Garment removing tool

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A garment removal tool for facilitating removal of an article of clothing from the lower limbs, ankle, and feet of a wearer's body, the garment removal tool comprising: an elongate body having a longitudinal length and a transverse length; the elongate body further having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; the first end of the elongate body having a gripping portion; the elongate body further having a tongue connected to the gripping portion, the tongue terminating at the second end of the elongate body in a paddle shaped portion; the paddle shaped portion of the tongue being flexible; the paddle shaped portion of the tongue having an upper side and a lower side opposite the upper side, the upper side of the paddle shaped portion of the tongue having a rough textured surface; and a fin having a free end, the fin being disposed proximate the paddle shaped portion of the tongue, the fin projecting downwardly from the tongue and curving toward the second end of the elongate body; wherein when the garment removal tool is oriented such that (i) the lower side of the paddle shaped portion of the tongue faces downwardly and (ii) the fin projects downwardly from the tongue and curves toward the second end of the elongate body, the upper side of the paddle shaped portion of the tongue faces upwardly.

2. The garment removal tool of claim 1, wherein the rough textured surface of the upper side of the paddle shaped portion of the tongue is a bead blasted surface.

3. The garment removal tool of claim 1, wherein the paddle shaped portion of the tongue has a portion that broadens out with respect to the remainder of the paddle shaped portion of the tongue.

4. The garment removal tool of claim 1, wherein the upper side of the paddle shaped portion of the tongue is convex, and wherein the lower side of the paddle shaped portion of the tongue is concave.

5. The garment removal tool of claim 1, wherein the tongue of the elongate body further has a plurality of strengthening ribs extending along the longitudinal length of the elongate body to increase the bending strength of the garment removal tool.

6. The garment removal tool of claim 1, wherein the paddle shaped portion of the tongue of the elongate body has a rounded edge.

7. The garment removal tool of claim 1, wherein the gripping portion of the first end of the elongate body has at least one from the group consisting of finger grooves, indentations, and positioning areas.

8. The garment removal tool of claim 1, wherein the rough textured surface of the upper side of the paddle shaped portion of the tongue is a tumbled surface.

9. The garment removal tool of claim 1, wherein the rough textured surface of the upper side of the paddle shaped portion of the tongue is a textured paint.

10. The garment removal tool of claim 1, wherein the paddle shaped portion of the tongue of the elongate body has a filleted edge.

11. The garment removal tool of claim 1, wherein the tongue of the elongate body further has a strengthened portion extending between the gripping portion of the first end of the elongate body and the paddle shaped portion of the tongue, and wherein the strengthened portion of the tongue is stiffer than the paddle shaped portion of the tongue.

12. The garment removal tool of claim 11, wherein the strengthened portion of the tongue of the elongate body has at least one strengthening rib extending along the longitudinal length of the elongate body that stiffens at least the strengthened portion of the tongue.

13. The garment removal tool of claim 11, wherein the strengthened portion of the tongue of the elongate body defines a first plane along the longitudinal length of the elongate body, wherein the paddle shaped portion of the tongue of the elongate body defines a second plane, and wherein the second plane intersects with the first plane to form an angle between the second plane and the first plane.

14. The garment removal tool of claim 13, wherein the angle is between 4 to 10 degrees.

15. The garment removal tool of claim 14, wherein the angle is 6.5 degrees.

16. The garment removal tool of claim 1, wherein the rough textured surface of the upper side of the paddle shaped portion of the tongue has a roughness of between 12-230 Ra micrometres.

17. A garment removal tool for facilitating removal of an article of clothing from the lower limbs, ankle, and feet of a wearer's body, the garment removal tool comprising: an elongate body having a longitudinal length and a transverse length; the elongate body further having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; the first end of the elongate body having a gripping portion; the elongate body further having a tongue connected to the gripping portion, the tongue terminating at the second end of the elongate body in a paddle shaped portion; the paddle shaped portion of the tongue being flexible; the tongue further having a strengthened portion extending between the gripping portion of the first end of the elongate body and the paddle shaped portion of the tongue; the strengthened portion of the tongue being stiffer than the paddle shaped portion of the tongue; the paddle shaped portion of the tongue having a convex upper side and a concave lower side opposite the convex upper side, the convex upper side of the paddle shaped portion of the tongue having a textured surface, wherein the textured surface has a roughness of between 12-230 Ra micrometres; wherein when the garment removal tool is oriented such that the concave lower side of the paddle shaped portion of the tongue faces downwardly, the convex upper side of the paddle shaped portion of the tongue faces upwardly.

18. The garment removal tool of claim 17, wherein the strengthened portion of the tongue of the elongate body has at least one strengthening rib extending along the longitudinal length of the elongate body that stiffens at least the strengthened portion of the tongue.

19. A garment removal tool for facilitating removal of an article of clothing from the lower limbs, ankle, and feet of a wearer's body, the garment removal tool comprising: an elongate body having a longitudinal length and a transverse length; the elongate body further having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; the first end of the elongate body having a gripping portion; the elongate body further having a tongue connected to the gripping portion, the tongue terminating at the second end of the elongate body in a paddle shaped portion; the paddle shaped portion of the tongue being flexible; the tongue further having a strengthened portion extending between the gripping portion of the first end of the elongate body and the paddle shaped portion of the tongue; the strengthened portion of the tongue being stiffer than the paddle shaped portion of the tongue; the paddle shaped portion of the tongue having a convex upper side and a concave lower side opposite the convex upper side, the convex upper side of the paddle shaped portion of the tongue having a textured surface, wherein the textured surface has a roughness of between 12-230 Ra micrometres; and a fin having a free end, the fin being disposed proximate the paddle shaped portion of the tongue, the fin projecting downwardly from the tongue and curving toward the second end of the elongate body; wherein when the garment removal tool is oriented such that (i) the concave lower side of the paddle shaped portion of the tongue faces downwardly and (ii) the fin projects downwardly from the tongue and curves toward the second end of the elongate body, the convex upper side of the paddle shaped portion of the tongue faces upwardly.

20. The garment removal tool of claim 19, wherein the strengthened portion of the tongue of the elongate body has at least one strengthening rib extending along the longitudinal length of the elongate body that stiffens at least the strengthened portion of the tongue.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the remover tool of the invention with a single fin.

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment of the remover tool of the invention with fins, showing the strengthening ribs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(4) As shown in FIG. 1, the tool (1) comprises a hand gripping portion (2) at one end, the hand gripping portion or handle (2) being connected to an elongate tongue member (3) which terminates at the other end in a paddle like structure (4). The tool (1) has a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension. The handle (2) is formed with a plurality of ridges and indentations (5) to make gripping the handle easier.

(5) The elongate tongue member (3) and the paddle shaped portion (4) are formed with a convex upper side (8) and a concave lower side (9). The lower surface of the elongate tongue member (3) is provided with a fin (10), the free end of which projects from the lower surface and curves towards the paddle shaped portion (4). The convex side of the tongue member (3) and the paddle shaped portion (4) is formed with a textured surface. The concave side of the tongue member (3) is formed with a series of strengthening ribs (6).

(6) Suitably, the removal tool of the invention may be made entirely from a material selected from any hard, strong, durable material, for example, plastics, hard woods, engineered wood ply, nylon, stainless steel and combinations thereof. The material should be flexible. The material is preferably rust-resistant. Stainless steel is a particularly preferred material of construction. Also other metals, coated in stainless steel may be used. Various components of the tool can be made from any of these materials alone or in combination. Suitably the tongue and hand-gripping portion are made of a plastics material and the rods of stainless steel.

(7) During removal of the garment from the leg, the tool (1) is inserted between the leg and the garment at the back of the knee. As the user pushes down with the tool (1), it glides along the leg contours and the tongue (3) and the paddle (4) slide down the leg. Because the paddle (4) end of the tongue (3) is flexible and curved it doesn't catch on the heel of the user and allows the garment to easily be pulled around the heel. As the tool (1) is moved down the leg, the garment is gathered up by the fin (10) and as the tool (1) moves downward, the fabric gathered and restrained by the fin (10) is pushed down the leg.

(8) The removal tool of the invention provides for more than just levering the garment away from the skin. It allows three functions in one action. At one end, the tool has a fin assembly (10) projecting downwards from its (concave) underside which serves to gather the garment as it is pushed down the leg. As the fins (10) push the garment down the wearer's leg, the tool maintains separation of the garment from the skin and it glides over the heel, removing the garment with ease.

(9) The length of the tool is not critical, however a longer length helps the user not to have to bend down so much, and so the longer length is particularly suitable for an elderly or infirm user.

(10) The words comprises/comprising and the words having/including when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

(11) It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.