Self-Dressing Aid With Adjustable Clothing Retainers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional devices for assisting self-dressing are complex, tiring to use, and limited in their ability to assist with dressing both the lower and upper body with multiple articles of clothing, often requiring significant physical motion and coordination, and are ineffective if dropped on the floor.
Innovation Solution
A portable, lightweight device with a base, retainers, and handles that allows for minimal physical effort to dress both the lower and upper body by positioning clothing on the device, sliding it over the user's legs, and pulling it up to the waist, with adjustable components for custom fit and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional devices are used to assist self-dressing, then dressing assistance is provided, but the devices are complex and require significant physical motion and coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate modular components: a base unit, a clothing holder, and a pull-up mechanism. Each component performs a specific function (holding clothing, providing stability, enabling pull-up motion), allowing the system to assist with both lower and upper body dressing through simple, sequential actions rather than complex coordinated movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables users to dress themselves independently by providing a mechanism that converts simple pull-up motion into the complex movements required for dressing. The clothing is held on the device and automatically positioned as the user pulls themselves up, eliminating the need for manual manipulation of clothing while moving through various body positions.
2Ease of operation
If conventional devices are used to assist self-dressing, then dressing assistance is provided, but the devices are tiring to use
Solution Approach 1:
The device maintains the clothing at a consistent, easily accessible height on the base throughout the dressing process. As the user pulls themselves up from seated to standing position, the clothing remains at the same level relative to the user's hands, eliminating the need to lift or reposition heavy clothing and reducing overall physical exertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The device acts as an intermediary between the user's simple pull-up motion and the complex task of dressing. By holding the clothing on the device and using the device's structure to guide the clothing into position, the user only needs to perform the simple action of pulling themselves up, while the device handles the energy-intensive tasks of manipulating and positioning the clothing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional devices are used to assist self-dressing, then single article dressing is assisted, but the ability to assist with multiple articles and both body parts is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed to assist with dressing both the lower body (pants, underwear) and upper body (shirts, sweaters) using the same basic mechanism. The clothing holder and pull-up mechanism work universally for different types of clothing, and the device can accommodate multiple articles of clothing simultaneously on the base, eliminating the need for separate devices for different body parts.
4Reliability
If conventional devices are dropped on the floor, then they are unavailable, but the user is unable to retrieve them
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates an asymmetric base design with a wider, more stable footprint that resists tipping and falling. The base may include non-uniform weight distribution or geometric features that provide inherent stability, making it unlikely to be accidentally knocked over during use, ensuring continuous availability without requiring user retrieval.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable device that facilitates and aids in self-dressing lower as well as upper body with single and or multiple articles of clothing with minimal physical motion, and coordination (e.g., exertion, bending, squeezing, gripping, twisting etc.). The portable device includes a base that supports and provides stability for maintaining the portable device in an upright position, and defines a workspace for positioning articles of clothing. Further included is a first retainer associated with the base, a second retainer associated with a handle, and a first and second side posts adjustably and moveably associated with the base.