Optimizer measuring unit

• US 5,586,558 A
• Filed: 09/02/1994
• Issued: 12/24/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Catherine G. Gately, Stanley E. Gately
• Original Assignee: Catherine G. Gately, Stanley E. Gately
• Inventors: Riley, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US08/300,485
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 128/774, 128/781, 128/782, 33/511, 33/512
• US Class Current: 600/594
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/107 Measuring physical dimensions, e.g. size of the entire body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1071 measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers A61B5/1123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4504 Bones A61B5/4547 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence

Abstract

The machine of the present invention measures degree angle and anthropometric linear measurements of the skeletal structure of the human body. The individual stands behind the machine with the top of their sternoclavicular joint at 0 degree line. Because every individual is measured from the same beginning point a study can be done according to the data collected. From here 10 componet variables are taken with the measuring unit. These variables are entered into a computer data base for calculation. This now begins an infield study of individual workers at a work station or exercise on a resistance training program and or undergo medical treatment for biomechanical correction. Studying repetitive motion injuries in the work force is one example. (non-surgical). By measuring bone lengths and degree angles of a human body we have found that certain characteristics or trends can be found by this systematic measuring procedure. For example we have found that clients with equal bone lengths in upper legs (femur) and torso length, plus a shorter length in lower leg (tibia) have a 0 degree torso deflection range, these individuals experience chronic low back pain. This means these individuals are at extremely high risk of experiencing a lower lumbar injury that can injure them greatly. 9 other graphs are generated so reaching, bending, twisting, pressing, pulling, and sitting can be broken down into exact biomechanical movements for a specific muscle range group. All measurements are taken with the individual standing behind the measuring unit in a relaxed posture.

Claims

1. In a measuring device used for determining bone lengths and degree angles of the skeletal system of a human body for purposes of determining natural ranges of motion of any specific individual as used in ergonomics, fitness and job safety;

a base plate from which a stand extends upwardly, said stand comprising a vertical column attached to said base plate and that has a square tube in said column that extends and adjusts the height of said stand, said square tube having a right support arm that extends right from said square tube, and at the end of said right support arm is a fixed plexiglass disc with black graduations etched on the surface for obtaining degree angles and length measurements of the upper extremities of the human body, further wherein said disc is affixed to said right support arm at a center point which is a point of origin from which all measurements originate and which is the top of the sternoclavicular joint of the human body, and further pivotally affixed to said center point is a plexiglass radial dial arm used in obtaining degree angles of the elbow radius and length measurements of the human body, further attached to said radial dial arm is an aluminum slide that slides along said radial dial arm to indicate the measurements of the human body.

2. In a measuring device as recited in claim 1, further affixed to said center point is an aluminum torso rule in which zero measurement begins at said center point and extends down from said center point for obtaining the measurement of the torso length of the human body.

3. In a measuring device as recited in claim 2, attached to said torso rule is a rule slide that adjusts up and down said torso rule to obtain the measurement of the human torso from top of sternum to hip socket.

4. In a measuring device as recited in claim 1, said tube further having a left support arm that extends left from said tube directly across from said right support arm, and further said left support arm having a depth angle protractor comprising an aluminum half circle flat disc fixed to said left support arm on a horizontal plane with etched black graduations in degree increments for obtaining the degree angle of the clavicle bone on said horizontal plane of the human body.

5. In a measuring device as recited in claim 4, attached to said depth angle protractor is a dial arm which is pivotally attached to a pivot point on said half circle flat disc which is a point of origin of measurements from said depth angle protractor to determine the degree angle of the clavicle bone on said horizontal plane of the human body.

6. In a measuring device used for determining bone lengths and degree angles of the skeletal system of a human body for purposes of determining natural ranges of motion of any specific individual used in ergonomics, fitness and job safety;

a base plate from which a stand extends upwardly, said stand comprising a vertical column attached to said base plate and that has a square tube in said column that extends and adjusts the height of said stand, said tube having a right support arm that extends right from said tube, and at the end of said right support arm is a fixed plexiglass disc with black graduations etched on the surface for obtaining degree angles and length measurements of the upper extremities of the human body, and also affixed to said center point is an aluminum torso rule in which zero inches begin at said center point and extends down from said center point for obtaining the measurement of the torso length of the human body.

7. In a measuring device as recited in claim 6, attached to said torso rule, is a rule slide that adjusts up and down said torso rule to obtain the measurement of the human torso from top of sternum to hip socket.

8. In a measuring device as recited in claim 7, said tube further having a left support arm that extends left from said tube directly across from said right support arm, and further said left support arm having a depth angle protractor comprising an aluminum half circle flat disc fixed to said left support arm on a horizontal plane with etched black graduations in one degree increments for obtaining the degree angle of the clavicle bone on a horizontal plane of the human body.

9. In a measuring device as recited in claim 8, attached to said depth angle protractor is a dial arm which is pivotally attached to a pivot point on said half circle flat disc which is a point of origin of measurements from said depth angle protractor to determine the degree angle of the clavicle bone on a horizontal plane of the human body.