BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a blood pressure monitor according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a blood pressure monitor according to the present invention with a removable power source mounted theron;
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a blood pressure monitor according to the present invention with a removable power source disconnected;
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a blood pressure monitor according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of a blood pressure monitor according to the present invention with a removable power source mounted thereon; and
FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of a blood pressure monitor according to the present invention with a removable power source disconnected.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for the claims and/or as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
The present invention includes a blood pressure monitor having a removable power source such as, but not limited to, a battery which may provide increased versatility of the blood pressure monitor for a user. With reference first to FIGS. 1 and 4, a blood pressure monitor 10 according to the present invention may include a housing 12 having a display 14 and various control buttons 16, and may operate in accordance with any consumer blood pressure monitor. Blood pressure monitor 10 may be configured to measure blood pressure by placement of a cuff 17 (FIG. 4) around a user's wrist, around a user's upper arm, or any other means of blood pressure measurement. The cuff 17 may measure the blood pressure of the user and convey an electronic signal to the monitor 10. Of course, other signals are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention. The general functioning of blood pressure monitor 10 is not described further herein as details thereof are well known in the art. While a particular housing shape and configuration of blood pressure monitor 10 is shown and described herein, it is understood any shape or configuration of blood pressure monitor 10 is fully contemplated according to the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 1-3, blood pressure monitor 10 of the present invention includes a removable power source 20, such as a battery, which may be mounted to housing 12. In FIG. 2, power source 20 is mounted on a rear portion of housing 12 opposite display 14 and control buttons 16. The power source 20 may be provided within an included angle defined by a base 21 of the housing 12 and the display 14 so that the battery 20 does not extend outside the overall dimensions of the blood pressure monitor 10 so that the battery 20 does not substantially increase the volume occupied by the monitor, thereby facilitating transportability of the monitor 10. Further, packaging for the monitor 10 may be minimized by avoiding an increase in the overall dimensions of the monitor 10. Additionally, by placement of the power source 20 between the base 21 and the display 14, the battery 20 does not detract from an overall appearance of the blood pressure monitor 10. Of course, other mounting locations of power source 20 on housing 12 could also be utilized.
According to one aspect of the present invention, power source 20 is sized to be received within a receptacle 22 provided in housing 12 (best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3). Power source 20 may be received and retained within receptacle 22 by a snap-fit arrangement, with an interference fit, a slide-in arrangement, using mating prongs and corresponding receiving areas (not shown), or by any other means of retaining power source 20 within receptacle 22 as long as desired by the user. Although a rectangular battery 20 and correspondingly-shaped receptacle 22 are shown herein, it is understood that battery 20 and receptacle 22 can have any shape or configuration in accordance with the present invention.
In one embodiment, receptacle 22 is configured to receive power source 20 such that power source 20 remains visible and accessible during engagement. In another embodiment, power source 20 could be received within a portion of housing 12, such as an internal compartment or the like, such that power source 20 may be partially to fully concealed when engaged. Power source 20 can be arranged to be manually removable by the user, such as simply by applying adequate force to disengage the snap-fit, interference fit, or other mating arrangement between power source 20 and receptacle 22. Alternatively, a push-button, sliding switch, or the like (not shown) and corresponding mechanism could be provided which, when actuated, ejects power source 20 from receptacle 22 for removal. Furthermore, a lock could be provided which retains power source 20 within receptacle 22 by any means to avoid unintended dislodgement.
According to the present invention, receptacle 22 may be provided in communication with control electronics 24 (FIG. 4) located within housing 12, such that connection of power source 20 to receptacle 22 provides power for the operation of blood pressure monitor 10. Blood pressure monitor 10 may also include a power cord 26 (FIG. 4) which could be connected thereto to provide power to blood pressure monitor 10 for use in one scenario (for example, but not limited to, home use), whereas power source 20 could be available to be connected to blood pressure monitor 10 for use in another scenario (for example, but not limited to, travel use). In this way, a user may be provided the versatility of using a power cord or removable power source 20, such as a battery, with their blood pressure monitor 10 whenever either option is most convenient, thus potentially increasing the portability, ease of use, and consequently the user compliance related to blood pressure monitor 10.
Receptacle 22 could also be provided in communication with an internal, rechargeable power source such as a rechargeable battery 28 (FIG. 4), such that connection of power source 20 to receptacle 22 for a period of time acts to replenish the internal power source. In this manner, power source 20 could be connected for a period of time, be subsequently removed, and then blood pressure monitor 10 would be able to operate without either power source 20 or a power cord connection.
The invention contemplates that the power source 20 may be utilized for powering various components within the housing 12. As discussed above, these components may include but are not limited to the display 14, the controller 24, the rechargeable battery 28, or the like. Additionally, the power source 20 may be utilized for powering a pump 30 within the housing 12 for pressurizing the cuff 17. For the embodiment illustrated, the power source 20 may impart power to the controller 24, which operates the pump 30 for pressurizing the cuff 17, which measures a blood pressure measurement of the user. The blood pressure measurement may be conveyed from the cuff 17 to the controller 24 and displayed upon the display 14, which is also powered by the power source 20.
With reference now to FIGS. 5 and 6, another blood pressure monitor 32 is illustrated in accordance with the present invention. The blood pressure monitor 32 includes a battery pack 34, which includes a detachable housing portion 36 for receiving an array of batteries 38 within the housing portion 36. The housing portion 36 conceals the batteries 38 when assembled against a rear surface of the housing 12 and within the receptacle 22.
In one embodiment, the housing portion 36 is provided with a pair of electrical contacts 40, which are oriented to engage a corresponding pair of electrical contacts 42 within the receptacle 22 such that when the battery pack 34 is assembled to the housing 12, the array of batteries 38 are in electrical communication with the components of the housing 12 through the contacts 40, 42 of the housing portion 36 and the housing 12.
The housing portion 36 may include a tab 44, which is sized to be placed within a slot 45 in the receptacle 22. The housing portion 36 may also include a latch 46 with a leading edge sized to be received within a corresponding slot 48 within the backside of the housing 12. Thus, the housing portion 36 is assembled to the housing 12 by placing the tab 44 within the slot 45 and pivoting the leading edge of the latch 46 into the slot 48 thereby attaching the housing portion 36 to the housing 12. The latch 46 may be biased to an extended orientation by a spring or other suitable biasing member for securing the latch 46 to the slot 48 when assembled. The housing portion 36 may be disassembled from the housing 12 by depressing the latch 46 thereby disengaging the latch for removal of the battery pack 34.
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20070299350
