WO1996001078A1

WO1996001078A1 - Measuring means

Info

Publication number: WO1996001078A1
Application number: PCT/SE1995/000802
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nils Ivarsson
Original assignee: Vikthygien Ab
Priority date: 1994-07-05
Filing date: 1995-06-29
Publication date: 1996-01-18
Also published as: SE503628C2; AU2941295A; SE9402371D0; SE9402371L

Abstract

The invention concerns a measuring means for determining and checking the circumferential size of a body portion of an individual (6). The measuring means consists of an un-elastic cord (1) or the like fitted with holding means disposed preferably at equally spaced-apart locations and consisting e.g. of balls (2). A buckle (3) is arranged to form, together with the cord (1) or the like, a closed loop of adjustable circumference. The measuring means is arranged to be applied in a taught condition and to fit snuggly around the body portion of the individual in question (6).

Description

MEASURING MEANS

The subject invention concerns a measuring means for deter¬ mining and checking the size of a body portion of an individual, such as his waist-mesurements.

Persons with overweight problems often decide to reduce, in many cases by joining a weight-watching group under the guidance of a dietician. For weight-control purposes conventionally various types of scales are used. However, the weight is but an undirect indication of the appearance of a person. Information as to the actual size of a particular body portion of the individual, such as his waist, could be obtained only measuring the circumferential size by means of a tape measure.

The subject invention provides a measuring means which is in¬ tended to be carried permanently by an individual in a tight-fitting condition about a portion of his body, such as the waist, and by means of which the individual in question continuously may gain information as to whether he (or she) is successful in carrying out the intended reducing program since the measuring means either surrounds the selected body portion in a slack condition or alternatively surrounds it in an increasingly taught condition. The characterizing features of the measuring means in accordance with the invention are clearly defined in the appended claims.

The invention will be described in closer detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 illustrates the measuring means in a broken lateral view and

Fig. 2 illustrates the measuring means in an identical view but turned over 90° with respect to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates a person using the measuring means about his waist. The measuring means consists of a cord 1 (a thread or a strap) the elasticity of which is as restricted as possible. At equally spaced- apart distances the cord is provided with holding members which in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in the drawings figures consist of fixedly secured balls 2.

The measuring means also includes a buckle 3. In accordance with the embodiment shown the buckle consists of an elongate sleeve- like body having a slit 4, 5 at each one of its ends. These two slits 4, 5 have a width that only insignificantly exceeds the thickness of the cord 1 but is smaller than that of the balls 2. Accordingly, the cord 1 may be attached to the buckle 3 in a manner known per se by passing a length la of the cord 1 (see Fig. 2) intermediate two successive balls 2 through the slit 4 and thereafter tightening the cord 1 in such a manner that the ball 2 abuts against a seat formed in the sleeve-like body. The procedure is repeated at the opposite end of the buckle 3 where another length lb of the cord 1 intermediate to balls 2 is pas¬ sed through the slit 5 on that side of the buckle to bring a ball 2 into engagement against the inner mouth of the slit 5 in the sleeve-like body.

Fig. 3 illustrates a person 6 using the measuring means to check his waist measurements. The person 6 applies the cord 1 fitted with the balls 2 around his waist and attaches the cord end portions to the buckle 3 in the manner described above. It is adviceable that the person 6 stretches the cord 1 about his waist sufficiently to en¬ sure that the other cord length lb, after completion of the securement of the first cord length la, will when attached spring back somewhat (owing to the elasticity in the midriff portion of the individual), so that the two balls 2 will be urged against their respective seat in the buckle 3. By permanently carrying this measuring means about his waist over a predetermined length of time the person 6 will gradually become aware of any increasing taughtness of the measuring means about his waist. Should such a tighter condition occur, this is an in- dication of the need for a change of diet. On the other hand, if the measuring means begins to show tendencies of slackness about the waist the person 6 may tighten the cord 1 by first loosening it on one side of the buckle 3 and then tightening the cord 1 to an extent cor¬ responding for instance to the length between two balls 2. In this case, the person 6 obtains a positive indication of the successful results of his dieting regime and thus is given an incitament to continue or complete his dieting program. The invention is not limited to^' the embodiment illustrated and described but could of course be modified in a variety of ways within the scope of the appended claims. For instance, it is possible to fit the cord 1 not with balls 2 but simply with knots, formed at equally spaced-apart distances. Instead of consisting of a cord 1 fitted with balls 2 the measuring means could consist of a strap in which apper- tures are formed at equally spaced-apart distances that cooperate with and form holding means together with pins or the like formed on the buckle 3. Obviously, a measuring means could be used on other portions of the body than the waist, for instance to measure the circumferen¬ tial size of a leg or an arm.

Claims

1. A measuring means for determining and checking the cir¬ cumferential size of a portion of the body of an individual, such as his waist-measurement, c h ar a c t e r i s e d in that the measur¬ ing means consists of an un-elastic cord, thread, strap or the like (1) provided with holding means disposed preferably at equally- spaced apart locations on said cord etc, and a buckle (3) arranged, in co-op¬ eration with a cord etc holding means (2), to form a closed loop of ad¬ justable circumference, said measuring means arranged to be applied in a taught condition around the body portion to be measured of the individual (6) so as to fit snuggly around said body portion.

2. A measuring means as claimed in claim 1, c h ar a c ¬ e r i s e d in that the measuring means is a cord (1) formed at equally spaced-apart locations with thicker portions (2), and in that said buckle (3) is provided with a couple of slits (4, 5) the width of which exceeds that of the cord (1) but is smaller than said thicker portions (2), and in that a length (la, lb) of the cord (1) intermediate to thicker portions (2) is receivable in each slit (4, 5) to allow abut¬ ment of a thicker portion (2) against said buckle (3) .

3. A measuring means as claimed in claim 2, c h ar ac - t e r i s e d in that the thicker portions are in the form of balls (2) that are fixedly secured to the cord.