Title: Hand mounted testing meter
Abstract: A hand held testing meter is provided which allows the meter to be viewed and securely supported on the user's hand, while the user's fingers are free to hold and manipulate test instruments. An elastomeric band is provided which is engageable to the meter extending substantially across the meter rear surface. The elastomeric band is resiliently extendable to securely receive a user's hand intermediate the meter rear surface and the elastomeric band.
Patent Number: 6,940,270 Issued on 09/06/2005 to Chen
| Inventors:
|
Chen; Ieon Chung (Laguna Hills, CA)
|
| Assignee:
|
Innova Electronics Corporation (Fountain Valley, CA)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
390076 |
| Filed:
|
March 17, 2003 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
324/157; 324/149; 324/72.5 |
| Intern'l Class: |
G01R 001/04 |
| Field of Search: |
324/157,149,755,133,156,757,758,158.1,159
73/866.5,431
439/37,169,219,482
235/462.44
362/209
248/309.1
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Kastar Hand Tools Brochure (Oct. 1991).
Equus Products, Inc. Catalog (1998).
|
Primary Examiner: Cuneo; Kamand
Assistant Examiner: Nguyen; Jimmy
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Stetina Brunda Garred & Brucker
Goverment Interests
STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
(Not Applicable)
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to testing meters, and more particularly to the
hand mounted testing meter adapted for engagement to the rear of a user's hand
without occupying a user's fingers, leaving the fingers available to hold and manipulate
test instruments such as probes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Testing meters are used for a variety of different purposes. Traditional
volt ohm meters (VOM's) are commonly used to measure parameters such as the resistance
across a pair of points, or voltage differential between two points. As such, users
are typically required to connect probes to the two points where resistance or
voltage is to be measured. In some cases the probes may be provided with alligator
clips or the like to maintain the probes in proper connection with the two points
while meter readings are taken. However, in some cases the points may be difficult
to access with an alligator clip, or the clip may be too wide such that it also
contacts other points, leading to potentially incorrect readings and possible damage
to the equipment under test. In such cases the probes are typically implemented
as thin metallic rods which are manually manipulated to the appropriate contact
points, and held in place as the readings are taken.
Difficulties may arise in reading the meter while manually maintaining
the probes in contact with the appropriate points. The arrangement of the equipment
under test may proclude placing the meter on a adjacent support surface to allow
ready viewing while the contacts are held in place. As a result, the meter may
be placed in an unstable position as the user tries to accommodate the need to
precisely set the probes to the proper contact points, and read the meter. The
frustrations and potential problems with such situations are well known, though
practical solutions are not commonly available.
Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a testing meter that is
securely mountable in a readily readable position while the user manipulates test
probes. Preferrably such a meter will allow the user free use of his fingers to
manipulate the test probes without detracting from the secure positioning or reading
of the meter. Such a meter would advantageously be relocatable from one position
to another as a user takes measurements at different points without the need to
alternate the mounting position of the meter or detracting from its ease of use.
The present invention is directed to a testing meter that addresses these and
other objects and advantages in a simple construction that is adaptable for use
by any individual without the need for substantial modifications. The invention
uses the back of a user's hand as a support surface such that the meter is moveable
to alternate locations without the need to find stable locations close to the testing
area wherein the meter may be reliably positioned and read, without detracting
from the user's ability to maintain probes on the appropriate contact points.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A hand held testing meter is provided which allows the meter to be viewed and
securely
supported on the user's hand, while the user's fingers are free to hold and manipulate
test instruments. An elastomeric band is provided which is engageable to the meter
extending substantially across the meter rear surface. The elastomeric band is
resiliently extendable to securely receive a user's hand intermediate the meter
rear surface and the elastomeric band.
The elastomeric band may be supported by a plurality of coupling members disposed
on the meter rear surface. Alternatively, the elastomeric band may be engageable
to corner surfaces of the meter, or be formed as a sleeve extending about the meter.
The elastomeric band may be extendable across the user's palm to secure the meter
back surface of a user's hand.
The meter is maintained in a stable position against the back surface of the
user's hand, and is moveable to a viewing location by simple rotation or other
movement of the user's arm/wrist, much as a watch may be moved to a viewing location.
In one embodiment, the elastomeric band is implemented to have a substantially
triangular shape. In such an embodiment, the elastomeric band extends from the
narrow portion disposed proximate the ridge of a user's hand to a wider portion
disposed proximate the blade of a user's hand.
Claims
1. A hand mounted testing meter comprising:
a) a meter having front and rear surfaces;
b) an elastomeric band engageable to the meter and extending across the meter
rear surface, the elastomeric band being substantially triangular in shape and
resiliently extendable to securely receive a user's hand intermediate the meter
rear surface and the elastomeric band.
2. The meter as recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of coupling
members disposed on the meter rear surface, the elastomeric band being engageable
to the coupling meters.
3. The meter as recited in claim 1 wherein the elastomeric band is extendable
across the user's palm or hand surface.
4. The meter as recited in claim 3, wherein the elastomeric band secures the
meter to the user's hand leaving the user's fingers free to hold and manipulate
test instruments.
5. The meter as recited in claim 4 wherein the meter further comprises a display
disposed on the meter front surface, the display being viewable by the user in
response to movement of the user's hand.
6. The meter as recited in claim 5 wherein the meter is moveable to a display
viewing position while the user's fingers of the same hand are free to hold and
manipulate test instruments.
7. The meter as recited in claim 1, wherein a first coupling member is disposed
proximate the ridge of a user's hand and a pair of second coupling members are
disposed proximate the blade of a user's hand.
8. The meter as recited in claim 1 wherein the elastomeric band is resiliently
extendable to maintain a stable and secure position of the meter against the back
surface of the user's hand.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
(Not Applicable)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These as well as other features of the present invention will become more apparent
upon reference to the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front view of a testing meter in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the testing meter incorporating an exemplary elastomeric
retention band;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the testing meter in cross-section;
FIG. 4 is an illustration of the testing meter engaged to a user's hand; and
FIG. 5 is an illustration showing the elastomeric tension member engaging the
meter to the user's hand.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is described below in connection with the illustration
embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the illustration and accompanying
description are not intended to be the only implementation of the present invention.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the invention, various
modifications or enhancements of the invention may be implemented without departing
from its broader aspects. The shape, size and arrangement of the elastomeric retaining
band, for example, may be varied in accordance with the size or shape of the testing
meter, as well as the particular position that the testing meter is to be oriented
in as testing proceeds. As such, the illustrations and accompanying discussion
are not intended to be limiting of the broader aspects of the invention or the
advantages thereof.
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, testing meter
10 is shown,
which may be implemented as a VOM, automotive testing meter, or other type of meter
of a size that may be hand held. The meter
10 has a front surface
19
including a display
11, a selection switch
13, and a plurallity of
input ports
15, into which probes may be connected. The illustrated embodiment
also includes a plurallity of resilient end caps
17 disposed on the corners
of the meter
10.
FIG. 2 provides a rear view of the meter
10 shown in FIG. 1 as set forth
in FIG. 2 the meter
10 is provided with a plurality of coupling members
21 disposed on the meter rear surface
23. An elastomeric tension
band
25 is engaged to the coupling members
21, and extends substantially
along the rear surface
23 of meter
10. In the presently prefered
embodiment the coupling members
21 may be formed as L-shaped member or protrusion
(see FIG. 3) extending from the rear-surface
23. The coupling members
21
may be engageable to apertures formed in the elastomeric tension member
25.
Where the elastomeric member is formed as a weave, the coupling members
21
may be engageable to the elastomeric member
25 by protrusion through the
weave and engagement to the weave fibers.
FIGS. 3,
4, and
5 illustrate how the meter
10 is mountable
to the hand
20. As shown therein user's fingers
27 and a portion
of the user's hand
20 are extendable between the elastomeric retension band
25 and the rear surface
23 of the meter. The band
25 is resiliently
deformable to allow the user's fingers and hands to so extend, securing the meter
10 in place against the back of the user's hand, while leaving the user's
fingers available to hold and manipulate meter probes, or engage in other activities
useful to make meter readings, e.g. maintaining an access passage for the probe
to reach a desired contact point.
FIG. 4 illustrates the meter
10 in place against the back or dorsal surface
29 of a user's hand. In such a position the meter is readily readable, similar
to reading a watch mounted on a user's wrist. Moreover, the meter is maintained
proximate the user's fingers, such that the user need not look far astray from
the probe contact points (held by the user's fingers) to read information from
the display
11. As a consequence, the user can readily move from one set
of contact points to another without having to pick up and relocate the meter as
parameters at different contact points are measured.
FIG. 5 provides an opposing view of the meter mounted to the user's hand. As
shown therein, the elastomeric retension band is formed as a substantially triangular
shaped member extending from the ridge
31 of the user's hand to the blade
33 of the user's hand. The ridge
31 and blade
33 define ends
of the palm or surface
35 or the user's hand.
The particular shape of the elastomeric band may be one of design preference
in response to the position that the desired orientation of the meter
10
on the user's hand. For example, the elastomeric member
25 may alternately
configured similar to a cut off glove with the mounting members positioned in an
arrangement convenient to mounting the meter upon the glove. As such, it should
be apparent that the particular shape and arrangement of the mounting members and
the retention band may be varied as appears convenient and ergometric for a particular
user or application.
As will also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the field, the present
invention may have application to existing hand held meters which do not encorporate
preformed retention members. In such a class the elastomeric retention band may
be formed, for example, to include pockets engageable to end caps
17, which
may serve as coupling members. Still further, the elastomeric member may be formed
as one or more bands or sleeves extendable about a meter
10 and user's hand
sufficient to hold the meter in place against the user's hand.
Accordingly, these and other modifications and enhancements may be implemented
without departing from the broader object and advantages of the present invention,
as set forth herein.
*
