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Zipper Aid via an Attachable Guide

Technology Benefits

Zipper Aid via an Attachable GuideDescription:ZIPPER AID VIA AN ATTACHABLE GUIDEINV-14091INVENTORS: Hannah Coakley, Andrew GouldstoneDescription Patients suffering from tremors, such as in ParkinsonΓÇÖs Disease, often face difficulty in performing tasks requiring small muscle movements. Even small children are not very comfortable in managing these tasks independently. One of such tasks is alignment of two ends of an open ended zipper. Currently, zippers are designed with three-dimensional fitment mechanism, which is extremely tedious to manage, especially for these groups of individuals. To address this issue, some of the zipper guides (such as Under Armour Device) are currently available in the market; however, the existing solutions are non-modular in nature. Moreover, they are selectively designed for specific zipper materials and are thus expensive. This invention relates to the development and use of a novel zipper aid, which can be attached to any zippered garment enabling these individuals to perform smooth zipping, overcoming prior art limitations and/or unmet needs. Value PropositionThe aid/guide:ΓÇóIs modular in natureΓÇóDoesnΓÇÖt integrate into the garment itselfΓÇóIs highly cost effective as compared to prior art techniquesΓÇóCan be attached non-invasively/reversibly to any zippered garment with no modificationΓÇóCan be outfitted to existing zippers of different materials and geometriesΓÇóEffective widens the margin of error associated with the alignmentΓÇóEliminates two degrees of freedom, reducing a three-dimensional precision task into a one-dimensional pushΓÇóWould be commercially useful for:oTremor patientsoChildren having difficulty with zippersoPeople with arthritis or those with difficulty in using their hands or armsoAmputees or those without handsoThe blind or visually impaired

Detailed Technology Description

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*Abstract

Patients suffering from tremors, such as in ParkinsonΓÇÖs Disease, often face difficulty in performing tasks requiring small muscle movements. Even small children are not very comfortable in managing these tasks independently. One of such tasks is alignment of two ends of an open ended zipper. Currently, zippers are designed with three-dimensional fitment mechanism, which is extremely tedious to manage, especially for these groups of individuals. To address this issue, some of the zipper guides (such as Under Armour Device) are currently available in the market; however, the existing solutions are non-modular in nature. Moreover, they are selectively designed for specific zipper materials and are thus expensive. This invention relates to the development and use of a novel zipper aid, which can be attached to any zippered garment enabling these individuals to perform smooth zipping, overcoming prior art limitations and/or unmet needs.

*Principal Investigator

Name: Hannah Coakley

Department:

Name: Andrew Gouldstone

Department:

Country/Region

USA