US3396882A - Hosiery-removal device - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 13, 1968 A. BERLlN 3,396,882

HOSIERY-REMOVAL DEVICE Filed May 2, 1966 20 z INVENTOR. 2 ABE BERLIN ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,396,882 HOSIERY-REMOVAL DEVICE Abe Berlin, 2843 W. Girard Ave.,

Philadelphia, Pa. 19130 Filed May 2, 1966, Ser. No. 546,968 1 Claim. (Cl. 223111) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This is a device for removal of hosiery by incapacitated persons unable to perform the necessary bending and reaching, and includes an elongate shank having a handle on one end and provided with a transverse sheet portion on the other end having elongate extensions in facing spaced relation for engagement of one extension between a users leg and the upper portion of a stocking being worn by the user. Upon continued downward movement of the device, the transverse sheet portion effects progressive gathering and folding of the stocking, while the other extension retains the gathered stocking portion beneath the transverse sheet portion.

This invention relates generally to personal-service devices of the garment-removal type, and is especially concerned with unique improvements in a device for removing hosiery from the person of the wearer.

As is well known, many persons, by reason of physical impairment, are incapable of removing their own stockings. Performance of this act then requires the assistance of another, who may not always be readily available.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a device whereby persons having physical impairment preventing the removal of their own stockings may, quickly and easily, employ the instant device to effect substantially instantaneous stocking removal without aid or assistance from another person.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a stocking-removal device having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is extremely simple in construction, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, having no relatively movable parts, and which may be economically manufactured for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claim.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hosieryremoval device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the device of FIGURE 1, as seen along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational perspective view illustrating the hosiery-removal device of the present invention in its operative condition of use, an initial position being shown in solid Ines, and a later position in phantom; and

FIGURE 4 is an end perspective view showing a slightly modified construction of hosiery remover of the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and specifically to FIGURE 1 thereof, a hosiery-removal device is there generally designated 10, and may include an elongate, relatively slender shank or rod 11 having at one end a handgrip or handle 12. The handle may con- 3,396,882 Patented Aug. 13, 1968 veniently extend longitudinally of the shank 11 at the leftward end thereof, as seen in FIGURE 1. At the rightward end of shank 11, as seen in FIGURE 1, there isprovided a sheetlike engaging member or plate 15, which may be of elongate configuration, extending longitudinally of and beyond the shank 11.

In the embodiment of FIGURES l3, the plate 15 is provided with longitudinal side edges 16, extending generally longitudinally of the shank 11 and terminates in a generally curved outer or distal end edge 17. The plate 15 may be transversely arcuate, as being smoothly bent between side edges 16 about a longitudinal axis throughout its length, with the concave surface 18 facing laterally outward. At the inner end of plate 15, there is provided a transverse extension 20, say integral with the plate and bent to extend transversely therefrom, for fixed connection to the adjacent end of shank 11.

Extending longitudinally along and in spaced relation with respect to the plate 15, facing the convex side thereof, is a retainer element or plate 21. The retainer element may be of elongate, sheet like configuration extending longitudinally of the plate 15, and may have its inner end connected to the transverse extension 20. The outer end 22 of the retainer element 21 may terminate short of the outer edge 17 of plate 15. In practice, the plate 15 and retainer element 21 may be integrally fabricated of a single strip of elongate material, say of metal, bent to a generally U-shaped configuration, with respective legs providing plate 15 and retainer element 21, and the bight portion defining transverse member 20.

In operation, the user may merely grasp the handle 12 and engage the plate 15 along the users leg for edgewise insertion of the plate edge 17 between the leg and upper edge of a stocking 24, as in FIGURE 3. Upon continued movement of the removal device 10, the upper portion of the stocking 24 is gathered beneath and retained by the retainer element 21, being held between the plate 15 and the retainer element. It is merely necessary to continue movement of the removal device 10 downward along the leg to effect complete removal of the stocking A slightly modified hosiery-removal device is shown in FIGURE 4, there generally designated 10a, and includes a shank 11a and end handle 12a, which may be substantially identical to the shank and handle of the first-described embodiment. On the working end of the shank 11a there may be secured a plate 15a of elongate configuration extending longitudinally of and beyond the shank, while a retainer element or plate 21a is carried on one side of and in facing spaced relation with the engaging plate 15a. The engaging plate 15a and retainer element 21a may be integrally formed of a single piece of strip material bent upon itself in a U-shaped configuration, and having a bight portion 20a rigidly secured by any suitable means to the adjacent end of shank 11a. The bight portion 20a corresponds to the transverse portion 20 of the first-described embodiment.

In use, the modified embodiment 10a of FIGURE 4 may be employed in substantially the same manner as described hereinbefore in connection with the embodiment of FIGURES l-3.

From the foregoing it is seen that the present invention provides a hosiery-removal device which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, distribution and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

1. A hosiery-removal device comprising an elongate shank, a handle at one end of said shank to be grasped by the user, an elongate strip of stiff sheet material including an intermediate generally rectangular portion fixed to the other end of said shank and extending transversely thereof, an elongated plate-like first end portion extending from one edge of said transverse intermediate sheet portion disposed longitudinally of and projecting beyond said other end of said shank, an elongated platelike second end portion extending from an opposite edge of said transverse intermediate sheet portion and defining a retainer disposed longitudinally of and in facing spaced relation with said plate-like first end portion, said plate- Iike first end portion being curved transversely of the elongation thereof with the convex surface facing said plate-like second end portion, being engageable endwise between the users leg and the upper portion of a stocking being worn by the user and said transverse intermediate sheet portion effecting progressive gathering and folding of the stocking while said second end portion retains the gathered stocking portion beneath said transverse intermediate sheet portion.

References Cited PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner.

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