Dressing assistance device and dressing assistance method

1 . A dressing assistance device comprising:

a rest frame structure for supporting a limb of a user;

a guide rail disposed along a longitudinal direction of the rest frame structure;

a mount support section movably connected to the guide rail;

a garment mount section operably coupled to the mount support section for receiving attachment of a garment;

a mount adjustment section operably coupled to the mount support section and configured to adjust a width of the garment mount section; and

a motor operably coupled to the mount support section and the mount adjustment section,

wherein the motor is configured to:

drive the mount support section to travel along the guide rail, and drive the mount adjustment section to adjust the garment mount section between a closed position for receiving attachment of a garment and an open position that allows for insertion and removal of the limb of the user, and

wherein the mount adjustment section includes a clamp having:

a first jaw portion configured to interface with a first surface of the garment mount section;

a second jaw portion configured to interface with a second surface of the garment mount section that is opposite the first surface; and

a mechanical actuator operably coupled to the first jaw portion, the second jaw portion, and the motor, and configured to use mechanical energy generated by the motor to apply force to the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion.

2 . The dressing assistance device according to claim 1 , wherein:

in the closed position, the garment mount section defines a hollow conical frustum having a first circumferential edge that defines a first opening at a first longitudinal end of the garment mount section and a second circumferential edge that defines a second opening at a second longitudinal end of the garment mount section; and

the first opening has a first circumference greater than a second circumference of the second opening.

3 . The dressing assistance device according to claim 2 , wherein the first circumference is less than or equal to 61 centimeters.

4 . The dressing assistance device according to claim 2 , wherein the garment mount section is configured to receive attachment of a garment such that:

a cuff of the garment is fitted over the first circumferential edge of the garment mount section;

a body of the garment extends along the longitudinal direction within the hollow conical frustum of the garment mount section; and

a garment opening of the garment is substantially concentric with the first opening of the garment mount section.

5 . The dressing assistance device according to claim 4 , wherein:

the limb of the user is partially inserted into the garment opening of the garment fitted over the first circumferential edge of the garment mount section; and

the motor drives the mount support section to travel along the guide rail toward the limb of the user, thereby fitting the garment onto the limb of the user.

6 . The dressing assistance device according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical actuator is configured to:

apply, using mechanical energy generated by the motor, force to the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion to push the first surface and the second surface of the garment mount section toward each other in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to adjust the garment mount section to the closed position; and

apply, using mechanical energy generated by the motor, force to the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion to pull the first surface and the second surface of the garment mount section apart from each other in the transverse direction of the dressing assistance device to adjust the garment mount section to the open position.

7 . The dressing assistance device according to claim 1 , wherein a garment is attached to the garment mount section in the closed position such that adjusting the garment mount section from the closed position to the open position stretches a garment opening of the garment.

8 . The dressing assistance device according to claim 7 , wherein the motor has an output torque characteristic that achieves a torque threshold sufficient for widening a garment opening of the garment attached to the garment mount section to a predetermined width.

9 . The dressing assistance device according to claim 1 , wherein the rest frame structure includes:

a longitudinal frame section having a first end portion and a second end portion; and

a rotatable frame section coupled to the second end portion of the longitudinal frame section by a first set of hinges.

10 . The dressing assistance device according to claim 9 , wherein the rest frame structure is configurable between a deployed state and a stowable state by rotating the rotatable frame section around the first set of hinges.

11 . The dressing assistance device according to claim 10 , wherein, in the deployed state, the rotatable frame section is rotated around the first set of hinges to extend in a vertical direction to support the second end portion of the longitudinal frame section at a designated height.

12 . The dressing assistance device according to claim 11 , wherein the rotatable frame section includes a height adjustment section for adjusting a height of the second end portion of the longitudinal frame section in the deployed state.

13 . The dressing assistance device according to claim 12 , wherein the height adjustment section is configured to adjust the height of the second end portion of the longitudinal frame section between 30 centimeters and 51 centimeters in the deployed state.

14 . The dressing assistance device according to claim 10 , wherein, in the stowable state, the rotatable frame section is rotated around the first set of hinges to extend in the longitudinal direction toward the first end portion of the longitudinal frame section.

15 . A dressing assistance device comprising:

a rest frame structure for supporting a limb of a user;

a guide rail disposed along a longitudinal direction of the rest frame structure;

a mount support section movably connected to the guide rail;

a garment mount section operably coupled to the mount support section for receiving attachment of a garment; and

a mount adjustment section operably coupled to the mount support section and configured to adjust a width of the garment mount section,

wherein:

the rest frame structure includes:

a longitudinal frame section having a first end portion and a second end portion, and

a rotatable frame section coupled to the second end portion of the longitudinal frame section by a first set of hinges;

the rest frame structure is configurable between a deployed state and a stowable state by rotating the rotatable frame section around the first set of hinges;

in the deployed state, the rotatable frame section is rotated around the first set of hinges to extend in a vertical direction to support the second end portion of the longitudinal frame section at a designated height; and

in the stowable state, the rotatable frame section is rotated around the first set of hinges to extend in the longitudinal direction toward the first end portion of the longitudinal frame section, and

the dressing assistance device further comprises an elastic support strap extending between the rotatable frame section and the first end portion of the longitudinal frame section.

16 . The dressing assistance device according to claim 15 , wherein:

the longitudinal frame section includes:

a first transverse member and a second transverse member extending in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;

a first longitudinal member extending between the first transverse member and the second transverse member such that a first end of the first longitudinal member is coupled to the first transverse member and a second end of the first longitudinal member is coupled to the second transverse member; and

a second longitudinal member extending between the first transverse member and the second transverse member such that a first end of the second longitudinal member is coupled to the first transverse member and a second end of the second longitudinal member is coupled to the second transverse member;

the rotatable frame section includes:

a third transverse member extending in the transverse direction;

a first erectable member extending between the second transverse member of the longitudinal frame section and the third transverse member such that a first end of the first erectable member is coupled to the second transverse member and a second end of the first erectable member is coupled to the third transverse member; and

a second erectable member extending between the second transverse member of the longitudinal frame section and the third transverse member such that a first end of the second erectable member is coupled to the second transverse member and a second end of the second erectable member is coupled to the third transverse member.

17 . A dressing assistance method for use with a dressing assistance device, the dressing assistance device including:

a rest frame structure for supporting a limb of a user;

a guide rail disposed along a longitudinal direction of the rest frame structure;

a mount support section movably connected to the guide rail;

a garment mount section operably coupled to the mount support section for receiving attachment of a garment;

a mount adjustment section operably coupled to the mount support section and configured to adjust a width of the garment mount section; and

a motor operably coupled to the mount support section and the mount adjustment section,

wherein the motor is configured to:

drive the mount support section to travel along the guide rail, and

drive the mount adjustment section to adjust the garment mount section between a closed position for receiving attachment of a garment and an open position that allows for insertion and removal of the limb of the user,

the dressing assistance method comprising:

fitting a garment onto the garment mount section while the garment mount section is configured in the closed position;

driving the mount adjustment section with the motor to adjust the garment mount section to the open position to stretch a garment opening of the garment;

receiving insertion of a limb of the user into a garment opening of the garment;

driving the mount support section with the motor to travel along the guide rail toward the user from a predetermined starting position to a predetermined stopping position, thereby fitting the garment onto the limb of the user,

receiving insertion of a limb of the user in the garment mount section;

fitting a portion of a garment worn on the limb of the user onto the garment mount section; and

driving the mount support section with the motor to travel along the guide rail away from the user from a predetermined starting position to a predetermined stopping position, thereby removing the garment from the limb of the user.