Socker

Abstract

This proposed invention is an assistive device helpful to those persons who suffer difficulties in bending and gripping who also lack flexability in their backs, hips, knees, ankles, and or feet. This simple cross-arm design provides a spreading action as it extends your reach and holds your stocking cuff firmly in the open position aiding in the process of dressing ones feet in stockings and also in the application of undrewear and trousers.

We claim:  
     
         1  A device for assisting persons with several certain physical dissabilities in donning stockings, underpants, and trousers said device being a simple desing easy to construct and use for both men and women, which can also be easily trimmed to accomodete children's clothing articles. Being uncomplicated and inexpensive due to absence of any specialized parts. It consists of two wooden seperation arms with a central pivot made of a bolt, washer, and a nut. One wooden locking bar bolted onto one of the two seperation arms near the proximal end. The locking bar swings into one of the three available positioning notches located on the opposite seperation arm. While in use the locking bar is held in position by the pressure naturaly occuring as the stocking cuff is placed over the two distal ends of the seperation arms where there is a short wooden dowel drilled and glued into each of the seperation arm tips inserted at right angles to the arms.  
     
     
         2  An assistive dressing device providing extended reach, ease of grip, and simplicity of use in dressing the lower body. To apply stockings set the locking bar in a notch which best fits the size and strechiness of your stocking cuff. Place the stocking cuff opening over the distal ends and the tips of both dowels just far enough for a snug fit in the cuff. The stocking is now dangling down with the heal and toe toward the floor. You may now further strech the stocking cuff opening to accomidate the size of your foot by moving the locking bar into one of the other positioning notches. Now holding the proximal ends of the seperation arms, one in each hand; the suggested position for holding the device is with the dowel tips pointing downward with the stocking heal toward the floor. However different individuals may find other holding positions to be more effective. now with the stocking cuff within your reach use your thumb or finger to push the cuff off of the distal tips and slide the dowels out of the cuff. Just reverse the process for removal of the stockings.  
     
     
         3  To apply underpants turn the socker over so the dowels are pointing upward. You don't need to use the locking bar for this procedure. While holding one proximal end of the socker in each hand slip the garment waist opening over the distal ends of the socker with one dowel through each of the leg openings. Now the waist is open. spread the seperation arms so you can distinguish each leg opening and slip your feet and legs through the waist opening and on through each of the leg openings pull the garment up to your knees. Now remove the socker and continue to pull up the garment useng your hands.  
     
     
         4  To apply trousers use the same procedure as decribed in  claim 3 , but there is no need to run the socker all the way through the legs to the ankle openings. You need only let each pant leg drape over the prongs just past the crotch area. Then insert your feet while holding one proximal end of the socker in each hand and proceed in like manner as for underpants.  
     
     
         5  A device for assisting a person in donning articles of clothing and hosiery according to  claim 1  consisting of two narrow hardwood slats joined at the halfway point between the near and far ends making a pivot point held in place by a bolt with a washer and a nut so that the two seperation arms form a colapsable and expandable x-shape which works in a scissors type action.  
     
     
         6  The device according to  claim 1  having a locking bar which is located near the proximal end of one of the two seperation arms. It is affixed to the arm by means of drilling through the locking bar and the seperation arm and is joined to the arm using a bolt and a nut. The bar is movable enabling it to be used to adjust the width of the seperation of the two arms and hold them in the chosen width position by linning it up and butting it into one of the notches on the opposing seperation arm where it will then be locked into place as the pressure of a stocking cuff is aplied to the socker device and is released when the stocking has been removed,  
     
     
         7  The device according to  claim 1  having position locking notches consisting of three or more v-shaped notches filed into the hardwood near the proximal end of one seperation arm directly opposite the locking bar. They are used to recieve a corner of the locking bar and prevent slipping of the bar while the socker device is in use.  
     
     
         8  The device according to  claim 1  having two dowels made of hardwood being just long enough to fit inside a stocking cuff. With one dowel affixed to each distal end of the seperation arms by means of drilling through near the tips of said arms and using wood glue to secure them. The dowels are to be inserted into the drilled holes at right angles to the said arms forming shapes of the letter l enabling the socker device to be used with ease to pull stockings over the foot and calf and to be easily removable from the stocking cuff.  
     
     
         9  A device according to  claim 1  having two dowels which may be cut using a handsaw to shorten them to a length aproxamatly the lenght of one half of a child's stocking cuff width thus enabling the altered socker device to accomodate the smaller size of a child's stocking. If needed additional v-shaped positioning notches may easily be added nearer the proximal end by use of a file.  
     
     
         10  A device according to  claim 1  having two distal ends into which are inserted two hardwood dowels at right angles to the said seperation arms. The ends of said arms having been cut square leaving squared corners not rounded and having a v-shaped notch to aid in gripping filed into the outer faces to make contact with the stocking cuff creating enough resistance when the socker device is in use to hold the cuff firmly in place eliminating the need for any hook or prong. This allows the cuff to be easily released from the socker device after the stocking is in place on the foot by simply nudging it off the corner of each distal arm end requiring little force or strength on the part of the person using the device.  
     
     
         11  A device not to be limited to any set of measurements but which can be made any desired length in any part or parts thereof to accomodate persons of very tall or short stature of persons having special reach or width/stretch requirements. The device could be constructed using materials other than hardwood, however we suggest hardwood because it is an organic and durable natural resource very suitable for this sturdy device as decribed in  claim 1.