Rotating Sock Canister Aid for Dressing Without Bending
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Solution Overview
Problem
As individuals age or recover from injuries, bending to put on clothes, especially socks, becomes increasingly difficult due to mobility limitations.
Innovation Solution
A sock aid device featuring a reinforced sock canister with a pivot aperture, connection disk, and handle mechanism that allows the sock canister to rotate, enabling easy sock placement and removal without bending, along with additional features like a dressing hook and shoehorn for comprehensive dressing assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional sock-aid design is used, then the device is simple in structure, but it requires the user to bend down to use it which is difficult for individuals with mobility limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The sock canister is designed to rotate around an axle connected to the handle, transforming the static structure into a dynamic one. This rotation mechanism allows the canister to move from a horizontal storage position to a vertical operational position, enabling users to pull socks on without bending down, thereby improving ease of operation while accepting increased device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a rotational dimension to the sock-aid device. By enabling the canister to rotate around the handle axle, the device transitions from a single-plane (horizontal) structure to a multi-plane (rotational) structure, allowing the user to access socks at various heights and angles without bending, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity
2Ease of operation
If a rotating sock canister mechanism is implemented, then the ease of use is improved for individuals with mobility limitations, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handle serves multiple functions: it acts as the rotational axle for the canister, provides a grip for the user, and supports additional dressing tools (shoehorn, dressing hook, sock remover). This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining improved ease of use
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple dressing tools (shoehorn, dressing hook, sock remover) are integrated into the single handle structure. By merging these functions into one component, the device achieves comprehensive dressing assistance without proportionally increasing complexity, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple dressing tools are integrated into the handle, then the versatility of the device is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is designed as a universal component that performs multiple functions: rotational axle, user grip, and mounting structure for additional dressing tools. This multi-functionality approach allows the device to adapt to various dressing needs (socks, shoes, other clothing items) while using a single integrated structure, thereby improving versatility with limited increase in device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A dressing aid is disclosed. The dressing aid includes a sock aid comprising: a sock canister comprising: a reinforced edge; a heel transition opening; a pivot aperture; a connection disk comprising; an axle for the pivot aperture to rotate on; a handle connection mechanism; a push retainer for holding the connection disk to the sock canister; a handle. The disclosure further provides a position lock; wherein the sock canister is configured to enable a sock to be placed on it to facilitate putting a sock on a foot; wherein the sock canister rotates around the axle of the connection disk enabling the sock canister to rotate as a foot is placed in the sock, and to remove the sock from the canister as the foot is placed in the sock.