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US3747589A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Reaction time testing apparatus

Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1971-05-19
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Granted: 1973-07-24
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Expires: 1991-05-19
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Abstract

Abstract An apparatus for testing the psycho-motor reaction of one individual to a sensual stimulus under the control of another individual comprises a support means including a support member operable by the first individual between first and second positions for constraining an upstanding, elongatated rectilinear measuring body when said support member is located at said first position and for releasing said body through the movement of said support member to said second position thereby permitting the measuring body to freefall. Means are provided for generating a sensual stimulus when said operable support member is moved to the second position thereby alerting a second individual being tested to grasp the freefalling body. The support means for the measuring body is enclosed in a housing and is demountably secured to a planar surface.

Inventors

  • 👤 L Harrison
  • 👤 Valkinburgh R Van
  • 👤 R Kalvitis

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 21:01
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/16; A61B5/162

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 229 words
Apparatus for testing the psycho-motor reaction of a subject to a sensual stimulus under the control of a second party administering the test comprising: an elongated rectilinear reaction measuring body having indicia along its length for indicating the position along the length thereof at which the hand of a subject being tested grasps the body after free fall of the body is initiated and from which indicia the reaction time of the tested subject is determined; means supporting the measuring body in a generally vertical accessible attitude ready to be grasped by the subject being tested upon the initiation of free fall; said support means including a first member mounted for actuation by the second party between a first position at which said measurement body is constrained and a second position at which the measurement body is released and permitted to free fall; a stationary member located at said first position; said first member having a segment means thereof for contacting and constraining said measuring body against said stationary member at said first position and for separating from said stationary member and releasing said body at said second position thereby permitting said body to free fall; and, means for generating a sensual stimulus when said first member is actuated by the testing party to said second position thereby alerting the subject to grasp the free falling reaction measurement body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 229 words
Apparatus for testing the psycho-motor reaction of a subject to a sensual stimulus under the control of a second party administering the test comprising: an elongated rectilinear reaction measuring body having indicia along its length for indicating the position along the length thereof at which the hand of a subject being tested grasps the body after free fall of the body is initiated and from which indicia the reaction time of the tested subject is determined; means supporting the measuring body in a generally vertical accessible attitude ready to be grasped by the subject being tested upon the initiation of free fall; said support means including a first member mounted for actuation by the second party between a first position at which said measurement body is constrained and a second position at which the measurement body is released and permitted to free fall; a stationary member located at said first position; said first member having a segment means thereof for contacting and constraining said measuring body against said stationary member at said first position and for separating from said stationary member and releasing said body at said second position thereby permitting said body to free fall; and, means for generating a sensual stimulus when said first member is actuated by the testing party to said second position thereby alerting the subject to grasp the free falling reaction measurement body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 72 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support means includes a base support member adapted for positioning in a generally horizontal plane, said stationary member includes a surface extending from said base against which surface said measurement body is forced by said segment means of said first member when said first member is positioned at said first position and means rotatably mounting said first member for actuation in a generally horizontal plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 61 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for generating a sensual stimulus comprises electrical switching means operable by said rotatable first member, an electrically energized indicating means, a source of electrical potential, and means intercoupling said switching means, said indicating means, and said source of potential for energizing said indicating means when said first member is in said second position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said indicating means comprises an electrically energized visual indicator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said indicating means comprises an electrically energized audible indicator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 42 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said indicating means includes electrically energized visual and audible stimuli and a second switching means is provided for selectively coupling a one of said stimuli in circuit with said switching means and said source of potential.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein means are provided for effecting a manually energized tactile stimulus of the subject.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 55 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said tactile stimulus means comprises a body pivotally mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane and positioned for engagement by said first rotatable member for rotation toward a stimulus station when said first member is actuated toward said second location, and, a tactile stimulus member supported on said body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said tactile stImulus member is integrally formed with the body of said stimulus means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 40 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein means are provided for resiliently biasing said first member at said first location for constraining said measurement body, and resilient biasing means are provided for displacing said tactile stimulus from said tactile stimulus station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said tactile stimulus member comprises a pointed member adapted for pricking the hand of the subject upon contact with the subject''s hand.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 145 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said stimulus means provides alternatively selected visual, audible and tactile stimuli, said visual and audible stimuli are electrically energized, a source of electric potential, contact means responsive to the motion of said first member for applying said potential to a one of said electrically energized stimuli for causing a sensual stimulus when said member is actuated to said second position, said tactile stimulus means comprises a body rotatably mounted in a horizontal plane for transport to an indicating station when said rotatable first member is positioned at said second location, said first member includes a longitudinal axis thereof and an extending actuating arm rotatably mounted about said axis and having means positioned thereon for engaging said tactile indicator when rotated about said axis to a first position and for disengagement when rotated about said axis to a second position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 22 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein resilient biasing means are provided for spacing apart said tactile stimulus from said tactile stimulus station.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 56 words
The apparatus of claim 13 including a housing having a first aperture formed therein, and said tactile stimulus is positioned for extending through said aperture and contacting a subject''s hand located at said aperture when said first member is actuated and for retraction from said aperture when said first member is positioned at said first position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 50 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including a housing having a slot formed therein and a sheet of material positioned within said slot, said slot located on said housing for shielding the actuation of said first member by the party administering the test from the view of the subject being tested.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2678692A Cited
US854951A Cited
US1730726A Cited
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US2834597A Cited
US2995371A Cited
US3334424A Cited
GB1165136A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-07-23 1977-01-22 1977-07-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-07-23 1981-01-22 1981-07-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-07-23 1985-01-22 1985-07-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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