Shoehorn

Abstract

To provide a shoehorn that allows a person with lower limb disabilities to easily put on shoes.SOLUTION: A shoehorn comprises: a base having a base lower part that has a front base part with a shoe insertion part for inserting a shoe forward and holding it and a rear base part that extends rearward from the front base part, and a stopper part provided above the base lower part; a dual-joint mechanism having a first arm, a second arm, a third arm, a first joint, and a second joint; a U-shaped spatula with a cross-section in a direction perpendicular to an elongation direction; and a handle rod attached to a side surface of the stopper part and extending upward. One end of the first arm is rotatably attached to one end of the second arm with the first joint serving as a rotary shaft. The other end of the second arm is rotatably attached to one end of the third arm with the second joint serving as a rotary shaft. The first joint and the second joint operate in coordination, allowing the spatula to move from a horizontal position to a vertical position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] To provide a shoehorn that enables even a person who has difficulty putting his or her toes into the opening of a shoe to easily put on shoes. [Background technology]

[0002] When putting on shoes, you first need to put your toes into the opening of the shoe. However, even after you have put your toes into the opening, it is not always easy to put your heel into the opening. For this reason, shoe horns are used to make it easier to put your heel into the opening of the shoe.

[0003] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 discloses a pair of shoe horns attached to the entrance gate so that even people with physical disabilities such as those in their arms and legs can easily put on shoes.

[0004] On the other hand, when putting on shoes while standing, there is nothing to support the body, which can make one unsteady. In response to this, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses a shoehorn that has the function of guiding the heel and tongue of the shoe with two spatulas to widen the opening of the shoe, and a walking stick equipped with this. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3082924 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-115644 [Non-patent literature]

[0006] [Non-Patent Document 1] Isbu October 20, 2019 "How to put on shoes 'Cervical spinal cord injury'" https: / / www.youtube.com / watchi?v=3MGUX3ZUUtk [Non-patent document 2] Kazuya Mitsui November 25, 2022 "Putting on Shoes" How to put on shoes by yourself even if you have difficulty using your hands (spinal cord injury accident)" https: / / www.youtube.com / watchi?v=93DalYobXcc Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Here, how a person with a disability in the lower limbs (hereinafter also referred to as a "person with a disability in the lower limbs"), for example, a person with a spinal cord injury, puts on shoes while sitting in a wheelchair is disclosed in Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2. Next, Figures 21 to 23 show the steps for a person with a spinal cord injury to put on shoes on their left foot while sitting in a wheelchair.

[0008] When a person with a spinal cord injury puts on shoes, first place the shoe within reach. Next, hook one foot over your hand and lift it onto the other knee by externally rotating, flexing, and abducting the hip joint and flexing the knee joint (Figure 21). Next, place the toe of the foot into the opening of the shoe that is hooked over your hand, push the bottom of the shoe with your hand, and insert the heel into the opening (Figure 22). Furthermore, if the heel of the shoe has been pushed into the opening by the heel, you can pull the S-hook out of the loop at the heel of the shoe and pull the heel out (Figure 23).

[0009] As such, putting on shoes for people with disabilities in their lower limbs requires a very cumbersome process. For example, even with the shoehorn disclosed in Patent Document 1, people with disabilities have difficulty inserting their toes into the opening of the shoe. Furthermore, even with the shoehorn and cane equipped with it disclosed in Patent Document 2, which have the function of guiding the heel and tongue of the shoe with two spatulas to open the opening, people with disabilities can insert their heels into the shoe, but they must insert their toes into the shoe by themselves.

[0010] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a shoehorn that can assist people with disabilities in their lower limbs, such as those with spinal cord injuries, in putting on shoes easily by first inserting their toes into the shoe opening and then assisting them in putting their heels into the shoe. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The shoehorn according to the present invention is a shoehorn used by a person with a lower limb disability, a base having a front base portion with a shoe fitting portion at the front for fitting and gripping a shoe, and a rear base portion extending rearward from the front base portion; a stopper portion provided above the lower base portion; a two-joint mounting portion located on the front upper part of the stopper portion; and a front stopper portion located on the front of the stopper portion at a position lower than the top of the stopper portion; a bi-joint having a first arm, a second arm, a third arm, a first joint, and a second joint; a spatula having a substantially U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the extension direction, attached to the upper surface of the first arm and restricted so as not to rotate rearward by a back surface of the spatula contacting an apex stopper portion located at the apex of the stopper portion; a handle rod attached to a side surface of the stopper portion and extending upward; One end of a second arm is rotatably attached to one end of the first arm with the first joint as the rotation axis, and the other end of the second arm is rotatably attached to one end of a third arm with the second joint as the rotation axis, and the first joint and second joint work together to move the spatula from horizontal to vertical relative to the floor surface.

[0012] The shoe horn of the present invention allows people with disabilities in their lower limbs, such as those with spinal cord injuries, to put on their shoes easily by first inserting their toes into the shoe opening and then assisting them in putting their heels into the shoe.

[0013] The shoehorn of the present invention is characterized in that the front part of the spatula, located forward of approximately the center of the spatula, is narrower than the rear part of the spatula, which extends rearward from the front part.

[0014] The shoehorn according to the present invention allows the spatula to be easily inserted into the opening of a shoe.

[0015] The shoehorn according to the present invention is characterized in that the tip of the front part of the spatula has a heel receiving portion that is inclined from the extension surface of the spatula toward the back surface.

[0016] With the shoehorn according to the present invention, when the heel is placed in the shoe (the shoe is put on), the rear part of the spatula follows the calf and does not get in the way.

[0017] The shoehorn of the present invention is characterized by having a grip located at the top of a handle bar, a strap-like handle cord attached at each end to the lower and upper ends of the grip, and a handle loop attached to the upper end of the handle bar.

[0018] With the shoe horn of the present invention, if it has a handle string, the shoe horn can be easily moved back and forth and left and right by gripping the handle bar, and if it has a handle loop, the shoe horn can be easily moved up and down by gripping the upper end of the handle bar.

[0019] The shoehorn according to the present invention is characterized in that it has an elastic body on the inside of the front base portion.

[0020] The shoehorn according to the present invention can securely grip a shoe.

[0021] The shoehorn according to the present invention is characterized in that the spatula can stand upright with the back surface of the spatula in contact with the back surface of the stopper portion.

[0022] The shoehorn according to the present invention can also be used when taking off shoes. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] The shoehorn of the present invention can be used to assist people with disabilities in their lower limbs, such as those with spinal cord injuries, in putting on shoes easily by first inserting their toes into the shoe opening and then inserting their heels into the shoe. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a shoe horn 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a handle bar 6 is disposed on the right side. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the shoe horn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which the handle bar 6 is disposed on the left side. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base 2 of the shoe horn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the upper right. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the base 2, the two joints 5, and the spatula 4 of the shoehorn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the base 2 of the shoe horn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the shoe horn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the spatula 4 of the shoehorn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a right side view of the spatula 4 of the shoehorn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a rear view of the shoehorn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, with the two joints 5 extended flat. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a right side view of the two joints 5 of the shoe horn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the shoehorn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, with the spatula 4 of the shoehorn 1 in a horizontal position and the handle bar 6 omitted. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the shoehorn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which the spatula 4 is tilted so as to contact the front stopper, and the handle bar 6 is omitted. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the shoehorn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, with the handle 6 omitted, in a state in which the spatula 4 of the shoehorn 1 is tilted vertically. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the shoehorn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, with the spatula 4 standing upright on the back of the stopper portion. [Figure 15]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the upper part of the handle bar 6 of the shoe horn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a loop-shaped body 64a built into the handle loop 64 of the shoehorn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing a first step in the use state of the shoehorn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a second step in the use state of the shoehorn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing a third step in the use state of the shoehorn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a fourth step in the use state of the shoehorn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing a spinal cord injured person sitting in a wheelchair with one foot raised above the other knee when putting on shoes. [Figure 22] Figure 22 is a schematic diagram showing a spinal cord injured person sitting in a wheelchair putting on shoes by pushing the bottom of the shoe with his / her hand and putting the heel of his / her foot into the shoe. [Figure 23] Figure 23 is a schematic diagram showing a person with a spinal cord injury sitting in a wheelchair putting on shoes, using an S-hook to hook onto the loop on the heel of the shoe and pull out the heel of the shoe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Example]

[0025] First, an embodiment of a shoe horn 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0026] 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views of a shoe horn 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the handle bar 6 is arranged on the right side, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the handle bar 6 is arranged on the left side.

[0027] A shoehorn 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a shoehorn 1 used by a person with a lower limb disability (a person with a lower limb disability), and comprises a base 2, a spatula 4 on which a foot 8 is placed and the toes are slid into the opening of a shoe 7 when putting on the shoe 7, a two-joint 5 for movably attaching the spatula 4 to the base 2, and a handle 6 for moving the shoehorn 1 and placing it in a predetermined position.

[0028] First, the base 2 of the shoe horn 1 according to the present invention will be described.

[0029] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the base 2 of the shoehorn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the upper right, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the base 2, the two joints 5, and the spatula 4. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the base 2 of the shoehorn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] The base 2 of the shoehorn 1 according to the present invention has a lower base portion 21 that contacts the floor surface and a stopper portion 22 located above the lower base portion 21. The base 2 allows the shoehorn 1 to stand on its own and also grips the shoe 7 to be put on when the shoehorn 1 according to the present invention is used to put on the shoe 7.

[0031] The base 2 preferably has a bottom surface that is horizontal to the floor and is heavy and large enough to prevent the shoehorn 1 from tipping over when it is standing upright. The base 2 may be made of, for example, metal, wood, resin, etc.

[0032] The lower base portion 21 has a front base portion 211, a rear base portion 26, a shoe fitting portion 23, an elastic body mounting portion 24, and a bottom hole 25, and the stopper portion 22 has a top stopper portion 221, a front stopper, a two-joint mounting portion 223, and a handle bar mounting portion 224 (Figure 3).

[0033] The lower base 21 has a front base 211 in front of it to prevent the shoehorn 1 from tipping forward when putting on shoes 7 using the shoehorn 1 of the present invention. The front base 211 has a shoe fitting portion 23 consisting of a right front base 211a and a left front base 211b, which sandwiches the shoe 7 inside and positions the shoe 7 in a predetermined position when putting on the shoe 7. The joint between the right front base 211a and the left front base 211b, and the innermost portion of the shoe fitting portion 23, is preferably V-shaped, as this ensures that the shoe is centered when it is fitted into the shoe fitting portion 23.

[0034] The length by which each of the right front base portion 211a and the left front base portion 211b extends forward is 4 to 12 cm. If the shoe 7 is to be securely gripped and moved using the shoehorn 1 of the present invention, a length of 8 to 12 cm is preferable. On the other hand, if it is not necessary to move the shoe 7 using the shoehorn 1, the length by which each of the right front base portion 211a and the left front base portion 211b extends forward may be shorter, for example, 4 to 8 cm (FIG. 4).

[0035] On the other hand, the width between the right front base portion 211a and the left front base portion 211b is 8 to 12 cm. If the width is less than 8 cm, it becomes difficult to store the shoes 7, and if it exceeds 12 cm, it becomes difficult to securely hold the shoes 7, which is not preferable.

[0036] The lower base 21 has a rear base 26 at the rear of the lower base 21 to prevent the shoehorn 1 from tipping backward when using the shoehorn 1 to put on shoes 7. The rear base 26 only needs to allow the shoehorn 1 to stand stably, and may be missing a central portion in the left-right direction, so that the bottom surface of the lower base 21 is roughly H-shaped.

[0037] Furthermore, since spinal cord injuries not only have limited mobility in their lower limbs but also may not have sufficient gripping strength in their hands, a heavy shoehorn 1 is undesirable because it requires a great deal of muscle strength to lift. If shoehorn 1 can be made to stand stably, for example, by providing a bottom hole 25 in the lower part of base 21, the weight of shoehorn 1 can be reduced, which is preferable (Figure 5). Base 2 may also be hollow to reduce weight.

[0038] Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a pair of elastic bodies 3 on the elastic body attachment parts 24 near the inner tips of the right front base part 211a and the left front base part 211b, as this makes it possible to easily grip the shoe 7. The elastic bodies 3 may be made of any material that can easily grip the shoe 7, and may be made of, for example, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, sponge, spring, etc.

[0039] The stopper portion 22 has a top stopper portion 221 at the top having a plane that is approximately horizontal to the floor surface, a front stopper portion 222 at the front, a two-joint mounting portion 223 between the front stopper portion 222 and the top stopper portion 221 for mounting the two-joint 5, and a handle bar mounting portion 224 on the side.

[0040] The top stopper portion 221 need only maintain the spatula 4 approximately horizontally relative to the floor so that the foot 8 can be placed on the spatula 4 horizontally relative to the floor when putting on the shoe 7, and is not limited to being flat but may also be curved.

[0041] The front stopper portion 222 is used to stop the spatula 4 in a fixed position when the spatula 4 is tilted forward to insert the toe of the foot 8 into the opening of the shoe 7. The front stopper portion 222 only needs to be able to stop the spatula 4 in a fixed position, and the outer surface of the front stopper portion 222 has a flat or convex curved surface in cross section in the front-to-rear direction of the front stopper portion 222.

[0042] The two-joint mounting portion 223 is located on the upper front surface of the stopper portion 22 between the front stopper portion 222 and the top stopper portion 221, and is a slit-like cutout provided between the top stopper portion 221 and the front stopper portion 222.

[0043] The third arm 55 of the bi-joint 5 is fitted into the bi-joint mounting part 223 and fixed with a screw (Fig. 5). Note that as long as the bi-joint 5 can be fixed to the base 2, the fixing method is not limited to screws and may be, for example, adhesive. Furthermore, the fixing method of the bi-joint 5 to the stopper part 22 is not limited to the bi-joint mounting part 223 which is a slit-shaped notch, and the bi-joint 5 may be fixed to the front surface of the stopper part 22 or the top stopper part 221 as long as the bi-joint 5 is securely attached to the stopper part 22.

[0044] The handle bar attachment portion 224 is provided on the side of the stopper portion 22. A handle bar 6 is attached to the handle bar attachment portion 224 to place the shoehorn 1 in a predetermined position and maintain the position of the shoehorn 1 when putting on shoes 7. The handle bar attachment portion 224 may be provided on either the left or right side of the stopper portion 22 depending on the user's dominant hand; for right-handed people, it should be provided on the right side of the stopper portion 22 (FIG. 1), and for left-handed people, it should be provided on the left side of the stopper portion 22 (FIG. 2).

[0045] The handle bar attachment portion 224 is not shown in the figures because it is disposed on the right side surface of the stopper portion 22 in FIG. 1 and on the left side surface of the stopper portion 22 in FIG.

[0046] Furthermore, the handle bar attachment portion 224 may be provided on the lower base portion 21 as long as it can place the shoe horn 1 in a predetermined position and maintain the position of the shoe horn 1 when putting on shoes 7.

[0047] Next, the spatula 4 of the shoehorn 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0048] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the spatula 4 of the shoehorn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a right side view.

[0049] The spatula 4 according to the present invention has a spatula front portion 41, a spatula rear portion 42, a heel insertion portion 43, and a two-joint stop portion 45.

[0050] The spatula 4 is a plate-like body with an open top and a roughly U-shaped cross section in the direction perpendicular to the extension direction (left-right direction), measuring 23 to 30 cm in length in the extension direction (front-to-back). If the length in the extension direction is less than 23 cm, the foot 8 cannot be placed stably. On the other hand, if the length in the extension direction exceeds 30 cm, when the shoe horn 1 is used to put on the shoes 7 and the spatula 4 is in an upright position, the rear of the spatula 4 will come into contact with the back of the knee or thigh, which is undesirable.

[0051] The rear of the spatula 4 has a spatula rear part 42 on which the foot 8 is placed when putting on shoes 7 using the shoehorn 1. The spatula rear part 42 has a width of 5 to 8 cm. If the width is less than 5 cm, it becomes difficult to place the foot 8 on it, which is not preferable. On the other hand, if the width of the spatula rear part 42 exceeds 8 cm, it becomes difficult to easily determine the position of the foot 8 when placed on it, which is also not preferable.

[0052] The spatula 4 has a front part 41 with a width of 3 to 5 cm at the front of the spatula 4. The spatula 4 has a heel insertion part 43 at the tip of the front part 41, which is inclined at an angle of 8 to 25 degrees from the extending surface of the spatula 4 toward the backside. If the width of the front part 41 is less than 3 cm, it becomes difficult to place the foot 8 stably on it. On the other hand, if it exceeds 5 cm, it becomes difficult to insert the front part 41 into the shoe 7, which is not preferable. Furthermore, if the heel insertion part 43 is inclined at an angle of 8 to 25 degrees downward from the extending surface of the spatula 4, the spatula 4 will fit along the heel, Achilles tendon, and calf when the foot 8 is placed in the shoe 7, which is preferable.

[0053] The spatula 4 has a two-joint fastening part 45 at approximately the center of the spatula 4 for fastening the two-joint 5 to the back surface. The two-joint 5 is fastened with a screw to the two-joint fastening part 45. Note that the two-joint 5 only needs to be fastened to the two-joint fastening part 45 by any means other than screw fastening, and may be fastened with, for example, an adhesive.

[0054] The spatula 4 may be made of any material, such as resin, metal, or wood, as long as it has enough strength to withstand pressure from above when the foot 8 is placed on it. The upper surface of the spatula 4 is preferably smooth, as the foot 8 slides over the upper surface to slide into the opening of the shoe 7. For example, the upper surface of the spatula 4 may be painted to make it smooth.

[0055] Next, the two joints 5 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0056] Figure 9 is a rear view of the shoe horn 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the two joints 5 extended flat, and Figure 10 is a right side view of the two joints 5 of the shoe horn 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] The two-joint mechanism 5 has a first arm 53 , a second arm 54 , a third arm 55 , a first joint 51 , a second joint 52 , and a base mounting portion 56 .

[0058] Each of the first arm 53, the second arm 54, and the third arm 55 is a plate-like body made of a material strong enough to withstand being pressed down by the foot 8 when the foot 8 is placed on the spatula 4 and the shoe 7 is put on. The first arm 53 is fixed to the two-joint fastening portion 45 of the spatula 4. One end of the first arm 53 is rotatably attached to one end of the second arm 54 with the first joint 51 as the rotation axis, and the other end of the second arm 54 is rotatably attached to one end of the third arm 55 with the second joint 52 as the rotation axis. A base mounting portion 56 located on the back surface of the third arm 55 is fixed to the two-joint mounting portion 223 of the base 2.

[0059] If the spatula 4 tilts forward due to its own weight when held horizontally, it will be difficult to place the foot 8 on it. Therefore, the second joint 52 needs to have a frictional force that prevents the spatula 4 from rotating so that it does not tilt forward due to its own weight. On the other hand, if the first joint 51 can rotate with less force than the second joint 52, the spatula 4 can be tilted with a small force in the direction of gravity when inserting the heel into the opening of the shoe 7, which is preferable because it makes it easier to insert the heel into the opening.

[0060] Next, the movement of the spatula 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0061] Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the shoehorn 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention with the spatula 4 in a horizontal position, Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the shoehorn 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention with the spatula 4 tilted so that it is in contact with the front stopper, and Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the shoehorn 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention with the spatula 4 tilted vertically. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the shoehorn 1 with the spatula 4 standing upright on the back of the stopper. Note that the handle 6 is omitted from Figs. 11 to 14 to make it easier to understand the movement of the spatula 4.

[0062] When the spatula 4 of the shoehorn 1 is in a horizontal position, the third arm 55 and the second arm 54 are positioned at a substantially right angle, and the first arm 53 is folded onto the second arm 54. In addition, the spatula rear part 42 contacts the top stopper part 221, preventing the spatula rear part 42 from moving downward (FIG. 11).

[0063] Next, when the spatula front part 41 of the spatula 4 is pushed downward, the second arm 54 hits the front stopper part 222, preventing the spatula 4 from moving further downward (FIG. 12). When the spatula front part 41 is pushed further downward, the second joint 52 opens, and the spatula 4 stands upright (FIG. 13).

[0064] It is preferable that the spatula 4 is attached to the stopper portion 22 so that when the spatula 4 is upright, the height from the tip of the spatula 4 to the floor is 2 to 4 cm, more preferably 2.5 to 3.5 cm. If the tip of the spatula 4 is less than 2 cm from the floor, it will come into contact with the inner sole of the shoe 7, which is not preferable. On the other hand, if the tip of the spatula 4 is more than 4 cm from the floor, the heel insertion portion 43 of the spatula 4 will not be able to fully enter the heel of the shoe 7, making it difficult to slide the heel of the foot 8 into the shoe 7, which is not preferable.

[0065] Furthermore, if the spatula 4 is attached to the stopper portion 22 so that the height from the tip of the spatula 4 to the floor surface can be adjusted, the height from the tip of the spatula 4 to the floor surface can be adjusted according to the thickness of the heel of the shoe 7, which is more preferable.

[0066] On the other hand, the height of the spatula 4 from the floor when the spatula 4 is held horizontally is preferably 10 to 15 cm. When the spatula 4 is held horizontally and foot 8 is placed on it, the lower the position of the spatula 4 from the floor, the less effort is required to lift the foot 8, which is preferable, but if the height is less than 10 cm, the spatula 4 will be lower than the heel of the shoe 7, making it impossible to insert the spatula 4 into the opening of the shoe 7. Also, if the height of the spatula 4 from the floor is 15 cm or more, it will require a great deal of effort to lift the foot 8, which is not preferable.

[0067] Furthermore, if the spatula 4 is attached to the stopper portion 22 so that it can stand upright along the back surface of the stopper portion 22, it is possible to stand the spatula 4 upright along the back surface of the stopper portion 22 and use the shoehorn 1 to hold the shoe 7 and pull out the foot 8 when taking off the shoe 7 (FIG. 14). To stand the spatula 4 upright along the back surface of the stopper portion 22, for example, the second joint 52 may be positioned at the upper end of the front surface of the stopper portion 22.

[0068] Next, the handle bar 6 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0069] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the upper part of the handle rod 6 of the shoehorn 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the loop-shaped body 64a built into the handle loop 64 of the shoehorn 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] The handle rod 6 comprises a handle rod body 61, a grip 62, a handle string 63, a handle loop 64, and a loop-shaped body 64a.

[0071] The handle rod body 61 is a rod-shaped body approximately 70 to 100 cm long, and its lower end is attached to the handle rod attachment part 224 of the base 2. It is preferable for the lower end of the handle rod body 61 to be bent, as this prevents the handle rod body 61 from interfering with the spatula 4. The handle rod 6 may extend vertically, but it is preferable for it to extend at an angle of 0 to 10 degrees forward, as this allows the user of the shoehorn 1 to easily grip the handle rod 6.

[0072] The handle bar 6 is preferably lightweight, since the user of the shoehorn 1 grasps the handle bar 6 to move the shoehorn 1. On the other hand, the handle bar body 61 must be strong enough to withstand being grasped by the handle bar 6 to move the shoehorn 1, and may be made of, for example, an aluminum alloy, stainless steel, wood, or resin. Furthermore, if sufficient strength is obtained, a hollow cylindrical body is preferable, as it is lighter than a solid body.

[0073] Handle bar body 61 is provided with a grip 62 that is held by the user of shoehorn 1, extending from the top end of handle bar body 61 to about one-third of the way up. Grip 62 is preferably made of a material that will not slip when held by the user, such as urethane, resin, or rubber.

[0074] The handle string 63 is a strip-shaped string made of natural or synthetic fabric. The upper end of the handle string 63 is attached to the upper end of the grip 62, and the lower end of the handle string 63 is attached to a position below the center or to the lower end of the grip 62. The handle string 63 allows the user of the shoehorn 1 to easily move the shoehorn 1 back and forth and left and right by simply hooking their hand onto the handle string 63. It is also preferable that there is enough slack between the handle string 63 and the grip 62 so that the user can easily insert their hand when grasping the grip 62.

[0075] A loop-shaped handle loop 64 made of a strip-like string is attached to the upper end of the handle rod 6. A loop-shaped body 64a is built into the handle loop 64 to maintain the loop shape of the handle loop 64. The loop-shaped body 64a may be any body that can maintain the loop shape of the handle loop 64 so that it is easy to insert a hand, and may be, for example, a strip-shaped body made of resin or metal. Also, the handle loop 64 does not need to have a built-in loop-shaped body 64a as long as the handle loop 64 itself can maintain the loop shape.

[0076] Next, a method for putting on shoes 7 using the shoehorn 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0077] Fig. 17 is a schematic diagram showing the first step of using the shoehorn 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 18 is a schematic diagram showing the second step, Fig. 19 is a schematic diagram showing the third step, and Fig. 20 is a schematic diagram showing the fourth step. Note that Figs. 17 to 20 show an example of putting on shoe 7 on the right foot using the shoehorn 1.

[0078] To put on shoes 7 using the shoehorn 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, first, the spatula rear portion 42 is brought into contact with the top surface of the stopper portion 22, and the spatula 4 is positioned horizontally to the floor ( FIG. 11 ). Next, the shoe 7 is pushed into the shoe fitting portion 23 from above, and the shoe 7 is fitted and fixed in place. After these preparations are completed, the foot 8 is placed on the spatula 4 ( FIG. 17 ). Then, the back of the knee is pressed forward with the upper limb, and the second joint 52 is rotated downward until the first joint 51 and / or second arm 54 contacts the front stopper portion 222 ( FIG. 18 ). This causes the tip of the heel-in portion 43 to be inserted into the opening of the shoe 7. Next, the upper limb is pressed against the area above the knee in the direction of gravity, and the toe of the foot 8 slides over the top surface of the spatula 4 and enters the opening of the shoe 7 ( FIG. 19 ). After placing the toes in the opening of the shoe 7, the upper limbs push further in the direction of gravity above the knees, causing the first joint 51 to rotate, the first arm 53 and the spatula 4 to open from the second arm 54, the spatula 4 to stand upright, and the heel is pushed into the shoe 7 (Figure 20).

[0079] Thereafter, the user grasps the grip 62 of the handle bar 6 with a hand or hooks the handle string 63 or the handle loop 64 with a hand, pulls the shoehorn 1 upward, and removes the spatula 4 from the gap between the shoe 7 and the heel of the foot 8. Then, the shoe 7 is removed from the shoe fitting portion 23.

[0080] Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the claims that such modifications and improvements can also be included within the technical scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0081] The shoehorn 1 of the present invention can be provided to a person with a disability in the lower limbs, such as a person with a spinal cord injury, by assisting the action of inserting the toes into the opening of the shoe 7 and then inserting the heel into the shoe 7, making it easy to put on the shoes 7. The shoehorn 1 can also be used as a shoehorn 1 that allows able-bodied people to easily put on their shoes 7. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1: Shoehorn 2: Base 21: Lower base 211: Front base 211a: Right front base 211b: Left front base 22: Rear base 22a: Right rear base 22b: Left rear base 23: Shoe fitting part 24: Elastic body mounting part 241a: Right elastic body mounting part 241b: Left elastic body mounting part 25: Bottom hole 22: Stopper part 221: Top stopper 222: Front stopper 223: Two-joint mounting part 224: Handle bar attachment part 224a: Right handle bar attachment 224b: Left handle bar attachment 3: Elastic body 4: Spatula 41: Spatula front part 42:Hera rear part 43: Heel insert 45: Two-joint stopper 5: Two joints 51: First joint 52: Second joint 53: First Arm 54: Second arm 55: Third Arm 56: Base mounting part 6: Handle bar 61: Handle bar body 62: Grip 63: Handle string 63a: Upper mounting 63b: String 63c: Lower mounting 64: Handle loop 64a: Loop-shaped body 7: Shoes 8: Feet

Claims

1. A shoehorn used by a person with a lower limb disability, a base having a front base portion with a shoe fitting portion at the front for fitting and gripping a shoe, a rear base portion extending rearward from the front base portion, a stopper portion provided above the lower base portion, a two-joint mounting portion located on the front surface of the upper portion of the stopper portion, and a front stopper portion located on the front surface of the stopper portion at a position lower than the top of the stopper portion; a bi-joint having a first arm, a second arm, a third arm, a first joint, and a second joint; a spatula attached to an upper surface of the first arm, the spatula having a substantially U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the extension direction, the spatula being restricted from rotating rearward by a back surface of the spatula contacting an apex stopper portion located at the apex of the stopper portion; a handle rod attached to a side surface of the stopper portion and extending upward; One end of the second arm is rotatably attached to one end of the first arm with the first joint as a rotation axis, and the other end of the second arm is rotatably attached to one end of the third arm with the second joint as a rotation axis, and the first joint and the second joint work together to move the spatula from horizontal to vertical relative to a floor surface.

2. 2. The shoehorn according to claim 1, wherein a front portion of the spatula located forward of the approximate center of the spatula is narrower in width than a rear portion of the spatula extending rearward from the front portion.

3. 3. The shoehorn according to claim 2, wherein the front end of the spatula has a heel recess inclined from the extending surface of the spatula toward the rear surface.

4. 4. The shoe horn according to claim 3, further comprising: a grip located at the upper part of the handle bar; a strap-like handle cord attached at both ends to the lower end and upper end of the grip; and a handle loop attached to the upper end of the handle bar.

5. 5. The shoehorn according to claim 4, wherein an elastic body is provided on the inside of the front base portion.

6. 6. The shoehorn according to claim 5, wherein the spatula can stand upright with the back surface of the spatula in contact with the back surface of the stopper portion.

7. 2. The shoe horn according to claim 1, further comprising: a grip located at the upper part of the handle bar; a strap-like handle cord attached at each end to the lower end and upper end of the grip; and a handle loop attached to the upper end of the handle bar.

8. 8. The shoehorn according to claim 7, wherein an elastic body is provided on the inside of the front base portion.

9. 9. The shoehorn according to claim 8, wherein the spatula can stand upright with the back surface of the spatula in contact with the back surface of the stopper portion.

10. 2. The shoehorn according to claim 1, wherein an elastic body is provided on the inside of the front base portion.

11. 11. The shoehorn according to claim 10, wherein the spatula can stand upright with the back surface of the spatula in contact with the back surface of the stopper portion.

12. 2. The shoehorn according to claim 1, wherein the spatula can stand upright with the back surface of the spatula in contact with the back surface of the stopper portion.

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