Method and apparatus for measuring physical attributes of a human body

Apparatus for measuring characteristics of a human head includes transparent grid members which are placed in front and at the side of a human head or an image of a human head. The grid members have vertical centerlines which are aligned with the center of the bridge of the nose and the front of the ear, respectively, and horizontal centerlines crossing the vertical centerlines. The horizontal centerlines have a number of spaced vertical scaling lines for measurement of distances on the head from the vertical centerlines, the vertical centerlines having a number of spaced horizontal scaling lines for measurement of distances on the head from the horizontal centerlines. Each grid member has an overlay of a pattern of symmetrical squares thereon to facilitate measurement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates in general to methods and apparatus for measuring 
selected attributes of a human body, and relates more particularly to 
measuring such attributes in relation to the values of these attributes in 
a theoretically ideal human head. 
2. Prior Art 
Leonardo DaVinci developed a scientific scale of measurement employing a 
comprehensive set of proportions for drawing the human figure. He did 
extensive research on the human body and bone structure, and used this 
research in much of his art work. According to principles used by 
Leonardo, the height of the head becomes a "yardstick" to measure the rest 
of the body. In this concept of an ideal body, the entire body height is 
eight times the height of the head. DaVinci's principles using head height 
in relation to the rest of the body are: 
1. Starting from the feet, the distance to the base of the calf is one 
head. 
2. The distance from the base of the calf to the bottom of the knee is the 
next head. 
3. To mid-thigh is three heads. 
4. To the top of the thigh is four heads and the mid-point of the body. 
5. The fifth part is from mid-point (top of thigh) to the waist. 
6. The sixth part is from waist to the underarm. 
7. The seventh part is from underarm to the chin. 
8. The head itself is the eighth section. 
For understanding the entire human body structure, it is important to 
divide the body into these small sections, seeing each individually, in 
order to put the body back together in a way that makes sense. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention expands on DaVinci's principles to develop methods 
and apparatus for measuring a plurality of attributes of a human head in 
relation to the values of these attributes for a theoretically ideal human 
head. 
An important aspect of the present invention involves the use of one or 
more transparent members having grids thereon which are positioned 
adjacent to a human face, or an image thereof, to enable the measurement 
and detection of variations in characteristics of the human head from the 
ideal head. These measured variations may then be used to aid in the 
selection of a number of factors affecting the human head.

As shown in FIG. 1, a transparent member 21 contains grid lines which are 
useful in analyzing the bone structure and symmetry of the human head. 
Member 21 contains a vertical centerline 21a which is adapted to be 
aligned with a vertical line extending through the center of the bridge of 
the human nose. Centerline 21a contains a number of different, graduated 
horizontal lines as shown, for measuring distances to different portions 
of the human head from a reference horizontal line. Member 21 also 
contains a reference horizontal line 21b having a number of graduated 
vertical markings thereon for determining distances to different facial 
features from the vertical centerline of the head. Member 2 also 
preferably has a symmetrical grid pattern thereon to facilitate 
measurements. Such a grid pattern may be in the form of a pattern of 
smaller squares 21c, such as 1/4 inch in size and with light lines, and an 
overlying pattern of larger size such as 1 inch squares with darker or 
more intense lines. 
Member 21 is intended as a tool to detect and analyze the bone structure of 
the individual with the measured characteristics being used, for example, 
to design a hairstyle, select appropriate eyelashes, earrings, etc. This 
is an extension of one of DaVinci's concepts; breaking the head into 
separate parts. For example, the front view of the head provided by member 
21 provides information as to how high a hair style should be and where 
the fullness should be in the hair style. It also provides information as 
to where the ears are placed. A woman's earring size will depend a great 
deal on how long her ears are and also the contour of her face. Member 21 
can also be used to design eyeglass frames, with the eyeglass frame 
following the structure of the face. Further, centerline 21a extending 
through the center of a nose provides a measure of the extent of 
crookedness in a nose, which can also be used as a guide in plastic 
surgery. 
An example of the use of the front view grid member 21 of FIG. 1 in 
determining head proportions is shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c. Grid member 
21 is placed in front of a human head, or an image thereof, with the 
horizontal line 21b aligned with the bridge of the nose and vertical line 
21a divides the head on a line passing through the V in the upper lip. 
Measurements are then made, such as by optical scanning of the grid or 
other suitable technique, to detect the points of intersection of the 
spaced horizontal lines on vertical grid line 21a with different portions 
of the front of the human head. This detection may indicate that the upper 
half of the head, as seen in FIG. 3a, is shorter than the lower half; or 
as shown in FIG. 3b, that the upper head half and the lower head half are 
equal in height; or as shown in FIG. 3c, that the upper head half is 
longer than the lower half. 
An example of the use of member 21 in determining the relationship between 
eye level and the top of the ear is shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b. Using 
horizontal line 21b aligned with the center of the eyes, measurements can 
be made to determine whether the top of the ear is even with the eye (FIG. 
7b) or is above the eye level (FIG. 7a). 
The grid 21 may also be utilized, as illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b, to 
detect the relative sizes of the right and left sides of the head. Grid 21 
is again placed in front of the person's face or an image thereof with 
horizontal line 21b aligned with the bridge of the nose and vertical line 
21 aligned through the V in the upper lip. Measurements are then made to 
detect the intersection of the graduated vertical lines on reference line 
21a with different portions of the right and left sides of the head. 
Comparison of the detected values for each side provides an indication as 
to whether the right side of the face is larger (FIG. 4a), or the left 
side is larger (FIG. 4b). This information, either alone or in conjunction 
with other measurements, may be used in the selection of an appropriate 
hair style. 
FIG. 2 illustrates a transparent member 22 having scaled graduations 
thereon which are useful in analyzing the human head from the side. Member 
22 includes a vertical centerline 22a having graduated horizontal markings 
thereon. Member 22 also includes a graduated horizontal line 22b and two 
angled graduated lines 22c and 22d. The ideal head should be divided 
equally in front of the ear, as shown by centerline 22a in FIG. 2. Member 
22 also preferably has an overlying grid pattern 22e thereon as described 
above for member 21. 
An example of the use of the member 22 in detecting the relationship of the 
chin-to-ear distance to the ear-to-crown distance is shown in FIGS. 5a, 5b 
and 5c. In this measurement, member 22 is aligned with the point of 
convergence of lines 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d located at the forward point of 
the upper ear. Measurements are then made on angled graduated line 22c of 
the distance from the chin to the front of the ear and the distance from 
the front of the ear to the crown of the head. Comparison of these 
detected measurements will indicate that the ear-to-crown distance is 
smaller than the chin-to-ear distance (FIG. 5a), that it is larger (FIG. 
5c), or that these distances are equal FIG. 5b. 
FIGS. 6a, 6b and 6c illustrate the use of member 22 to detect the 
relationship of the distance between the nose bridge and the front of the 
upper ear to the distance between the front of the ear to the back of the 
head. In this, measurements are made along horizontal graduated line 22b 
and the resulting measurements provide an indication that the bridge to 
ear distance is smaller (FIG. 6b), that it is larger (FIG. 6a) or that 
these distances are equal (FIG. 6c). 
Member 22 may also be used to generate information as to whether the head 
is centered on the shoulders or whether it is positioned forward on the 
shoulders. If it is forward, this indicates, for example, that there needs 
to be volume in the back of a hair style to make the head appear as if it 
is more inclined back than it really is.