Patent Application
20080010033
As shown in
As the illustrated standard 14 is a quarter, the standard position 14 is a circle having a perimeter at a diameter equal to the known diameter of a quarter that defines an area 18. The standard 14 when placed on the measurement correction device 10 coincides with the area 18 of the standard position 12.
As explained below, the measurement correction device 10 may be used in a measurement system wherein it is replicated; thereby creating a replicated measurement correction device 10R. The replicated measurement correction device 10R is identical to the measurement correction device 10, except that it may be at any scale to the measurement correction device, such as 95%, 100%, or 105%. As a result for discussion purposes,
The measurement scale 16 measures enlargements and reductions of the replicated measurement correction device 10R. In this embodiment, the measurement scale 16 includes a series of gradations 20 that are circular (Labeled I, II, and III), each having an area 18. Ideally, these gradations 20 represent enlargements and reductions from the standard position 12 at known intervals, such as 2% or 5%.
The number of and interval between gradations 20 are based on the anticipated amount of enlargement or reduction of the replicated measurement correction device 10R, and the degree of precision required in knowing that enlargement or reduction, thus are application dependent. The smaller the intervals between gradations 20 the greater is the accuracy, while the greater the number of gradations 20 for any given interval size, the greater the range.
It should be appreciated, that gradations 20 that are larger than the standard position 14 are used to determine when the replicated measurement correction device 10R is a reduction as to the measurement correction device 10, while gradations 20 smaller than the standard position 12, are used to determine when the replicated measurement correction device 10R is an enlargement as to the measurement correction device 10.
The measurement correction device 10 may incorporate a point 22 about which the standard position 12 and the gradations 20 are concentric. It should be appreciate, that in this type of configuration the areas 18 will overlap. The point 22 may also define the intersection of an x-axis 24 and a y-axis 26 of a standard coordinate system.
The measurement correction device 10 may also incorporate a placement grid (generally referred to by reference number 26). The placement grid 28 assists a user of the measurement correction device 10 in proper placement of the standard 14 thereon. The illustrated placement grid 28 utilizes cooperating, symmetrical parallel lines. In this case, the placement grid 28 has two sets of parallel lines with one set being perpendicular to the other.
The measurement correction device 10 may also incorporate various colors. The colors may be used to distinguish between the standard position 12 and various gradations 20, as well as between various gradations. For example, red could be used in the area 18 of the standard position 12, blue in the area of the next larger gradation 20, and yet another color in the area of the next smaller gradation. It should be appreciated that since in this embodiment the areas 18 overlap, the colors will be placed one over the other creating something of a target effect. In addition, colors could be reused, but it would be preferred that in the event the same colors are used they are not placed in adjacent areas.
In this embodiment, the placement grid 28 is coincidental with the measurement scale 16. The placement grid 28 may be labeled along the x-axis 24 with 1, 2, 3, etc. and along the y-axis 26 with A, B, C, etc. In effect, the labeling acts as a second scale 32, which gives another method for reporting how the standard 14 is located on the replicated measurement correction device 10R. This will be explained in greater detail below.
Referring to
In this exemplary measurement system 34, the measurement correction device 10 is used by an on-line retailer selling sized goods wherein the retailer wishes to provide a measurement device to a prospective purchaser to assist the purchaser in determining the proper size of the goods to order. While the measurement system 34 is presented in a series of sequential steps in a particular order, this particular presentation should not be considered as a limitation. The steps may occur in any order as long as output and input limitations of the steps are observed. In other words, if one step requires something created in another step, the other step must come first.
As indicated in step 36, the retailer selects at least one measurement device for use by a purchaser in making measurements relevant to determining the size of a good the retailer desires to sell to a purchaser. The measurement device(s) can be of any type, such as ruler or gird.
In step 38, the retailer creates or identifies at least one measurement correction device.
As shown in step 40, the retailer associates the at least one measurement device with the at least one measurement correction device to create a measurement scheme. It should be appreciated that the retailer could create a measurement scheme having multiple measurement devices associated with multiple measurement correction devices. In the alternative, as the use of the measurement correction device is independent from the use of the measurement device(s), it should be appreciated that the measurement scheme might include one measurement correction device and multiple measurement devices.
Continuing with step 42, the retailer then creates an electronic form of the measurement scheme. An electronic form can be created by any conventional means, such as by scanning or electronic creation.
As stated in step 44, the electronic form is then transmitted to the purchaser. The precise method of transmission is application dependent, but could include transmission over a computerized network (e.g., the Internet) or by hard media (e.g., computer disc or CD).
Continuing on with step 46, the purchaser converts the electronic form of the measurement scheme into a usable form (e.g., a physical form such as a printout), thereby replicating the at least one measurement device and the at least one measurement correction device. Since the electronic form has been converted to a usable form by the same computer system (e.g., hardware, software and printer), the replicated measurement device and the replicated measurement correction device should be in the same scale one to the other.
This outcome can be assured if the electronic form is in a Portable Document Format file, more commonly referred to as a PDF file. A PDF file is used to represent a dimensional document, and is device independent and resolution independent. This means that the dimensional relationships of the contents of a PDF file, e.g., the at least one measurement correction device and the at least one measurement correction device, will not be altered one to the other in a replicated form.
Continuing with step 48, after the purchaser obtains the usable version of at least one replicated measurement device and the at least one replicated measurement correction device, the purchaser uses the at least one replicated measurement device to obtain the necessary size information. Additionally, the purchaser obtains the necessary standard(s) and takes a reading from the at least one replicated measurement correction device. It must be remembered that the purchaser is unaware of any change in scale that may exist between the retailer's at least one measurement correction device and at least one measurement device, and the purchaser's at least one replicated measurement correction device and at least one measurement device.
In the next step 50, the purchaser submits the measurement(s) and reading(s) to the retailer. Using these inputs, the retailer then determines the proper size of item to sell and to ship to the purchaser. The retailer determines the proper size by correcting the provided measurements based on the reading submitted for the measurement correction device. This is a straight-forward computation of scale, based on the retailer's knowledge of the standard and the at least one measurement correction device, easily accomplished by those having mathematical skills.
As discussed above, the purchaser must take a reading of a standard on the replicated measurement correction device. Referring to
If the measurement correction device 10 employs colors in the areas 24, the purchaser could merely determine the color that is observable around the standard 14. For example, if the standard position 12 were red and the next larger gradation 18 were blue, the purchaser could report that blue was visable.
Where a placement grid 28 is present, the purchaser may use the placement grid to locate more precisely the standard 14 on the replicated measurement correction device 10R. In the case of the placement grid 14 illustrated, the purchaser would place the quarter on the replicated measurement correction device 10R such that two opposing edges of the standard 14 are proximate the same opposing x-axis locations and two other opposing edges are proximate the same opposing y-axis locations. Centering the standard 14 using the placement grid 14 assures a more accurate determination of the scale.
In the event a second scale 32 is present, the purchaser might read the scale. For example, if both the measurement correction device 10 and the replicated measurement correction device 10R were to the same scale (e.g., 100%), the quarter would have two opposing edges aligned with opposing “2s” on the x-axis 24 and another two opposing edges aligned with opposing “Bs” on the y-axis 26. It should be appreciated that in this case, the replicated measurement correction device 10R was at 100% and the scaling was equal along the x-axis 24 and the y-axis 26.
It should be appreciated that neither of these conditions is a requirement. For example, in the event the replicated measurement correction device 10R is not uniformly scaled along the x-axis 24 and y-axis 26 when replicated, the standard 14 could have opposing edges on the “Bs” and the other opposing edges on the “3s.” It should be readily appreciated that if this were the case, the standard position 14 and any gradations 20 in all likelihood would not appear circular.
The measurement correction device 10 may be used in a measurement scheme. As discussed, a measurement scheme is created when a measurement correction device 10 is used in conjunction with a measurement device. One such measurement scheme (generally referred to by reference number 52) for determining the size of a foot is shown in
The foot measurement device 54 has a length measurement scale 56, which includes a first part 56a and a second part 56b, and a width measurement scale 58. As depicted, the foot measurement device 54 was created over two pages from a PDF file. The two pages are registered one to the other using a pair of registers 60a and 60b, and 62a and 62b. In use, a person connects the two parts 56a, 56b of the foot measurement device 56 using the registers 60a, 60b, and 62a, 62b. It should be appreciated that this example, shows a single replicated measurement correction device being used to correct a measurement device that spans two pages.
To obtain a foot measurement, a person properly places a foot (not shown) on the foot measurement device 54 to obtain a length measurement and a width measurement. The person would then use a quarter (note the replicated measurement correction device 10R is the one presented above), to obtain a reading on the replicated measurement correction device 10R. The person would then report all measurements and the reading to the retailer. Based on the measurements provided, the retailer would be able to correct the provided measurements to obtain the actual length and width measurements for each foot so the correct size shoes could be provided.
It should be appreciated that in this exemplary case, the measurement scheme has a single measurement correction device 10 being used to correct measurements made by two different measurement scales, the length measurement scale 56 and the width measurement scale 58. Additionally, it should be appreciated that the two measurement scales 56, 58 are oriented one to the other such that one, the length measurement scale 56, is oriented along the y-axis 26 of the measurement correction device 10, and the width measurement scale 58 is oriented along the x-axis 24 of the measurement correction device. Thus, the multiple axis capability of this particular measurement correction device 10 allows for any deviation in scaling between the x- and y-axis 24, 26 to be determined and taken into account.
This measurement correction device 210 could be used in several ways. One way to use this measurement correction device 210 is to have a user find the smallest area 64, standard location 212, or gradation 220, the standard 214 is completely within.
This embodiment further may include a placement grid 228. The illustrated placement grid 228 is in the shape of a triangle and the various locations, standard position 212 and gradations 220, have been placed such that the placement grid 228 intersects the various areas 228 at tangent points. Additionally, a second scale 232, which is separate from the placement grid 228, is positioned along an axis of the measurement correction device 210. In this case, the second scale 232 is positioned along the longitudinal axis.
A purchaser uses a replicated version of this measurement correction device 210R, which incorporates a placement grid 228 and second scale 232, by placing a quarter on the measurement correction device and moving it until opposing edges of the quarter coincided with the two sides of the placement grid. The purchaser would then report the location of the standard 214 using the second scale 232 and/or gradations 220.
It should be appreciated that this embodiment will only determine expansion or reduction of the replicated measurement correction device 210R in one axis. Therefore, if the measurement device with which it is associated incorporates multiple axes of measurement, the measurement correction device 10 should have separate measurement correction device 210 for each axis of measurement.
The measurement correction device 310 has a measurement scale 316 that incorporates a pair of placement grids 328. In this exemplary embodiment, one placement grid uses a quarter as the standard 314 and the other placement grid uses a nickel as a standard 314. Since a nickel has a diameter that is smaller than a quarter, the placement gird 328 for the nickel is the one closer to the measurement scale 316. Both a quarter and nickel when properly placed on the measurement correction device 310 will have an edge on a common point, in this case “0.”
In use, a person selects the most convenient standard 314 (not shown), then places the standard 314 on the replicated measurement correction device 310R and moves the standard until the outer edges simultaneously contact that appropriate placement grid 328. The person then reads off the scale where an edge, e.g., upper or lower, contacts the scale. The person then reports the standard 314 used, the reading, and the edge from which the reading was taken.
The measurement correction device 410 has a standard position 412 and gradations 420. The gradations 420, however, are on one complete edge and portions of the two perpendicular edges extending therefrom. The perpendicular edges, while not required, are helpful since, as discussed above, a credit card does not have square corners.
While there has been illustrated and described what is at present considered to be preferred and alternative embodiments of the claimed invention, it will be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications are likely to occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended in the appended claims to cover all those changes and modifications that fall within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.
