GB2304290A

GB2304290A - Ear clip for a pulse-rate detector

Info

Publication number: GB2304290A
Application number: GB9617103A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ari Putkonen
Original assignee: TUNTURIPYOERAE Oy; TUNTURIPYORA Oy
Current assignee: TUNTURIPYOERAE Oy; TUNTURIPYORA Oy
Priority date: 1995-08-17
Filing date: 1996-08-14
Publication date: 1997-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 2016-08-14
Also published as: FI953888A0; FI953888A; GB9617103D0; FI111214B; GB2304290B; DE19632361A1

Description

2304290 1 Detector The present invention relates to a detector f or

measuring the pulse from the ear, which detector comprises a clip made of two interlinked parts to be f itted in the ear in such a way that the ear is retained between the clamps of the clip pressing against one another.

Pulse measurement is today a conventional and common operation for example in connection with fitness exercise. In fact, the fitness programmes or performances of many fitness exercisers are based on pulse measurement and pulse monitoring during the programme or exercise. Pulse measurement is employed to monitor the fitness programme or performance in connection with fitness exercise both indoors and out of doors.

The point of attachment for the pulse detector is often the ear of the exerciser, and more specifically the tip of the auricle. The detector has conventionally been attached to the earlobe by means of a clip-type arrangement having substantially straight clip arm portions. However, the problem has been that human earlobes are often very different in thickness and size and some people have no earlobe, which makes it difficult to attach the detector to the earlobe. Furthermore, the problem has been that a detector attached to the earlobe is inconvenient in use for the above reasons, as the detector may squeeze too much, it may become detached too easily, etc. A further problem has been that today both women and men often have earrings or ear pendants which are attached specifically to the earlobe. This being the case, it is sometimes very difficult to attach a cliptype detector to the earlobe. It is in practice impossible to attach the present-day detectors to other parts of the ear, as they squeeze the ear too much, which makes their use too inconvenient.

2 It is an object of the present invention to provide a detector wherewith the drawbacks of the prior art can be eliminated. This has been achieved with the detector of the invention, which is characterized in that the arm portions of the clamps of the clip are formed as curved parts in such a way that when the clamps are pressed against one another, a space for the auricular cartilage remains between the arm portions.

A primary advantage of the invention is that all drawbacks encountered in the prior art can be eliminated, i.e. the detector can be easily and, from the user's point of view, conveniently attached to different parts of the ear, and hence no problems will be presented by the shape of the ear or earrings, for example. A further advantage is that the detector can still be attached to the earlobe, if for example the user is accustomed to that and wants to attach the detector to the earlobe. Another advantage of the invention is its simplicity, on account of which the manufacturing costs and thereby the selling price will be low. Still another advantage is that the detector of the invention can be used in connection with present-day measuring devices, and hence the effectiveness of these devices can be improved in a very advantageous way.

The invention will be explained in greater detail in the following by means of a preferred embodiment presented in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a detector of the invention, and Figure 2 is a schematic view of a preferred point of attachment for the detector of the invention.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a detector of the invention. The detector comprises two interlinked parts 1, 2. The parts 1, 2 are interlinked by means of an articulated shaft 3. The detector is also 3 provided with spring means wherewith the clamps 4, 5 of the detector can be pressed against one another. The spring means is preferably arranged in connection with the articulated shaft 3. Numerals 6, 7 denote finger elements by means of which the clamps 4, 5 of the detector can be opened when the detector is f itted in place or removed after use. Furthermore, a lead through which the measurement information is transmitted to a display, for example, is indicated by broken lines. The leads, equipment used for processing the measurement information, and connections etc. are fully conventional to those skilled in the art, and hence these will not be explained in detail in this context.

In accordance with the essential idea of the invention, the arm portions 8, 9 of the clamps 4, 5 of the clip are curvedly shaped, so that when the clamps 4, 5 are pressed against one another, a space 10 for the auricular cartilage remains between the arm portions 8, 9. The curvature of the arm portions 8, 9 can be clearly seen from Figure 1. Figure 2 on the other hand shows an example of how the detector of the invention can be attached to the ear 11. The attachment point for the detector is denoted with an arrow N in Figure 2. As will be seen from Figure 2, the detector of the invention can be fitted in the earf lap 11 if the earlobe 12 carries for example an earring or if the detector cannot otherwise be attached to the earlobe. Attachment to the earflap in accordance with Figure 2 is made possible by the fact that the auricular cartilage at the earflap will fit inside the space 10 between the curved arm portions 8, 9, and hence the detector will not squeeze the cartilage, thereby causing pain to the user. It is to be noted that the detector of the invention can still be attached to the earlobe 12, if such attachment is desired and considered feasible by the user.

4 The embodiment of the invention set out above is in no way intended to limit the invention, but the invention can be modified with complete freedom within the scope of the claims. Therefore, it is obvious that the detector of the invention or its details need not necessarily be exactly as shown in the figures, but other solutions are possible as well. For example, the arm portions of the detector can be shaped in another manner than shown in Figure 1. What is essential is that a free space for the auricular cartilage remains between the arm portions when the clamps of the detector are in the closed position. The detector of the invention is in no way limited to any specific material, but can be made of any suitable material, such as plastic.

Claims

Claim:

1. A detector for measuring the pulse from the ear, which detector comprises a clip made of two inter linked parts to be fitted in the ear in such a way that the ear is retained between the clamps of the clip pressing against one another, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that the arm portions of the clamps. of the clip are formed as curved parts in such a way that when the clamps are pressed against one another, a space for the auricular car tilage remains between the arm portions

2. A detector for measuring the pulse from the ear substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.