The invention relates to a device for applying and stripping socks, where the device includes two parallel rails, which in one end are provided with a roll and which in the opposite end are connected to a roll up mechanism, which can roll up a belt.

The use of the device is also related to. Socks are used widespread in medical contexts for prevention of for example vein diseases and treatment of blood circulation related diseases.

The used types of socks include so called medical support stocking and compression stocking.

The socks are often used for people with reduced functionality including older people, handicapped and people, who have had surgical procedures.

Since the users, as mentioned, often have reduced functionality, the use of the medical socks will require help from care personnel for applying and stripping the socks.

Help for applying and stripping medical socks is economically inappropriate for the care personnel and in the worst case it results in injuries.

US 5069374 A (WILLIAMSON et al.) 03.12.1991 describes a device for stripping socks. The device includes a roll up mechanism, which can roll up a belt, which in the other end can be fastened to a sock opening. The roll up mechanism can be connected to two parallel rails. It is, however, a drawback of the known technique, as stated with US 5069374 A that the device can not be used for both stripping and applying socks. It is therefore an object of the invention to describe a device, which can improve the possibilities of the individual sock users for being self-sufficient in the widest way possible and to improve the ergonomics for the care personnel, who are helping with applying and stripping medical support stockings, and which can be used for both stripping and applying socks.

The object of the invention is achieved by a device of the in the introduction to claim 1 stated type, which is characterized in that the device furthermore includes a sledge, which can slide on the parallel rails, where the sledge is provided with one or more brackets for connection to the belt and a detachable sock holder pipe.

In this way it thus becomes possible by use of the device to apply a sock on a user's leg by pulling the sock on the sock holder pipe and subsequently place a user's foot in the sock holder, which is mounted to the belt, which can be rolled up by the roll up mechanism. When the roll up mechanism is subsequently activated, the sock holder pipe is pulled up along the user's leg, whereby the sock is automatically applied to the leg.

It is also achieved that the device can strip socks. This is carried out by disassembling the sock holder pipe, pulling the belt around the roll, which is placed at the end of the rails, and fasten the belt to a sock. If the roll up mechanism is subsequently activated, the sock will automatically be pulled off the leg. It is hereby achieved that socks can be applied and stripped by many people with reduced functionality, who would otherwise require help from care personnel. It is further achieved that care personnel, who use the device become significantly less exposed to inappropriate ergonomic working conditions by assistance to people, who require help for applying and stripping socks.

Further appropriate embodiments of the device are stated in claims 2 to 9.

As mentioned, the invention also relates to the use of the above device for applying and stripping medical support stockings and compression stockings.

It hereby becomes possible to increase the degree of self-help for people who use medical sock types and the ergonomics is also significantly improved for the care personnel, who help other users with applying and stripping medical socks.

The invention will now be explained further with reference to the drawings, on which:

Fig. 1 shows a device for applying and stripping socks manufactured according to the invention in a configuration, which can be used for applying socks.

Fig. 2 shows the same device, which is also depicted in fig. 1 , but depicted in another perspective.

Fig. 3 shows a device for applying and stripping socks manufactured according to the invention in a configuration, which can be used for stripping socks.

Fig. 4 shows the same device, which is also depicted in fig. 3, but depicted in another perspective.

In fig. 1 is shown a device (1) for applying and stripping socks (18), where the device (1 ) includes two parallel rails (2), which in one end are provided with a roll (4) and which in the opposite end is connected to a roll up mechanism (8), which can roll up a belt (11 ) and where the device (1 ) furthermore includes a sledge (6), which can slide on the parallel rails (2) where a sock holder pipe (7) can be mounted to the sledge (6) and where the sledge (6) is provided with one or more brackets (14) for connection to the belt (11).

The device (1 ) can, at the roll up mechanism (8) be connected to a bracket (12), which as shown in fig. 1. can be mounted to the seat of a chair (13). It is a special feature of the invention that the device's (1) parallel rails (2) from a point (3) are angled in an ascending direction, which ends at the roll (4) and that the parallel rails (2) can be supported by an adjustable holder (15). In fig. 1 is furthermore seen that the device's (1) parallel rails (2) in the area between the point (3) and the end, which is provided with the roll (4) is provided with a roll (5).

From fig. 3 it furthermore appears that the device's (1) parallel rails (2) are provided with a backstop (20) for blocking the sledge's (6) movement.

In a preferred embodiment, the device's rails (2) are manufactured in such a way that the length of the rails (2) can be adjusted. As shown in fig. 2 and fig. 4, the device's (1 ) roll up mechanism (8) is connected to a motor (10), which can be provided with energy from the grid or from a battery and which can be controlled via a contact (9) a or via a remote control.

From fig. 3 and fig. 4 is seen that the belt (11 ), which can be rolled out or rolled up from the roll up mechanism (8) from a point (19) is divided into two separate belts, which both end with a bracket (17), which can be fastened to the opening edge of a sock (18).

It is a part of the invention that the rails (2) and the adjustable holder (15) fully or partially are manufactured by pipes including preferably light alloy pipe, and that the rolls (4,5) and the sledge (6) and the sock holder pipe (7) fully or partially are manufactured from polymeric materials.

The device (1 ) is in fig. 1 and fig. 2 configured for applying socks (18).

When a sock (18) is to be applied to a user's leg, the sock (18) is rolled up around the sock holder pipe (7) such that the opening of the sock (18) faces the roll up mechanism (8). The person who is to have the sock (18) applied puts the foot into the sock opening in the sock holder pipe (7), which is fastened to the sledge (6), which can slide on the rails (2).

The sledge (6) is connected to the belt (1 1 ) with one or more, preferably two, brackets (14), which are placed on opposite sides of the sledge (6).

The roll up mechanism (8) can subsequently be activated via for example a contact (9) or a remote control, whereafter the belt (1 1 ) will be rolled up and thereby pull the sledge (6) and the connected sock holder pipe (7) up along the user's leg whereby the sock (18) is automatically applied to the leg. When a sock (18) is to be stripped from a user's leg, then the sock holder pipe (7) is disassembled from the sledge (6) and the belt (1 1 ) is led from the roll up mechanism (8) under the sledge (6) and under the roll (5) up around the roll (4), as shown in fig. 3 and fig. 4.

The ends of the belt (1 1 ), which as previously described become divided from a point (19), are shaped with a bracket (17), which is suited for grip around the opening end of an applied sock (19). In fig. 3 and fig. 4 is depicted, without a person, how a sock (18) can be stripped.

The brackets (17) are fastened to each side of the sock's (18) opening edge, whereafter the roll up mechanism (8) is activated, for example via a contact (9) or a remote control whereafter the belt (1 1 ) automatically pulls the sock (18) off the user's leg.

The roll up mechanism (8) can with advantage be manufactured in such a way that a coupling is mounted between the motor (10) and the roll up mechanism (8), which disengages as soon as the roll up mechanism (8) is not activated.

Hereby it becomes easy to remove the belt (1 1 ) from the roll up mechanism (8) when for example a sock (18) is to be stripped and it is an increased precaution against wrong use or maloperation that the belt (1 1 ) is only power affected when the roll up mechanism (8) is activated manually.

The device (1 ) can, as shown in fig. 1 to fig. 4, be used for people who are placed in a chair (13), but can also, for example by adjustment of the bracket (12) and the support (15), be used for bedbound users.