Aid Device for Elastic Support Stockings

Abstract

An aid device suitable for assisting a person to put on tight elastic support stockings is made of flexible low-friction sheet material, and includes a central body portion including a distal edge and a proximal edge; a first side edge and a second side edge; a first engagement area arranged along the first side edge; and a second engagement area arranged along the second side edge. An elongate pulling handle for removing the device from the user's foot by exerting a pulling force is attached to an engagement area and / or to a side edge of the central body portion, and has a longitudinal extent that makes an angle in the range between 60° and 90° with the side edge.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates in general to an aid device for assisting a person to put on tight elastic leg-covering apparel. The present invention relates particularly to an aid device for assisting a person to put on tight elastic support stockings, although a user can also apply the aid device when putting on other type of apparel, as desired.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Normally, when apparel such as trousers are put on, the user pulls at the upper end of the trousers end pulls them up along his leg. The trouser leg slides along the user's leg, wherein the trouser leg experiences friction which the user has to overcome by exerting pulling force. High friction is encountered when passing the heel. The amount of friction is higher as the trousers are more tight, and as the user's leg is more damp.[0003]The same applies, yet to a larger extent, to elastic support stockings, which due to the nature of their function have to be very tight and narrow. ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention adds a pulling handle to a side of the device, making it easier to pull the device from between a stocking and the user's leg. Preferably, there are two pulling handles on opposite sides of the device. This makes the device more convenient and user-friendly.

Problems solved by technology

High friction is encountered when passing the heel.

Putting them on does require high pulling force, especially for pulling the stocking past the heel, because the stocking will be narrower than the leg's “diameter” at the position of the heel, up to the point where the risk exists that the stockings are torn apart; in any case, the high pulling force causes wear and tear of the stockings.

Furthermore, elastic support stockings are typically applied as a medical aid, and users who need to use such aids also tend to have less strength in their arms and hands, to the extent that they often need to be helped by other persons, which makes that they are less independent.

When the stockings have open toes, it could be possible to remove the aid device at the toe side, but this requires pulling in a direction away from the user, which is not very easy for a user to do by himself.

As a consequence, the user may in practice experience difficulties in disengaging the engagement means.

Further, with a single pulling handle at a central location, the actual removal of the aid device is not very convenient since the material of the aid device tends to rumple and screw up rather than be neatly folded.

With the single pulling handle at the central location as disclosed in EP-2478800, in practice, said toe piece tends to be pulled in between the user's toes and / or to bend the toes backwards, which is uncomfortable and / or painful, increases friction, and may cause damage to the material of the toe piece, while even the aid device may tear up.

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