Compression Stocking Donning Aid with Template and Holding Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a mechanical support to facilitate the donning of elastic compression stockings, which are difficult to put on, especially for individuals with limited mobility or motor skills, as existing donning aids are inadequate for stretchable stockings with high elastic restoring forces.

Innovation Solution

A donning aid featuring a template made from resistant, dimensionally stable material with outline contours of a human foot, including raised edges on one or both sides of the sole surface to guide the stocking over the foot, and a holding element to secure the template in place, allowing for easier insertion and pulling on of the stocking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If compression stockings are made with high elastic restoring forces to provide therapeutic compression, then the therapeutic effect is improved, but the difficulty of putting them on increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic effectVSAvoidease of putting on
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A donning aid serves as an intermediary device between the user and the compression stocking. The aid includes a template with toe sections that guide the stocking over the foot, and a holding element that secures the stocking in place during application, making it easier to put on high-compression therapeutic stockings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Force

If the stocking material is made highly elastic to provide strong compression, then the compressive force is improved, but the volume of the stocking in relaxed state is reduced making it harder to don

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompressive forceVSAvoidvolume of stocking
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The donning aid performs preliminary action by pre-positioning and pre-stretching the compression stocking over the template before the user applies their foot. The holding element secures the stocking in a prepared state, allowing the user to simply step in without having to manually stretch and position the tight material

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the stocking is designed to sit tightly on the foot for therapeutic purposes, then the therapeutic effect is improved, but the difficulty of self-application increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic effectVSAvoidease of self-application
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The donning aid enables self-service application by providing a template that guides the stocking over the user's own foot without requiring assistance from another person. The holding element allows the user to secure the stocking themselves, making independent application of tight therapeutic stockings feasible

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3892165B1Tightening aid for stockings and method of assisting with the wearing of a stocking
Publication Date: 2022.11.02 FXF GMBH
  • EP3892165B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3892165B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3892165B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

The invention relates to a donning aid (10) for enabling or facilitating the pulling of a stocking (28) over a human foot. The stocking is formed by a compression stocking (28) which, in its relaxed state without a foot inside, has or occupies a smaller volume, at least in sections, than in its stretched state when pulled over the foot. The invention further relates to a method for facilitating the donning of a compression stocking (28) and/or for assisting in pulling a compression stocking (28) over a human foot using a mechanical donning aid (10).