GB2434650A

GB2434650A - Gripping force measuring device

Info

Publication number: GB2434650A
Application number: GB0601196A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mike Chien Ming Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-20
Filing date: 2006-01-20
Publication date: 2007-08-01
Also published as: GB0601196D0

Abstract

A device for measuring the force produced by a person's grip comprises a pressure detecting device 15 for being compressed by a user, and a display 30, possibly an LCD display, coupled to the pressure detecting device 15 for displaying the force applied thereto by the user. The device may comprise a trigger 20, for gripping with the fingers, which is engaged with the pressure detecting device 15. The trigger 20 may include an arm 22 which extends externally of the device and which may be gripped with a thumb and fore finger. The device may include a thermometer 13. In an alternate embodiment (see figure 20) the device may include a bladder (70, figure 20) surrounded by a pair of casing members (91, figure 20) each having a flap (92, figure 20) extending there from. The flaps 92 can be squeezed by a user to provide a force on the bladder 70. The device may also include a pump (75, figure 20) coupled to the bladder 70 to provide the required pressure thereto. A valve (77, figure 20) may be provided between the pump 75 and the bladder 70. Other embodiments of the invention are also described.

Description

GRIPPING FORCE MEASURING DEVICE

The invention relates to a gripping force measuring device for effectively or accurately measuring the gripping force of the users.

Typical gripping force measuring devices comprise an inflatable bladder coupled to or in communication with a pressure transducer which may receive the signals or forces or pressure from the inflatable bladder to calculate or to determine the pressure or the pressure change of the inflatable bladder and thus to obtain the gripping force or gripping rate of the users.

For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,949,729 to Haski discloses one of the typical gripping rate measuring devices also comprising an inflatable bladder for being held and grasped or gripped by the users, and coupled to a pressure transducer which may receive and calculate the signals or forces or pressure from the inflatable bladder into the pressure or the pressure change of the inflatable bladder or into the gripping force or gripping rate of the users.

However, the users may not effectively or suitably grasp or grip the inflatable bladder with their fingers when holding the

inflatable bladder.

U.s. Patent No. 6,725,728 to Lee discloses another typical gripping rate measuring device also comprising an inflatable bladder for being held and grasped or gripped by the users, and a pressing device is further provided and engaged onto the inflatable bladder and includes a pair of opposite flaps for being suitably grasped or gripped by the users. However, the flaps may only be used to detect or to measure the gripping force applied by the thumb and the forefinger, but the flaps may not be suitably used to detect or to measure the gripping force applied by the four fingers of the users It is accordingly an objective of the invention to provide a gripping force measuring device including a pivotal trigger for being suitably grasped or gripped toward a handle portion by the users to effectively or accurately detect or measure the gripping force of the users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a gripping force measuring device comprising:-a housing including a pressure detecting device disposed therein and including a handle portion for being held by a user, a trigger attached to the housing and engaged with the pressure detecting device for applying a pressing force against the pressure detecting device when the trigger is forced toward the pressure detecting device, and a displayer for displaying the pressing force applied against the pressure detecting device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gripping force measuring device in which one half of the gripping force measuring device has been cut off for showing an inner structure thereof; FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the gripping force measuring device; FIG. 3 is a plan schematic view of the gripping force measuring device, in which one half of the gripping force measuring device has also been cut off for showing an inner structure thereof; FIG. 4 is a partial top plan schematic view illustrating the displayer of the gripping force measuring device; FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the other arrangement of the gripping force measuring device; FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the gripping force measuring device as shown in FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a plan schematic view of the gripping force measuring device as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in which one half of the gripping force measuring device has also been cut off for showing an inner structure thereof; FIG. 8 is a partial top plan schematic view illustrating the displayer of the gripping force measuring device as shown in FIGS. 5-7; FIG. 9 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. I and 5, illustrating the further arrangement of the gripping force measuring device; FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the gripping force measuring device as shown in FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a plan schematic view of the gripping force measuring device as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, illustrating the operation of the gripping force measuring device; FIG. 12 is a perspective view similar to FIGS. 1, 5 and 9, illustrating the still further arrangement of the gripping force measuring device; FIG. 13 is a partial exploded view of the gripping force measuring device as shown in FIG. 12; FIG. 14 is a plan schematic view of the gripping force measuring device as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, in which a portion of the gripping force measuring device has been cut off for showing an inner structure thereof; FIG. 15 is a partial top plan schematic view of the gripping force measuring device as shown in FIGS. 12-14; FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a still further arrangement of the gripping force measuring device; FIG. 17 is a partial exploded view of the gripping force measuring device as shown in FIG. 16; FIG. 18 is a plan schematic view of the gripping force measuring device as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, illustrating the operation of the gripping force measuring device; FIG. 19 is a plan schematic view similar to FIG. 18, illustrating the other operation of the gripping force measuring device; FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating a still further arrangement of the finger gripping force measuring or testing device; FIG. 21 is an exploded view of the finger gripping force measuring or testing device as shown in FIG. 20; FIGS. 22 and 23 are enlarged partial perspective views of the finger gripping force measuring or testing device as shown in FIGS. 20-22, in which some portions of the elements have been cut off; FIG. 24 is a partial cross sectional view taken along lines 24-24 of FIG. 20; FIG. 25 is a partial cross sectional view similar to FIG. 24, illustrating another arrangement of the finger gripping force measuring or testing device; FIGS. 26 and 27 are plan schematic views illustrating the operation of the finger gripping force measuring or testing device as shown in FIGS. 20-25; FIGS. 28, 29 are partial cross sectional views taken along lines 28-28 and 29-29 of FIGS. 26 and 27 respectively; FIG. 30 is a perspective view illustrating another arrangement or embodiment of the finger gripping force measuring or testing device; FIG. 31 is an exploded view of the finger gripping force measuring or testing device as shown in FIG. 30; FIGS. 32, 33, 34, 35 are partial cross sectional views illustrating the operation of the finger gripping force measuring or testing device as shown in FIGS. 30 and 31; FIGS. 36, 37 are partial cross sectional views illustrating the other arrangement or embodiment of the finger gripping force measuring or testing device; and FIG. 38 is a further partial cross sectional view illustrating a still further arrangement or embodiment of the finger gripping force measuring or testing device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a gripping force measuring device comprises a body or housing 10 including such as two housing members 11, 12 secured together with such as fasteners or latches (not shown), adhesive materials, or by welding processes, and including a thermometer 13 attached thereto, such as attached to the front portion thereof (FIGS. 2, 5, 6) or attached to the upper portion thereof (FIG. 1) for detecting the temperature of the environment, and including a handle portion 14 for being suitably grasped or held by the users.

A pressure transducer or pressure detecting device 15 is disposed or secured in the housing 10 for being depressed to detect the pressure applied onto the pressure detecting device 15. A hand grip or trigger 20 is pivotally or rotatably attached to the housing with a pivot axle 21, and includes an arm 22 extended therefrom and having one end or free end 23 extended out of the housing 10 (FIGS. 1, 3), and includes a protrusion or actuator 24 extended from the arm 22 for engaging with the pressure detecting device 15 and for applying the pressing or compressing force against the pressure detecting device 15 (FIGS. 1, 3).

It is preferable that the arm 22 includes an orifice 25 formed therein and located closer to the free end 23 thereof. A lever 26 is further provided and secured or attached to the housing 10 directly or indirectly via a plate 27, and also includes an aperture 28 formed therein and located closer to the outer or free end 29 thereof which is also extended out of the housing 10. The housing 10 may include one or more juts 16 extended therein for forming or defining a compartment 17 therein and for receiving and anchoring or securing the plate 27 therein, and thus for allowing the lever 26 to be secured or attached to the housing 10.

A displayer 30, such as a liquid crystal displayer 30 is further provided and electrically coupled to the pressure detecting device for showing or displaying the pressing or compressing force applied against the pressure detecting device 15, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8. It is preferable that the housing 10 includes an opening 18 formed therein, such as formed in the upper portion thereof for receiving and anchoring or attaching the displayer 30 which may be attached or secured to the plate 27. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 5-7, the protrusion or actuator 24 may also be directly extended from the trigger 20 for engaging with and for forcing against the pressure detecting device 15.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the user may suitably grasp or hold the handle portion 14 of the housing 10 and may use or engage his two or more fingers with the trigger 20 for allowing the trigger 20 to be effectively or suitably grasped or gripped by the user to effectively or accurately detect or measure the gripping force of the user applied onto or against the pressure detecting device 15, and for allowing the pressing or compressing force is applied by the user against the pressure detecting device 15 to be shown or displayed on the displayer 30.

As shown in FIG. 3, alternatively, the user may use his one hand, such as the thumb and the forefinger of his left hand to grasp or grip the arm 22 and the lever 26, and may use his other hand, such as the right hand to grasp or to pull the trigger 20 toward the handle portion 14 of the housing 10 in order to apply the force to force and to separate the arm 22 away from the lever 26. At the moment when or right before the arm 22 is forced and separated from the lever 26, the force of the actuator 24 applied onto the pressure detecting device 15 may be determined as the gripping force of the user applied onto the arm 22 and the lever 26. It is preferable that the displayer 30 is calibrated or set to zero before the trigger 20 is grasped or pulled toward the handle portion 14 of the housing 10. The finger tips of the user may be engaged through the orifice 25 of the arm 22 and the aperture 28 of the lever 26 and may be contacted with each other (FIG. 3).

As shown in FIGS. 9-11, illustrated is another arrangement of the gripping force measuring device which includes a housing 10 in the form of a mobile or portable phone and also having two housing members 11, 12 secured together and also having the pressure detecting device 15 disposed or secured therein. The trigger 201 is arranged in the form of a pressing knob 201 for engaging with and for forcing against the pressure detecting device 15. The housing 10 includes a depression 19 formed therein and aligned with the pressing knob 201 for guiding the user to grip the trigger 201 and thus the pressure detecting device 15.

As shown in FIGS. 12-15, illustrated is a further arrangement of the gripping force measuring device including a housing 10 having an opening 18 formed in the upper portion thereof for receiving and anchoring or attaching a board 40 which includes a groove 41 formed therein, and a graduation 42 formed and provided along the groove 41 thereof. A bar 43 is slidably received in the housing 10 and located below the groove 41 of the board 40 and includes an indicator 44 extended therefrom and slidably engaged in and moved along the groove 41 of the board 40 for indicating the graduation 42.

A calibrated spring member 45 may be provided and coupled between the bar 43 and the housing 10 for applying a resisting force to the bar 43, and a cable 46 is coupled between the bar 43 and the pivotal trigger 20 for allowing the bar 43 to be slid or moved relative to the housing 10 by the pivotal trigger 20 and against the spring member 45. The indicator 44 of the bar 43 may also be caused to move along the groove 41 of the board 40 (FIGS.

14, 15) and to move relative to the graduation 42 for indicating the graduation 42 corresponding to the pulling or gripping force against the pivotal trigger 20.

As shown in FIGS. 16-19, illustrated is a still further arrangement of the gripping force measuring device including a housing 10 having one or more displayers 30 provided and disposed thereon for pressure indicating purposes, and including two finger caps 50, 51 for receiving or engaging with two of the fingers of the user and each having an aperture 52 formed therein for allowing the finger tips to be extended out of the finger caps 50, 51 and for allowing the finger tips to be contacted with each other (FIG. 18). The finger caps 50, 51 each includes a conductor 53, 54, such as positive conductor 53 and negative conductor 54 attached thereto for detecting the current and/or the resistance and/or the voltage and/or the frequency of the fingers of the user applied onto the conductor 53, 54, or between the conductor 53, 54, in order to show or display the gripping force of the fingers of the user against each other.

As shown in FIG. 17, the housing 10 includes a bladder 60 disposed therein, and a motor 61 coupled to a piston 62 for moving or actuating the piston 62 to draw or to pump an air from an entrance 63 toward an outlet 64 which is coupled to the bladder 60 via a hose 65 for pumping and supplying a pressurized air into the bladder 60, and includes a split pressing device 66 engaged onto the bladder 60 and having two flaps 67 extended out of the housing 10 (FIGS. 16, 18, 19) for being gripped by the user against the bladder 60 (FIG. 19). As also shown in FIG. 19, it is preferable that the flaps 67 each includes a hole 68 formed therein for receiving the finger tips and for allowing the finger tips to be extended through the holes 68 of the flaps 67 and for allowing the finger tips to be contacted with each other.

It is to be noted that the typical or conventional gripping force measuring devices comprise two flaps for being gripped by the user against the bladder, but fail to provide a pivotal trigger 20 pivotally or rotatably attached to a housing 10 for being grasped or pulled by the user toward the handle portion 14 of the housing 10 in order to determine the gripping force of the user applied onto the handle portion 14 of the housing 10.

Referring next to FIGS. 30-34, illustrated is a still further application of the finger gripping force measuring which comprises a resilient and hollow bladder 70 including one or more, such as two mouths or ports 71, 72 communicating with an inner chamber 73 of the hollow bladder 70 for allowing air or fluid to flow into and out of the chamber 73 of the bladder 70. The bladder is made of resilient rubber or synthetic materials, for allowing the bladder 70 to be inflated and compressed or squeezed by users.

A pumping device 75, such as a hand pump (FIGS. 20-2 1, 24-27) may be selectively or optionally coupled to one of the ports 71 of the bladder 70 with a valve 77 which includes a control knob 76 attached thereto, to control or to open or to close the valve 77.

The pumping device 75 may be used to pump air or fluid into the bladder 70 when required. For example, when the air or fluid pressure within the bladder 70 and the pumping device 75 is small or less, the pumping device 75 may be used to pump air or fluid into the bladder 70 to the required pressure. The pumping device may include a check valve 78 engaged therein and spaced from the valve 77 for allowing air or fluid to flow into the bladder 70 and the pumping device 75 only, and for preventing air or fluid to flow out of the bladder 70 and the pumping device 75 via the check valve 78, and thus for allowing the pumping device 75 to pump the bladder 70 to the required pressure.

A pressure gauge 80 includes a coupler 89 engaged into the other port 72 of the bladder 70, for measuring or testing the pressure in the bladder 70 and the pumping device 75. A cover 81 may be attached to the front of the pressure gauge 80, such as rotatably received in a front and peripheral fence 84 of the pressure gauge 80, and may include a peripheral rib 85 engaged into a peripheral recess 86 of the fence 84 (FIGS. 22, 23). The pressure gauge 80 includes a graduation 83 provided therein, and a pointer 87 rotatable relative to the graduation 83 to indicate the pressure value. Another pointer 82 is rotatably secured to the cover 81 with another knob 88 which may be used to rotate the pointer 82 relative to the graduation 83 to indicate the pressure value.

Alternatively, the other types of pressure gauges 80 may also be provided and attached to the bladder 70, such as the digital or electrical type pressure gauges 80 as shown in FIGS. 25, 36, 37 may also be used to measure or test the pressure in the bladder 70 and the pumping device 75. Further alternatively, the other types of pumping devices 75, such as the mechanical pumping devices as shown in FIG. 38 may also be attached to the bladder 70, for pumping the bladder 70. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 30-37, the bladder 70 may also be provided or formed with a predetermined pressure therein, and no pumping devices 75 are required to be attached or coupled to the bladder 70 to pump the bladder 70.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 34, 35, 37, the users may compress or squeeze the bladder 70 with their fingers, in order to force air into the pressure gauge 80, which may thus be used to measure or to test the finger gripping force of the users. The provision or the attachment of the pumping devices 75 to the bladder 70 is to pump the bladder 70 to the required pressure therein, and for allowing the bladder 70 to be squeezed by the users. Referring again to FIGS. 30-31, the finger gripping force measuring or testing device further includes a pressing device 90 selectively or optionally attached onto the bladder 70 for compressing or squeezing or pressing the bladder 70.

For example, the pressing device 90 includes a pair of semi-cylindrical casings 91 having one side pivotally or rotatably secured together with one or more pivot joints 93 that form a pivot axle 93 for rotatably or pivotally securing the casings 91 together, and for allowing the casings 91 to be engaged onto the bladder 70.

The casings 91 each includes a flap 92 extended therefrom and preferably aligned with each other, and opposite to the joints or axle 93, for allowing the flaps 92 of the casings 91 to be compressed or forced toward each other against the resilience of the bladder 70 (FIGS. 26-29).

In operation, the pointer 87 of the pressure gauge 80 may be moved by squeezing the bladder 70 by one user. The pointer 82 of the cover 8 1 may then be rotated to indicate the pressure value obtained by the one user. The other user may then compress or squeeze the bladder 70 in order to force or to move or to rotate the pointer 82 to indicate another pressure value which may be compared with the previous pressure value indicated by the pointer 82, such that the gripping forces of the users may be compared with each other with the pointers 82, 87.

The flaps 92 of the casings 91 each includes an orifice 94 formed therein for receiving the finger tips of the user, and the finger tips of the user may be engaged through the orifices 94 of the flaps 92 of the casings 91 and may be contacted with each other (FIGS. 26-29).

Accordingly, the gripping force measuring device includes a pivotal trigger provided for being suitably grasped or gripped by the users to effectively or accurately detect or measure the gripping force of the users.

Claims

CLAIMS:- 1. A gripping force measuring device comprising: a pressure

detecting device for being compressed by a user, and a displayer coupled to the pressure detecting device for displaying the pressing force applied against the pressure detecting device.

2. A gripping force measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the displayer is a liquid crystal displayer.

3. A gripping force measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a housing is provided to receive the pressure detecting device includes a handle portion for being held by the user.

4. A gripping force measuring device as claimed in claim 3, wherein a trigger is attached to the housing and engaged with the pressure detecting device for applying a pressing force against the pressure detecting device when the trigger is forced toward the pressure detecting device.

5. A gripping force measuring device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the trigger includes an actuator for engaging with the pressure detecting device and for applying the pressing force against the pressure detecting device.

6. A gripping force measuring device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the trigger includes an arm, and the actuator is extended from the arm.

7. A gripping force measuring device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the trigger includes an arm having a free end extended out of the housing, and a lever is attached to the housing and includes a free end extended out of the housing and arranged for allowing the arm to be gripped and forced toward the lever.

8. A gripping force measuring device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the housing includes a plate disposed therein and having the lever extended therefrom.

9. A gripping force measuring device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the housing includes a compartment formed therein for receiving and anchoring the plate therein.

10. A gripping force measuring device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the housing includes at least one jut extended therein for defining the compartment thereof.

11. A gripping force measuring device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the displayer is attached to the plate.

12. A gripping force measuring device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the arm includes an orifice formed therein and located close to the free end thereof, the lever includes an aperture formed therein and located close to the free end thereof for receiving finger tips of the user.

13. A gripping force measuring device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing includes a thermometer attached thereto.

14. A gripping force measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure detecting device is a bladder.

15. A gripping force measuring device as claimed in claim 14, wherein a pressing device includes a pair of casings engaged onto the bladder for pressing the bladder, and having a first side pivotally secured together, and having a second side, the bladder is provided to be squeezed by users with the pair of casings of the pressing device to measure gripping force of the users.

16. The testing device according to claim 15, wherein the pressing device includes a flap extended from the second side of each of the casings, the flaps of the casings are arranged to be forced toward each other against the bladder.

17. The testing device according to claim 14, wherein a pumping device is coupled to the bladder to pump the bladder to a required pressure.

18. The testing device according to claim 17, wherein a valve is coupled between the pumping device and the bladder, and includes a knob to control and to open and to close the valve.

19. A gripping force measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the displayer is a pressure gauge coupled to the bladder.

20. A gripping force measuring device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.