"Stocking device for resilient stockings"

The present invention relates to a stocking device for resilient stockings, intended to facilitate the operation of putting on stockings, for example medical stockings of the therapeutic type.

In the treatment of phlebolymphologic diseases, involving more than a quarter of the population, the compression therapy is considered to be so important that International Organizations (CEN) have been founded which regulate the matter in the several countries, joining them by establishing standardization rules for medical compression by means of a medical and therapeutic elastic stocking (medical stocking). In the several clinical trials and in the scientific worldwide literature, the mere therapeutic elastic stocking has proved a sure efficacy in preventing and treating phlebolymphologic diseases: it is a real medical device.

The main problem deriving from the use of said device is the difficulty, for users, to put it on and to keep it, especially in the hottest periods, and the natural reluctance of many women in wearing stockings that often are defined as "anti-aesthetic" thus, making it difficult to observe the medical prescription.

A recent study about the effect and "compliance" of the compression therapy, has pointed out that in about 70% of the cases the lack of comfort and the difficulty in wearing medical stockings are the main reasons for the non-compliance with medical prescription, while in 53% of the cases the reason is the cost and, for 38% the fact that they are anti-aesthetic. In most cases of chronic venous insufficiency, the therapeutic elastic stocking remains, however, the only efficacious solution for treating diseases such as ulcers and phlebitises and for slowing down the degenerative phenomenon. The difficulties in putting on therapeutic stockings are greater when they have to be used by elderly people, people with limited mobility or people with limited hand function.

Currently there are provided devices that stock the stockings are cumbersome and difficult to be used since, sometimes, they need the assistance of a third person. Moreover, the patient is forced to put the legs in the raised position in order to allow the veins to be emptied before wearing the therapeutic stockings.

The device of the present invention provides to overcome such drawbacks by facilitating the putting on of the therapeutic stockings even for people with real difficulties and without the need, for the patient, to raise the legs, since the veins are emptied as the stocking is put on.

The present invention relates to a device having the features of the appended claim 1. Further features are set forth in the following dependent claims.

An illustrative embodiment of the device according to the present invention is shown in the annexed drawings which particularly show:

• figure 1 a ring for rolling stockings according to the present invention;

• figure 2 a rolling support according to the present invention;

• figure 3 a stocking aid tool according to the present invention;

• figure 4 the various steps for rolling the stocking on the support;

· figure 5 the stocking rolled on itself by means of the ring;

• figure 6 the rolled stocking introduced into the stocking aid retractor tool

• figure 7-7a; 8-8a show corresponding views of a first variant of the invention, in respective operating conditions;

• fig. 9-9a show a second variant of the invention in respective operating conditions;

• fig. 10-lOa show a third variant of the invention in respective operating conditions.

With reference to the above mentioned figures, the device of the present invention essentially comprises a ring 1 made of a deformable material, such that it can have a variable section. Such ring can be of circular or polygonal shape, in case provided of a series of polyhedrons 11 having the aim to facilitate the rolling-unrolling of the stocking C on it. The polyhedrons can be coated with a material that creates friction (latex, for example) in order to facilitate the rolling of the stocking, increasing the adhesion of the ring on the stocking surface and avoiding the possible sliding on the support described below. The number of polyhedrons is variable depending on the dimensions thereof and on the type of the stocking.

Moreover the device comprises a support 2 of extended shape, preferably a cylindrical shape, more preferably provided with suitable grooves 21, allowing the stocking C to be rolled on itself and on the ring, once the support has been inserted into the stocking. The pitch of the grooves can be variable, for example they can be closer towards the tail, depending on the type of stocking to be rolled.

The third element of the device is a retractor tool 3 upon which the stocking rolled on the ring 1 is placed and that allows the toroidal portion of the rolled stocking C to be enlarged, such as to facilitate the introduction of the limb therein. To this end such tool comprises an annular portion 31 which can vary its diameter and a handle 32. Such handle can be used also for operating the variation of the diameter of the annular portion, for example by means of a rotation around itself. Such rotation can be manually operated, or, alternatively, the tool can be provided with a little driving motor intended to carry out the rotation.

It is possible to completely roll the stocking by means of the ring and support, and then, to completely unroll it on the leg without any efforts. Once the putting on phase of the stocking is completed, the ring can be easily removed.

It is also possible only to roll a portion of the stocking, for example from the top opening to the region corresponding to the ankle, in order to put the stocking on the foot in a manner similar to the conventional one (by pulling the toroidal area that serves also as a natural and efficacious grip) and once past the ankle, the unrolling procedure begins.

The device according to the present invention reaches the following advantages and has the features described below.

All the elements of the device, however, are never in direct contact with the user leg. The user does not need to raise the legs before wearing the stocking since veins are emptied as it is worn due to the pressure exerted on the leg by the compression force generated by the toroidal portion of the rolled stocking and by the ring 1.

The way the stocking is worn protects the stocking itself from the strong stretching stresses, that, on the contrary, are generated by wearing it in the conventional manner, preserving the elasticity characteristics over time.

The provision of the ring guarantees the proper rotational motion and allows the retractor tool to be easily used.

The retractor is compact and it can be used both for facilitating the introduction of the foot into the stocking, and for facilitating the passage past the ankle.

The ring may be always constrained to the stocking or can be an integral part thereof. Therefore it is possible to provide the stocking with a toroidal portion, with a function like the one of the ring, integral with the mouth thereof. Such means allows the stocking to be rolled and unrolled and allows the retractor tool to be used likewise what described above.

Obviously, variants of the invention are possible with respect to what has been described heretofore; some of these variants are shown in the figures 7-7a; 8-8a; 9-9a; 10-lOa, wherein the parts structurally or functionally equivalents to those already seen above, are indicated with the same reference numerals; the numbering relating to each variant is identified with corresponding apices.

Starting with the first variant of figures 7, 7a, 8, 8a, the retractor tool 3' in this case comprises an annular portion 31', divided in two halves 31 'a, 31'b.

The latter are coupled with a screw 33' driven rotationally by a handle 32', so as to be widened following to the rotation of the screw.

With respect to the preceding embodiment, this variant results particularly suitable in the case of stockings requiring a high widening force:

Indeed the widening mechanism with a screw 33' and the two semicircular portions 31 'a, 31 'b, is substantially similar to a jaw capable of applying a relevant force if necessary. Moreover, likewise the embodiment of fig. 3, the retractor tool can be easily used by the same person that must wear the stocking, since the handle 32' may be grasped by the person in a sitting condition, for the operation of wearing the stocking on a foot.

The figures 9, 9a show a second variant of the retractor tool 3", which is suitable for being grasped by a person different from that who must wear the stocking; reference could be made to a hospital nurse helping a patient in such an operation.

As can be seen, the retractor tool has a shape substantially like scissors with a handle 32" and with semicircular portions 31 "a, 31"b, being provided at an end; the latter serve to widen and to expand the toroidal portion of the rolled stocking as in fig. 6.

In such a case is sufficient to manually operate the tool 3", like common scissors.

The similarity with the latter is however not limiting, since it is in any case possible to provide other forms of the retractor tool, as can be seen in the third variant of figures 10, 10a.

The tool 3"', further to the semicircular portions 31 '"a, 31"'b, is provided with a lever handle 32"' that allows expansion thereof.

The result is similar to that of the previous variants, although in this case the use of the tool 3"' can be done by a different person than that who must wear the stocking.

All of the variants above fall within the scope of the following claims.