WO1988005641A1 - Dispositif servant a faciliter certaines taches manuelles - Google Patents

Dispositif servant a faciliter certaines taches manuelles Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1988005641A1
WO1988005641A1 PCT/AU1988/000029 AU8800029W WO8805641A1 WO 1988005641 A1 WO1988005641 A1 WO 1988005641A1 AU 8800029 W AU8800029 W AU 8800029W WO 8805641 A1 WO8805641 A1 WO 8805641A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
article
tip
prongs
article according
intermediate portion
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU1988/000029
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Austin Timothy Ryan
Paul Edward Ryan
Original Assignee
Austin Timothy Ryan
Paul Edward Ryan
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Austin Timothy Ryan, Paul Edward Ryan filed Critical Austin Timothy Ryan
Publication of WO1988005641A1 publication Critical patent/WO1988005641A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F5/00—Hand implements for washing purposes, e.g. sticks 
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G25/00—Household implements used in connection with wearing apparel; Dress, hat or umbrella holders
    • A47G25/80—Devices for putting-on or removing boots or shoes, e.g. boot-hooks, boot-jacks
    • A47G25/84—Shoe benches
    • A47G25/86—Shoe benches with boot-pulling devices
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G25/00—Household implements used in connection with wearing apparel; Dress, hat or umbrella holders
    • A47G25/90—Devices for domestic use for assisting in putting-on or pulling-off clothing, e.g. stockings or trousers
    • A47G25/905—Devices for domestic use for assisting in putting-on or pulling-off clothing, e.g. stockings or trousers for stockings
    • A47G25/908—Removal devices
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L23/00—Cleaning footwear
    • A47L23/04—Hand implements for shoe-cleaning, with or without applicators for shoe polish

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an article to facilitate certain manual operations. While the article is generally useful to any person, it is of particular interest to the elderly or infirm or to others whose general mobility is difficult or restricted.
  • the article of the invention is elongate and is bifurcated at one end to form a pair of mutually divergent prongs.
  • the article is tapered to a tip.
  • An intermediate portion is spaced from the tip between the prongs and the tip and is relatively enlarged so that it is at least somewhat broader than it is thick and has a bottom in a plane for resting stably on a flat surface.
  • the taper to the tip is at least in the overall dimension of the article normal to the aforementioned plane.
  • the tip is at the end of a terminal portion shaped as a shoehorn. At least part of each of the divergent prongs is shaped to be clear from the floor surface when the intermediate portion is resting thereon.
  • the article is advantageously integrally formed, e.g. moulded, in a suitable strong plastics material. It may include a longitudinal cavity in its under surface, especially in the region of said intermediate portion, to reduce its weight and the mass of material.
  • the terminal portion of the article adjacent the tip is of substantially uniform or almost uniform breadth parallel to the aforementioned plane but of increasing concavity towards the tip.
  • this terminal portion including the tip is formed in the shape of a shoehorn and may be employed to facilitate the putting on of shoes or the removal of socks from the user's feet.
  • the divergent prongs advantageously include respective longitudinally extending inside flanges defining the upper extremities of the prongs. These flanges preferably define a v-shaped recess therebetween which may be employed to grip the heel of a shoe or boot above the sole to facilitate removal of the shoe or boot from the user's foot.
  • the lateral upper margins of the intermediate portion preferably extend beyond the lateral margins of said terminal portion and are advantageously inclined downwardly and outwardly to facilitate the introduction of a user's foot onto the intermediate portion to stabilize the article, e.g. while it is being used to remove a shoe from the other foot.
  • This intermediate portion may advantageously further include an aperture by which the article may be hooked off the floor surface with any suitable object, for example a second of the articles of the invention.
  • Each of the divergent prongs preferably includes a depending leg portion at its outer end which contacts or almost contacts a floor surface when the article is resting stably on the surface.
  • the lower edge of each prong preferably smoothly curves into this leg portion to facilitate grasping of the prong by a hand of reduced strength, for example a hand affected by arthritis or Parkinson's disease.
  • the aforesaid terminal portion is preferably slightly elevated with respect to the plane containing the bottom of the intermediate portion. This is intended to minimise the risk of damage to the tip when a stabilizing foot is placed on the article.
  • Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of an article according to the invention, respectively from in front of or above the article and from behind or below the article;
  • Figures 3, 4 and 5 are respectively plan, underneath and side elevational views of the article
  • Figure 6 is a longitudinal central cross-section on the line 6-6 in Figure 3;
  • Figures 7A to 7G comprises several cross-sections as indicated with respect to Figure 3.
  • the illustrated article 10 for facilitating certain manual operations is elongate and is integrally moulded in a suitable strong plastics material.
  • the article is bifurcated at one end to form a pair of mutually divergent prongs, 12, 13.
  • the article defines a terminal portion 14 which is of almost uniform but very slightly diverging breadth but tapers in thickness to a broad rounded tip 16.
  • an intermediate portion 18 which is relatively enlarged laterally so as to be substantially broader than it is thick.
  • Portion 18 has lateral rims 20 which define a bottom 21 in a plane for resting stably on a flat surface.
  • the rear part 19 of intermediate portion 18 is uplifted to merge into the prongs so that most of the prongs are elevated relative to the planar bottom 21 of the intermediate portion, so as to be clear of an underlying floor surface when the article is resting thereon.
  • the clearance should be sufficient for the fingers of a hand to fit comfortably under the prongs for grasping and lifting the article off the floor.
  • the underside of article 10 is cut away between the prongs and a point about halfway along terminal portion 14 to define a longitudinal underside cavity 22 bounded laterally by the aforesaid rims 20 and divided by spaced transversely extending strengthening ribs 24.
  • the provision of cavity 22 serves to reduce the weight of the article and the amount of material employed.
  • Tip 16 and most of the terminal portion 14 are upwardly concave, exhibiting a longitudinally extending depression 23 of increasing concavity towards the tip ( Figures 6, 7F and 7G) .
  • the terminal portion 14 of article 10 is formed in the shape of a shoehorn. The portion is slightly upwardly inclined away from intermediate portion 18 but tends to level off horizontally as it reaches tip 16. The resultant slight elevation of the tip relative to the plane of bottom 21 reduces the risk of damage to the tip 16.
  • the region adjacent the tip is quite thin but this configuration allows the terminal portion to be used as a shoe horn which differs from conventional shoe horns in that the user may grasp it with his hand at a position quite remote from the shoe horn.
  • the article may employ the article to facilitate putting his shoes on without having to bend right over or crouch right down to do so.
  • the taper in the thickness of the article towards tip 16 is in the overall dimension in a plane normal to bottom 21: the actual thickness of the material at the longitudinal centre line may not substantially alter, because of cavity 22.
  • Each prong 12, 13 is of inverted L-section, having a depending flange 26 which is a continuation of a respective rim 20 and an inside flange 28 which defines the top surface of the prong ( Figures 1 and 7A) .
  • Flanges 28 taper from underneath at 28a ( Figure 7A) to straight inside edges 29 which define a V-section recess 30 into which the rear of a shoe or boot may be introduced until the flanges 28 engage the shoe immediately above the sole, thereby facilitating removal of the shoe on further rearward movement of the foot.
  • the other foot is placed firmly on the top of the intermediate portion 18 to stabilize the article on an underlying floor surface.
  • each flange 26 has a depending leg 32 ( Figures 3 and 4) which also contacts or almost contacts an underlying surface on which the article is resting.
  • the bottom edge 27 of the flange 26 smoothly and gently curves into this leg to facilitate gripping of the prong by a hand of reduced strength, for example a hand affected by arthritis or Parkinson's disease.
  • Each flange 28 is rebated at its outer end as shown at 34. This facilitates the insertion of the leg 32 of one article into an elongate aperture 50 formed in the intermediate portion 18 of another. In this way, the article 10 may be lifted off a floor surface with the aid of another similar article. For example, after an article laid flat on the floor has been employed by a person to remove his or her shoes, the second article can be employed to lift the first off the floor without having to bend completely over or crouch right down to reach the floor to raise the article.
  • Each flange 28 further includes a small aperture 54 by which the article may be hung up on a hook, nail, wire or the like.
  • the lateral margins of intermediate portion 18 include a divergent-convergent, downwardly and outwardly inclined ramp surface 52 ( Figures 7B and 7C) .
  • This surface is important in providing gentle sliding access for a foot onto the centre top of the intermediate portion.
  • the ramp surfaces 52 assist him to slide the foot up and onto the intermediate portion 18.
  • Article 10 may comprise two or more mutually hinged parts whereby the article may be folded up to a reduced size for storage.
  • the shoe horn or terminal portion 1 of the article 10 may be employed to scrape and dislodge mud, vegetable matter and the like from shoes or boots.
  • the user's hand grasps one or other prong 12, 13.
  • two of the articles may be grasped at the shoe horn end and the bifurcated end used to hold and lift a bundle of articles such as clothing, on the one hand, or garden refuse, e.g. cuttings, on the other.
  • an article held by the prongs at the bifurcated end may be employed to hook and lift smaller groups or bundles of clothing, such as items to or from a washing machine.
  • the tip 16 may be pushed into the ground so that the bifurcated end projects upwardly.
  • the recess 30 may then be employed to retain a hose for directional spraying.
  • the article gripped adjacent the tip 16 may be employed to dislodge fruit from fruit trees by bringing the V-shaped recess 30 around behind the fruit and gently pulling.
  • An exemplary embodiment of the illustrated article is 520mm in length.
  • the terminal portion 14 is 45mm wide and the intermediate portion 18 is of maximum breadth about 72mm and thickness (top to planar bottom of rims 20) about 21mm.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Holders For Apparel And Elements Relating To Apparel (AREA)

Abstract

Un article qui sert à faciliter certaines tâches manuelles est de forme allongée, est fourchu à l'une de ses extrêmités formant ainsi une paire de branches (12, 13) divergentes l'une de l'autre, et conique jusqu'à former une pointe (16) à l'autre extrémité et définit une partie intermédiaire (18) espacée de la pointe se trouvant entre les branches et la pointe qui est relativement élargie, de sorte que sa largeur est au moins quelque peu plus grande que son épaisseur. Ledit article comporte également un fond (21) situé dans un plan de façon à pouvoir reposer de façon stable sur une surface plane. La partie conique est au moins de la dimension globale de l'article perpendiculaire au plan mentionné ci-dessus. La pointe (16) se trouve au niveau de l'extrémité d'une partie terminale (14) qui a la forme d'un chausse-pied et au moins une partie de chacune des branches divergentes a une forme qui lui permet de ne pas être en contact avec ladite surface plane lorsque la partie intermédiaire (18) est posée sur cette surface.
PCT/AU1988/000029 1987-02-04 1988-02-03 Dispositif servant a faciliter certaines taches manuelles WO1988005641A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU17087 1987-02-04
AUPI0170 1987-02-04

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1988005641A1 true WO1988005641A1 (fr) 1988-08-11

Family

ID=3691005

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU1988/000029 WO1988005641A1 (fr) 1987-02-04 1988-02-03 Dispositif servant a faciliter certaines taches manuelles

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1988005641A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2221604A (en) * 1988-08-11 1990-02-14 Koon Hing Trading Co Ltd Shoe horn
EP2759232A1 (fr) * 2013-01-28 2014-07-30 Laura Taylor Outil de retrait de combinaison/combinaison sèche
WO2014114799A1 (fr) * 2013-01-28 2014-07-31 Adventure Sports Innovation Limited Accessoire pour ôter une combinaison

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR605808A (fr) * 1925-11-09 1926-06-02 Matieres Plastiques Soc Ind De Perfectionnements apportés aux chausse-pieds
US1690516A (en) * 1928-02-10 1928-11-06 Barney C Wickers Shoehorn
FR865040A (fr) * 1939-07-11 1941-05-12 Tire-botte
US2628007A (en) * 1950-11-22 1953-02-10 Harold N Meling Device for applying footwear to handicapped persons
US2939618A (en) * 1957-03-11 1960-06-07 Ralph W Mangels Dressing and disrobing tool for paralytics
US3501073A (en) * 1968-08-23 1970-03-17 Joachim Hans Breithor Shoehorn with an elongated handle
US3526346A (en) * 1968-06-11 1970-09-01 Leonard Drouillard Boot puller
US4355745A (en) * 1980-07-25 1982-10-26 Nelson Marie A Shoe horn for handicapped persons
BE900356A (fr) * 1983-08-17 1984-12-03 Naturewatch Ltd Dispositif pour retirer les bottes.

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR605808A (fr) * 1925-11-09 1926-06-02 Matieres Plastiques Soc Ind De Perfectionnements apportés aux chausse-pieds
US1690516A (en) * 1928-02-10 1928-11-06 Barney C Wickers Shoehorn
FR865040A (fr) * 1939-07-11 1941-05-12 Tire-botte
US2628007A (en) * 1950-11-22 1953-02-10 Harold N Meling Device for applying footwear to handicapped persons
US2939618A (en) * 1957-03-11 1960-06-07 Ralph W Mangels Dressing and disrobing tool for paralytics
US3526346A (en) * 1968-06-11 1970-09-01 Leonard Drouillard Boot puller
US3501073A (en) * 1968-08-23 1970-03-17 Joachim Hans Breithor Shoehorn with an elongated handle
US4355745A (en) * 1980-07-25 1982-10-26 Nelson Marie A Shoe horn for handicapped persons
BE900356A (fr) * 1983-08-17 1984-12-03 Naturewatch Ltd Dispositif pour retirer les bottes.

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2221604A (en) * 1988-08-11 1990-02-14 Koon Hing Trading Co Ltd Shoe horn
EP2759232A1 (fr) * 2013-01-28 2014-07-30 Laura Taylor Outil de retrait de combinaison/combinaison sèche
WO2014114799A1 (fr) * 2013-01-28 2014-07-31 Adventure Sports Innovation Limited Accessoire pour ôter une combinaison

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