WO2021194376A1

WO2021194376A1 - Self-service device for putting on shoe covers

Info

Publication number: WO2021194376A1
Application number: PCT/RU2021/000110
Authority: WO
Inventors: Любава Александровна ГОРШКОВА
Original assignee: Любава Александровна ГОРШКОВА
Priority date: 2020-03-23
Filing date: 2021-03-16
Publication date: 2021-09-30
Also published as: RU2730860C1

Abstract

The invention relates to domestic appliances for increasing the ease of use of footwear, while also providing for hygiene in medical facilities. The technical result of the claimed invention is that of improving the ergonomic and technical characteristics of a device for putting on shoe covers, providing greater ease of use and expanding the range of permissible standard shoe sizes. A device for putting shoe covers comprised of a polymeric bag with an elastic band disposed inside a cuff of said bag onto everyday footwear contains a holder fastened to a bracket. The inside surface of the bracket encompasses the dimensions of the largest cross section of the maximum permissible size of everyday footwear. The bracket is formed by at least one cantilever with transverse members, on which catches for the cuff of a bag are arranged around the perimeter of the inside surface of the bracket. The transverse members bend outwards in a curve, and the catches are disposed at the ends thereof and have a surface which mates with the outside lateral surface of the transverse members, said mating surface bending inwards in the opposite direction to the outward bend of the transverse members and encompassing the dimensions of the cross section of a cuff of a bag. The middle portion of the cross member proximal the holder bends outwards in the direction in which worn footwear is inserted.

Description

SELF-OPERATED JOINING JACKET

The claimed technical solution relates to means for satisfying vital needs, in particular, to household devices that increase the convenience of using shoes while ensuring hygiene in medical institutions.

Known device for putting on shoe covers made of a polymer cover with an elastic band placed in the lapel of this cover, on a constantly worn shoe, containing a holder fastened with a staple. The brace is made with an inner surface covering the dimensions of the largest cross-section of a permanently worn shoe and is equipped with a hook for a boot cover lapel with an elastic band. The hook is formed by a groove on the side surface of the staple (RF patent 183562, analogue).

However, this device has disadvantages, namely, the inconvenience of symmetrical (uniform) laying by the user of the lapel of the boot cover with an elastic band into the groove and depending on the uniformity of pulling the boot cover on the inserted wearable shoes on the accuracy of their mutual positioning.

The inconvenience of laying the boot cover lapel in the groove by the user is due to the relatively small dimensions of the groove width and depth. The shallow depth of the groove for laying the boot cover flap makes it difficult to use the device for users with disabilities in terms of impaired coordination of movements, for example, elderly users and / or with hand tremors.

The elimination of this drawback by local deepening of the groove is prevented by the limitation of the dimensions of the inner and outer perimeters.

1

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) staples. The possibility of reducing the inner perimeter of the staple is limited by the condition that the maximum allowable size of the wearable shoe is inserted into the staple. The possibility of increasing the outer perimeter of the staple is limited by the maximum permissible length of elastic deformation of the elastic band of the shoe cover stretched over the staple.

The dependence of the symmetry (uniformity) of pulling the shoe cover on the shoe to be worn on the accuracy (accuracy) of its positioning by the user relative to the staple when the shoe is inserted into the shoe cover is due to the fact that when the shoe is inserted into the bracket to its side, the pulling forces of the lapel of the shoe cover become uneven along it length. Due to the incommensurability of the pulling forces of the shoe cover lapel from the differently distant sides, the process of pulling the shoe cover from the toe on both sides of the shoe being worn is uneven. Due to the elasticity of the elastic striving to reduce the length of the shoe cover lapel sliding along the end of the bracket to the side directed outside the hooks, pulling the shoe cover lapel out of the groove in the adjacent areas is accelerated and becomes uncontrollable. As a result, this leads to the shoe cover falling out of the staple before it is pulled onto the wearable shoe, which requires re-inserting the shoe cover lapel into the groove.

The closest in technical essence is a device for putting on shoe covers made of a polymer cover with an elastic band, placed in the lapel of this cover, on permanently worn shoes, containing a holder fastened at an angle with a bracket, the inner surface of which covers the dimensions of the largest cross-section of the maximum allowable size constantly wearable shoes. The brace is formed by a longitudinal, relative to the sole of the inserted wearable shoe, a bracket with crossbars located, respectively, from the toe side and from the heel side of the inserted wearable shoes. On these crossbars, along the perimeter of the inner surface of the staple, there are hooks for the lapel of the shoe cover (RF patent 182940, prototype).

This device provides much more convenience in the process of stretching the elastic in the lapel of the shoe cover on the hooks due to the possibility of overlapping it immediately on a pair of hooks from the side of the holder and then from the opposite side. The procedure for putting on a wide loop from the boot cover lapel is less dependent on the influence of disorders of the musculoskeletal system or the nervous system of users who find it difficult to ensure sufficient coordination of movements when laying the elastic with the boot cover lapel into the groove. The presence of fixed points of engagement of the boot cover lapel on the bracket does not allow the boot cover with to be spontaneously pulled out of engagement due to the elasticity of the elastic in its lapel during local tightening of the lapel section of its cover.

But the ergonomic characteristics of the known device are still not satisfactory enough for the following reasons.

The disadvantage of the known device is the inconvenience of relatively symmetrical laying of the boot cover lapel on the hooks. With asymmetric laying of the shoe cover in the hooks, as well as with inaccurate positioning by the user of the shoe when inserting it into the bracket relative to its middle, the symmetry of pulling the shoe cover onto the worn shoe is not ensured. As with the analog, this can lead to a beveled pulling of the shoe cover on the shoe or even lead to the shoe cover pulling from the hooks until it fits the worn shoe, which will require re-laying the boot cover lapel in the toes. This disadvantage is especially significant for users with disabilities, in particular the elderly, for whom it is difficult to coordinate movements when laying the lapel of the boot cover on the hooks and, if necessary, correct the position of the lapel of the slip-on cover of the boot when balancing its laying on the bracket.

The disadvantage of the known device is also the need to turn the staple to access the hooks when pulling the shoe cover on them (or by a constructive solution by hinged installation of the staple on the holder or the need to manually turn the staple together with the holder manually). This causes, respectively, or the complication of the design of the device as a whole or, accordingly, the deterioration of the convenience of its use.

The disadvantage of the known device is also the limitation of the range of standard sizes of the wearable footwear. This limitation is due to the discrepancy between the boundaries when applying the smoothed shape of the maximum section of the wearable shoe and the rectangular shape formed by the lapel of the shoe cover stretched over the hooks. The discrepancy between the boundaries leads to the fact that when entering the maximum permissible standard sizes of wearable shoes into the bracket, the elastic of the boot cover is pulled off the hooks prematurely - not after inserting this shoe into the cavity of the boot cover, but from the moment the toe or heel of the wearable shoe engages the section of the lapel stretched between the hooks shoe covers. In this case, the pulling of the shoe cover from the hooks occurs before the end of the fitting of the wearable shoe, which necessitates the re-tightening of the shoe cover on the hooks.

Similarly, the disadvantage arises due to the increased requirement for high-quality positioning by the wearer of the wearable shoe relative to the staple. When the toe of the shoe moves towards the holder or the heel in the opposite direction, they catch on the stretched between with hooks, the section of the boot cover lapel, which leads to premature pulling of the boot cover from the hooks and the need to re-put the boot cover on the hooks.

A disadvantage of the known device is also damage to the hooks or the section of the bracket between them, when the device falls down with the bracket to the floor level, if the user, for example, in case of loss of coordination, steps on the bracket. To prevent such damage, the hooks and shackle must be strong and strong enough to support the weight of the user. Accordingly, their mass increases, which, in turn, increases the material consumption and cost of the staple, and also, due to the resulting increase in weight, impairs the convenience of using the device, which becomes excessively heavier.

A disadvantage of the known device is also the lack of protection of the shoes and feet of the wearer from contamination with the soiled shoes of the previous wearer. Before entering the shoe into the shoe cover, the shoe passes through the bracket and when they touch, street dirt remains on its end and inner surface.

The disadvantage of the known device is also the stringent requirements for the tolerance for the elastic properties of the elastic placed in the lapel of the shoe cover. With a weakened elasticity of this elastic band, the boot cover is prematurely pulled from the hooks due to weak friction against the surface of the inserted wearable shoe, up to its spontaneous fall from the hooks until it is pulled onto the wearable shoe.

The task is to improve the ergonomic and technical characteristics of a known device The technical result of the claimed invention is to improve the ergonomic and technical characteristics of the known device by;

- increasing the convenience of pulling the boot cover lapel onto the hooks and preventing it from slipping off the hooks when putting on a wearable shoe;

- expanding the range of acceptable standard sizes of wearable footwear;

- ensuring that the wearer's shoes and feet are protected from contamination of the previous wearer's soiled shoes;

- exclusion of damage to the hooks if the user accidentally steps on the bracket;

- weakening the requirements for the tolerance for the elastic properties of the elastic band placed in the lapel of the shoe cover.

The technical result is achieved due to the fact that in the device for putting on shoe covers, made of a polymer cover with an elastic band, placed in the lapel of this cover, on permanently worn shoes, containing a holder fastened with a bracket, the inner surface of which covers the dimensions of the largest cross-section of the maximum allowable size permanently worn footwear formed by at least one bracket with crossbars on which, along the perimeter of the inner surface of the clip, the hooks of the boot cover flap are placed, the crossbars are arcuately bent outward. The hooks are located at the ends of the crossbars and are made with a surface mating with the outer lateral surface of these crossbars, concave to the side opposite to the bend of the crossbars, and covering dimensions of the cross-section of the lapel of the boot cover with an elastic band. The middle part of the cross member located on the side of the holder is bent from towards the input of the wearable shoe. At least one hook on the side of the bracket is formed by the surface of a mutual bracket with a cross member. On the holder with a pair of staples placed on it, the hooks from the mutually adjacent sides of these staples from the side opposite to the holder are formed by mutual conjugation of the lateral surfaces of the adjacent ends of the crossbars.

The specified combination of features, while simplifying the design of the device as a whole, provides the convenience of pulling the boot cover flap onto the hooks and prevents it from slipping when putting on the worn shoes due to asymmetrical laying or inaccurate positioning of the shoe relative to the staple. When using the device, the range of acceptable standard sizes of wearable shoes expands. The device protects the shoes and feet of the wearer from contamination of the soiled shoes of the previous wearer. With careless use of the device, the possibility of damage to the hooks is excluded if the user accidentally steps on the bracket. The shape of the hooks in the device weaken the requirements for the tolerance for the elastic properties of the elastic placed in the lapel of the shoe cover.

As a result, the adopted technical solutions improve the ergonomic and technical characteristics of the device.

FIG. 1 shows a device for putting on shoe covers with a stretched shoe cover before inserting the worn shoe into the bracket; in fig. 2 - plan view of a device with one bracket; in fig. 3 - view in terms of a device with a pair of brackets; in fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the end of the crosspiece with the lapel of the boot cover with an elastic band inserted into the hook; in fig. 5 - side view fixtures with one bracket; in fig. 6 - a device for putting on shoe covers with a stretched shoe cover in the process of inserting a wearable shoe.

The device for putting on shoe covers 1, made of a polymer cover 2 with an elastic band 3, placed in the lapel of this cover 2, on permanently worn shoes 4 (Fig. 1), contains a holder 5 fastened with a bracket 6 (Fig. 2) or with a pair of staples 6 (Fig. 3).

The holder 5 can be made in the form of any long object, for example, a cane, or (not shown in the drawing) a rack with clips of the staple 6 at the required height.

The shape of the staple 6 is formed by one or a pair, longitudinal relative to the sole of the inserted wearable shoes, brackets 7 with crossbars 8 and 9 located, respectively, on the toe side and on the heel side of the inserted wearable shoe 4. The inner surface of the staple 6 covers the dimensions of the largest cross-section of the maximum allowable size constantly worn shoes.

The bracket 7 can be rigidly fastened at an angle, for example, straight, with the holder 5 or, to reduce the dimensions during the unused period, it can be made folding upwards in the hinge (not shown in the drawing).

On the crossbars 8 and 9 along the perimeter of the inner surface of the staple 6, the length of which lies within the elastic deformation length of the elastic band 3, there are hooks 10 - 13 of the cover flap 2.

A pair of hooks 10 and 11 is placed at the ends of the crossbar 8, the hooks 12 and 13 are placed at the ends of the crossbar 9. The cross bar 8 is arcuately bent outward - away from the toe of the inserted wearable shoe 4. The cross bar 9 is also arcuately bent outward - away from the heel of the inserted wearable shoe 4.

The arc forming the cross member 8 is made with a chord length exceeding the maximum width of the toe of the sole of the maximum allowable size of the worn shoes 4.

The arc forming the cross member 9 is made with a chord length exceeding the maximum width of the heel of the sole of the maximum allowable size of the shoe 4 being worn.

They can also be made of the same size, corresponding to the largest width of the sole of the maximum allowable size of the shoe to be worn 4.

Hooks 10 - 13 are made with a surface mating with the outer side surface of these crossbars, concave to the side opposite to the bend of the crossbars, and freely, without interference, covering the dimensions of the cross-section of the boot cover flap with an elastic band (Fig. 4).

The middle part of the cross member 8 (located on the side of the holder 5) is bent from towards the input side of the wearable shoe 4 (Fig. 5).

In the version of the device with one bracket, the crossbars 8 and 9 have the form of bridges between the brackets 7, and all hooks 11 - 13 can be formed by areas of smooth mating of the surfaces of the crossbars 8 and 9 with the adjacent surface of the brackets 7.

In the version of the device with two brackets 6, the crossbars 8 and 9 have the form of consoles. In this case, the hooks 10 can be are formed by sections of smooth mating of their surfaces, hooks 11 and 12 are formed by the curved ends of the consoles formed by the crossbars 8 and 9 and the hooks 13 are formed by the surface of mutual conjugation along the outer surface of the brackets 6 of the mutually adjacent ends of the crossbars 9. To exclude the possibility of erroneous pulling of the cover flap 2 onto the outer ends hooks 11 and 12 in this embodiment, they can be made elongated and / or bent sideways.

The staple 6 (pair of staples 6) can be made as welded from separate parts (crossbars 8 and 9 of both staples 6 with hooks 10 - 13 and brackets 7) or made as a single piece obtained, for example, by casting, pressing or stamping. The bracket 7 between the brackets 6 can be lengthened by the crossbars 8 and 9 forming hooks 13 mutually adjacent to it on both sides, similarly to the variant with two longitudinal brackets 7 (not shown in the drawing).

The device functions as follows.

To use the device, the user refills it with a shoe cover 1 intended to be put on his wearable shoes 4 and taken, for example, from a shoe cover vending machine. If a pair of staples 6 is provided in the device, he tucks it in, respectively, with a pair of shoe covers 1. To do this, he loops the cover lapel 2 first on the arc formed by the crossbar 8, then also with a loop on the arc formed by the crossbar 9.

Due to the arcuate shape of the crossbar 8 between the hooks 10 and 11, and the crossbar 9 between the hooks 12 and 13, the process of throwing the cover flap 2 over them practically does not require careful coordination of the user's movements. This is ensured both by the long length of the crossbars 8 and 9 and by the smoothness of their surface, providing lightness longitudinal displacement along them of the cover 2 for its symmetry relative to the staple 6 by applying longitudinal forces by the user to the lapel of the cover 2. Moreover, putting on the cover flap 2 is simplified due to the crossbar 8 bent upward, away from the user. On the opposite side of the staple 6, it is facilitated by the accessibility of the space behind and below the surface of its end. Thus, the device turns out to be insensitive to disturbances in coordination by the user when throwing the shoe cover 1 onto the hooks 10 - 13.

After pulling the cover 2 onto the hooks 10 - 13 of the staples 6 or, respectively, a pair of staples 6, the user lowers them with the holder 5 to a level of 7-10 cm from the floor (the level of a low stair step). In this case, there is no need to turn the bracket 6 or a pair of staples 6, since the cover 2 is laid and the wearable shoes 4 are inserted from one side.

As the wearable shoe 4 enters, its toe gradually pulls on the cover 2. If, with an extremely large standard size of the wearable shoe 4 or when the user is too close to the toe or heel of the wearable shoe 4 of a smaller size, the wearable shoe 4 touches the lapel stretched between toes 10 and 11 or 12 and 13 cover 2 and, then its pulling from the hooks does not occur since this contact occurs through the stretched polymer material of the cover. In addition, the direction of the force applied to the lapel of the cover 2, rendered, by the toe or heel of the shoe 4, is opposite to the direction of its pulling off the crossbar, respectively, 8 or 9. The toe or, respectively, the heel of the shoe 4 slides further without engagement to a depth cover 2. After this begins the tightening of the cover flap 2 with one of the crossbars 8 or 9 (Fig. 6). The effect of the component of the pulling force of the cover 2, directed towards the ends of the cross-beams 8 and 9, is neutralized by the bend in the areas of conjugation of their outwardly curved surfaces of the ends with the surfaces of the hooks 10-13 concave in the direction opposite to their bending. 13 of the dimensions of the cross-section of the cover flap 2 with elastic band 3, pinching of the cover 2 due to the action of the specified component of the pulling force is excluded. The tightening of the cover flap 2 begins from the mating surfaces of the crossbars 8 and 9 with the hooks 10 - 13, gradually moving to the middle of the crossbars 8 and 9. In this case, the cover 2 is independently centered as it is tightened relative to the staple 6. This ensures a high-quality fit of the shoe cover 1 to the wearable shoe 4 from the sides, weakly depending both on the coordination of the worn shoes 4 relative to the staple 6 and on the symmetry of the installation of the cover flap 2 in the hooks 10-13. 4 from its sides. The tightening process gradually passes to the oppositely located cross-bar, respectively 9 or 8, also reaching its middle part and breaking off from it when the full coverage of the shoe 4 with shoe cover 1 is completed.

The stability of the pulling force of the shoe cover 1 from the hooks 10 - 13 and the uniformity of the fitting of the cover 2 on the wearable shoe 4 is ensured not so much by the elasticity of the elastic band 3, but by the pulling force of the overlaps formed by the cover 2 on the crossbars 8 and 9. The pulling force from the overlap is determined stably reproducible tribotechnical parameters of the interacting materials of the cover 2 with the coating of the surface of the crossbars 8 and 9. Therefore, the device turns out to be insensitive to the stiffness of the task requirements for the elastic properties of the elastic placed in the lapel of the cover 2 shoe covers 1.

If there are brackets 7 located along the edges of the staple 6, the worn shoes 4 are removed by lifting it up relative to the staple 6.

If there is one bracket 7 (the preferred option for a pair of brackets 6), the worn shoes 4 are removed from it by moving in the direction where the bracket 7 is absent.

In any case, after removing the wearable shoe 4, the clip 6 remains unstained by street dirt, since it did not have direct contact with it.

Hooks 10 - 13 in the proposed device are located in the space outside the surface of the lower end of the bracket 6. Therefore, if the user loses coordination, for example, if he steps on the fallen bracket 6, damage to the hooks 10-13, brackets 7 and jumpers 8 and 9 is excluded, so how the clamp 6 is applied to the floor along their bottom surface. A slight bend of the cross member 8 when pressed from above is compensated by the elasticity of the material from which it is made. This makes it possible to simplify the structure by reducing the requirements for its rigidity, and, accordingly, to reduce the consumption of materials and the cost of the device.

As a result of improving the ergonomic and technical characteristics, the proposed device, taking into account the individual characteristics of users with different types of disabilities, as well as visitors to medical institutions, whose complexion makes it difficult to put on shoe covers, provides ease of use, and does not require the involvement of staff of these institutions for their specialized service.

The possibility of self-service of the device by visitors, with its simplicity and relative cheapness, allows it to be used both by medical institutions with a large flow of visitors and a diverse contingent of users, and by small businesses with a limited number of attendants and high requirements for hygiene of premises.

Claims

Claim

A device for putting on shoe covers made of a polymer cover with an elastic band placed in the lapel of this cover on a permanently worn shoe containing a holder fastened with a bracket, the inner surface of which covers the dimensions of the largest cross-section of the maximum allowable size of permanently worn shoes, formed at least , with one bracket with crossbars on which, along the perimeter of the inner surface of the staple, the hooks for the lapel of the boot cover are placed, characterized in that the crossbars are arcuate outward, and the hooks are located at their ends and are made with a surface mating with the outer lateral surface of these crossbars, concave in the side opposite to the bend of the crossbars, and covering the dimensions of the cross-section of the lapel of the boot cover with an elastic band.

2. The device according to claim. 1, characterized in that the middle part of the cross member located on the side of the holder is bent from towards the input of the wearable shoe.

3. The device according to claim. 2, characterized in that at least one hook from the side of the bracket is formed by the surface of the section of mutual conjugation of the bracket and the cross member.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that on the holder with a pair of staples placed on it, the hooks from the mutually adjacent sides of these staples from the side opposite to the holder are formed by the mutual conjugation of the side surfaces of the adjacent ends of their crossbars.