Apparatus for assisting with the application of a garment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for applying tubular garments like compression bandages and socks are cumbersome, difficult to use for individuals with limited mobility, and often require multiple parts, making them unsuitable for those with restricted mobility or those who are bed-bound.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable apparatus with two parallel elongate arms that can be rotated and flexed to accommodate different sizes and shapes, allowing for easy application and removal of tubular garments, featuring a flexible bridging means and cushioning for comfort, and a friction-increasing surface for secure retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a complex device with multiple movable parts is used to apply tubular garments, then the garment can be applied to various sizes, but the device becomes cumbersome and difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two separate elongate arms that can be independently positioned and adjusted. Each arm can be separately configured to accommodate different limb sizes and shapes, eliminating the need for a single complex mechanism with multiple movable parts. The arms work in conjunction but maintain independent adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongate arms are designed to be flexible and reconfigurable, allowing them to adapt dynamically to different limb configurations. The arms can be bent, rotated, and positioned at various angles to match the user's anatomy, providing adaptability without requiring multiple discrete movable components.
2Extent of automation
If a device requires a power supply and operates on the floor, then it can provide mechanical assistance, but it cannot be used by bed-bound individuals and requires stepping into the device
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed to be manually operated by the user themselves without requiring external power sources or assistance from others. The elasticated garment and simple mechanical structure allow the user to apply the device and perform the application function independently, making it suitable for bed-bound individuals who can operate it from their position.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply and complex mechanical drive systems have been completely removed from the device. The mechanical assistance function is replaced by the elastic properties of the garment material itself, which provides the necessary force without requiring external power sources or complex mechanisms.
3Reliability
If the garment material is tight-fitting or elasticated to provide compression, then it becomes more effective for medical treatment, but it bunches up and becomes more difficult to apply
Solution Approach 1:
The elongate arms are pre-configured with the garment already attached or positioned on them before application. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the elasticated material is properly oriented and stretched in advance, preventing bunching during the application process. The arms guide the material smoothly onto the limb without creating folds or wrinkles.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes the flexible nature of the elasticated garment material itself as the primary mechanism for application. The thin, flexible film of the garment conformS to the limb shape while maintaining compression, and its elasticity provides the driving force for application without requiring rigid structures that would cause bunching.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a device is made tall and non-stackable to provide sufficient working space, then it can accommodate various limb sizes, but it becomes difficult to store and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The two elongate arms are designed to nest within each other when not in use, with one arm positioned inside or alongside the other. This nesting configuration dramatically reduces the storage volume and allows the device to be compactly stored or transported without requiring tall, dedicated space. The arms can be collapsed to a fraction of their extended length.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a rigid, tall structure during operation to a flexible, collapsed configuration for storage. The elongate arms can be bent, folded, or nested together, allowing the device to adapt its volume based on whether it is in use or stored. This dynamic reconfiguration enables compact storage while maintaining full functionality during application.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for assisting with the application of a garment. The apparatus may be embodied as an apparatus for assisting with the application of a tubular garment, such as a bandage or sock, including compression bandages, compression socks, support bandages and support socks, or may be embodied as a tubular garment application tool. The apparatus comprises two substantially parallel spaced-apart elongate arms and is reconfigurable between a first configuration in which the elongate arms are substantially coplanar and a second configuration in which the elongate arms substantially oppose, or at least partly face, each other.