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US 2011/0257904 A1Published application
Measuring device
AssigneeHugging Mattress, Inc.
InventorRonald Arthur DENEAU
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and device for measuring compression of a mattress includes a laser rangefinder and a weighted body. The weighted body may be placed onto a mattress surface and a measurement is taken before and after the mattress compresses under the weight. The difference between the two measurements is converted into an output indicative of the stiffness of the mattress. In an embodiment, the measuring device is embodied in a plush animal such as a bear.
Claims17
A measuring device for measuring firmness of a flexible surface comprising:
- a distance measurement device;
- a trigger, actuatable upon contact of the measuring device with the compressible surface to initiate a first measurement by the distance measurement device;
- a delay, configured and arranged to delay initiation of a second measurement by a selected delay amount;
- a processor, configured and arranged to determine a deflection or compression of the flexible surface by comparing the first and second distance measurements;
- and
- an output device, configured and arranged to output information relating to the determined deflection or compression in a user-accessible manner.
3 more elements
A method of measuring firmness of a flexible surface comprising:
- placing a measuring device onto the flexible surface, thereby actuating a trigger to initiate a first distance measurement prior to significant deformation of the flexible surface;
- initiating a second distance measurement after a selected delay time;
- determining a deflection or compression of the flexible surface by comparing the first and second distance measurements;
- and
- outputting information relating to the determined deflection or compression to a user.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.