Shoe donning enabler
OwnerVirginia G. Buschinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shoe donning enabler adapted for use with a dressing stick but which can be used without a dressing stick by some patients. The enabler can be attached to an ordinary pair of shoes and may be supplied as a conversion kit. The enabler has a ring supported at the back of a shoe on a lace, a first end of which is attached to the ring and a second end of which is threaded through a pair of holes provided in the back of the shoe. The second end of the lace passes from the inside of the shoe through one of the holes, passing back through the second hole into the inside of the shoe and is attached to the ring. The lace is long enough that the ring hangs outside the shoe where it can be hooked with a dressing stick or finger.
Claims9
A shoe donning enabler comprising a shoe having a back and a collar, a pair of holes disposed on opposite sides of the center of the back below the collar to avoid chaffing pressure upon an Achilles tendon of a wearer's foot, a ring adapted to be hooked with a dressing stick and a lace having first and second ends, said first end attached to the ring, said second end threaded from the inside of the shoe through one of said holes, passing back through the second hole into the inside of the shoe and attached to the ring, said lace being long enough that the ring hangs outside the shoe below the collar where it can be hooked with a dressing stick.
A method of use for a shoe donning enabler comprising a shoe having a back, a collar, a tongue and a throat that can be opened by loosening a fastening, said enabler comprising a pair of holes disposed on opposite sides of the center of the back below the collar to avoid chaffing pressure upon an Achilles tendon of a wearer's foot, a ring adapted to be hooked with a dressing stick and a lace having first and second ends, said first end attached to the ring, said second end threaded from the inside of the shoe through one of said holes, passing back through the second hole into the inside of the shoe and attached to the ring, said lace being long enough that the ring hangs outside the shoe below the collar where it can be hooked with a dressing stick, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. a patient hooking the ring with the dressing stick and lifting the shoe into his or her lap;
- b. removing the dressing stick from the ring and wedging the tongue in the fastening to open the throat and to eliminate interference with the tongue during insertion of his or her foot;
- c. hooking the ring with the dressing stick and lowering the shoe to the floor;
- d. with dressing stick resting on his or her lap, lifting a leg with one hand to insert his or her foot into shoe;
- e. grasping the dressing stick and pulling back on the ring to seat his or her foot in the shoe;
- f. unhooking the dressing stick and tapping the tongue to release the tongue wedged in the fastening;
- g. hooking the fastening with the dressing stick to close the throat;
- h. repeating steps a-g with his or her other foot, if necessary, whereupon the patient can set aside dressing stick.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.