US20050205619A1

US20050205619A1 - Dressing aid

Info

Publication number: US20050205619A1
Application number: US10/506,484
Authority: US
Inventors: Denis Morel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-06
Filing date: 2003-03-04
Publication date: 2005-09-22
Also published as: FR2836804A1; FR2836804B1; AU2003233357A1; WO2003073895A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a dressing aid which is intended for the infirm or persons with reduced motor skills. The inventive aid is of the type which facilitates said persons in pulling an item of clothing (5) onto the lower limbs of the body. The aid, which consists of at least one flexible strap (1) having a clamp piece (2) disposed at one of the ends thereof, comprises means of gripping the clothing to be worn and means of positioning said clothing (5) on the desired parts of the body. Said aid consists of two flexible straps (1), each of said straps comprising a clamp piece (2) at one of the ends thereof and a grip means (8) at the other end of same. Moreover, said straps are connected transversely at the central part thereof by means of a centre strap (3).

Description

RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is a device for allowing temporarily or permanently disabled persons or persons with limited mobility to put on their clothes alone, so as to avoid them from having to ask the help of another person to carry out this operation.
The present invention regards, in particular, a device capable of facilitating the action of putting on a garment for the lower limbs of the body, such as, in particular, trousers, an undergarment, or a skirt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

From DE 273977 is already known a device for assisting in dressing, aimed at allowing to keep on the arms the sleeves of an undergarment when putting on a garment. This device is however of a limited use and would not allow, for example, any assistance in putting on trousers.
From DE 75 02 979 is also known a device including means for seizing a sock to be put on and positioning the latter on the foot, which consist of a flexible strap provided, at each of its ends with a clip. The U.S. document 3.452.907 provides the same device associated with means allowing to keep the sock unfolded.
These devices aimed at being used specifically for putting on socks have the drawback of not being suitable for other garments such as trousers, for example. This type of device is primarily for individuals suffering from handicaps that can be considered as light ones, but which are however sufficiently invalidating to oblige them to ask another person for help to carry out some daily tasks, such as dressing.
Thus, all the persons suffering from limited mobility of the lower limbs, and from a stiffness of the body due to which they experience difficulties in bending down, then in folding their legs in order to put on their clothes properly, can be regarded as being interested by the present invention.
In fact, the present invention addresses a particularly large number of people, including both people suffering from partial paralyses of the lower limbs and elder people, in particular.
Another object of this invention is to support the optimization of the nursing staff's tasks in specialized centers or in the traumatology department, by relieving them, at least partially, from the task of dressing the patients, which they generally have to carry out in addition to their other tasks.
Thus, the use of such a device would allow the nursing staff to focus its efforts on other tasks, or on more seriously affected patients, while providing to a non-inconsiderable number of patients a feeling of autonomy and independence capable of favoring their self-confidence.
It is this particularly interesting to be able to provide them with a device capable of facilitating their life, both as regards the carrying out of the daily tasks and for concretizing more important events, such as getting a job with a company.
Finally, another object of this invention is to provide a device for assisting in dressing which is both strong, compact and easy to transport and to maintain.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a device for assisting in dressing for disabled persons or persons with limited mobility, allowing to cope with the various above-mentioned, drawbacks.
The device for assisting in dressing for disabled persons or persons with limited mobility according to the invention is of the type capable of facilitating the action of pulling on a garment on the lower limbs of the body, including means for seizing the garment to be put on and means allowing positioning said garment on the desired parts of the body, and comprised of at least one flexible strap provided, at one of its ends, with a clip and it is primarily characterized in that it is comprised of two flexible straps provided, each at one end, with a clip and, at the other end, with seizing means, and joined together transversely, in their median area, by a belt.
The device according to the invention has the advantage of a great easiness in handling, which makes it particularly adapted to the physical capacities of the individuals involved. Indeed, after attaching the garment, primarily trousers or the like, the straps can be taken by the seizing means, in order to position the garment and to start putting it on, then the transversal belt can be seized with one hand, in order to finish putting the garment on, leaving the other hand free for another use.
The transversal belt is advantageously reinforced by the addition of a rigid or semi-rigid material.
This configuration allows to keep the two straps separated from each other when the transversal belt is maintained with only one hand.
It should be noted that in the case of a rigid material, it is possible to foresee hinging means making easier the storing of the device.
According to an additional feature, the straps have a length that is substantially equivalent to the height between the floor and the hands of a user in sitting position or standing position with the arms stretched alongside the body.
According to another additional feature of the device according to the invention, the straps include means for adjusting their length.
According to another additional feature of the device according to the invention, the transversal belt, is made integral with the straps through means for removably fastening, so as to allow to change the place of fastening.
According to a particular embodiment of the device according to the invention, the straps are made from woven strips of synthetic textile such as, for example, polyester.
The simple design of the device according to the invention has a non-inconsiderable advantage, that of being capable of being manufactured easily, without any need for using complex tools, so that it is possible to contemplate its manufacture by handicapped persons.
The straps must be flexible, but not elastic, elastic straps would indeed give rise to some danger in the event of rupture of the fastening to the garment.
The advantages and features of the device according to the invention will become clear from the following description, which refers to the attached drawing, which represents several non-restrictive embodiments of same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the attached drawing:
FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a device according to the invention.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a first possibility of implementation of the same device.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a second possibility of use of the same device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device for assisting in dressing, in particular for persons experiencing difficulties in carrying out this action alone.
When referring to FIG. 1, one can see that a device according to the invention includes two straps 1, having some flexibility, and each comprising, at one of their ends, a clip 2 capable of firmly retaining a garment, such as for example, a suspender clip for trousers, while the other end 11 is provided with a handle 9.
The strap 1 is preferably made from a woven strip of synthetic textile, such as polyester, for example, having the qualities of strength, flexibility and easy maintenance required by the present invention.
The two straps 1 are joined by means of a belt 3 extending transversely between them and fastened to each of them by their ends 30 and 31.
This device can be used, for example as schematically shown in FIG. 2, by a person 4 experiencing difficulties in moving its lower limbs, to put on a garment such as trousers 5.
Indeed, this person 4 can easily put on its trousers 5 without making insurmountable effort, while remaining sitting on its chair 6, by first seizing the trousers 5 substantially at the level of each leg 51, 52, by means of the clips 2, then by raising them towards its basin by exerting a traction simultaneously on each strap 1 which it holds with each of its hands.
The device according to the invention can also be contemplated for being used by a person 4 with one invalid arm 6, when the latter is temporarily immobilized by a plaster 61, for example, as shown in FIG. 3.
This user 4 can be standing or sitting, as he wishes, to put on his trousers 5 in a way similar to that described previously. However, instead of pulling on each of the straps 1 with each hand, he uses the belt 3 which he seizes with his hand 62, still valid, to raise his trousers and to suitably position it at the level of his basin.
The strap 3 is advantageously provided with a rigid or semi-rigid reinforcing element 7 being in the form of a sleeve, and extending substantially over the full length of the belt 3.
The element 7 allows to confer some strength to the whole of the device, to protect the belt 3, and to provide a better holding in hand of the belt 3, when the latter is used to raise the garment involved. It should be noted in this respect that, when the element 7 is rigid, this allows to maintain the distance between the two straps 1.
The strap 3 is preferably fastened substantially at mid-height of the straps 1, knowing that the latter have a length that is equivalent to the height between the floor and the user's hands when he is standing with his arms stretched alongside his body.
It can however be desirable to be able to position the belt 3 at a different height, for example in order to allow a suitable holding in hand by a person the size is beyond average; therefore, means for removably fastening the belt 3 to the straps 1 can be provided for.
To the same end, it is foreseen that the straps 1 are provided with means allowing to adjust their length, such as buckles 9 allowing to maintain a varying portion of the straps 1.

Claims

1. Device for assisting in dressing for disabled persons or persons with limited mobility by facilitating an action of pulling on a garment on lower limbs of a body, comprising:

means for seizing the garment and positioning said garment on desired parts of the body, said means for seizing and positioning comprising:

at least one flexible strap provided, at one end thereof, with a clip,

another flexible strap provided, each strap at one end, with a clip and, at an opposite end, with seizing means, and joined together transversely, in a median area thereof, by a belt.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said belt is a transversal belt and reinforced by an element comprised of a rigid or semi-rigid material.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein said element comprised of a rigid or semi-rigid material is in the form of a sleeve.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the straps have a length substantially equivalent to a height between a floor and hands of a user in a sitting position or standing position with arms of said user being stretched alongside a body of said user.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the straps further comprise means for adjusting length thereof.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein said belt is made integral with the straps through means for removably fastening, so as to change a place of fastening.

7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the straps are comprised of woven, bands of synthetic textile such as polyester.