Apparatus for Measuring and Demonstrating the Depth of Damage

• US 20140338209A1
• Filed: 05/14/2013
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Manheim Investments Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Manheim Investments Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Haegelin, Marc Erdreich, Berent, Thomas Gerard
• Granted Patent: US 9,347,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/836
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/28 Depth gauges

Abstract

A dent measurement apparatus is presented. The dent measurement apparatus may be used in conjunction with documenting damage in objects, such as vehicles. Such damage may include dents, and the documentation process may include images or videos. To convey detail, it may be desirable to focus the images or videos closely on a damaged region and, in such cases, the dent measurement apparatus may help provide context for the size and depth of the damage. In particular, the dent measurement apparatus may removably attach to and extend from the damaged area such that the depth of damage may be determined relative to one or more markings on the body of the dent measurement apparatus.

Claims

1. A dent measurement apparatus, comprising:

an elongated body having a first end and a second end;

an adhering component at the second end, the adhering component capable of generating sufficient attractive force to hold the otherwise unsupported elongated body to an object; and

a marking on the elongated body, wherein the marking is at a predetermined distance from the second end.

2. The dent measurement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhering component further comprises a magnet.

3. The dent measurement apparatus of claim 2, wherein the magnet is at least partially included within the elongated body.

4. The dent measurement apparatus of claim 3, wherein the elongated body is hollow along at least a portion of its length and the magnet is pressed at least partially into the hollow portion of the elongated body.

5. The dent measurement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the marking comprises a plurality of markings that are spaced apart from one another at predetermined distances from the second end.

6. The dent measurement apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plurality of markings are spaced apart from one another at unequal distances.

7. The dent measurement apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a writing tip at the first end; and

a cap having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end removably fits about the first end.

8. The dent measurement apparatus of claim 7, wherein the distal end of the cap further comprises a touch screen tip.

9. The dent measurement apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a laser pointer, wherein a beam of the laser pointer is emitted from the first end.

10. The dent measurement apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a light positioned at the first end.

11. The dent measurement apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a relative position indicator positionable along a length of the elongated body.

12. The dent measurement apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a width measuring device.

13. The dent measurement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated body further comprises a telescoping body.

14. A dent measurement apparatus, comprising:

an elongated body having a first end and a second end, the elongated body having a hollow cross-section;

a magnet at the second end, wherein the magnet is at least partially fit within the hollow cross section of the elongated body, and the magnet is capable of generating sufficient attractive force to hold the otherwise unsupported elongated body to an object;

a plurality of markings on the elongated body, each of the markings being positioned at predetermined distances from the second end;

a writing tip at the first end of the elongated body; and

a cap that has a proximal portion and a distal portion and wherein the proximal portion fits over the first end and about a segment of the elongated body.

15. The dent measurement apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a relative position indicator positionable along a length of the elongated body.

16. The dent measurement apparatus of claim 14, wherein the distal portion of the cap further comprises a touch screen tip.

17. The dent measurement apparatus of claim 14, wherein the elongated body further comprises a telescoping body.

18. The dent measurement apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of markings further comprise a series of colored bands.

19. The dent measurement apparatus of claim 18, wherein the colored bands transition from one color to another color over a distance between adjacent bands.

20. The dent measurement apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of markings are spaced at unequal distances from one another.