Device for putting on and taking off a support stocking

Abstract

The invention relates to a device that is used to open a support sock (or hose) and to maintain same open so that the foot and leg can be inserted therein without the passage of the heel posing any difficulty. The aforementioned manoeuvre is made possible by means of two members ( 2, 4 ) which form an ovoid tube on which the sock is positioned. Said two members are fixed to panels ( 1, 3 ) which can be separated from one another using a lever ( 5 ) comprising two connecting links ( 6, 7 ). The invention also comprises variable-length, lateral, removable handles and, as a result, the device is suitable for personal use or for use by a third party. The lower part ( 3 ) of the device can be used alone for the removal of the sock. According to the invention, the user employs the lateral handles ( 8, 9 ) such that the above-mentioned member ( 4 ), which takes the form of a hollow semicylinder in order to match the shape of the heel, moves the sock towards the foot.

1 . A device for assisting in fitting and removing support socks, which makes it possible to open a sock by means of a fixed part comprising an upper plate ( 1 ) to which an upper tongue ( 2 ) is fastened, and a lower moving part which slides along two slide guides and comprises a sliding plate ( 3 ) to which a lower tongue ( 4 ) is fastened, characterized in that it consists of a slide ( 10  and  11 ) and lever ( 5 ) system which is used to separate two tongues ( 2  and  4 ), in that it comprises detachable lateral handles ( 8  and  9 ) and in that the moving lower part of the device ( 3 ,  4 ,  8  and  9 ) may be uncoupled from the apparatus and may be used as an independent apparatus.  
   
   
       2 . The sock-opening device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized by two curved, solid tongues ( 2  and  4 ), the upper tongue ( 2 ) having a large radius of curvature and being more flattened than the lower tongue ( 4 ), which has a small radius of curvature and is downwardly very concave to allow the passage of the heel, the two tongues forming, when pressed one against the other, a rectilinear and ovoid sleeve on which the sock will be positioned.  
   
   
       3 . The sock-opening device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized by two parallel slide guides ( 10  and  11 ) which are interconnected at one end by the fixed plate ( 1 ) supporting the upper tongue ( 2 ) and are free at the other end, allowing vertically downward translational movement of the lower plate ( 3 ), which is equipped with slides at its ends.  
   
   
       4 . The sock-opening device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized by a lever system ( 5 ) which, bearing on the fixed upper plate ( 1 ) on each side of the apparatus, will push the lower sliding plate ( 3 ) by way of two connecting rods ( 6  and  7 ) so as to move the plate ( 3 ) away from the fixed part ( 1  and  2 ), thereby reducing the effort required.  
   
   
       5 . The positioning device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized by the addition of elongate handles of variable length which are fastened in a lateral position on each side of the sliding plate ( 3 ) and are easily detachable, allowing personal use of the apparatus or use by a third party by removing these handles.  
   
   
       6 . The device for taking off support socks (or stockings) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that it is composed of the moving lower part of the sock-fitting device as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  5 , which part is detachable and can be uncoupled easily from the rest of the sock-fitting device by sliding it down to the end of the slide guides in order to become an independent apparatus comprising the sliding plate ( 3 ) supporting the tongue ( 4 ) and the two handles ( 8  and  9 ). The tongue ( 4 ) fastened perpendicularly to the plate ( 3 ), which acts as a stop, is slipped into the top of the sock, between the latter and the leg, and pushes it toward the foot by means of the elongate handles in a folding-over process, making it possible to pass the heel.