Sock donning system
View Patent ↗The sock donning system enables persons of limited mobility to don socks, stockings, and similar footwear without need for excessive bending at the waist and/or knee. The system includes a pair of identical grasping poles or extensions with remotely operable clasps at their distal ends. Triggers are located adjacent the handles to allow the user to operate the clasps. Socks or stockings are provided with two opposed loops extending from their upper edges or apertures formed near the upper edges. The user secures the clasp of each extension to one of the loops or apertures of a single lo stocking, and uses the two extensions simultaneously to pull the sock over the foot, ankle, and lower leg as applicable. The triggers are operated to open the clasps and release them from the sock, once the sock has been donned. The system may also be of assistance in removing socks.
1. A sock donning system, comprising in combination:
a plurality of socks, each of the socks having an upper edge and mutually opposed first and second apertures defined along the upper edge; and
first and second grasping extensions, each of the extensions having;
an elongated pole having a handle end and a distal grasping end opposite the handle end;
a fixed hook extending from the grasping end of the pole, the hook further having a tip at least generally coaxially aligned with the distal grasping end;
a linearly sliding closure member extending from the grasping end of the pole and aligned with the tip of the hook, the closure member having a distal tip selectively contacting the tip of the hook, the closure member and hook defining a closed grasping ring when the tip of the closure member is in contact with the tip of the hook;
a spring urging the distal tip of the closure member into contact with the tip ofthe hook;
a closure member actuator extending from each of the poles adjacent the handle end thereof; and
a tension member disposed within each ofthe poles and extending from the actuator to the closure member.
2. The sock donning system according to claim 1 , further comprising an actuator button extending laterally from the closure member.
3. The sock donning system according to claim 1 , wherein the closure member actuator comprises a trigger pivotally extending radially from the pole.
4. The sock donning system according to claim 1 , wherein the closure member actuator comprises an axially sliding trigger extending radially from the pole.
5. The sock donning system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the socks further includes mutually opposed first and second loops extending from the upper edge thereof, the loops respectively defining first and second apertures therethrough.
6. The sock donning system according to claim 1 , wherein the apertures defined in the socks comprise buttonhole slits.
7. The sock donning system according to claim 1 , further comprising grommets disposed about the apertures in the socks.
8. A sock donning system, comprising:
at least one sock having an upper edge and at least one aperture defined alone the upper edge; and
at least one elongated hollow grasping extension, the at least one extension having;
a handle end and a distal grasping end opposite the handle end;
a fixed hook extending from the grasping end of the extension, the hook having a tip at least generally coaxially aligned with the distal grasping end of the extension;
a linearly sliding closure member extending from the grasping end of the extension and aligned with the tip ofthe hook, the closure member having a distal tip selectively contacting the tip of the hook, the closure member and hook defining a closed grasping ring when the tip of the closure member is in contact with the tip of the hook;
a spring urging the distal tip of the closure member into contact with the tip ofthe hook;
a closure member actuator extending from the extension adjacent the handle end thereof; and
a tension member disposed within the extension and extending from the actuator to the closure member.
9. The sock donning system according to claim 8 , wherein said at least one sock comprises a plurality of socks.
10. The sock donning system according to claim 8 , wherein the closure member actuator comprises a trigger pivotally extending radially from the extension.
11. The sock donning system according to claim 8 , wherein the closure member actuator comprises an axially sliding trigger extending radially from the extension.
12. The sock donning system according to claim 8 , further comprising an actuator button extending laterally from the closure member.
13. The sock donning system according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one sock further includes mutually opposed first and second loops extending from the upper edge thereof, the loops respectively defining first and second apertures therethrough.
14. The sock donning system according to claim 8 , wherein the apertures of the at least one sock comprise buttonhole slits.
15. The sock donning system according to claim 8 , further comprising a grommet disposed about the at least one aperture in the at least one sock.
16. A method of donning a sock, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a plurality of socks each having an upper edge with a pair of apertures therealong;
(b) further providing a pair of elongated grasping extensions, each having a selectively openable sock aperture clasp extending from the distal end and a clasp actuator disposed adjacent the handle end, and communicating with the sock aperture clasp;
(c) attaching the sock aperture clasp of each of the extensions through one of the apertures of one of the socks;
(d) pulling the sock over at least the foot and ankle of the user by simultaneously manipulating the pair of grasping extensions; and
(e) releasing the sock aperture clasps of the grasping extensions from the sock by operating the clasp actuator of each of the grasping extensions and manipulating the extensions.