Electricity: measuring and testing – Magnetic – With means to create magnetic field to test material
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-08
2001-11-13
Patidar, Jay (Department: 2862)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Magnetic
With means to create magnetic field to test material
Reexamination Certificate
active
06316938
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a magnetic gauge for determining vehicle body damage and more particularly pertains to measuring the thickness of filler used to repair a damaged vehicle.
The use of measuring devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, measuring devices heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of measuring thicknesses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,828,212 to Nix discloses the use of a magnetic field sensor for measuring the thickness of a layer of paint on a vehicle to determine prior repairs of damage. U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,178 to Koch discloses a magnetic thickness gauge for measuring the thickness of a a nonmagnetic coating on a magnetizable material. U.S. Pat. No. 2,903,645 to Wright and U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,546 to Taylor disclose additional constructions for magnetic coating thickness gauges.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a magnetic gauge for determining vehicle body damage for measuring the thickness of filler used to repair a damaged vehicle.
In this respect, the magnetic gauge for determining vehicle body damage according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of measuring the thickness of filler used to repair a damaged vehicle.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved magnetic gauge for determining vehicle body damage which can be used for measuring the thickness of filler used to repair a damaged vehicle. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of measuring devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved magnetic gauge for determining vehicle body damage. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved magnetic gauge for determining vehicle body damage which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a circular housing having a front face, a rear face and a hollow interior. The circular housing has a stem portion extending downwardly therefrom. The stem portion has a channel formed therein. The stem portion has a lower end. The lower end has a pair of wheels coupled thereto. The front face has a measuring gauge disposed therein. The measuring gauge includes a needle portion. The needle portion has an inner end. The inner end extends within the hollow interior. The inner end has a ratchet wheel disposed thereon. The ratchet wheel is defined by a plurality of circumferentially disposed teeth. A magnet is slidably disposed within the channel of the stem portion of the circular housing. A shaft member is slidably disposed within the hollow interior of the circular housing. The shaft member includes a lower segment slidably disposed within the channel of the stem portion of the circular housing. The lower segment has a lower end secured to the magnet. The shaft member has a plurality of teeth. The plurality of teeth are engaged with the circumferentially disposed teeth of the ratchet wheel whereby upward movement of the shaft member will advance the ratchet wheel which will advance the needle with respect to the measuring gauge. A coil spring is disposed within the hollow interior of the circular housing. The coil spring is coupled with the shaft member. The coil spring urges the shaft member upwardly with respect to the circular housing.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved magnetic gauge for determining vehicle body damage which has all the advantages of the prior art measuring devices and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved magnetic gauge for determining vehicle body damage which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved magnetic gauge for determining vehicle body damage which is of durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved magnetic gauge for determining vehicle body damage which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a magnetic gauge for determining vehicle body damage economically available to the buying public.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved magnetic gauge for determining vehicle body damage for measuring the thickness of filler used to repair a damaged vehicle.
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved magnetic gauge for determining vehicle body damage including a circular housing having a front face, a rear face and a hollow interior. The circular housing has a stem portion extending downwardly therefrom. The stem portion has a channel formed therein. The front face has a measuring gauge disposed therein. The measuring gauge includes a needle portion. The needle portion has an inner end. The inner end extends within the hollow interior. A magnet is slidably disposed within the channel of the stem portion of the circular housing. A shaft member is slidably disposed within the hollow interior of the circular housing. The shaft member includes a lower segment slidably disposed within the channel of the stem portion of the circular housing. The lower segment has a lower end secured to the magnet. The shaft member with the inner end of the needle portion whereby upward movement of the shaft member will advance the needle with respect to the measuring gauge.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference shou
Goldstein Law Offices P.
Knox Amber
Patidar Jay
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