Registers – Calculators – Parallel axes
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-18
2002-11-26
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Calculators
Parallel axes
C235S0780RC, C250S372000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06484932
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a means for raising the awareness of the general public to the health risks associated with exposure to the sun, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for communicating UV radiation exposure information through pictorial representations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has been well established that Ultraviolet (UV) radiation emanating from the sun poses a number of health risks to humans. In addition to causing burning, aging and wrinkling of the skin, exposure to the sun has been linked to a significant increase in the occurrence rate of skin cancer and cataracts in humans. Myriad personal sun protection devices aimed at providing the user with tanning information have been developed. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,068 to Dickerson is representative of such devices. Dickerson discloses a portable device for calculating the optimal safe sun protection factor (SPF) lotion to be applied by the user under local ambient conditions, based upon user skin type and the amount of time the user desires to spend in the sun. These devices can be beneficial for providing individual users with important information for preventing damage to the skin. However, the aforementioned personal sun protection devices have a number of limitations. Significantly, because the devices are geared toward individual use, they are ineffective for communicating preventative information for educating the public at-large. Furthermore, such devices do not provide users with protective information prior to being exposed to the sun. Consequently, existing devices are ineffective for providing users with information for advance planning. Moreover, existing sun protection devices only provide users with limited preventative information, i.e., a recommended sun protection factor (SPF) lotion to apply.
The medical community has addressed the steady increase in UV radiation-related health problems by encouraging behavior modification aimed at protection from and avoidance of UV radiation exposure. Over the last decade, a number of countries have developed public awareness campaigns with limited success. In 1994, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in conjunction with the National Weather Service (NWS) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) developed and validated the UV Index, a daily prediction for the quantity of dangerous UV radiation impacting the largest population centers. More specifically, the UV Index is a calculated prediction of the amount of skin damaging UV radiation that will reach a specific location (1 m
2
) during the solar noon hour, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (standard time). The variables considered in this prediction include: (1) latitude; (2) day of the year; (3) total ozone overhead; (4) elevation above sea level; and (5) amount of cloud cover. The EPA further categorizes the numerical UV index into five levels, from Minimal to Very High, further correlating the levels to appropriate protective actions for each. The effort has raised the visibility of the risks associated with prolonged exposure to UV radiation. However, while documenting the wide dissemination and usefulness of the UV index, surveys have also manifested an inconsistent understanding of its significance. In particular, there is a widespread lack of understanding of the Index's numerical value and how to correlate the value to determine appropriate sun protection measures.
It has been well-established that existing campaigns and devices have met with limited success, at best, in educating and arming the public with information for combating UV radiation-related health problems. Accordingly, there is a recognized need for a means of communicating sun protection information to the public in a more effective manner. In particular, it would be desirable to provide a means of effectively communicating specific recommended sun protection measures correlating to the UV Index.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a means for raising the awareness of the general public to the health risks associated with exposure to the sun.
It is another object of this invention to provide a method for communicating specific sun protection measures to the public in a more effective manner.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus for communicating the aforementioned sun protection measures in the form of pictorials, based upon a particular UV Index value.
These and other objects are achieved with the present invention. The invention comprises a method for communicating specific measures for reducing UV radiation related health risks based upon a particular UV Index value or range at a particular locale. The invention further comprises various embodiments of an apparatus for carrying out the aforementioned method.
The method includes the steps of: (1) obtaining UV Index values for a particular locale; (2) determining appropriate protective measures for minimizing health risks, based upon the UV Index value obtained; and (3) communicating the protective measures in the form of pictorial images via a display apparatus.
An apparatus is provided for carrying out the method of the present invention. Preferably, the apparatus comprises a board assembly constructed from a weather-resistant material. Display elements having pictorial representations of recommended protective measures based upon a particular UV Index value or range are displayed through openings, or windows, strategically positioned on the board assembly.
In the referred embodiment of the invention the display assembly has a tri-layer construction, including a rotatable disk member positioned between a base member and a template member. The layers are interconnected at their centers by a mechanical subassembly such that the base and template members are maintained in a fixed position while the centrally-disposed disk member is rotated therebetween. The rotatable disk member preferably includes UV Index, time-to-burn, and protective measure information represented on a major surface. The template member includes strategically-positioned windows or openings for visually communicating said UV Index, time-to-burn, and protective measure information to a target audience.
In a first alternate embodiment of the present invention, numeric, alphanumeric, graphical and/or pictorial representations are provided on a plurality of individual disk members, or dials, attached to a display board in such a manner that, upon rotation of the dials, the desired information is displayed through a plurality of corresponding display board openings or windows. Furthermore, the individual disks can be constructed to engage one another in a gear-like fashion such that a given degree of rotation of a UV Index dial results in a corresponding desired degree of rotation of at least one other dial. For example, in this manner, the gears can engage one another such that UV Index values displayed through a UV Index window always correspond to appropriate protective measure pictorials displayed through a protective measures window.
In a second alternate embodiment of the invention, numeric, alphanumeric, graphical and/or pictorial representations are provided on individual board members for being visually communicated through display board windows or openings. In this second alternate embodiment, the individual board members can be manually inserted through slots along the periphery of the board such that the information intended to be communicated is visible through the display board openings or windows.
In a third alternate embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus comprises a base substrate and an overlying template member interconnected at their centers in such a manner that the base substrate is maintained in a fixed position, but the template member can be rotated about its center, i.e., about the interconnection. A first major surface of the base layer has numeric, alphanumeric, graphical and/or pictorial representations of UV-related information displayed thereon a
Kinney John P.
Kinney Quintin D.
Frech Karl D.
Gold Glenn E.
Gold & Rizvi P.A.
Rizvi H. John
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for communicating ultraviolet (UV)... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for communicating ultraviolet (UV)..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for communicating ultraviolet (UV)... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2990081