US5408754A
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US
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Method and apparatus for measuring sleeping positions
Assignee: Xenon Research Inc
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Filing: 1993-10-26
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Granted: 1995-04-25
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Expires: 2013-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A method for measuring sleeping positions using a portable coordinate measuring machine is presented. The measured sleeping position information can be used to select or design a mattress which will result in a preferred sleeping position, whereby stresses on the individual's back and other muscles are minimized. The portable coordinate measuring machine comprising a multijointed manually positionable measuring arm for accurately and easily measuring a plurality of points or landmarks of an individual.
Inventors
- 👤 Simon Raab
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 00:45
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B5/00; G01B5/004; G01B5/008; G01B21/00; G01B21/02; G01B21/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of performing sleep position analysis on an individual using a coordinate measuring system having a probe for digitizing coordinates, the method comprising the steps of: positioning an individual in a selected generally horizontal sleeping position; probing a plurality of landmarks on the individual using said probe to provide a plurality of said digitized coordinates each corresponding to one of said landmarks; and analyzing said plurality of said digitized coordinates to determine a center axis of the individual in the selected sleeping position, said center axis defining a sleeping posture of the individual in the selected sleeping position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of performing sleep position analysis on an individual using a coordinate measuring system having a probe for digitizing coordinates, the method comprising the steps of: positioning an individual in a selected generally horizontal sleeping position; probing a plurality of landmarks on the individual using said probe to provide a plurality of said digitized coordinates each corresponding to one of said landmarks; and analyzing said plurality of said digitized coordinates to determine a center axis of the individual in the selected sleeping position, said center axis defining a sleeping posture of the individual in the selected sleeping position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: adjusting the individual's sleeping position by increasing levelness of said center axis of the individual in the selected sleeping position, whereby said sleeping posture in the selected sleeping position is improved.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said selected sleeping position comprises: prone, supine, fetal, or fetal/prone.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
130 words
The method of claim i wherein said plurality of landmarks comprise: a position at about the top left shoulder of the individual, a position at about the top right shoulder of the individual, a position at about the base of the spine of the individual, a position at about the highest point of the left knee of the individual, a position at about the highest point of the right knee of the individual, a position at about the highest point of the left ankle of the individual, a position at about the highest point of the right ankle of the individual, a position at about the front of the left hip bone of the individual, and a position at about the front of the right hip bone of the individual.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said plurality of landmarks further comprise: a position at about the top middle of the head of the individual.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: extrapolating one of said digital coordinates corresponding to one of said landmarks, wherein said one of said landmarks is unprobable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said step of extrapolating comprises use of a ZADJUSTMENT.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said ZADJUSTMENT comprises: ZADJUSTMENT.sub.ANKLE =-K.sub.ANKLE *LENGTH.sub.HIP TO KNEE, ZADJUSTMENT.sub.KNEE =-K.sub.KNEE *LENGTH.sub.HIP TO KNEE, or ZADJUSTMENT.sub.HIP =-K.sub.HIP *LENGTH.sub.HIP TO KNEE, where K ANKLE is ankle thickness, K KNEE is knee thickness and K HIP is hip thickness.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said center axis is defined by an alignment index comprising: ALIGNMENT INDEX=HEAD OFFSET+SHOULDER OFFSET+HIP OFFSET+KNEE OFFSET, where said head, shoulder, hip, and knee offsets comprise, HEAD OFFSET=POSITION.sub.HEAD --ANKLE.sub.REF, SHOULDER OFFSET=(POSITION.sub.LEFT SHOULDER (Z)+POSITION.sub.RIGHT SHOULDER (Z))/2--ANKLE.sub.REF, HIP OFFSET=(POSITION.sub.LEFT HIP (Z)+POSITION.sub.RIGHT HIP (Z))/2+ZADJUSTMENT.sub.HIP --ANKLE.sub.REF, and KNEE OFFSET=(POSITION.sub.LEFT KNEE (Z)+POSITION.sub.RIGHT KNEE (Z))/2+ZADJUSTMENT.sub.KNEE /2--ANKLE.sub.REF, where, ANKLE.sub.REF =(POSITION.sub.LEFT ANKLE (Z)+POSITION.sub.RIGHT ANKLE (Z))/2+ZADJUSTMENT.sub.ANKLE /2.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said hip offset comprises: HIP OFFSET=POSITION.sub.BASE OF SPINE --ANKLE.sub.REF.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of adjusting the individual's sleeping position by increasing levelness of said center axis of the individual in the selected sleeping position comprises selecting a sleeping product.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said sleeping product is a mattress.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of adjusting the individual's sleeping position by increasing levelness of said center axis of the individual in the selected sleeping position comprises designing a sleeping product having means for leveling said center axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said means for leveling comprises a sleeping product having varying areas of firmness.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said means for leveling comprises a sleeping product having varying areas of thickness.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
111 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said dimensional coordinate measuring system comprises a three dimensional coordinate measuring system comprising: a movable arm having opposed first and second ends, said arm including a plurality of joints with each joint corresponding to a degree of freedom, each of said joints including a rotational transfer housing for housing position transducer means, said transducer means producing a position signal; a support base attached to said first end of said movable arm; said probe attached to said second end of said movable arm; and means for receiving said position signals from said transducer means and providing a digital coordinate corresponding to the position of said probe.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said probe includes: a pair of first and second switches, said first switch corresponding to data "take" and said second switch corresponding to data "acceptance".
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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) | 1998-04-24 | 1998-10-24 | 1999-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-04-24 | 2002-10-24 | 2003-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-04-24 | 2006-10-24 | 2007-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |