WO2004011873A2

WO2004011873A2 - Tape measure with securement

Info

Publication number: WO2004011873A2
Application number: PCT/GB2003/002981
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher Steele
Original assignee: Christopher Steele
Priority date: 2002-07-25
Filing date: 2003-07-10
Publication date: 2004-02-05
Also published as: AU2003254440A1; GB2391627A; WO2004011873A3; GB0217220D0; AU2003254440A8

Abstract

The invention relates to a tape measure comprising a flexible tape having a measurement indication means, the flexible tape further comprising a securement means, arranged in use to secure the tape around a body part of a user. The invention further relates to a method of measuring the girth of a body part, the method comprising the steps: (a) securing a tape measure of any one of Claims 1 to 20 to the body part using the method of Claims 21 or 22; and (b) viewing a measurement indication means of the tape measure in the region of the securement means of the tape measure.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO TAPE MEASURES

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to tape measures, methods of securing tape measures round body parts, and methods of measuring the girth of body parts.

Background to the Invention

People undergoing programmes of weight loss or dieting frequently wish to measure the effects of the programme. Typically, people undergoing such programmes will weigh themselves to determine how much weight has been lost over a prescribed period of time. This form of measurement is not always the most appropriate form of measurement, as although weight may be lost, this form of measurement does not determine whether or not the weight has been lost through fat loss or loss of other tissues such as muscle. A second method of measuring weight loss is using a tape measure to determine fat loss around a body part such as the waist, hips, thighs, neck, arms, ankles or wrists. The tape measure is frequently a flexible tape having the plurality of indications on one side thereof. In order to measure weight or waist girth loss, the tape is first wrapped around a user's waist and where the tape meets on fully encircling the user's waist, the indication is read on the tape at that point, to determine the girth of the waist. After a prescribed period of time on a weight loss programme the measurement is repeated, and the difference noted. One problem with using tape measures such as those described above, is the need for the user to hold the tape measure around the waist whilst taking measurements. Another disadvantage of generally known tape measures is that in order to take measures over prescribed time periods the tape measure must be manipulated around the waist each time a measurement needs to be taken. Thirdly, it may be difficult for a user to determine the exact measurement on the indicator means of the tape, due to the amount of manipulation required in order to encircle the waist with the tape measure and keep the tape measure in position whilst the indicator means are being read.

Therefore it is an aim of preferred embodiments of the present invention to overcome or mitigate at least one problem of the prior art, whether described hereinabove or not .

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a tape measure comprising a flexible tape having a measurement indication means, the flexible tape further comprising a securement means, arranged in use to secure the tape around a body part of a user.

Preferably the securement means comprises means to enable viewing by a user through at least a portion of the securement means .

Suitably the flexible tape is a metal tape (including alloy) , a plastics tape, a glass fibre tape, a textile tape or a mixture thereof . The tape is preferably of a length suitable for measuring the waist size of a user, and it is thus preferably at least 140cm long, more preferably at least 200cm, and most preferably at least 250cm long.

The measurement indication means preferably comprise a plurality of visual indications spaced apart at prescribed intervals along at least a portion of a side of the tape, more preferably along substantially the whole length of the tape. The visual indications may comprise numerical indications, and are preferably spaced apart at intervals of millimetres, centimetres or inches, or multiples thereof .

Alternatively or additionally the measurement indication means may comprise a plurality of coloured portions of the tape, each portion comprising a separate colour, to indicate a prescribed state or situation. Thus there may be three portions coloured red, amber and green, the red portion representing a danger state, amber representing a caution state and green representing a safe state.

There may be a measurement indication means on one or both sides of the tape. If there is a measurement indication means on both sides of the tape, the indication means may be the same or different.

The securement means may be separate from the tape or mounted on the tape. When the securement means is mounted on the tape suitably it is mounted at or near one end of the tape, and preferably extends contiguously from one end of the tape. Alternatively the securement means may be mounted on the tape such that a portion of the tape is enclosed by or connected to a loop of tape at or near one end of the tape .

Preferably the securement means is movable along the tape.

The securement means may comprise any suitable securement means such as a clasp, clamp, grip or the like, preferably arranged to secure a first portion of the tape to a second portion of the tape to form a loop. Alternatively the securement means may comprise a buckle arranged to secure two portions of the tape in overlapping fashion to form a loop. The buckle may be any suitable type of buckle, such as a cam buckle, tri glide, slide release buckle, ladder lock, release buckle, and the like. The securement means may be a surgical fitting.

Suitably the securement means ^«* is arranged to enable at least a portion of tape to pass through the securement means such that the means for enabling viewing by a user through the securement means comprises means to enable viewing of the tape passing through the securement means.

Suitably the securement means is constructed from plastics, but may be metal (including alloy) , rubber, textile material, for example.

Suitably the securement means is such that a user may view the tape located adjacent to at least one edge of the securement means, when the tape has passed through the securement means, in use. Suitably the means to enable viewing by a user through at least a portion of the securement means, comprises an aperture in the securement means. Alternatively the viewing means may comprise a window located in the securement means .

Preferably the flexible tape and/or securement means comprises means to enable automatic tightening of the tape measure around a body part of a user when the securement means has effected securement of the tape around the body part. Alternatively or additionally the flexible tape and/or securement means may comprise means to enable automatic loosening of the tape measure around the body part of a user when the body part increases in girth, such as during flexure of a muscle, weight1ifting or an increase in waist size over time, for example.

The means for automatically loosening and/or tightening the tape measure may comprise a tensioned member connected to the securement means and/or the flexible tape, such as a spring for example.

The securement means and/or flexible tape may comprise a retaining means, arranged in use, to retain the securement means and/or flexible tape in a desired orientation around a body part of a user. The retaining means may comprise a male member extending from the securement means or tape, arranged to cooperate with a corresponding female member located in the other of the flexible tape and securement means.

Alternatively the retaining member may comprise a retaining bar on the securement means, arranged in use to contact and retain a portion of the tape on the securement means .

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of securing a tape measure of the first aspect of the invention around a body part of a user, the method comprising the step of:

(a) securing the flexible tape in a loop round the body part using the securement means of the tape measure.

Preferably the method further comprises a step (c) of tightening the flexible tape such that it lies flush against the body part .

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of measuring the girth of a body part, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) securing a tape measure of the first aspect of the invention to the body part using the method of the second aspect of the invention; and

(b) viewing a measurement indication means of the tape measure in the region of the securement means of the tape measure .

Preferably step (b) comprises viewing a measurement indication means in the region of or adjacent to a peripheral edge of the securement means .

The securement means may comprise means to enable viewing through the securement means and step (b) comprises viewing the measurement indication means of the tape measure through the securement means . Brief Description of the Drawings

In order to provide a better understanding of the invention and to show how embodiments of the same may be put into effect, a preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a tape measure of the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a front view of the securement means of the tape measure of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 illustrates a top-down view of the securement means shown in Figures 1 & 2, securing the flexible tape of the tape measure in a loop .

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

We refer firstly to Figure 1. A preferred embodiment of a tape measure (2) of the invention comprises a flexible tape (4) constructed from plastics or textile material. At one end of the flexible tape (4) is rotatably connected a securement means in the form of a buckle (6) . The other end (8) of the flexible tape (4) is free, and includes a protective metal tab (20), at the distal end thereof. The flexible tape (4) includes on one side, a measurement indication means in the form of a plurality of numerical markers (18) spaced apart at prescribed 1cm intervals. Referring now to Figure 2, the buckle (6) comprises a generally rectangular outer frame (7) , having a retaining means in the form of retaining bar (16) substantially transverse to the direction of the tape (4) , running from one side of the frame (7) to other in the centre of the frame (7) . Either side of the retaining bar (16) are means to enable viewing (10) by a user through the securement means (6) , in the form of left and right apertures (12) and (14) . The left and right apertures (12) and (14) allow a user to view through the buckle (6) to view anything directly behind and adjacent to the buckle (6) .

We refer now to Figure 3. In the use, the tape measure (2) is operated as follows.

A user firstly decides on an area of the body which he or she wishes to measure, such as their waist, for example. The flexible tape (4) is then wrapped round the user's waist, and the distal end (8) of the tape measure threaded under the buckle (6) through the first aperture (12) of the viewing means (10) , over the retaining bar (16) and through the second aperture (14) and out from the buckle (6) above the end of the flexible tape (4) connected to the buckle (6) , as shown in Figure 3. The distal end (8) of the flexible tape (4) is then pulled through the buckle until the tape becomes flush against the user's waist. The tension caused by the flexible tape (4) passing through the apertures (12) and (14) and over the retaining bar (16) prevents the distal end (8) of the flexible tape

(4) from withdrawing through the buckle (6) . In this position, when the flexible tape (4) is flush against a user's waist, the size of the user's waist may be measured by viewing the numerical indicator directly over the retaining bar (16) in the buckle (6) .

If it is desired, the tape measure may be left on the user's waist for a prolonged period of time, and adjusted as and when the user experiences weight loss around the waist, with the user measuring the weight loss by viewing a numerical indicator (18) present directly above the retaining bar (16) on the buckle (6) , or by viewing the numerical indicator (18) present directly to the distal peripheral edge of the buckle as shown in Figure 1.

In this embodiment, a user must manually adjust the flexible tape by tightening and loosening the tape according to weight loss or gain, in order to view the adjusted reading. In other embodiments, it can be envisaged that there may be means for loosening or tightening of the flexible tape automatically on weight loss or weight gain around the body part, by incorporating a tensioning means on to the securement means and/or flexible tape (4) . In these embodiments, a user would not have to manually adjust the tape in order to undertake a reading of the measurement of the body part, each time there was any weight loss or gain.

In other embodiments, the securement means may be a separate member from the flexible tape (4) and may be slotted or attached to the flexible tape as and when required. The securement means, in other embodiments may comprise a clasp, clamp, grip or the like, as opposed to a buckle, which is secured round the first and second portions of the flexible tape (4) in order to secure the flexible tape (4) in a loop around a user's body parts. The securement means may be movable along the tape (4) . In such embodiments there may be a measurement indication means on both sides of the flexible tape, with, for example, one side comprising indications at prescribed 1cm intervals and on the other side of the flexible tape is a second measurement indication means in the form of a plurality of numerical indicators at prescribed inch intervals. In yet other embodiments, the securement means and/or flexible tape may comprise a retaining means in the form of a male member such as a spigot, arranged to be inserted into a female member such as an aperture within the securement means and/or tape in order to retain the securement means to the tape in a desired position.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s) . The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A tape measure comprising a flexible tape having a measurement indication means, the flexible tape further comprising a securement means, arranged in use to secure the tape around a body part of a user.

2. A tape measure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the securement means comprises means to enable viewing by a user through at least a portion of the securement means .

3. A tape measure as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the tape is of a length suitable for measuring the waist size of a user.

4. A tape measure as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 , wherein the measurement indication means comprises a plurality of visual indications spaced apart at prescribed intervals along at least a portion of a side of the tape.

5. A tape measure as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the visual indications comprise numerical indications.

A tape measure as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the numerical indications are spaced apart at intervals of millimetres, centimetres, inches, or multiples thereof .

A tape measure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the measurement indication means comprise a plurality of coloured portions of the tape, each portion comprising a separate colour, to indicate a prescribed state or situation.

8. A tape measure as claimed in Claim 7, wherein there are three portions coloured red, amber and green, the red portion representing a danger state, amber representing a caution state and green representing a safe state.

9. A tape measure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there is a measurement indication means on one or both sides of the tape.

10. A tape measure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the securement means is separate from the tape or mounted on the tape .

11. A tape measure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the securement means is movable along the tape.

12. A tape measure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the securement means is selected from a clasp, clamp, grip or combination thereof.

13. A tape measure as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the securement means comprises a buckle arranged to secure two portions of the tape in overlapping fashion to form a loop.

14. A tape measure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the securement means is arranged to enable at least a portion of the tape to pass through the securement means such that the means for enabling viewing by a user through the securement means comprises means to enable viewing of the tape passing through the securement means .

15. A tape measure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the securement means is such that a user may view the tape located adjacent to at least one edge of the securement means, when the tape has passed through the securement means, in use.

16. A tape measure as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 15, wherein the means to enable viewing by a user through at least a portion of the securement means, comprises an aperture in the securement means.

17. A tape measure as claimed in one of Claims 2 to 15, wherein the means to enable viewing by a user through at least a portion of the securement means comprises a window located in the securement means .

18. A tape measure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tape and/or securement means comprises means to enable automatic tightening of the tape measure around a body part of a user when the securement means has effected securement of the tape around the body part , in use .

19. A tape measure as claimed in preceding claim, wherein the flexible tape and/or securement means comprises means to enable automatic loosening of the tape measure around the body part of a user when the body part increases in girth.

20. A tape measure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the securement means and/or flexible tape comprises a retaining means, arranged in use, to retain the securement means and/or flexible tape in a desired orientation around a body part of a user, in use.

21. A method of securing a tape measure of any one of Claims 1 to 20, around a body part of a user, the method comprising the step of:

(a) securing the flexible tape in a loop round the body part using the securement means of the tape measure .

22. A method as claimed in Claim 21, further comprising a steps (b) of tightening the flexible tape such that it lies flush against the body part.

23. A method of measuring the girth of a body part, the method comprising the steps :

(a) securing a tape measure of any one of Claims 1 to 20 to the body part using the method of Claims 21 or 22; and

24. A method as claimed in claimed in Claim 23, wherein step (b) comprises viewing a measurement indication means in the region of or adjacent to a peripheral edge of the securement means .

25. A method as claimed in Claim 24, wherein the securement means comprise means to enable viewing through the securement means, and step (b) comprises viewing the measurement indication means of the tape measure through the securement means .

26. A tape measure substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings .

27. A method substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings .