact with the inside, as is usually the case with hangers. Due to the selected special geometry of the holding device of the device according to the invention, the person who wants to put on the garment, after being suspended from the holding device in the manner described, presents it in the same way as if it was held by an auxiliary person for the purpose of putting it on would.

The person who wants to put on the garment need only accordingly stand with his back against the device according to the invention, hold the arms stretched out somewhat and insert them into the armholes of the wide-open garment. With a suitable adjustment of the height of the holding device, the armholes are exactly at the correct height for this purpose. This height can be corrected if necessary, even after hanging the garment on the half-hangers 3 and 4, by operating the switches 15 and 16.

After slipping into the armholes, the actual tightening process is triggered by actuating the foot switch 11. By actuating the foot switch 11, the garment to be pulled is pulled upwards by the holding device, as a result of which the arms of the person wearing the garment slide into the sleeves of the garment.

Has now reached the holding device during its movement along the vertical guide 1 up to a certain height, at which the arms of the person wearing the garment are already largely completely in the sleeves, so through the garment on the two half-hangers 3 and 4, respectively a move forward, d. H. towards the person wearing the garment. This train causes the half-arms 3 and 4 to fold forward from their first end position into the second end position, thereby automatically releasing the garment and gently and effectively placing the shoulder parts of the person over the shoulders on the person wearing the garment. Before this automatic dropping of the garment, this only exerts a downward pull on the two half-hangers 3 and 4, as a result of which these are held in the first end position. This pull is increased when the arms of the person putting on the garment slide into the sleeves during putting on.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an overload protection is provided which, depending on the garment and after the train, causes the motor 10 to be reversed. This overload protection is possible on the one hand via a corresponding device on the motor 10, in that it switches when a predetermined torque is exceeded.

In another embodiment, however, the upper roller 8 is suspended, for example, from springs 19 indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 1. If an increased tension is exerted on the roller 8, for example if a piece of clothing gets caught on the connecting element 2 or the half-hangers 3 and 4, the roller 8 is pulled down and reaches an overload switch 20 there, via which the motor rotation is switched over. This overload switch 20 is located, for example, on a small rack or threaded spindle and is adjustable depending on the weight of the garment. This can be done continuously or in predefined gradations (example: shirt, jacket, summer coat, winter coat).

Due to the selected shape of the half-hangers 3 and 4 as well as the possibly provided additional rubber coating on their tops, premature sliding of the garment from the half-hangers 3 and 4 is avoided. With regard to special items of clothing, an additional locking device, for example in the manner of clips under spring pressure, can be provided, but such an additional locking device is normally not required.

The parts of the half-clips 3 and 4 projecting inward beyond the hinges 5 and 6 in the first end position fulfill the following function:
They serve to enable the person putting on the garment to trigger the folding of the two half-hangers 3 and 4 from the first end position into the second end position at an earlier point in time than would be the case automatically.

The person putting on the garment need only lean back slightly while the holding device is raised and the arms slide into the sleeves of the garment and with his back exert a gentle pressure on the two above-mentioned, protruding parts of the half-bars 3 and 4 to trigger or facilitate their folding. By using this control option, a perfect and gentle covering of the garment over the shoulders can be achieved.

Claims (15)

1. Device to facilitate the donning of articles of clothing such as coats, jackets or the like, with a holding device for the articles of clothing, which is arranged adjustably in height on a vertical guide (1) by means of a connecting element (2), wherein a drive which is actuable by the person donning the respective article of clothing is provided for altering the height of the holding device on the vertical guide, characterised in that the holding device has two half hangers (3, 4) articulated to the connecting element (2) by means of hinges (5, 6), wherein the axial directions (I, II) of the hinges (5, 6) intersect at an angle above the holding device and the half hangers (3, 4) may be folded from a substantially horizontal opposingly orientated first end position round said axial directions (I, II) through an angle forwardly away from the vertical guide (1) into a second end position.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the angle is about 90^o.
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the plane defined by the axial directions (I, II) of the two hinges (5, 6) is titled backwardly against the vertical guide (1) through an angle (α) of about 10^o to 20^o so that the half hangers (3, 4) are located in a stable equilibrium position under the influence of gravity in the first end position.
4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that magnets (17) with corresponding opposing faces (18) are provided between connecting element (2) and half hangers (3, 4).
5. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that the magnets (17) may be activated over a predetermined stroke length of the connecting element (2).
6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the half hangers (3, 4) have a length of about 30 cm, about two-thirds of this length projecting outwardly beyond the hinges (5, 6) in the first end position and about one-third of this length projecting beyond the hinges (5, 6) into the region between them respectively.
7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the half hangers (3, 4) have an upwardly bent shape or a corresponding thickening in the region of their outer ends.
8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the half hangers (3, 4) are provided, at least on their upper side and in the region of their outer end, with a rubber coating which has a high coefficient of friction for articles of clothing and otherwise possesses a smooth surface.
9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the drive (7 - 10) for altering the height (h) of the holding device is an electric motor drive which is actuable by means of a switch (11) by the person donning the article of clothing.
10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that an upper and a lower limit switch (13 and 14) limit the stroke of the connecting element (2).
11. Device according to claim 10, characterised in that the lower limit switch (14) is adjustable in height.
12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that overload protection is provided.
13. Device according to claim 12, characterised in that the overload protection consists of an overload switch (20) which cooperates with a suspension means (8) of the connecting element (2).
14. Device according to claim 13, characterised in that the overload switch (20) is adjustable in height.
15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the distance (d) between the two hanger halves (3, 4) is variable.

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