GB2285509A - Measuring gauge - Google Patents

Abstract

A fluid measuring gauge 1 consists of a thin plastics sheet shaped to clip onto sidewall C1 of a container C. The gauge 1 is of stepped form, said steps acting as tactile and/or visual graduations indicating the depth to which fluid in the container rises and thus the fluid volume. The gauge may be three-limbed (FIG 7) and each step or graduation may be associated with relevant indicia etc. Part of the contour of the gauge may match the inner contour of the container. <IMAGE>

Description

MEASURING GAUGE This invention relates to a gauge for determining the amount of fluid in a container, for example a jug, and is more especially for use by partially sighted or blind persons.

It is often a problem for partially sighted or blind people to measure out quantities of fluids (more particularly liquids) required for example in cooking or the like. Measuring jugs may well be provided with graduated markings and accompanying alphanumeric indicia visually indicating the amount of fluid contained in the jug at a given depth but it can be difficult for a blind or partially sighted person to determine the depth of fluid and thus the volume of fluid required, for example for a particular recipe.

It is an object of the present invention to at least alleviate the aforementioned or other problems that may be encountered by blind or partially sighted people in assessing the volume of fluid in a container and acquiring a required volume.

According to the present invention there is provided a measuring gauge for measuring fluid, for use primarily by blind or partially sighted people, provided with tactile graduations, the arrangement being such that a user can select a required one of the graduations by touch and thereby determine when the fluid level in a container reaches the selected graduation, indicating the depth of fluid in the container and thus indicating the volume of fluid required.

Preferably, the measuring gauge is separate to the container but in some embodiments could be an integral part thereof.

Preferably, said separate measuring gauge can be clipped onto the container (conveniently to a sidewall thereof) or otherwise be secured thereto, more particularly during the measuring process.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the measuring gauge is of stepped form so that there is, advantageously, quite a good visual indication of the depth of fluid within the container when viewing the container from above (and/or from the side where the container is transparent or translucent). The steps may form at least part of the tactile graduations.

It is believed that the stepped form of gauge is very advantageous and preferably the steps extend radially inwardly of the container (or towards the centre of the container e.g. where a non-cylindrical container is provided). The gauge may be provided with a part contour matching the inner contour of the container.

The tactile graduations on the measuring gauge may comprise or be accompanied by braille markings or other particularised indicia (e.g. alphanumeric indicia).

Usually, the arrangement will be such that the user can position a finger within the container with the measuring gauge at least temporarily secured in a vertical (usually radial) plane of the container and thus an appropriate one of the tactile graduations can be located with the finger. Fluid can then be introduced into the container until it reaches the tactile graduation selected and also the finger which remains in position at the selected tactile graduation during introduction of the fluid into the container.As soon as the fluid reaches the user's finger substantially simultaneously with reaching the selected tactile graduation, introduction of fluid into the container can be stopped and the user will know that the fluid in the container has reached the selected graduation and thus will know the amount of fluid in the container, where the measuring gauge has been matched to the container. Usually, indicia relating the volume of fluid will be provided adjacent the tactile graduation, said indicia preferably being tactile and easily read off by the blind or partially sighted person.

The measuring gauge may be formed from a thin flat sheet of material (for example plastics) and may be provided with lateral flanges or tabs (preferably extending horizontally in use) associated with particular tactile graduations or steps and preferably carrying tactile indicia representative of particular volumes of fluid.

Alternatively, the measuring gauge may comprise a multi-planar strip of material shaped or moulded to provide tactile graduations or steps rather than the steps being provided in a flat plane of the gauge.

In all cases, it is preferred that the volume of the gauge being immersed in the fluid is small compared to the volume of fluid being measured, so that the volume of the gauge itself does not need really to be taken into account when designing the capacity of the measuring container.

Thus, measuring containers already in circulation and of standard form (e.g. tapered measuring jugs) could be utilised with an appropriate measuring gauge in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. On the other hand, the measuring gauge could be designed only for use with purpose made containers at least for accurate determination of volumetric amounts of fluid.

Therefore, further according to the present invention there is provided the combination of a measuring gauge for measuring fluid and a container, the combination being for use primarily by blind or partially sighted people, said measuring gauge being provided with tactile graduations, the arrangement being such that the user can select a required one of the graduations by touch and thereby determine when the fluid level in the container reaches the selected graduation, indicating the depth of fluid in the container and thus indicating the volume of fluid required.

The measuring gauge may be integral with the container or preferably may be secured thereto in a particular orientation for example by being clipped onto a side wall of a container.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a method of measuring fluid in a container using a tactile measuring gauge, said method comprising introducing said gauge into a container and selecting by touch one of a plurality of tactile graduations on the measuring gauge, introducing fluid into the container until the fluid level reaches said selected tactile graduation and finger located at said graduation, thus indicating the required level of fluid.

Further according to the present invention there is provided use of a tactile measuring gauge to measure fluid in a container.

Many advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings.

Embodiments of fluid measuring gauges in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying simplified drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows the first embodiment of the measuring gauge clipped onto a sidewall of a container (shown in section); FIGURE 2 shows a plan view of the measuring device; FIGURE 3 shows the second embodiment of the measuring gauge clipped onto a container (shown in section); FIGURE 4 shows a plan view of the second embodiment of the measuring gauge; FIGURE 5 shows the third embodiment of the measuring gauge clipped onto a wall of the container (shown in section): FIGURE 6 shows a plan view of the third embodiment of the measuring gauge, and FIGURE 7 shows a plan view of a modified embodiment of the measuring gauge.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, a fluid measuring gauge 1 comprises a thin sheet of plastics material of thickness X shaped to form a clip portion la that can conveniently be clipped (in a vertical plane) to a sidewall C1 of an open, generally cylindrical container C in a manner which should be self-evident from FIGURE 1.

Measuring gauge 1 is of stepped form, the steps ib being provided in the plane of the measuring gauge 1. The steps ib represent both tactile and visual graduations or markings indicating depths to which fluid (not shown) in the container C has risen and other associated tactile indicia (for example braille) could be included on the gauge 1 adjacent or on the steps ib. Thus, the user can determine by touch once the fluid in the container C has risen to, for example, the height of the first step 1b1 indicating a certain volume of fluid in the container, this volume being read off by the braille marking or other tactile indicia adjacent the step where provided.Thus a blind or partially sighted person is able to feel inside the container C and feel the particular tactile graduation or step ib to which the fluid has risen in order to determine the volume of fluid within the container.

Additionally, the nature of the steps ib extending radially inwardly (i.e. in direction of arrow Y) into the container C as well as downwardly also provides an extremely good visual indication of the volume of fluid within the container, helping the partially sighted person in such a manner that the volume of fluid within the container may well be determinable without even utilising a tactile response from the steps themselves.

The measuring gauge 1 is provided with a part-outer contour lc (generally of curved right-angular shape) matching the inner contour C1 of the container C so that measuring gauge 1 is a neat snug-fit in the container, to reduce sideways movement of the measuring gauge and encouraging a vertical, radial orientation thereof in a manner which should be self-evident.

The width d of each step Ib may be in the order of 5mm, and in order to provide a tactile response should be at least lmm.

FIGURES 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of a measuring gauge 101 provided with clip portion lOla to clip onto sidewall C1 of container C. Measuring gauge 101 is provided with steps lOlb as shown, which steps also act as tactile graduations. The upper step 101b' is adjacent the container wall C1 and the steps lOlb extend downwardly and radially inwardly (in direction of arrow Y) to the bottom of the container. In this embodiment, the measuring gauge 101 is not formed from a single flat sheet of material extending in a vertical plane in the container (compare measuring gauge 1). The measuring gauge 101 consists of a plastics strip which is bent or shaped (e.g. moulded) to form the steps 101b so that each step has a much greater thickness W than the thickness X provided by measuring gauge 1 (compare FIGURE 2).Additionally, the steps lOlb may be provided with appropriate braille markings 101c (presented in a horizontal plane) indicating appropriate volumetric amounts. Measuring gauge 101 is provided with base strip portion 101d which seats conveniently on the bottom of the container.

A third embodiment of a measuring gauge 102 is shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. Measuring gauge 102 is provided with clip portion 102a which is similar to clip portion la shown in FIGURE 1. Measuring gauge 102 has a central, downwardly and inwardly depending stepped strip portion 102b with larger, lateral, rectangular, integral, horizontally extending flanges 102c arranged at various levels associated with steps 102d in portion 102b as should be evident from FIGURES 5 and 6. Thus, measuring gauge 102 represents a modified form of gauge 1 since central strip 102b is formed from a planar sheet of material with a contour 102e matching the inner contour of the container C but is provided with additional tactile markings in the form of said horizontal flanges or tabs 102c and accompanying indicia 102f.

FIGURE 7 shows a further, modified embodiment of measuring gauge 103 within a container C. Measuring gauge 103 is basically a three limbed or vaned modified version of measuring gauge 1 without clip portion la, each limb or vane 103a corresponding to measuring gauge 1 (without clip portion la) and joined at their common vertical spine 103b arranged vertically. The limbs 103a are arranged equaliangularly, so that the gauge 103 is self-supporting and does not require clipping onto the side of the container. Each of the three limbs 103a could be marked with tactile graduations and/or tactile indicia indicative of different scales of measure (for example pints, cups, cubic centimetres and so on). The measuring gauge 103 can also be provided with a handle (not shown).It should be evident from FIGURES 3 to 6 that the second and third embodiments of measuring gauges 101 and 102 could be modified in a similar way as measuring gauge 1 (i.e.

thereby providing a limbed self-supporting measuring gauge). Additionally, the measuring gauge could provide more than three limbs if required.

It is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not to be unduly limited by the particular choice of terminology and that a specific term may be replaced by any equivalent or generic term. Further it is to be understood that individual features, method or functions related to the measuring gauge might be individually patentably inventive. The singular may include the plural and vice versa. Of particular importance is the stepped form of measuring gauge providing tactile graduations that can be felt simultaneously with fluid level in a container, by the same finger.

Moreover, it is possible that the principle of determining the fluid level in a container, principally by non-visual means, could be extended to audio rather than, or in addition to, tactile response. It is possible that a measuring gauge could be designed to give an audio signal, or other non-visual signal, once a required selected volume has been reached in a container.

Claims (24)

1. A measuring gauge for measuring fluid, for use primarily by blind or partially sighted people, provided with tactile graduations, the arrangement being such that a user can select a required one of the graduations by touch and thereby determine when the fluid level in a container reaches the selected graduation, indicating the depth of fluid in the container and thus indicating the volume of fluid required.

2. A gauge as claimed in Claim 1 which is separate to the container.

3. A gauge as claimed in Claim 2 in which said separate measuring gauge can be secured to the container.

4. A gauge as claimed in Claim 3 which can be clipped onto a sidewall of the container.

5. A gauge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is of stepped form.

6. A gauge as claimed in Claim 6 in which the steps form at least part of the tactile graduations.

7. A gauge as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6 in which, in use, the steps extend radially inwardly of the container or at least towards the centre of the container.

8. A gauge as claimed in Claim 7 provided with a part contour matching an inner contour of the container.

9. A gauge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the tactile graduations on the measuring gauge comprise or are accompanied by braille markings or other particularised indicia.

10. A gauge as claimed in Claim 9 including tactile indicia relating the volume of fluid in the container adjacent the tactile graduation.

11. A gauge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims formed from a thin flat sheet of material.

12. A gauge as claimed in Claim 11 provided with lateral flanges or tabs associated with particular tactile graduations or steps.

13. A gauge as claimed in Claim 12 in which, in use, the flanges or tabs extend horizontally.

14. A gauge as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 13 in which the sheet of material carries tactile indicia representative of particular volumes of fluid.

15. A gauge as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10 in which the measuring gauge comprises a multi-planar strip of material shaped or moulded to provide tactile graduations.

16. A measuring gauge for measuring fluid substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, or 3 and 4 or 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings, or when modified substantially as shown in FIGURE 7 of the drawings.

17. A combination of a measuring gauge for measuring fluid and a container, the combination being for use primarily by blind or partially sighted people, said measuring gauge being provided with tactile graduations, the arrangement being such that the user can select a required one of the graduations by touch and thereby determine when the fluid level in the container reaches the selected graduation, indicating the depth of fluid in the container and thus indicating the volume of fluid required.

18. A combination as claimed in Claim 17 in which the measuring gauge is securable to the container in a particular orientation.

19. A combination as claimed in Claim 18 in which the gauge is clipped onto a side wall of the container.

20. A combination as claimed in Claim 17 in which the gauge is integral with the container.

21. A combination of a measuring gauge and container substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, or 3 and 4, or 5 and 6, or when modified substantially as shown in FIGURE 7.

22. A method of measuring fluid in a container using a tactile measuring gauge, said method comprising introducing said gauge into a container and selecting by touch one of a plurality of tactile graduations on the measuring gauge, introducing fluid into the container until the fluid level reaches said selected tactile graduation and finger located at said graduation, thus indicating the required level of fluid.

23. A method as claimed in Claim 22 substantially as herein described.

24. Use of a tactile measuring gauge to measure fluid in a container.