Patent Application
20180092598
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a flexible apparatus, and more particularly to a combined arrangement of at least two devices and a flexible interface, where the flexible interface is stretchable or extendible to allow the at least two devices to be positionable on two opposite sides of a protrusion site of human skeleton for easy stretching and contraction of the human skeleton, thereby being applicable to serving as physiological detection instruments, medical inspection apparatus, and the likes.
2. Description of Related Art
Contemporary physiological detection instruments or medical inspection apparatus are generally structured such that a stiff housing or enclosure is involved for protection of internally-arranged electronic components/devices of such instruments or apparatus against impact and preventing undesired influences caused thereby.
Human bodies are generally formed of around 206 bones and muscles and a surface skin formed outside and surrounding and housing the bones. Movements that a human body may take may cause some bones to shape up on the skin. The human bones are generally a rigid organ that supports and protects the human body.
When a human body respires, the chest may move up and down and the skin is caused to stretch and contract. A physiologic detection instrument or a medical inspection apparatus, when positioned on the skin surface of a human body, would make the stiff enclosure of the physiological detection instrument or the medical inspection device rubbing the skin surface of the human body and thus causing discomfort of the human body and even discouraging use of such apparatus or instruments.
Further, although some physiological detection instruments or medical inspection devices are claimed to be of a design for fitting to human body contour, the contours of human bodies are generally not consistent due to factors of for example heights and growing conditions. In addition, the physiological detection instruments or medical inspection devices are generally mounted to the skin surface at a site where the bones shape up, and therefore, when a physiological detection instrument or a medical inspection device is attached to such a bone shape-up site, it generally causes discomfort and inconvenience to some extents and may readily cause incorrect readings of detection or inspection or discontinuity of detection or inspection signals. This is additional suffering for the use.
Thus, in view of the above problems, for the purpose of providing a flexible apparatus that meets the need for certain desired performance and effectiveness by allowing for easy operation and installation by users, the present inventor has been devoted himself to study and design in order to provide such convenience of use for the users. This is the motivation of creation of the present invention.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a flexible device, which comprises a combination of at least two devices and a flexible interface, wherein the at least two devices each comprise electrical components assembled therein and the flexible interface are coupled to the at least two devices such that the flexible interface connects the at least two devices to each other in such a way that when the at least two devices are positioned on a human body, stretchability and extendability is achieved with the flexible interface, allowing the at least two devices to be set on opposite sides of a protrusion site of human bones for easy stretching and contraction of the human bones so as to suit ergonomic needs of the user thereby improving overall utilization.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible device, wherein the flexible interface is arranged between the at least two devices and the flexible interface has two ends respectively connected to the at least two devices, in which the connection is achieved with one of ultrasonic fusion, insert molding, adhesive bonding, and mating engagement between corresponding projection and recess, to allow the at least two devices can be installed to adapt to human portions of joints, spine bones, chest bones, wrist bones, elbows, and knee joints of human body by means of the characteristics of the flexible interface arranged therebetween that allows for bending or forming a curved surface, to prevent the feeling of discomfort of the human body and thus improving overall utilization.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible device, wherein the flexible interface comprises at least two cavities formed therein to respectively corresponding to the at least two devices and the at least two devices are respectively received in and assembled within the cavities, in which the cavities are provided therein with electrical contact terminals and the devices are also provided with electrical contact terminals, so that when the devices are assembled with in the cavities of the flexible interface, conductive engagement can be formed through the electrical contact terminals of the devices and the electrical contact terminals of the cavities of the flexible interface to allow the at least two devices to take deformation of the flexible interface arrange therebelow through the flexibility thereof to adapt to human portions of joints, spine bones, chest bones, wrist bones, elbows, and knee joints of human body and also to allow for reduction of discomfort of human body through the flexible interface thereby improving overall utilization.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible device, wherein the at least two devices are each divided into an upper portion and a lower portion and the upper portion and the lower portion are each provided with electrical contact terminals, while the flexible interface is arranged between the upper portion and the lower portion of each of the at least two devices and the flexible interface is provided with electrical contact terminals, so that when the upper portions and the lower portions of the devices are combined with each other, the electrical contact terminals of the upper portions and the lower portions of the devices form conductive engagement with the electrical contact terminals of the flexible interface arranged therebetween and the upper portions and the lower portions of the devices may change angular positions thereof through the flexible interface, providing the devices with an effect of stretchability for being positionable on any portion of a human body without being interfered with by a protrusion site of the human body thereby improving overall utilization.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a flexible device, in which the devices are connected with at least one signal line and the signal line has an opposite end that is connected to a detection element, wherein the detection element is configured as an electrode plate that is capable of detecting a physiological signal on a surface of a human body and the physiological signal is one of body temperature, heartbeat, and pulse, so that the devices receive and collect the physiological signal detected by the detection element and recording and storage can be made with the devices and the detected physiological signal can be transmitted, in a wireless manner, to a smart handheld electronic device or an electronic instrument that is capable of receiving the physiological signal for achieving an effect of analysis and management of physiological condition thereby improving overall utilization.
To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a flexible device, which comprises at least two devices and a flexible interface. The at least two devices each comprise electrical components assembled therein and the flexible interface is coupled to the at least two devices such that the flexible interface connects the at least two devices to each other, whereby the at least two devices are positionable on a human body with stretchability and extendibility achieved with the flexible interface.
The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention can be understood from a detailed description given below with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention and the attached drawings.
It is apparent that some of the components or arrangement of components of the present invention may be varied or modified, yet the embodiments illustrated are provided with a detailed description in the specification and structures thereof are illustrated in the attached drawings.
Referring to
A primary embodiment of the flexible device of the present invention comprises at least two devices 10 and a flexible interface 20. The at least two devices 10 are each assembled with electrical components 11, and the flexible interface 20 is coupled to the at least two devices 10 (as shown in
In the primary embodiment of the present invention, the flexible interface 20 is assembled between the at least two devices 10 and the flexible interface 20 has two opposite ends that are respectively connected to the at least two devices 10, wherein the connection between the two ends of the flexible interface 20 and the at least two devices 10 can be achieved with one of ultrasonic fusion, insert molding, adhesive bonding, mating engagement between corresponding projection and recess, and is exemplified, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, in the form of mating engagement between corresponding projection and recess (but not limited to what shown in the drawings). The at least two devices 10 are each provided with a recessed section 101 in opposing sides thereof and the two ends of the flexible interface 20 are each extended to form a projecting section 201, such that the projecting sections 201 of the two ends of the flexible interface 20 are receivable into and engageable with and thus coupled to the recessed sections 101 of the at least two devices 10 (as shown in
In addition, the flexible interface 20 may be arranged to have two different structures, one being that the flexible interface 20 has a structure that is completely solid with no arrangement of hole or opening formed in the flexible interface 20 in order to separate the at least two devices 10 completely from each other (as shown in
The above-described devices 10 can be one or two of signal transceivers, power supply devices, wireless signal transceivers, detection modules, GPS (Global Positioning System) modules, incline sensor modules, control processing modules, and coupling devices with electrical property, and the electrical components 11 can be one or a combination of electrical components including incline sensor chips, microcontrollers, wireless transmission chips, power control chips, signal transmission chips, electrical cells/batteries. In addition, the flexible interface 20 can be one of rubber, silicone rubber, plastics, and woven fabric.
Another embodiment of the flexible device of the present invention is similar to the primary embodiment in that at least two devices 10 and a flexible interface 20 are included, where the devices 10, the electronic components 11, and the flexible interface 20 are similar, in contents and assembly thereof, to those of the primary embodiment so that reference is made to the above description and repeated description will be omitted here. The following is made to illustrate differences between said another embodiment and the primary embodiment.
Said another embodiment of the present invention is such that the flexible interface 20 is provided with at least two cavities 22 formed therein to respectively correspond to the at least two devices 10. The flexible interface 20 has a surface area that is much greater than surface areas of the at least two devices 10. The at least two devices 10 are respectively received in and assembled within the cavities 22, wherein the cavities 22 are such that the contours or shapes of the cavities 22 are displayed on a surface of the flexible interface 20 (as shown in
Electrical contact terminals 221 are provided inside the cavities 22 of the flexible interface 20 and the devices 10 that are corresponding to and respectively assembled within the cavities 22 are also provided with electrical contact terminals 12, such that the devices 10, when assembled within the cavities 22 of the flexible interface 20, may form conductive engagement with the electrical contact terminals 221 of the cavities 22 of the flexible interface 20 through the electrical contact terminals 12 of the devices 10. Further, the flexible interface 20 is provided therein with a channel (not shown in the drawings but reference being had to the illustrations of
A further embodiment of the flexible device of the present invention is similar to the primary embodiment in that at least two devices 10 and a flexible interface 20 are included, where the devices 10, the electronic components 11, and the flexible interface 20 are similar, in contents and assembly thereof, to those of the primary embodiment so that reference is made to the above description and repeated description will be omitted here. The following is made to illustrate differences between said further embodiment and the primary embodiment.
Said further embodiment of the present invention is such that the at least two devices 10 are each divided into an upper portion 13 and a lower portion 14, and the upper portion 13 and the lower portion 14 are respectively provided with electrical contact terminals 131, 141. The flexible interface 20 is arranged between the upper portion 13 and the lower portion 14 of each of the at least two devices 10 (as shown in
The flexible interface 20 is provided with holes 24, and the upper portion 13 and the lower portion 14 of each of the devices 10 are respectively provided with retention engagement sections 132, 142 corresponding thereto. With the retention engagement sections 132, 142 of the upper portion 13 or the lower portion 14 of each of the devices extending through the corresponding holes 24 of the flexible interface 20 (as shown in
Finally, each of the primary embodiment, said another embodiment, and said further embodiment of the present invention allows the devices 10 to be provided with at least one signal line 40. An oppose end of the signal line 40 is provided with a detection element 50 (as shown in
Through the detailed description provided above, a person skilled in the art would appreciate that the purpose of the present invention can surely be realized with the technical solution of the present invention and thus, the present invention generally meet all postulated requirement of patent laws and regulations. And, as such a patent application is thus filed with the invention.
However, it is appreciated that the above description provides just preferred embodiments of the present invention and the description is not intended to impose constraint to the scope of the present invention that protection is sought through the appended claims. Thus, all the variations and modifications that are believed equivalent to the present invention according to wheat described and defined in the above specification and the appended claims should be regarded within the scope of protection covered by the present invention.
