CONTAINER FACILITATING MEASURING DIMENSIONS

Abstract

A container (10) and a method facilitating measuring a member, for example measuring the length or perimeter of a user's lower leg e.g. the calf and/or ankle. The method comprises aligning and locating a first datum (24) of the container (10) against a second datum on the member followed by rolling the container's perimeter relative to a section of the member to be measured. Measurement is complete when the container (10) has rolled from the first datum (24) along the minor surfaces until a point of the container (10) reaches an extremity of the member/dimension being measured; the extremity may be the second datum, where a circumference of a member is being measured. When rolling the perimeter of the container (10) is complete a point of the container face (12) will be aligned with a point representing the extremity of the dimension being measured or the second datum. Alignment of two points at the extremity of the measured member is indicative of the dimension of the member. Thereby, the dimension, for example the perimeter, of the member can be determined by reading off markings provided on one or more exterior minor faces of the container or by physically measuring the container perimeter.

Claims

1. A container comprising: a hollow body having an interior configured to contain one or more objects and an exterior configured and operable to perform a measurement of a dimension of one or more members, wherein the dimension of the one or more members is associated with size of the one or more objects to be contained in the container; wherein the hollow body is defined by two major surfaces spaced by at least one minor surface, wherein a point or edge on the minor surface defines a first datum, which, in use, is located against or adjacent to a corresponding second datum on one of the one or more members; and wherein the at least one minor surface includes exterior markings, wherein the markings are indicative of a measured dimension; wherein the minor surface defines a rolling surface, which facilitates measuring a dimension of the one or more members wherein rotating the container along the rolling surface from the first datum point or edge relative to the member to be measured provides a measurement of the member, wherein the rolling action is completed when a point on the minor surface aligns with the second datum, thereby defining the rolled distance, wherein markings at the point on the minor surface represent a measured dimension of the member, which measured dimension facilitates selection of an appropriate size object.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body includes at least two opposing major surfaces spaced by at least two relatively minor surfaces and corresponding edges between the minor surfaces, wherein an edge between the minor surfaces provides the first datum and the minor surfaces define the rolling surface to facilitate measurement of the member.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first datum is defined by an edge defined between two minor surfaces.

4. A container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an extension member extending from one end of one major surface and extending relative to the minor surface which is adjacent to the major surface, wherein the minor surface adjacent to the major surface also extends from the first datum.

5. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the minor surface includes two areas of exterior markings associated with two ranges of dimensions, wherein a first marked area represents measurement of a first dimension and a second marked area represents measurement of a second dimension, wherein a minimum of the first dimension as represented by the first area is larger than a maximum of the second dimension as represented by the second area.

6. A container as claimed in claim 1, being a rectangular parallelepiped including two opposing rectangular-shaped major surfaces separated by four relatively minor surfaces and wherein the minor surfaces facilitate rolling the container from first datum to minor surface to minor surface relative to the member to be measured.

7. A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first and second marked areas are disposed opposite the minor surface defining the first datum.

8. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the major surfaces are hexagonal and wherein each surface is separated by six relatively minor surfaces, which facilitate rolling the container from first datum to minor surface to minor surface relative to the member to be measured, and wherein one or more of the minor surfaces include the exterior markings to facilitate measuring a dimension and representing one of more dimensions.

9. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the major surfaces of the container are rounded, wherein the major surfaces are separated by a substantially continuous minor surface, which facilitates rolling the container from first datum along the minor surface relative to the member to be measured, and wherein the minor surface includes one or more areas of exterior markings to facilitate measuring a dimension and representing one of more dimensions.

10. A container as claimed in claim 9, wherein the major surface is a circle, an oval, an ellipse or a curved rectangle, including two straight edges and two curved edges, wherein each major surface is separated by a substantially continuous minor surface, which facilitates rolling the container from first datum to minor surface to minor surface relative to the member to be measured.

11. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein exterior markings for each dimension measurement comprise graded markings.

12. A container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the exterior markings comprise one or more bands, wherein each band represents a range of predetermined dimensions.

13. A container as claimed in claim 12, wherein the exterior markings comprise one or more colour-coded bands, wherein each colour-coded band represents a range of predetermined dimensions

14. A container as claimed in claim 11, comprising at least three bands, wherein each band represents a different dimension or range of dimensions associated with the particular dimension to be or being measured.

15. A container as claimed in claim 14, wherein each colour-coded band represents a different range of dimensions, categorised as small, medium and large.

16. A container as claimed in claim 1, comprising two areas of exterior markings, wherein each area of markings represents a different dimension of the same member, wherein the member includes one or more locations for circumferential dimension measurement and for comparison for product selection.

17. A method of measuring a dimension of a member, using a container according to any preceding claim, wherein the method comprises: aligning and locating a first datum of the container against a second datum on the member; rolling the container, from first datum along the container perimeter, relative to a surface of the member until a point on a minor surface of the container is located against a location indicating an extremity of the member; wherein aligning the location indicating an extremity of the dimension being measured with a point on a minor surface of the container represents rolling the container along the extent of the required dimension of the first location on the member; and determining the required dimension of the member from markings on the container body, where the point on the minor surface aligns with the extremity of the measured dimension.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising: measuring and comparing two circumference dimensions to determine an appropriate size of object to fit a user, wherein the larger of the two dimensions determines the size of object required; wherein a first circumference dimension is obtained at a first location and a second circumference dimension is measured at a second location on the member, wherein the first circumference dimension is obtained by: locating the first datum of the container against a second datum on a first location of the member; rolling the container perimeter, from first datum along the container perimeter, around the perimeter of the first location, rolling from the first datum until a point on a minor surface of the container is located against the second datum; wherein aligning the second datum with a point on the minor surface of the container represents rolling the container along the extent of the perimeter dimension of the first location; determining the perimeter dimension of the member at the first location; and locating the first datum of the container against a second datum at a second location of the member; rolling the container perimeter, from first datum along the container perimeter, around the perimeter of the second location, rolling from the first datum until a point on a minor surface of the container is located against the second datum; wherein aligning the second datum at the second location with a point on the minor surface of the container represents rolling the container along the extent of the perimeter dimension of the second location; determining the second perimeter dimension of the member at the second location comparing the first perimeter dimension of the first location measurement and the second perimeter dimension of the second location measurement; and selecting a product size based on the larger of the first and second circumference dimensions.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein determining first and second perimeter dimensions of the first and second location on the member, includes reading dimensions from the container, wherein the container includes markings along at least one minor face, wherein the markings represent a dimension such that when the container has rolled about the extent of the member the perimeter of the member is determined from the markings in the region where a point on the container minor surface is coincident with the second datum on the member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Examples of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a container for graduated compression socks, where the view is oriented to show a first datum;

[0044] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 reoriented to show size indicators, which representing circumference dimension of a user's leg in the region of the calf muscle and the ankle;

[0045] FIG. 3a represents the process of measuring the circumference of a user's leg in the area of the calf muscle;

[0046] FIG. 3b illustrates a side view of the container of FIG. 2 showing a visual identifier of the sock size associated with a user's leg in the area of the calf muscle;

[0047] FIG. 4a represents the process of measuring the circumference of a user's leg in the area of the ankle;

[0048] FIG. 4b illustrates an end view of the container of FIG. 2 showing a visual identifier of the sock size associated with a user's leg in the area of the ankle; and

[0049] FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c illustrate examples of alternative shaped containers compared with those illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION

[0050] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a retail container 10 for graduated compression socks (not illustrated).

[0051] In the illustrated example, the container 10 is substantially rectangular parallelepiped, where the container 10 includes two major rectangular surfaces, i.e. a front face 16 and a rear face 18 and four minor surfaces, which are provided by two long side faces 12, 14, a top face 20 and bottom face 23. The minor surfaces space the front face 16 from the rear face 18 to define a hollow inside, which is configured to contain a product, for example graduated compression socks. In the illustrated example, the container 10 also includes a retail hanging tab 22, which extends from the rear face 18 and the top face 20. The retail hanging tab 22, as the name suggests facilitates display, by hanging, of the product contained in the container 10. The retail hanging tab, also facilitates correct orientation of the container 10 relative to a member to be measured; this is discussed further below with regard to measuring a circumference of a user's ankle and calf to determine an appropriate size of compression sock, which is contained within the container 10

[0052] Referring to the illustrated example, an edge 24 is defined by the junction of the foremost long side face 14 and the top face 20.

[0053] With regard to the illustrated container 10, the foremost long side face 14 includes an indicator 26, which points towards edge 24 and indicates that the edge 24 is to be placed against a datum (indicated in FIGS. 3a and 4a) of the object/member to be measured, for example, a point mid-front of a user's leg (calf area or ankle area). Locating the container at the front of the calf or ankle provides the starting point from where the container 10 can rotate relative to calf or ankle to facilitate measuring the circumference of the calf area or ankle area as described further below with reference to FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b.

[0054] FIG. 2 illustrates the container 10 rotated through 180 degrees relative to the orientation illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2 the foremost long side face 12 includes an illustration of three L-shaped bars 28, 30, 32, where the first L-shaped bar 28 extends from the edge 34 defined by the junction of the bottom face 23 and the long side face 12. The second L-shaped bar 30 extends from within the first L-shaped bar 28 and the third L-shaped bar 32 extends from within the second L-shaped bar 30. In an example the L-shaped bars 28, 30, 32 are colour-coded, where each L-shaped bar and colour thereof represent a range of dimensions, which fall within categories small, medium and large; the method of measuring and determining/recognising the measured dimension is described further below with reference to FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b.

[0055] In the illustrated example, and relevant to the appropriate size of compression socks, the first L-shaped bar 28 represents a calf circumference in the region of 28 to 38 cm. The second L-shaped bar 30 represents a calf circumference in the region of 33 to 43.5 centimetres. The third L-shaped bar 32 represents a calf circumference of 35.5 to 46 centimetres.

[0056] The L-shaped bars 28, 30, 32 are each located on the same minor surface i.e. long side face 12, which is opposite the long side face 14, which includes the indicator 26 for the measurement starting point/first datum 24.

[0057] In the illustrated example, referring further to FIG. 2, an arcuate chamfer 35 provides the edge 35 defined between the long side face 12 and the front face 16.

[0058] In the illustrated example, the bottom face 23 also includes three markings 40, 42, 44, where each marking 40, 42, 44 is represented by a different coloured box and where each box represents a range of dimensions, which fall within categories small, medium and large.

[0059] In the illustrated example, and relevant to the appropriate size of compression socks, the first box 40 represents a small ankle circumference in the region of 19 to 21.5 cm. The second box 42 represents a medium ankle circumference in the region of 21.5 to 24 centimetres. The third box 44 represents a large ankle circumference in the region of 24 to 26.5 centimetres.

[0060] Referring to FIGS. 3a and 3b, the method of utilising the container 10 to measure a user's calf dimension is illustrated.

[0061] Stage 1 of the measuring process is locating the edge 24 of the container to the front and centre 48 of the user's shin 50; as noted above the long side face 14 includes an indicator 26 to ensure the correct edge 24 is placed against the user's shin 50.

[0062] To ensure the correct measurement is taken, initial placement of the container 10 against the shin 50 should be substantially central and should correspond with the widest part of the calf.

[0063] The next stage of the measuring process is to roll the container 10 around the leg, transferring from edge 24 to face 14 to edge 25 to face 23 etc. until a minor surface, i.e. the long side face 12, of the container 10, is located against the front of the shin 50. The container 10 is sized such that the calf circumference dimension is determined from the L-shaped bars 28, 30, 32 on the long side face 12. The appropriate size of compression sock is determined by aligning the centre 48 of the shin 50 within the band defined by the L-shaped bars 28, 30, 32 on the long side face 12. The L-shaped bar 28, 30, 32 in which the centre-point 48 of the shin 50 falls indicates the user's size i.e. small, medium or large. As noted above small represents a calf circumference in the region of 28 to 38 cm, medium represents a calf circumference in the region of 33 to 43.5 centimetres and large represents a calf circumference of 35.5 to 46 centimetres.

[0064] Similar to the process illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b, FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate the method of utilising the container 10 to measure a user's ankle dimension, more specifically the narrower part of the leg beneath the calf muscle.

[0065] Stage 1 of the measuring process is initial placement of the container 10 against the front of the ankle area 51 such that the edge 24 is located against the front of the leg in a position substantially front and centre 48 of the ankle area 51 i.e. the narrow area below the bottom of the calf muscle and above the ankle; The indicator 26 on the long side face 14 indicates which edge, i.e. edge 24, should be located against the user's leg.

[0066] The next stage of the measuring process is to roll the container around the leg, transferring from edge 24 to face 14 to edge 25 to face 23 etc. until face 23 of the container 10 is located against the front of the leg/ankle area 51. To determine the size of compression sock required of the ankle area 51 is located. The bar 40, 42, 44 in which the centre-point lies, following full extent rolling of the container 10 relative to the user's leg, indicates the user's size i.e. small, medium or large. As noted above, a small ankle circumference is in the region of 19 to 21.5 cm, a medium ankle circumference is in the region of 21.5 to 24 centimetres and a large ankle circumference is in the region of 24 to 26.5 centimetres.

[0067] The container 10 is sized such that the narrower ankle dimension is identified within the bars/range of dimensions 40, 42, 44 represented on the bottom face 23 and such that the wider calf dimension is identified within the bars/range of dimensions represented by the L-shaped bars 28, 30, 32 provided on the long side face 14.

[0068] The datum edge 24 being located adjacent the hanging tab 22 assists the user with proper placement of the container 10 relative to the calf or ankle and ensures that the user rolls the container 10 in the correct direction to determine the appropriate circumference dimension of the calf and ankle such that the correct/optimised size of sock can be selected. As can be seen in FIGS. 3a and 4a the retail tab is arranged as the top surface and pointing across the leg; this means rotation of the container relative to the leg is clockwise.

[0069] As noted in the background to the invention, compression socks typically subject the lower leg to graduated compression i.e. greatest compression in the ankle region with reducing compression effect towards the top of the compression sock e.g. just below the knee. One or both circumference measurements could be utilised to choose the appropriate compression sock, but in view of the graduated compression the ankle measurement is dominant to ensure appropriate compression for the user. As such, it is recommended that both calf and ankle circumferences are measured and if the zone, small, medium, or large is different from both measurements the larger of the two measurements should indicate the level of compression required i.e. by the size indicated by bars 28, 30, 32, 40, 42, 44. Accordingly, if a consumer measures both regions of the lower leg they can decide which size of sock they should choose if the dimension indicated for their ankle is a different dimension indicated for their calf. For example, if the dimension indicator for the ankle is medium, but the dimension indicator for the calf is large, the customer should select compression socks, size large.

[0070] The illustrated example is described in relation to measuring the circumference of a user's leg or ankle using a rectangular shaped container. However, it should be appreciated that measuring a dimension is facilitated by rolling/rotating the container relative to a member. As such, it will be appreciated that the container 10 facilitates measuring linear dimensions (e.g. length, breadth, height, depth etc) and circumferential/part circumferential dimensions. In addition, the container 10 is described as a rectangular parallelepiped. However, it should be appreciated that other shaped containers may be adapted to measure dimensions of member/objects. The major surface of such alternative containers may take the form of a hexagon 100, a circle 110, a curved rectangle 120 etc. (see FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c by way of example).

[0071] The examples described above relate to measuring the circumferential dimension of a user's leg for compression socks. However, it will be appreciated that circumferential measurements of other body parts e.g. head, neck etc. may be useful in selecting appropriately sized objects. In addition, as noted above the container described may be adapted to measuring linear dimensions e.g. from knee to foot and non-body parts.

[0072] In FIGS. 2, 3a, 3b and 4b, a range of dimensions is indicated by bands 28, 30, 32, 40, 42, 44. However, it should be appreciated the markings may be more graded, with multiple size indicators closer to a ruler for more precise customisation rather than limit to a precise e.g. 3 to 5 bands.

[0073] The examples illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 4a represent rolling the circumference of the container 10 relative to a user's lower leg to measure the leg's circumference. In each example the container is shown to rotate less than a full turn. However, it should be appreciated that measuring a particular dimension may require multiple full rolls of the container 10. In this instance, the cumulative number of rolls/rotations of the container 10 relative to the limb or object to reach the specific endpoint i.e. the extremity of the dimension being measured, would combine to give the total length/perimeter of the measured object.

[0074] While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the present invention.