Geometrical instruments – Gauge – Anatomical
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-09
2001-11-13
Hirshfeld, Andrew H. (Department: 2859)
Geometrical instruments
Gauge
Anatomical
C033S783000, C033S794000, C033S797000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314654
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to calipers and more particularly to a livestock weight estimation caliper device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Measuring the weight of livestock animals is a long and difficult task. A farmer must put each animal one at a time on a large expensive scale usually having a cage. It is important for farmers to know the weight of livestock in order to categorize the animals according to government regulations and market value hence, farmers will regularly measure and keep track of the weight of livestock. The farmer does not need to know the precise weight of an animal but must be able to categorize it in a given weight range.
Prior methods consist of using scales which as aforementioned is a long, difficult and expensive task especially if the livestock of a farmer is of a large quantity. The prior art has not taken into account the correlation between dimension and weight. Taking the dimension of an object will not give us the exact weight thereof but will indicate an estimated weight range with an acceptable margin of error. It must be noted that the weight-dimension correlation of a given type of object must be first understood so that appropriate weight estimations can be assigned to respective sizes.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The general object of the invention is to provide a caliper device that can take the dimension of an object and indicate the dimension on a scale marked on the device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a caliper device for estimating the weight of livestock.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a livestock weight estimation device wherein the weight of livestock is estimated according to the width of the rib cage of an animal.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a livestock weight estimation device that is placed on the back of an animal and actuated to grip its sides thereby indicating the estimated weight of the animal.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a livestock weight estimation device wherein the weight of an animal is estimated with an acceptable margin of error taking into account the inhaling and exhaling of the animal.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a livestock weight estimation device which, that can quickly and easily be used and which is relatively inexpensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A caliper for taking the dimension of an object comprising:
first and second straight elongated parallel members assembled together for relative longitudinal movement;
an object engaging abutment secured to one end of the first member;
a pair of caliper arms pivotally carried by the one end of the first member on each side of the abutment for closing movement towards each other transversely of the first member from an open limit position to an object engaging position in which the spacing between the outer end portions of the caliper arms is equal to the dimension;
link devices connecting the second member to the caliper arms to cause the closing movement upon manually moving the second member relative to the first member towards the abutment;
graduations marked along the second member; and
a cursor carried by the first member, the graduations being displaced relative to the cursor upon movement of the second member relative to the first member.
Preferably, the link devices include a pair of caliper arm extensions secured at their inner end to the respective caliper arms, extending away from the abutment along each side of the members and flaring in the direction of their free end portions and a spreader secured to the second member and slidably engaging the caliper arm extensions to cause their spreading and consequent closing movement of the caliper arms upon the movement of the second member towards the abutment.
Preferably, the caliper arm extensions are pivotally secured to the caliper arms at their inner ends and the link devices further include length adjustable stays connecting said caliper arms to said caliper arm extensions to adjust the angle between the caliper arms and their respective caliper arm extension to select the graduation which positions opposite the cursor for any given spacing between the outer end portions of the caliper arms.
A caliper according to the present invention includes an adjustment device to adjust the positions of the pivot connection of each caliper arm extension to its caliper arm transversely of the members to adjust the extent of pivotal movement of the caliper arms for a given amount of movement of the second member relative to the first member.
Preferably, the outer end portions of the caliper arms are arc-shape hand members pivotable about axes parallel to the pivotal axes of the caliper arms to the first member.
Preferably, the cursor is distinct from the first member and has a friction fit with the second member to remain positioned on the second member when the latter is moved away from the abutment.
Preferably, the members are telescopically assembled, the second member surrounding the first member and having a longitudinal slot, the first member having a second end located within the second member, the cursor extending through the slot and having an outer graduation reading portion and an inner portion releasably engageable by the second end of the first member, and a handle formed on the second member.
A caliper according to the present invention is preferably designed to take the width of the rib cage of an animal, the graduations indicating the weight of the animal.
Alternately, the graduations are a series of lights longitudinally aligned and carried by the second member. Each light has a respective switch, biased to the off position, mounted on the inner side of the second member so as to be turned to the on position one at a time when the second member is moved towards the abutment by a switch engaging protrusion carried by the second end of the first member and forming said cursor. Alternately, the members are telescopically assembled, with the second member surrounding the first member and carrying a clock-like gauge with the graduations marked thereon, the clock-like gauge further carrying a pivotable arrow-shaped indicator and having a spiral slot. The cursor being distinct from the first member and frictionally fitted to the spiral slot extending there though and having an outer graduation reading portion and a second outer portion engageable by the arrow shaped indicator. The arrow shaped indicator connected to a pivot carried by the inside of the first member, a pivoting system acting on the pivot to consequently turn arrow shaped indicator when moving the first member towards the abutment, causing the cursor to be displaced by the arrow shaped indicator along the spiral slot from an outermost portion to a centermost portion thereof and relative to the graduations hence, indicating a graduation.
Preferably, the pivoting system comprises a pinion carried by the pivot, the pinion being engaged by a complementary toothed rack carried by the second end of the first member, the pinion being rollingly displaced along the rack when moving the second member towards the abutment hence, acting on the pivot to turn the arrow shaped indicator.
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patent: 5148606 (1992-09-01), Mason et al.
patent: 5171248 (1992-12-01), Ellis
patent: 5319860 (1994-06-01), Pocci
patent: 865986 (1953-02-01), None
patent: 17609 (1956-03-01), None
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