AUTONOMY AND PROTECTION DEVICE FOR DEPENDENT OR INDEPENDENCY PERSONS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a self-support and protective device comprising a protective body and a support system. Characteristically, said support system comprises an open, arched structure having two free ends, said arched structure being configured to move from a contracted position to a contracted position, such that, on the one hand, in the contracted position, the spacing between said free ends is greater than the diameter of the user's neck, and on the other hand, in the contracted position, the spacing between said free ends is less than the diameter of the user's neck, so that the arched structure partially surrounds the user and is supported by them. [Fig. 1]

Description

Title of the invention: AUTONOMY AND PROTECTION DEVICE FOR DEPENDENT OR NON-DEPENDENT PERSONS technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for autonomy and protection for dependent or independent persons. The device according to the invention can, in particular, be used during meals. Previous art

[0002] During various activities such as eating or artistic creation such as painting, it is common for the user, regardless of age or level of autonomy, to stain their clothes, or even to injure themselves if hot substances, for example coffee, are spilled on the clothes or directly on the skin.

[0003] To limit these drawbacks and protect the user, well-known methods are often employed, such as napkins, bibs with a collection cup, or aprons. However, these do not allow for easy and independent application or removal by the user, since their fastening systems consist of ties or hook-and-loop strips that must be assembled without visibility at the back of the neck, at the nape of the neck.

[0004] Object of the invention

[0005] One object of the present invention is to propose a device for autonomy and protection which can be operated by any individual, regardless of age and whether dependent or not, alone and without difficulty.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-contained protective device that can be quickly positioned and removed, particularly in emergencies. Indeed, when a burning substance is spilled, or if the person is suffocating, rapid removal of the device is essential.

[0007] The present invention relates to a self-supporting and protective device comprising a protective body and a support system.

[0008] The protective body is intended to be positioned in front of the user's body so as to protect it, for example during meals.

[0009] Advantageously, the protective body and / or the retention system is made of a washable material.

[0010] Advantageously, the protective body and / or the retaining system is made of a single-use material.

[0011] Advantageously, the protective body is made of at least one flexible material such as a fabric, a non-woven material or even a plastic sheet or made of silicone. In some variants, the protective body may comprise several layers of materials, for example the protective body may be a coated canvas.

[0012] Advantageously, the protective body comprises a flame-retardant material and / or coating.

[0013] Characteristically, according to the invention, said retaining system comprises an open arched structure having two free ends.

[0014] An arched structure is understood to be a structure whose general outline forms an arc of a circle or a structure having at least one portion having a shape, for example, in the form of an arc of a circle or an oval.

[0015] According to the invention, the arched structure is not closed and has two free ends which are therefore not intended to be brought into contact or connected to each other.

[0016] By geometric definition, a circular arc is a section of the circumference of a circle between two radii, and the larger arc is designated as the major arc and the smaller arc as the minor arc. Figuratively speaking, the arched structure according to the invention thus corresponds to the major arc, while the chord of the minor arc corresponds to the spacing between the free ends. Of course, the arched structure can take various forms other than that of a portion of a circle, but the principle remains equivalent.

[0017] The arcuate structure may have a surface conformation, such as a ribbon. The surface of the arcuate structure then faces the skin and / or neck of the user, while the contour drawn by the periphery of the ribbon around the user's neck has the major arc conformation.

[0018] Quite preferably the arced structure exhibits the conformation of a torque.

[0019] Advantageously, the arched structure is configured to move from a close position to a spread position, so that on the one hand in the spread position the spacing between the free ends is greater than the diameter of the user's neck and on the other hand in the close position the spacing between said free ends is less than the diameter of the user's neck so that the arched structure partially surrounds him and is held by him.

[0020] This design of the invention allows for easy and quick application and removal, with one or two hands, without having to raise the arms behind the head to put the device in place. The grip is more ergonomic and allows for use by the user alone without the intervention of a third party. Autonomy, independence, self-esteem, self-confidence, and the pride of doing things alone are preserved for all people with reduced abilities and / or mobility due to age and / or disability.

[0021] Indeed, removal simply requires pulling the device. Since it has no attachment to the back of the user's head, there is no risk of entrapment or strangulation, which can occur, for example, with cords tied around the neck.

[0022] In certain variants of the invention, the protective body and the retaining system are inseparable and / or one-piece, for example the protective body and the retaining system are glued together or molded in the same material.

[0023] In other variants, the self-contained and protective device is designed to be detachable, with the retaining system and the protective body being separable. Such configurations are advantageous, for example, for allowing the retaining system to be reused while the protective body is single-use, or for allowing the protective body to be removed and washed separately, which is advantageous when the retaining system is sensitive to water, for example, as it may rust.

[0024] Advantageously, the retaining system has at least one means of securing and said protective body includes at least one means of guiding, said means of securing and said means of guiding being capable of cooperating together in a removable manner.

[0025] Advantageously, at least one fastening means and at least one guiding means cooperate in a removable manner but without relative movement between them, for example by clipping between a rod or bead system, for example made of rubber, and a clip or clip groove system without degrees of freedom, or by a snap button system.

[0026] Advantageously, at least one means of securing and at least one means of guiding cooperate in a removable and mobile manner, for example according to a system of eyelets and rings or clips engaging with them and able to pivot, or for example according to a system of rod engaging with rings, a gutter allowing at least one degree of freedom or a sleeve.

[0027] Preferably, the guiding means comprises a sleeve having at least one opening.

[0028] Of course, at least one means of securing and at least one means of guiding can be made up of either of the parts necessary for cooperation.

[0029] Preferably, said at least one guiding means is configured to guide a sliding movement of said fastening means. Variants involving a rod and a groove allowing at least one degree of freedom or a sleeve exhibit this characteristic.

[0030] At least one opening in the sheath then allows the fastening means, for example a rod, to be engaged, and when the sheath has two openings, the fastening means to be brought out by sliding.

[0031] In some variants, the sliding movement is carried out in a rectilinear manner.

[0032] Advantageously, the sliding movement is carried out by rotation around the axis of the user's neck, that is to say around the axis described by the user's spine.

[0033] As provided by the invention and in order to facilitate the handling of the device and in particular its positioning and its quick and easy removal, the arched structure is made of an elastically deformable material such as a metallic material, a plastic material or a shape memory material.

[0034] The arched structure thus easily transitions from a position in which the distance between the free ends is spread apart by the action of a force on said structure to a contracted position in which the distance between the free ends is minimal. The contracted position corresponds to the passive position of the arched surface, that is, at rest when no force is exerted on it.

[0035] Advantageously, the arched structure can comprise a single piece, for example an arched tube or rod made of flexible plastic.

[0036] Advantageously, the arched structure includes at least one first positioning member such as a retractable lug and the guiding means includes at least one second positioning member such as a notch, said at least one first positioning member being capable of cooperating with said at least one second positioning member.

[0037] Advantageously, the arched structure consists of at least two tubes cooperating telescopically by sliding, at least one tube being provided with at least one first positioning member capable of cooperating with at least one second positioning member disposed on another tube and / or on the guiding means.

[0038] Advantageously, the arched structure consists of at least two tubes cooperating telescopically by sliding, said tubes being equipped with positioning elements. The tubes are arranged so as to slide one inside the other. When at least two tubes are equipped with positioning elements, these are, for example, at least one lug engaging with at least one notch or, for example, at least one stop.

[0039] In some variants, the positioning members are arranged for example on a first tube and blocking a spring which itself is against a second tube.

[0040] Advantageously at least one tube is hollow, while the other tube(s) may be solid rods.

[0041] Such positioning devices allow the protective body to be positioned appropriately relative to the retention system and / or the parts constituting the retention system to be positioned relative to each other.

[0042] Such positioning devices allow the support device around the user's neck to be adjusted, allowing a more or less tight or loose position to be selected and / or allowing the device to be positioned around the neck to be selected.

[0043] For example, the spacing between the free ends can classically be located at the nape of the neck at the back of the neck, but any other positioning is conceivable, for example the spacing can be positioned on a lateral side of the neck, overhanging the shoulder.

[0044] This is particularly advantageous for being able to implement the support device for any user regardless of their age, size, build or disability.

[0045] Preferably, the arched structure constitutes in itself said means of solidarity.

[0046] This makes it possible in particular to simplify the manufacture of the device and therefore to reduce its cost.

[0047] Advantageously, the retaining system, preferably the arched structure, comprises at least one stop. When the retaining system and / or the arched structure is movable relative to the protective body and / or the guiding means, such a stop prevents any unwanted separation of the device. In some embodiments, at least one stop is integral with said end, for example by bonding, molding, or overmolding. In other embodiments, at least one stop is removable, for example in the form of a rubber sleeve or ring.

[0048] Advantageously, at least one free end of the arched structure is provided with a cap.

[0049] In some variants at least one cap is attached to said end, for example by gluing, by molding or overmolding.

[0050] Preferably, at least one cap constitutes in itself said stop.

[0051] Preferably, at least one cap is removable. Such a cap offers multiple advantages, notably protecting the end, for example, if it is a hollow tube, to prevent elements such as water from entering. it can slip in but it also helps to protect and / or facilitate passage at the user's neck level.

[0052] Finally, according to certain embodiments of the invention, the protective body includes a recovery means, such as a pocket, preferably waterproof. Such an arrangement makes it possible, in the event of a spillage of a significant quantity of a substance such as hot coffee, to recover it. Figures

[0053] The present invention, its features and the various advantages it provides will become clearer upon reading the following description of an embodiment presented by way of illustrative and non-limiting example and which refers to the accompanying drawings in which: - Fig. 1 represents a schematic view of a first particular embodiment of the invention; - Fig. 2 represents a schematic view of a first particular embodiment of the holding system according to the invention; - Fig. 3 represents a schematic view of a second particular embodiment of the retention system according to the invention; - Fig. 4 represents a schematic view of a third particular embodiment of the holding system according to the invention; - Figure 5 represents a schematic view of a second particular embodiment of the invention; and - Fig. 6 represents a schematic view of a third particular embodiment of the invention. Detailed description

[0054] With reference to [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 2], a first embodiment of the invention will be described. The autonomy and support device is illustrated therein worn around the neck of a user U.

[0055] The device comprises a protective body 1 and a retaining system 2. The protective body 1 comprises a flexible surface, shown here hatched, such as a fabric.

[0056] The support system 2 comprises an arched structure 20 in the form of a flexible rod, preferably elastically deformable, provided with caps 70, 80 at each of its free ends 21, 22 spaced apart from each other by a spacing E close at the back of the neck at the level of the nape of the user U.

[0057] To pass the device through the mouth for putting it on or taking it off, the user can manually spread the flexible arched structure 20 apart with both hands to widen the gap E between the ends 21, 22, or with one hand push it or Pulling by exerting force against its neck is used to respectively put it in place or remove it. Due to its elastic properties, the arched structure 20 returns to its position where the spacing E is reduced as soon as no external force is exerted on it. In this first embodiment, the autonomy and protection device is designed to be removable; the retention system 2 and the protective body 2 are separable. Indeed, the protective body 1 includes a guide means 10 in the form of a sleeve 11 with two openings 12, 13. Thus, the arched rod acting as a securing means 20, 23 and the sleeve 11 acting as a guide means 10 are able to cooperate together in a removable and mobile manner. The sleeve 11 guides the sliding movement of the arched rod 20, 23.The arched rod 20 can thus slide in rotation R around the axis A of the user U's neck, that is to say around the axis A described by the user U's spine. .

[0058] Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of the retaining system 2 according to The invention is in the form of an arched structure 20, 23 whose free ends 21, 22 are fitted with caps 70, 80. In this embodiment, the arched structure 20, 23 has a generally undulating appearance, the contour C of which traces an arc of a circle. The shape of the arched structure can exhibit a wide variety of appearances. This is particularly advantageous for meeting specific technical and / or aesthetic requirements.

[0059] Figure 4 presents a particular embodiment of the retention system 2 comprising an arched structure 20 in which two arched rods 24, 25 in the form of tubes cooperate together telescopically. The first tube 24 in the form of a solid arched rod is provided with first positioning elements 26 in the form of retractable lugs, while the second tube 25 is provided with second positioning elements 27 in the form of notches through which the lugs can open.

[0060] Figures [Fig. 5] and [Fig. 6] present two other particular embodiments of the device according to the invention, in which the retaining system 2 and the protective body 1 are separable, but are not mobile relative to each other when assembled.

[0061] In [Fig.5] the arcuate structure 20 has a surface conformation S in the form of a flat torque which then comes opposite the shoulders and the torso and whose peripheral contour P is arcuate around the neck of the user while in [Fig.6] the arcuate structure 20 has a surface conformation S in the form of a ribbon which then comes opposite the neck of the user while the contour drawn by the periphery P of the ribbon around the neck of the user has a contour or arcuate conformation of major arc.

[0062] Also, in [Fig. 5] the guiding means 10 and the fastening means 23 cooperate in the form of a snap button system, while in [Fig.6] the guiding means 10 consists of a gutter receiving the fastening means 23 in the form of a bead, for example made of rubber.

[0063] Finally, in [Fig.6] the protective body 1 includes a recovery means 90 in the form of a pocket created by a fold 91 of the fabric.

[0064] The embodiments presented above and the materials are of course not limiting of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Autonomy and protection device comprising a protective body (1) and a support system (2) characterized in that said support system (2) comprises an open arched structure (20) having two free ends (21, 22), said arched structure (20) being configured to move from a closed position to a spread position, such that on the one hand in the spread position the spacing (E) between said free ends (21, 22) is greater than the diameter of the user's neck (U) and on the other hand in the closed position the spacing (E) between said free ends (21, 22) is less than the diameter of the user's neck (U) so that the arched structure (20) partially surrounds and is supported by the user.

2. Autonomy and protection device according to claim 1 characterized in that said retention system (2) has a means of securing (20, 23) and said protective body (1) includes at least one guiding means (10), said means of securing (20, 23) and said guiding means (10) being capable of cooperating together in a removable manner.

3. Autonomy and protection device according to the preceding claim characterized in that said at least one guiding means (10) is configured to guide a sliding movement of said securing means (21).

4. Autonomy and protection device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the sliding movement is carried out by rotation (R) around the axis of the user's neck (U).

5. Autonomy and protection device according to the preceding claim characterized in that said at least one guidance means (10) comprises a sheath (11) having at least one opening (12, 13).

6. Autonomy and protection device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that said arched structure (20) is made of an elastically deformable material such as a metallic material, a plastic material or a shape memory material.

7. Autonomy and protection device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said structure arched (20) consists of at least two tubes (24, 25) cooperating telescopically by sliding, said tubes (24, 25) being provided with positioning elements (26, 27).

8. Autonomy and protection device according to any one of claims 2 to 7 characterized in that said arched structure (20) constitutes said means of securing (21).

9. Autonomy and protection device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that at least one free end (21, 22) is provided with a cap (70, 80).

10. Self-contained and protective device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that said protective body (1) includes a sealed recovery means (90) such as a pouch.

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