GB2206207A

GB2206207A - Height measuring instrument

Info

Publication number: GB2206207A
Application number: GB08714522A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clarence Harry Raven
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-06-20
Filing date: 1987-06-20
Publication date: 1988-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 2007-06-20
Also published as: GB2206207B; GB8714522D0

Abstract

A height measuring instrument that has rules or scales (5 & 6) mounted vertically with a movable arm (2) that can be adjusted on the scales to measure the height of anyone positioned beneath the arm. The arm is held in position by magnets thus enabling it to be removed and used on any other suitable set of scales. Special provision is made to position the scales at the correct height from the floor. <IMAGE>

Description

MAGNETIC HEIGEIT-blE.tSURIBrG IN-sTRURlENT This invention relates to a measuring device mainly for use in measuring human height.

Measuring devices for determining human height are well known as being in use in hospitals, clinics and doctors' surgeries as well as sports clubs, health farms and similar institutions.

Modern requirements demand that such a measuring instrument shall be very sensitive in operation and as vandal proof as possible.

According to the present invention an instrument is provided that will measure a patient with a great degree otw accuracy, its sensitivity is adjustable according to the requirenents of the operator, its wear factor is practically nil but because of the principles and materials utilised ir. its construction it is virtually vandal proof.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of the instrument with the distance piece 1 in the folded position for transit.

Figure 2 shows a side view with the distance piece reversed ready for wall mounting.

Figure 3 shows a frontal view of such an instrument with the distance piece 1 in fig.2 removed.

Figure 4 shows a side view of such an instrument as in fig.3.

Figure 5 shows a section through the movable arm shown as 2 in figs.l & 2. The scale of this drawing is larger than figs,l, 2, 3 & 4 in order that detail might be defined.

Referring to fig.l the instrument is comprised of three components. The first component is the backboard 3, in this instance a piece of plastic 5cm wide, 9mm thick and 150cm long although any other material can be used. The second component is the cursor 2, a movable arm set at right angles to the backboard 3 The third and final component is a distance piece 1 fastened to the backboard 3 by a single screw 4, in this instance 4cm long with a 6mm thread.

We will now consider each of these three components in greater detail and their relationship one to another. Referring to fig.3 we will consider the first component, the backboard 3.

The strip of plastic 3 which forms the backboard has two rules or scales 5 0, 6 set into grooves in its surface and parallel to each other. These grooves are sufficiently deep not only to contain the scales but to act as guide tracks for the cursor 2. Between the two scales 5 & 6 a steel tube 7, in this instance of square section, is fastened firmly to the backboard 3 and runs the entire length of the backboard 3 except for about 5cm top and botton. To the rear of backboard 3 small blocks of plastic are mounted as shown at 27 29 2F in fig.4. In those portions of backboard 3 which extend at the top and the bottom beyond the tube 7, holes P & 9 are drilled centrally in backboard 3, in this instance with a 4.5mm drill. The lower hole 9 is tapped with a 6mm thread.

These holes go through the backboard 3 and the blocks 27 & 2P as shown in fig.4.

The second component, the cursor 2,. is detailed in fig.5 to which we now refer. In this instance the cursor 2 comprises two plastic pressings or mouldings, one of which is shown in fig.5 at 11, identical in shape and of such a construction that when stuck together along their edges 10 they form a box like structure with one short end open and unsealed. A rib 12 extends crosswise in the pressing 11. In this rib 12 two threaded holes 13 & 14 are arranged in such a way that they coincide with holes 15 & 16 formed in the closed end of the cursor 2.Two rods 17 & 19 are free to rotate in the holes 15 & 16. These rods 17 d; 18 have one end threaded to engage in the threaded holes 13 & 14. On each of the threaded ends of the rods 17 & 18 pot magnets 19 & 20 are mounted. On the other end of the rods 17 & 1P and outside the pressing 11 a method of rotating the rods 17 & 18 is devised, in this instance small knobs 21 & 22 but it could be a keyway into which a special key could be fitted or some other standard device. It therefore follows that by rotating the knobs 21 or 22 the magnets 19 & 20 can be moved longitudinally in the pressing 11.An indicator point or data edge 23 is positioned on pressing 11 so that when the two pressings are stuck together along their three sides 10, one data edge 23 will extend upwards on the cursor 2 and one data edge 24 will extend downwards. Tig.6 shows the open end of the cursor 2 with the datum edges 23 & 24 and the arrangements of the pot magnets 19 b 20 and the joins 25 & 26 of the two pressings 11.This open end of the cursor (2 in fig.2) is shaped in such a fashion that when placed against the backboard (3 in fig.2), the two sides with the datum edges 23 8 24 locate in the grooves(5 & 6 in fig.3) in which the scales are set and the magnets(19 & 20 in figs. 5 d 6) locate against the steel tube (7 in fig.3) which is mounted on the backboard (3 in fig.3).

The third component, the distance piece 1, comprises a strip of material, in this instance 5cm wide and mm thick of a length to be determined later. This is a "throw away" component and can be made of any convenient material such as wood or plastic. Referring to fig.7 such a piece of material is shown at 1, To one end of this piece of material 1 a shaped block 30 is fastened. This block is of such a shape that it will locate on the square tube (7 in figs. 1, 2 & 3). A 6mm hole 31 is drilled in the strip 1, in this instance 5cm from the end of the strip 1, to which the shaped bloek 30 is fastened. This hole is central in the width of the strip 1.Another distance piece 32 ii provided. A 6mm hole 33 is drilled through the distance piece 32 and this distance piece is of such a length that if the strip 1 with the fixed shaped block 30 at one end is screwed with screw 4 in fig.l & 2 to the backboard (3 in fig.l & 2) then this strip 1 will form an extension to the backboard (3 in figs.l & 2) and lie parallel to it.

Referring to fig.2 it will be seen that the strip 1 could function as a removable leg to the backboard 3. Strip 1 could be of such a length that when resting on the floor or ground it would support the backboard 3 at such a height that the datum indicators on the cursor 2, shown in detail as 23 & 24 in fig.5 & 6 could record the exact distance from the base of cursor 2 in fig.2 to floor or ground level.

By arranging the scales 5 & 6 in fig.3 in different positions on the backboard 3 in fig.3 both datum edges (23 & 24 in fig.g could be made to record this same distance from floor level, the two scales (5 & 6 in fig.3) being off-set one to the other by the distance between datum edges 23 8 24 in fig.6.

It therefore follows that if the scales (5 & 6 in fig.3) are marked according to the metric scale, then distance piece 1 in fig.2 could be of such a length that when the lower edge of the cursor , shown as 2 in fig.2, is one metre from the ground or floor level both datum edges (23 & 24 in fig.6) would indicate one metre on scales 5 & 6 in fig.3. It therefore follows that if the cursor (2 in fig.2) be moved to any other position on the backboard 3 in fig.2, in which position it will be held by the attractive magnetism of the pot magnets(19 & 20 in fig.5), then the distance between the lower edge of the cursor (2 in fig.2) and ground or floor level will be recorded metrically by the datum edges 23 & 24 in fig.6 indicating such measurement on the scales 5 & 6 in fig.3.

A similar condition could obtain using imperial or any other scales. If the backboard 3 were held firmly against a wall or other vertical surface then hold in fig.3 could be used as a drilling jig. If in this instance a 4.5mm drill is used it will rotate freely in the hole 8 in fig.3 and enable a hole to be drilled into the wall or vertical surface, This hole can then be plugged and a screw inserted through the hole 8 in fig.3 and screwed into this plug in such a position that the backboard (3 in fig.3) is wall-mounted at exactly the correct height for the scales (5 & 6 in fig.3) to record the distance between the lower edge of the cursor (2 in fig.2 and the ground or floor level. The distance piece (1 in fig.2) can now be removed and discarded.

If the screw that is inserted through the hole 8 in fig.3 and into the plug be left elack then the backboard (3 in fig.3) could swing to a vertical position being supported clear of any irregularities on the wall or vertical surface by the blocks 27 & 29 in fig.4. -Holding the backboard (3 in fig.3) firmly against the wall or vertical surface the hole 9 in fig.3 can now be used as a drilling jig.In this instance a 4.5mm drill will rotate freely in hole 9 fig.3. Both screws, the one going through the hole 8 in fig.3 and the one going through the hole 9 in fig.3 are then firmly tightened and the backboard(3 in fig.3) will be securely fastened to the wall or upright surface at such a height that the datum edges (23 & 24 in fig.6) record the exact distance that the lower edge of the cursor (2 in fig.4) is from floor or ground level when the cursor (2 in fig.4) is placed in any position on the backboard (3 in fig.4), It therefore follows that if any object such as a child or an adult stands against the wall or vertical surface immediately in front of the backboard (3 in fig.4) then the cursor (2 in fig.4) could be placed in such a position that its lower edge rests on the head of the said child or adult then the datum edges (23 & 24 in fig.g would both record the exact height of that person. If the subject being measured is short as for example a small child then its height can easily be read from the upper data edge (23 in fig.6). If, on the other hand, the subject is tall as with the average adult then the measurement can be read from the lower data edge (24 in fig.6). This arrangement of the datum edges means that it is not necessary for the operator to bend double to read the height of a small child, neither is it necessary for the operator to strain upwards to read the height of a tall person.

Claims

1. A height measuring instrument that although wall-mounted is accurate to within very narrow limits.

2. A height measuring instrument wherein provision is made to achieve claim 1 by incorporating a drilling jig within the instrument.

3. A height measuring instrument whereby the cursor or moving arm is removable thus enabling one cursor to be used with a multiple number of scales or backboards.

4. A height measuring instrument whereby magnetism is used to effect the objectives outlined in claims 1 and 3.

5. A height measuring instrument whereby the sensitivity of the cursor may be adjusted according to the requirements of the operator.

6. A height measuring instrument with two scales and two datum edges so arranged that they reduce bending and stretching by the operator.

7. A height measuring instrument wherein the datum edges run so close to the scales that parallax is eliminated.

9. A height measuring instrument that because of the construction of the backboard and the fact that the cursor is only held to this backboard by magnets renders it virtually vandal proof.

'O. A height measuring instrument in which the cursor can be knocked out of contact with the backboard thereby rendering it safer for use ifl measuring children as accidental damage to eyes, head o other parts of the bodv are practically eliminated.

9. A height measuring instrument that because of the shape of the cursor and the fact that this cursor can be knocked out of contact Qith the backboard is safer for use in measuring children as accidental damage to eyes, head or other parts of the body are practically eliminated.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. An instrument for measuring human height comprising a fused vertical scale on which an arul equp.ped with datum lines is set at right angles. This arm is fe to move upwards or downwards on the fixed vertical scale and is held in position by magnetic force. The vertical scale and the arm are so arranged that if a person stands beneath the arm. the said arm could rest upon the head and the height be recorded by the datum lines registering on the fixed vertical scale.

2. A height measuring instrument that although wall mounted is accurate to within very narrow limits.

3. A height measuring instrument wherein provision is made to achieve claim 2 b lncorporatlng a drilling jig with the instrument t. A height measuring instrument whereby the cursor or moving arm is removable thus enabling one cursor to be used with a multiple number of scales or backboards.

D. A height measuring instrument whereby the sensivity of the cursor may be adjusted according t the requirements of the operator.

5. A height measuring instrument whereby magnetism is used to effect the objectives outlined in claims 2. 4 and a 7. A height measuring instrument with two scales and two datum edges so arranged tnat the reduce bending and stretching bn the operator.

8. A height measuring instrument wherein the datum edges run so close to the scales that parallax is eliminated.