Compression Stocking Pull-On Sleeve for Easier Donning and Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aids for putting on and taking off compression stockings are difficult for older individuals with limited mobility, as they require significant stretching and can be cumbersome, especially when removing the stockings.
Innovation Solution
A donning and doffing aid composed of two film-like strips forming a pocket with a closed end, where the first strip is divided into sections and connected to a second strip, allowing for easy insertion and removal by leveraging low friction and high tensile strength materials, facilitating the use of the aid for both putting on and taking off compression stockings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If compression stockings are made of elastic material that is stretched when put on, then the stocking exerts radially inward pressure on the leg, but the stretching makes donning compression stockings difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a donning aid as an intermediary device between the user and the compression stocking. The aid consists of a low-friction film that allows the stocking to be easily pulled over the foot and leg without requiring the user to directly stretch the stocking material, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining pressure and ease of donning
Solution Approach 2:
The donning aid utilizes a thin film with low static and sliding friction properties. This film acts as a flexible intermediary surface that the compression stocking can slide over easily, enabling simple donning while the stocking itself maintains its elastic pressure-exerting properties once in place
2Ease of operation
If a donning aid with low static friction is used to facilitate pulling over the foot and heel, then the aid can be easily manipulated, but the aid must be fixed with the toes during application
Solution Approach 1:
The donning aid is divided into functional sections: a low-friction film portion for sliding the stocking over, and a toe engagement portion for fixation. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function - the film provides manipulation ease while the toe portion handles fixation, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity
3Ease of operation
If existing donning aids are used to put on compression stockings, then donning is facilitated, but a separate pull-off aid must be used to take them off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the donning aid to serve dual functions: it facilitates donning through its low-friction film and also enables doffing by allowing the stocking to be pulled off over the same aid. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for a separate pull-off aid, reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of operation for both donning and doffing
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effortless donning and doffing of compression stockings, including those with open toes, by utilizing the low friction and high tensile strength of the materials, allowing for easy manipulation and removal without the need for additional aids, thus improving accessibility for individuals with limited mobility.
Implementation Method 1
These materials have a very high longitudinal tensile strength and low static and sliding friction on themselves and on the elastic textiles commonly used for compression stockings
Implementation Method 2
These materials have a very high longitudinal tensile strength and low static and sliding friction
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
An aid for pulling on compression stockings, with at least one first film-like strip (10) on which a second strip (20) is placed in such a way that, with the first strip (10), it forms a pocket with a closed end (31) facing in the longitudinal direction, and which has an opening (32) at the end opposite the closed end (31) in the longitudinal direction, and the opening (32) is covered in the longitudinal direction by the first strip (10) and by the second strip (20), wherein the closed end (31) of the pocket divides the first strip (10) into two portions (12, 14), wherein the pocket is arranged on the second portion (14), can also be used as a removal aid if the first portion (12) is longer than the second portion (14), and if the first portion (12) has at least one first sub-portion (41) on which its two longitudinal sides are connected to each other such that the sub-portion (41) forms a hollow body.