Hosiery manipulation apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus to manipulate hosiery includes a curved plunger, the curved plunger being curved about a pivot point and a curved hollow tube, the curved hollow tube being curved about the pivot point, and configured to internally receive the curved plunger.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a curved plunger, said curved plunger being curved about a pivot point; and   a curved hollow tube, said curved hollow tube being curved about the pivot point, and configured to internally receive the curved plunger.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an arm associated with the curved hollow tube, the arm configured to translate the curved hollow tube radially about the pivot point. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a handle provided on the arm. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a frame configured to secure the curved plunger and to rotatably secure the arm about the pivot point. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising a mounting portion provided on the frame, the mounting portion configured to allow the frame to be mounted to a wall or table. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the curved hollow tube is mounted at a holding joint on the arm. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the curved hollow tube comprises a radial length of approximately 115 degrees of arc. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the curved plunger comprises a radial length of approximately 160 degrees of arc, an end of the curved plunger being secured by the frame at a holding joint. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the curved plunger is configured to form a half circle with the frame at a bottom portion of the half circle and the curved hollow tube to be located adjacent to a top portion of the half circle. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the curved plunger comprises a radial length of approximately 210 degrees of arc, an end of the curved plunger being received internally in the frame. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an end of the curved plunger comprises a smooth surface. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an interior surface of the curved hollow tube comprises a protrusion configured to engage the curved plunger. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an end of the curved plunger comprises an enlarged shape. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the end of the curved plunger is configured to engage an inner surface of the curved hollow tube. 
     
     
         15 . A method to manipulate hosiery wherein an item of hosiery is everted, the method comprising:
 placing said item of hosiery on a curved hollow tube; and   rotating the curved hollow tube about a pivot point towards a fixed curved plunger to evert the item of hosiery.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the rotating the curved hollow tube comprises rotating the curved hollow tube over the curved plunger so that the curved plunger enters a first end of the curved hollow tube and so that the item of hosiery engages with the curved plunger, the item of hosiery being forced on to the curved plunger. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the rotating the curved hollow tube further comprises rotating the curved hollow tube past the curved plunger so that the item of hosiery emerges from a second end of the curved hollow tube.