Finger temperature indicating ring

• US 5,813,766 A
• Filed: 08/12/1997
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mei-Yen Chen
• Original Assignee: Mei-Yen Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Mei-Yen
• Primary Examiner(s): GUTIERREZ, DIEGO F
• Application Number:
  US08/909,886
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 63/1.13, 63/15, 600/549, 374/141, 374/183, 340/573, 340/407.1
• US Class Current: 374/141
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 9/0053 having special functions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals

Abstract

A finger temperature indicating ring for wearing around a finger to measure and indicate the finger temperature of the wearer. A thermal conductive rod made of highly thermal conductive material, such as platinum, is provided in the ring with a lower end of the rod exposed from the ring to contact with the finger. The finger'"'"'s heat or cold is accurately and quickly transmitted to a thermistor provided with the ring via the thermal conductive rod, causing a circuit connected to the thermistor to operate and convert the finger temperature into a signal which is sent to an indicating element in the ring. With a switch button, the signal can be presented to the wearer in different manners, so that the wearer is always reminded and encouraged to release himself or herself from physical or mental stress.

Claims

1. A finger temperature indicating ring for indicating a physically or mentally relaxed condition of a wearer, comprising:

a ring body including a band portion having a lower opening forming two lower ends of said ring body, and two symmetric channels circumferentially embedded in two opposite sides of said band portion to respectively receive an arcuated thermal conductive rod and an arcuated discharge rod therein, said thermal conductive rod and said discharge rod having lower ends which respectively project from an inner side of said two lower ends of said ring body, forming two exposed ends to touch an outer periphery of the wearer'"'"'s finger when said finger temperature indicating ring is worn around the wearer'"'"'s finger; and

said band portion having a shallow top recess for accommodating electronic elements of said ring therein;

a top cover having a contour corresponding to a contour of said top recess on said ring body for fitly covering said ring body and engaging with said top recess, and said top cover being formed at a top surface with several openings;

a top panel being disposed in a space defined between said top cover and said top recess of said ring body, said top panel being provided at an upper surface with a switch button, an on/off button, a liquid crystal display, and an LED which respectively project from said openings formed on said top cover; and

a circuit board electrically connected to a bottom side of said top panal and including a thermistor, an indicating element, and other relevant electronic elements;

wherein said thermistor is connected to a top end of said thermal conductive rod and may therefore sense a finger temperature of the wearer via said exposed end of said thermal conductive rod and actuate an operation in said circuit board to convert said finger temperature sensed by said thermistor into a signal, said signal corresponding to said physically or mentally relaxed condition of the wearer and being sent to said indicating element which presents said signal to the wearer in at least one of the following manners selected via said switch button on said top panel;

a. causing said discharge rod to discharge a small amount of electric current strong enough for the ring wearer to perceive it;

b. causing said liquid crystal display to show a value of said finger temperature sensed by said thermistor;

c. causing said LED to emit light;

or

d. warning the ring wearer by other equivalent element.

2. A finger temperature indicating ring as claimed in claim 1, wherein said other equivalent element for warning the ring wearer include one of a buzzer or a vibration motor, or both.