US2888177A - Garment applying device - Google Patents

Description

H. E. ZABEL GARMENT APPLYING DEVICE May 26, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 1, 1953 INVENT OR ATTORNEY H. E. ZABEL GARMENT APPLYING DEVICE May 26, 1959 Filed Oct. 1. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ha rry Zabe/ Emma n m g ATTORNEY United States Patent GARMENT APPLYING DEVICE Harry E. Zabel, St. Paul, Minn. Application October 1, 1953, Serial No. 383,609

16 Claims. (Cl. 223-111) This invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for applying articles of clothing and deals with an apparatus useful in putting on or removing hosiery or other articles of clothing for many persons who suffer from arthritis or injuries and who are unable to bend sufficiently to put on hosiery or other articles of clothing. This causes a feeling of dependence which the person so afilicted does not enjoy. The present invention deals with a simple apparatus which permits such articles of clothing to be applied without bending to the extent normally necessary.

' A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an apparatus capable of engaging the upper margin of a stocking, or other articles of clothing. This device is provided with one or more handles by means of which it may be manipulated without leaning over to the extent normally necessary in putting on such articles. The apparatus may be used in drawing the article of clothing over the foot and on to the leg of the wearer, permitting the operator to put on articles of clothing which otherwise would be impossible for the person to put on.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a split ring shape sleeve or collar which is of suflicient size to fit over the leg of the user. The collar is provided with clamping means which may be attached to the upper margin of the article of clothing; The collar holds the stocking expanded so as the collar is drawn over the foot and on to the leg of the stocking is applied.

-A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a device for drawing the stocking or other articles of clothing on to the body and in forming the device in separable parts so that the device may be detached and removed without the necessity of slipping the sleeve or collar down the leg over the applied stocking. If the stocking has been drawn into place, the upper margin thereof may be detached from the sleeve or collar and the two parts of the device maybe slid apart and removed.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the clamping means for engaging the upper margin of the stocking may be used while the stocking partially encircles the collar or sleeve or may pivot inwardly to hold a short sock or similar article expanded. Short socks are not as large as their upper periphery as full length stockings and normally the short socks will not expand sufficiently to encircle the collar or sleeve. In such an event the clamping means may swing inwardly to hold the upper end of such an article fully expanded.

An added feature of the present invention lies in the fact that the apparatus may be used for applying articles of underwear which must be drawn over the legs as well as stockings. As the two parts of the apparatus are separable, they may be attached to opposite sides of such a garment and the garment drawn over the feet and legs.

These and other objects and novel features of the invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims:

1 In the drawings forming a part of the specification; i

Patented May 26, 1959 Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the showing the construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

' Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through one of the clamps forming a part of the device.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the clamps.

Figure 6 is a sectional view through one of the handles showing the manner in which the latches may be disengaged.

Figure 7 is a sectional view through the latch mechanism associated with each clamping device.

The garment applying device is indicated in general by the letter A. This device is designed for use in applying a sock such as B or a stocking, as well as other articles of clothing. In general the device includes a body having a pair of curved side members 10 and 11. These curved side members frictionally engage together or may be secured together in any suitable manner. In the particular arrangement illustrated the relative ends 12 of side member 10 and side member 11 fit into relatively oppositely facing grooves 13 in opposite ends of members 10 and 11, as shown in Figure 3. The two sides may, if desired, be secured together but preferably they merely abut and fit together frictionally so that they may be easily separated. The sides are provided with handles 14 and 15 which are secured to the center portions of the sides spaced from the lower edge thereof and extend upwardly and rearwardly or in substantially an axial direction therefrom. These handles are rigidly connected to the sides to act as supports therefor and provide a means of manipulating the device from a substantial distance.

The sides 10 and 11 each support a pair of clamping members best illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings. Each clamping member includes a pair of resilient strips or arms 16 and 17 which are connected together at their upper ends by a tubular connecting portion 19. The tubular portion 19 extends beyond the sides of the strips 16 and 17 to form pintles 20 (one only being shown in' detail in Figure 5) by means of which the arms 16 and 17 are supported. Spaced ring shaped bearings 21 and 22- are mounted upon the sides 10 and 11 to encircle the support the pintles 20 at the ends of the tubular portion" 19. Thus the arms 16 and 17 are pivoted to swing into or out of the plane of the portion of the side 10 or 11 to which they are hinged.

The sides 10 and 11 are provided with vertically elongated openings 23 which are slightly wider than the strips 16 and 17 and which are longer than the strips 17 but shorter than the strips 16. The strips 16 extend through this aperture 23 and the lower margin of the strip bears against the inner surface of the side 10 or 11. This engagement limits the outward movement of the engaged arms 16 and 17. Inward pivotal movement of the arms is limited by the engagement of the arm 16 with the upper edge 25 of aperture 23. In other words the lower edge 24 of the aperture forms a shoulder for limiting pivotal movement of the arm assembly in one direction and the upper edge 25 forms a shoulder for limiting pivotal movement in the opposite direction.

One of the arms is provided near its lower end with short pins or projections 26, such projections being shown on the arm 16 in Figure 5. The other arm 17 is shown provided with a series of openings 27 which are aligned apparatus with the pins 26. The pins are preferably extremely" small so as not to injure a fiber through which they pass and act to hold the garment securely between the arms 16 and 17 when these arms are clamped together.

A pair of parallel ears 29 extend forwardly from the arm 16, extending on opposite sides of the arm 17 These arms 29 support a pivot pin 30 which extends through a bearing upon a lever 31. Alternatively the pivot 30 may be secured to the lever 31 and project latterally therefrom through the ears 29.

The lever 31 includes a lever arm 32 which is relative ly long and which extends in surface contact with the arm 17 when the arms 16 and 17 are spread apart. The lever also includes a short arm 33 extending at right angles at the arm 31 and terminating in a bearing flange 34. By pivoting the lever 31 to right angles with the arm 17, the short arm 33 is brought to bear against the arm 17. Further pivotal movement of the lever 31 acts to cause the flanged end of the lever to bear against the arm 17 and urge it inwardly toward the arm 16. When the lever has been pivoted through 180 degrees the flange end 34 rests against the arm 17 and holds this arm clamped against the arm 16.

A hooked shaped projection 35 is provided on the free end of the long arm 32 of each lever 31 and extends at right angles thereto. The tubular connecting portion 19 of the arms is notched as indicated at 36 to accommodate this projection 35. A plunger 57 is slidably supported within the tubular portion 19 as best illustrated in Fig ure 7 of the drawings. The plungers 37 may be spring urged toward one end of the tubular end member 19 if desired. In the particular arrangement illustrated the means for operating the plungers act as springs.

As shown in Figure 7 the projecting hook 35 of each lever 31 passes through the aperture 36 of a corresponding member 19 and engages against the interior of the plunger 37. in other words the hooked end of the hook 35 engages against a wall of the plunger 37 and is prevented from pulling out thereby. The flanges 34 do not engage fiat. against the arm 17 so that there is always a tendency for the lever 31 to swing into the position shown in Figure 5. The spring of the arms 16 and 17 always tends to pivot the lever 31 even if it is in locked position.

As indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings the plungers 37 of the two clamping members on one side 11 of the device are connected to resilient wire arms 39 and 40. As shown in Figure 6 the wire 39 is connected to a crossbar 41 extending through a shaft 42. The other wire it is connected to the opposite end of the cross-arm 41. The upper end of the shaft 42 is bent angularly to the body of the shaft as indicated at 43. This end 43 extends through a transverse slot 4a in the arm 15.

When the crank end 43 is oscillated (not shown) in one direction both plungers 37 are urged into their respective members 19 into position to engage the corresponding projection 35 of a lever 31. As the hookshaped projection 35 enters the slots 36 the wedge shaped end 45 thereof pushes the plunger outwardly slightly flexing the spring connection 39 or 40. If preferred other spring means may be employed for urging the plungers 37 into locking position. If the hook of the projection becomes aligned with the hollow interior 46 of the plunger 37 the resilience of the spring connection causes the plunger to lock the hook preventing it from pivoting. As all of the various clamping elements are substantially identical only one such element has been shown in detail and described. Furthermore as both of the sides and 11 operate substantially in the same manner, only one side has been described in detail.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described.

If the article to be applied is a full length stocking, the afilicted person places the top of the stocking encircling the. lower end of the sleeve formed by the two abutting side members 10 and 11. While the clamps are in open position the upper edge of the stocking is inserted between the arms 16 and 17, the tiny points 26 piercing the stocking. The shaft 42 on each side of the device is swung into position to urge the plungers 37 into locking position or, alternatively resilient means normally urges the shaft 42 in such a direction. may be the spring 47 shown in Figure 6.

Each of the clamping means are then moved into clamping position by swinging each of the levers 31 upwardly until the hooked shaped projections enter the tubular members 19 and engage the corresponding plung er 37. When the locking members are engaged the plungers hold them in locked position. As the stocking is usually spread apart somewhat beyond its normal size, the stocking tends to hold the two sides 16 and 11 of the device in proper abutting relation.

The handles are next grasped and the sleeve formed by the sides It) and 11 is drawn over the foot and up the leg until the stocking may be reached and drawn by hand. At this time the crank ends 43 of the shafts 42 are pivoted to oscillate (not shown) the shafts and to urge the plunger 37 out of engagement with the projections 35. Metal spreading force of the arms 16 and 17 then swing the lever 31 into the position shown in figure 5, the arms spreading apart to release the stock ing. After the top of the stocking has been withdrawn from sleeve encircling position, the two halves, or sides it) and 11, may be separated and laid aside.

In the event the object to be applied is a short soclc which will not spread sufficiently to encircle the sleeve, the upper edge of the sock may be clamped between the arms 16 and 17 while these arms are swung inwardly through the openings 23. In such a case the clamping arms incline downwardly and inwardly and hold the sock fully expanded at its upper end. The clamping levers 31 may be easily manipulated regardless of thepivotal position of the arms 16 and 17. The sock may be similarly disengaged by manipulation of the shaft. 42. in some instances it has been found preferable to mount the pins 26 upon the outer arm 17 and to place the open ings 27 in the arm 16. This arrangement has the advantage of releasing more readily when the clamps are open but limits the length of the points as in such a case they cannot extend through the arm 16 without danger of scratching the foot or leg during the use of the device.

Articles of underwear which are drawn over the legs: may also be applied by my device by merely attaching. each side of the garment at the top thereof to a corresponding side 10 or 11 of the device. The garment may be thus expanded while the feet are being inserted and the handles may be used to draw the garment up over the legs until the top thereof may be grasped.

In accordance with the patent statutes, the principles of construction and operation of the garment applying: device have been described and while it has been endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, it is desired to have it understood. that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims. without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A garment applying device for use in holding a garment expanded, the device including in combination a sleeve, handle means secured to said sleeve and extending longitudinally in an. axial direction therefrom, said. sleeve having a plurality of angularly spaced openings therethrough, and a plurality of garment engaging means pivotally supported by said sleeve and swingahle through. said openings.

2. The construction described in claim 1 and in which. said garment engaging means comprises spaced clamping means.

3. The construction described in claim 1. and in. which; each of said garment. engaging means comprise. a pair of clamping arms, and including means for clamping; said arms together.

4. The construction described in claim. I and. in which the garment engaging means comprise at least. two spaced One such means apart pairs of clamping arms, and including; means for.

clamping said arms together, and means. for locking, said arms in clamping position.

5. A device for use in holding a garment expanded including in combination a ring sleeve, handle means secured to said sleeve and extending longitudinally in a general axial direction therefrom, said sleeve having a plurality of angularly spaced openings therethrough, a plurality of spaced apart pairs of clamping arms pivotally secured to said sleeve adjacent to one end of said openings and swingable through said openings, pivotal connecting means for operating said arms, means for locking said clamping arms, and means for releasing said locking means.

6. The construction described in claim and in which the locking means includes a hooked-shaped member on said means for operating said clamping arms.

7. The construction described in claim 5 and in which said means for operating said clamping arms comprise a lever, and one of the arms of each pair of clamping arms being of greater length than the other arm thereof.

8. The construction described in claim 5 and in which said releasing means is mounted upon said handle means.

9. A garment applying device including in combination a pair of disconnected independently separable curved side members engageable in edge abutting relationship to form a temporary garment holding sleeve ring, an independent handle mounted on each of said side members, pivotal garment holding means mounted on each of said members, and said members in their edge abutting relation forming a ring with said garment holding means being adapted to engage and hold a garment expanded so that it may be drawn over the feet, the holding means disengaged and the members thereafter separated from their edge abutting relation to break the formed temporary garment holding sleeve ring.

10. The construction described in claim 9 and in which the holding means engaging the garment comprise clamping means attached to said sides and cooperable therewith to selectively hold a garment against the inner periphery of said curved side members in one clamping relationship and against the outer periphery of said curved side members in another clamping relationship.

11. The construction described in claim 9 and in which the said clamping means engaging the garment comprise two spaced garment engaging means.

12. A device for use in applying a garment above the feet and legs comprising in combination a pair of curved independent side members having interlocking and overlapping ends slidingly engageable in end abutting frictional relationship to provide a temporary garment supporting ring-shaped body, a garment attaching means on each side member selectively engageable externally and internally of said temporary body with the upper edge of a garment to be applied, pivotal means connecting said garment attaching means, lever means to operate said pivotal means and elongated handles secured to each of said side members and extending upwardly therefrom in independently spaced separable relationship by means of which the ring-shaped member may be manipulated and disengage said curved side members to break the said ring-shaped body.

13. The construction described in claim 12 and in which the means for engaging the garment comprise spaced clamping means.

14. The construction described in claim 12 and in which the garment attachment means engaging the garment comprise pairs of spaced garment holding means.

15. A garment applying device for use in holding a garment in expanded form, the device including in combination a pair of relatively separable disconnected curved members each forming a relative half section of a ringshaped body, a plurality of pairs of angularly spaced exterior and interior garment engaging means on said curved members which form said ring-shaped body, and handle means secured to said ring-shaped body and extending in a direction longitudinally of the axis of the body.

16. The construction described in claim 15 and in which said garment engaging means comprise spaced clamping means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 200,293 Hayden Feb. 12, 1878 888,063 Brooks May 19, 1908 1,315,096 Deiley Sept. 2, 1919 2,443,115 Park June 8, 1948 2,663,026 Arnold Dec. 22, 1953

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