Automated anthropometric data measurement system

Claim 2

An anthropometric data measurement system for screening an aviator for subsequent assignment to a particularly suitable aircraft, comprising in combination: a first measuring assembly for determining the aviator's stature; a second measuring assembly including a seat, having a seat pan portion and a seat back portion, and a pedal assembly for determining the aviator's sitting height, shoulder height sitting, shoulder width, functional arm reach, buttock-knee length, functional leg reach, and knee height sitting; a display and control panel for assisting an operator in the correct placement of the aviator and selecting the respective anthropometric feature to be measured; a positioning aid observable by the aviator for assisting him in maintaining a position required for the respective anthropometric feature to be measured; system controller means for collecting the measurements determined by said first and second measuring assemblies, comparing the collected measurements to a predetermined set of upper and lower limits, performing data reasonability checks and outputting said collected measurements when they fall within said predetermined set of upper and lower limits; and archival means for storing the measurements output from said system controller means.

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1, wherein said first measuring assembly comprises: a first base member; a back member mounted on and extending vertically upward from said base member; a stature measuring probe slidably mounted within and disposable vertically along an axis bisecting said back member for producing a digital data signal indicative of the aviator's stature; a pair of standing shoulder position sensors, each including a matrix of microswitches mounted on said back member; a standing heel position sensor including a microswitch mounted on said base member at the point at which it intersects the back member; wherein said digital data signal indicative of the aviator's stature is output from said stature measuring probe to said system controller means when said pair of shoulder position sensors and said standing heel position sensor are simultaneously closed.

Claim 4

A system according to claim 2, wherein said first measuring assembly further comprises a load cell mounted within said base member to determine the aviator's weight and produce a digital data signal indicative thereof.

Claim 5

A system according to claim 1, wherein said second measuring assembly comprises: a second base member upon which said seat is mounted; a side member mounted on and extending vertically upward from said second base member, said side member abutting the right side of said seat; a sitting height measuring probe slidably mounted within and disposable vertically along said seat back portion for producing a digital data signal indicative of the aviator's sitting height; a shoulder width measuring probe slidably mounted within and disposable horizontally along said seat back portion for producing a digital data signal indicative of the aviator's shoulder width; a shoulder height sitting measuring probe slidably mounted within and disposable vertically along said seat back portion for producing a digital data signal indicative of the aviator's shoulder height sitting; a functional arm reach measuring probe slidably mounted and disposable horizontal along said side member for producing a digital data signal indicative of the aviator's functional arm reach; a buttock knee length measuring probe slidably mounted within and disposable horizontally along said side member for producing a digital data signal indicative of the aviator's buttock knee length; a functional leg reach measuring probe attached to said pedal assembly for producing a digital data signal indicative of the aviator's functional leg reach; a knee height sitting measuring probe slidably mounted within and disposable vertically along said side member for producing a digital data signal indicative of the aviator's knee height sitting; a pair of buttocks position sensors, each including a matrix of microswitches mounted on said seat back portion; a left shoulder blade position sensor including a matrix of microswitches mounted on said seat back portion at a point approximately where the seated aviator's left shoulder blade would touch; a right shoulder blade position sensor including a matrix of microswitches mounted on said shoulder height sitting measuring probe; wherein said digital data signals indicative of the aviator's sitting height and functional arm reach are output from their respective measuring probe to said system controller means when said pair of buttocks position sensors, and said left and right shoulder blade position sensors are simultaneously closed; a right shoulder wall position sensor including a matrix of microswitches mounted on said side member at a point approximately where the seated aviator's right shoulder would touch; wherein said digital data signals indicative of the aviator's shoulder width and shoulder height sitting are output from their respective measuring probe to said system controller means when said pair of buttocks position sensors, said left and right shoulder blade position sensors, and said right shoulder wall position sensor are simultaneously closed; a thigh position sensor including a matrix of microswitches mounted on said seat pan portion at a point approximately where the seated aviator's right thigh would touch; wherein said digital data signals indicative of the aviator's buttock knee length and knee height sitting are output from their respective measuring probe to said system controller means when said pair of buttocks position sensors, said left shoulder blade position sensor, and said thigh positon sensor are simultaneously closed; a pair of pedal position sensors, one mounted at the heel and one at the toe of said pedal assembly; wherein said digital data signal indicative of the aviator's functional leg reach is output from said functional leg reach measuring probe to said system controller means when said pair of buttocks position sensors, said left shoulder blade position sensor, said thigh position sensor, and said pair of pedal positon sensors are simultaneously closed.

Claim 6

A system according to claim 1, wherein said system controller means further comprises: a display and control panel situate between said first and second measuring asemblies for selecting the anthropometric feature to be measured, indicating the state of each position sensor, and displaying the numeric value of the collected measurement.

Claim 7

A system according to claim 1, wherein said archival means comprises a magnetic storage medium.