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US3955562A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for measuring range of motion

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-05-19
•
Granted: 1976-05-11
•
Expires: 1995-05-19
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Abstract

Abstract The range of motion that an individual can move his head or other body portions can be measured and recorded in an apparatus having a base with a plurality of switches mounted thereto in a plurality of predetermined positions with each switch being actuated by movement of the base as the individual moves his particular body part through available angles in predetermined directions. The switches actuate a display board, having lights and/or a graph, to maintain a display of the available range of motion the individual can move his head or other body portion.

Inventors

  • 👤 Edward L. Farrar, Jr.

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 14:49
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/0338; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/103; A61B5/11; A61B5/1121

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 89 words
An apparatus for measuring the range of motion of an individual comprising in combination: a base; a plurality of switches mounted to said base in a plurality of predetermined positions, each switch being actuated by moving said base a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction; attaching means connected to said base for attaching said base and switches to an object to be tested; and recording means coupled to said plurality of switches for recording each actuated switch whereby a range of movement can be recorded on said recording means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 89 words
An apparatus for measuring the range of motion of an individual comprising in combination: a base; a plurality of switches mounted to said base in a plurality of predetermined positions, each switch being actuated by moving said base a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction; attaching means connected to said base for attaching said base and switches to an object to be tested; and recording means coupled to said plurality of switches for recording each actuated switch whereby a range of movement can be recorded on said recording means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said plurality of switches are each mercury switches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which each switch is connected to a silicon controlled rectifier to maintain said recording means actuated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which said attaching means includes a head mounting hat having said base and switches attached thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said attaching means is a belt having said base attached thereto for strapping said base to different portions of a patient.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 53 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said plurality of switches have a plurality of contacts mounted to a container filled with a conductive liquid connected to one electrical source whereby movement of said conductive liquid will make contact with said contacts mounted thereon thereby closing a circuit with each contact.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 29 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which a plurality of wires connect each switch with a light source for actuating said light source on said recording means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said recording means includes a graph and graph marking means therein.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 137 words
An apparatus for measuring the range of motion of an individual comprising in combination: a base; attaching means for attaching said base to a patient; a container mounted to said base, said container being partially filled with a conductive liquid; a plurality of first electrical contacts mounted through said container to predetermined points inside said container; a second electrical conductor connected to said container and electrically coupled to said conductive liquid whereby a current can flow between said second electrical conductor and said conductive liquid and between each of said plurality of first electrical contacts and said conductive liquid making contact therewith; and recording means connected to each of said plurality of contacts to record electrical current in said first conductive contacts whereby contact of each of said first contacts with said conductive fluid may be recorded.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 137 words
An apparatus for measuring the range of motion of an individual comprising in combination: a base; attaching means for attaching said base to a patient; a container mounted to said base, said container being partially filled with a conductive liquid; a plurality of first electrical contacts mounted through said container to predetermined points inside said container; a second electrical conductor connected to said container and electrically coupled to said conductive liquid whereby a current can flow between said second electrical conductor and said conductive liquid and between each of said plurality of first electrical contacts and said conductive liquid making contact therewith; and recording means connected to each of said plurality of contacts to record electrical current in said first conductive contacts whereby contact of each of said first contacts with said conductive fluid may be recorded.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 14 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 in which said conductive liquid is mercury.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 18 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 in which said recording means includes a plurality of light sources.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 59 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 11 including a plurality of switching means, one switching means connected to each first electrical contact and to each light source whereby current flowing through said first electrical contact will actuate a corresponding switching means and light source and will maintain said light source operative even when said conductive liquid contact is broken.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 31 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 12 in which said light sources are a plurality of light emitting diodes and said switching means includes a plurality of silicon controlled recitifier switches.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2565381A Cited
US3258007A Cited
US3304911A Cited
US3796208A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-05-11 1979-11-10 1980-05-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-05-11 1983-11-10 1984-05-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-05-11 1987-11-10 1988-05-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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