Geometrical instruments – Gauge – Anatomical
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-21
2001-07-10
Fulton, Christopher W. (Department: 2859)
Geometrical instruments
Gauge
Anatomical
C033S806000, C033S515000, C177S245000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256896
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a mechanical device for measuring the height of infants up to thirty-seven inches, which is typically the height of a two-year old. It is, in some cases, extremely critical to be able to measure the height of an infant accurately, with very little margin of error tolerated, for those infants requiring the periodic administering of human growth hormone, or HGH. The amount of dosage of HGH, as well as the change in any dosage, is dependent upon the measured height of the infant initially, and the differential growth rates thereafter. By being able to obtain a substantially exact measurement of the height of the infant, the dosage to be administered may be more fine-tuned, thus preventing over-dosaging or under-dosaging, either of which may have potentially adverse effects on the infant. A measurement that is off by one-quarter inch can affect the determination of the amount of HGH to be administered.
There are presently used mechanical infantometers that are used to measure the infant's height. However, they suffer from a number of drawbacks and disadvantages. A first type sold by Seca Corp. is made of vinyl or rubber which is unfolded during use. There is a measuring scale imprinted on the face of the unit, with upstanding head and foot plates being used to provide the reading. The problem with this infantometer is that it requires two persons, one to hold the infant still, and the other to do the actual measuring. In addition, this type of infantometer must be unfolded and stretched out, and, since it is made of vinyl or rubber, any stretching thereof will distort the measurement, since the imprinted indicia lines of the scale on the face of the unit will be stretched greater or closer apart depending upon how much the unit is stretched. This will, therefore, invariably result in a less exact reading. Moreover, the stretching of the unit will sometimes cause the edges thereof to curl, also resulting in a skewed reading. Moreover, the infant often tends to stick to the rubber or vinyl, making it difficult to position and reposition the infant as necessary.
In a second type of infantometer also sold by Seca Corp., instead of rubber or vinyl being used, wood is used instead. In this type, the infantometer does not require unfolding, and has scales on the edges thereof, with one sliding foot-plate being moved to indicate the indicia indicative of the height of the infant. There is also provided a fixed head-plate against which the infant's head is placed. This type also suffers from the disadvantage of requiring two persons, one to hold the baby to ensure he or she does not fall off, and a second to do the actual measuring. Moreover, another drawback of this type of infantometer is that it is ofttimes difficult or cumbersome to slide the sliding foot-plate to indicate the measurement, since the part that mounts the foot-plate to the wooden base also serves as a support that helps to support the infantometer on a flat surface; thus, when sliding the foot-plate, both static and dynamic friction must be overcome, which, by itself, can lead to an errant measurement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, the primary objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical infantometer that overcomes all of the disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior-art mechanical infantometers.
It is a primary objective of the present invention to provide an infantometer that safely supports an infant thereon without the need of a person holding the baby, whereby only one person is needed to use the infantometer of the invention, in contradistinction to the prior-art infantometers that require two persons.
It is another primary objective of the present invention to provide an improved mechanical infantometer that provides a more exact measurement of the height of an infant by reducing friction of sliding parts.
It is another primary objective of the present invention to provide an improved mechanical infantometer that allows for a quicker measurement of the height of an infant.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to combine the infantometer of the invention with an infant weighing scale, whereby there is provided a combination of a height and weight measurement apparatus.
Toward these and other ends, the infantometer, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is made of styrene, and has two telescoping halves, with each having measuring indicia thereon. The first stationary half has a fixed head-plate against which the head of the infant is placed. The measuring indicia or scale on the first half is located along one side edge thereof. The second, sliding half telescopingly slides in the first fixed half, and has a fixed foot-plate attached at it distal, free end for abutment against the feet of the outstretched infant. The measuring indicia or scale on the second half is located along a side edge thereof laterally opposite to that corresponding to the first half. The two halves have an upper surface that form a trough or concave central section on which the infant is supported, whereby the infant is prevented from escaping or falling out. The bottom surface of both halves may also define curved side edges to reduce frictional surface-to-surface contact, which friction is further reduced owing to the fact that the infantometer is made of low-coefficient-of-friction styrene.
In a second embodiment, there is provided a main frame formed as a trough or concave section, having at a first end thereof a fixed handle-portion, and having adjacent the second end thereof, a slidable-mounted handle-portion that is slidable along the main frame. The main frame has a measuring scale alone one side edge. The placement of the second slidable handle-portion indicates on the scale the height-measurement of the infant.
In a modification, the second embodiment is combined with an infant-weighing scale, whereby the main frame of the infantometer serves as both the means for measuring the height of the infant, and also serves as the weighing scale's receptacle for receiving and retaining the infant for weighing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1555792 (1925-09-01), Souder
patent: 3492737 (1970-02-01), Swanson
patent: 3667561 (1972-06-01), Hutchinson et al.
patent: 4939849 (1990-07-01), Johnson
patent: 5097617 (1992-03-01), Craven
patent: 5499457 (1996-03-01), Weiler et al.
patent: 5637838 (1997-06-01), Arey et al.
patent: 5974678 (1999-11-01), Landauer
Tanita Pediatric Scale—Model BLB-12 (Date Unknown) Tanita Corporation of America, Arlington Heights, Illinois.
Clover Global Group. Inc.
Fulton Christopher W.
Gerstein Milton S.
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