Garment removing tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals, particularly the elderly, infirm, and those with limited mobility or hand function, face difficulties in removing clothing items like socks, stockings, wetsuits, and compression stockings due to their design and material properties, which can lead to damage or require excessive effort and assistance.
Innovation Solution
A garment removal tool with a textured surface and a flexible paddle shape that allows for easy insertion between the skin and garment, featuring projections to maintain separation and a handle for secure grip, facilitating removal without sticking and reducing the risk of fabric damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If compression stockings use stronger elastic to create significant pressure, then the therapeutic effect is improved, but the difficulty of removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a removal tool as an intermediary device between the user and the compression stocking. The tool includes a padded blade that slides between the skin and the stocking material, mechanically separating them without requiring the user to directly pull or tug at the tight-fitting garment. This mediator enables removal of high-pressure therapeutic stockings without compromising either their therapeutic effectiveness or their removability.
2Reliability
If wetsuits and dry suits are made to stick to the skin for thermal insulation, then the thermal insulation effect is improved, but the difficulty of removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The removal tool acts as a mediator by inserting a padded blade between the stuck wetsuit/dry suit and the skin. The padding on the blade prevents direct contact and potential damage, while the blade itself mechanically pries the adhered suit away from the body, allowing removal without excessive pulling or tugging that could damage the suit fabric.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the removal interface by introducing a padded surface with specific hardness and friction characteristics. The padded blade has a hardness of 10-40 Shore A and a coefficient of friction of 0.3-0.7, creating optimal conditions for separating the suit from skin without causing damage or excessive resistance.
3Ease of operation
If oils and lubricants are used to lubricate the skin for easier removal, then the ease of removal is improved, but the damage to suit materials increases
Solution Approach 1:
The removal tool with its padded blade serves as a physical intermediary that enables suit removal through mechanical separation rather than chemical lubrication. This eliminates the need for oils or lubricants that could damage wetsuit, dry suit, or compression stocking materials, while still providing effective removal through the padded blade's friction-reduced contact with the skin.
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 efficient and safe removal of garments from the lower limbs with reduced effort, minimizing the risk of fabric damage and allowing single-handed use, even for those with limited mobility or dexterity.
Implementation Method 1
the tool surface which abuts the skin of the wearer when the tool is in use, is textured
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a tool for assisting in the removal of clothing. In particular, the invention relates to a tool which can be used to help remove socks, stockings, leggings, compression stockings, wetsuits, dry suits and the like, which can be difficult to remove from the lower leg and foot.