Abstract:
A testing apparatus is disclosed that includes an expandable mechanical structure, and logging devices that are coupled to the mechanical structure and serially networked together. The testing apparatus of the present invention is utilized to accommodate storage units, such as refrigerators, freezers and incubators, of various sizes.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to devices and methods for measuring environmental conditions. More specifically, the present invention is directed to methods and devices for measuring the temperature at various locations within a storage unit. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is critical in certain industries that goods be stored within specific temperature ranges to maintain the integrity of the goods. For example, goods utilized in the medical and food industries are often required to be maintained according to standards that are established in the respective industries to ensure that the quality of the goods is maintained. Accordingly, the temperature distribution within a particular storage unit, such as a refrigerator, a freezer, or an incubator, is evaluated by a purchaser before it is utilized, and during the course of its lifetime to validate that the storage unit in use is performing in accordance with the established standards. 
     Manufacturers, when provided with information from a purchaser specifying how a storage unit will be utilized, will design the storage unit to meet the purchaser&#39;s requirements and will test the storage unit before shipping it to the purchaser to verify that the storage unit performs as expected. The purchaser, upon receipt of the storage unit typically will also test the temperature distribution within the storage unit to ensure that the storage unit meets the specifications. Notwithstanding these tests by the manufacturer, purchasers frequently find that the storage unit does not perform as indicated by the manufacturer. 
     The difference between the manufacturer&#39;s test data and the purchaser&#39;s test data is often attributed to the differences between the testing equipment of the manufacturer and the testing equipment of the purchaser. The differences between the test equipment may be attributed to the differences between the needs of the manufacturer and the needs of the purchaser. A manufacturer may have test equipment that is designed to test storage units of various sizes, while a purchaser may have test equipment that is designed to test a storage unit of a particular size. 
     Conventional equipment, utilized by both manufacturers and purchasers for evaluating the temperature distribution within a storage unit, includes a processing device from which sensors attached to conductive wires extend. An opening or port is provided to allow the conductive wires and sensors into the storage unit for measuring the temperature within the storage unit. There may be discrepancies between the test data of the manufacturer and the test data of the purchaser, if, for example, any one or more of the following factors differ between the two sets of test equipment: the number of sensors; the number and type of conductive wires thermal weighting of the sensors; and the size of the port or opening created in the storage unit. 
     The sensors and wires generate electric fields that contribute heat to the environment within the storage device. Accordingly, the temperature within a storage unit may vary according to the number of sensors and wires utilized. Further, the amount of heat generated by a particular type of wire may vary according to how well the wire is insulated, i.e., how well the insulating material is preventing heat generated from the conductive wires from penetrating into the storage unit. 
     Air from outside of the storage unit entering through the port or opening where the wires are brought into the storage unit can affect the temperature inside of the storage unit. The more the wiring fills the opening, the less outside air will enter the storage unit and affect the temperature distribution within the storage unit. Thus, the amount of outside air that is able to enter the storage unit will depend on the number of wires utilized and/or the size of the wires utilized. Accordingly, temperature measurements by the manufacturer may differ from the temperature measurements of the purchaser if each utilizes a different number of wires to perform temperature measurements. 
     Thus, in order to eliminate discrepancies between the manufacturer&#39;s test data and the purchaser&#39;s test data, it would be desirable to have a standard method and device for evaluating the temperature within a storage unit that can be easily duplicated and utilized by the manufacturer and the purchaser to render consistent test data. 
     It would also be desirable to provide a method and device for evaluating the temperature within a storage unit that can be utilized to test storage units of various sizes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the invention, a testing apparatus is provided that includes an expandable mechanical structure and logging devices, wherein the logging devices are coupled to the mechanical structure, and wherein the logging devices are serially connected. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a testing apparatus is provided that includes a means for interconnecting linking members into an expandable structure, and a means for serially networking the logging devices, wherein the logging devices are coupled to the linking members. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention, a testing apparatus is provided that includes a method for testing environmental conditions within a storage unit, including expanding a mechanical structure within the storage unit, and recording environmental conditions within the storage unit. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a testing apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the testing apparatus of  FIG. 1  in an expanded state. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the testing apparatus of  FIG. 2  in a further expanded state. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a section of the testing apparatus of FIG.  1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front plan view of a testing apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a testing apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements, a testing apparatus  10  in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG.  1 . In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the testing apparatus  10  is expandable to one or more expanded states. Shown in  FIG. 2 , the testing apparatus  10  is in a first expanded state. One or more locking mechanisms  12 , for example, screw mechanisms, are utilized to lock the testing apparatus  10  into the expanded state. Shown in  FIG. 3 , the testing apparatus  10  is in a second expanded state. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the testing apparatus  10  is expandable from nine inches (22.86 cm) to thirty inches (76.2 cm). 
     Because of its expandable nature, the testing apparatus  10  is adjustable to fit within storage units of various sizes. The flexible nature of the testing apparatus  10  also eliminates the need for a manufacturer and/or a purchaser of multiple storage units to have a testing device for each of its storage units. Accordingly, the utilization of a testing apparatus  10  in accordance with the present invention will provide a cost savings to the manufacturer and/or the purchaser of multiple storage units. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  the testing apparatus  10  is constructed from linking members  14  that are pivotally connected together. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the linking members  14  have receptacles  16  and/or protrusions  18  that allow the linking members  14  to be coupled in scissor-like pairs of linking members  20 . In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least two scissor-like pairs of linking members  20  are connected to form a series of scissor-like pairs of linking members  22 . The series of scissor-like pairs of linking members  22  are assembled with each other, utilizing nodes  24 , to form the testing apparatus  10 . The nodes  24  have receptacles  26  that allow, for example, up to four series of scissor-like linking members  22  to be coupled to one node  24 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the linking members  14  are assembled in the shape of a sphere, for example, a Hoberman sphere, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,700, incorporated herein by reference. It should be understood that the testing apparatus  10  of the present invention may be configured by any number of linking members  14  and any number of nodes  24  into different geometric shapes. 
     Logging devices  28  are removably coupled to the nodes  24  of the testing apparatus  10 . In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the logging devices  28  are fixed to the nodes  24 . 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the logging devices  28  are integrated with the nodes  24 . The logging devices  28  are utilized to sense environmental conditions, for example, the temperature, the humidity, and/or the presence of gases, within a closed environment or an open environment. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 5 , the testing apparatus  10  is made from telescopic members  30 . In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there are two telescopic members  30  that are made from an outer telescopic component  32  and an inner telescopic component  33 , which are linking members, that can be retracted into the telescopic members  30  and withdrawn from the telescopic members  30 , such that the testing apparatus  10 , when made from telescopic members, is expandable. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the telescopic members is fixed, i.e., non-retractable. It should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the number of telescopic members  30  and telescopic components  32  may vary. 
     It is desirable to ensure that the temperature within, for example, a storage unit  31  is distributed uniformly or near uniformly throughout the storage unit  31 . Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, logging devices  28  are coupled to top ends  34  and bottom ends  36  of the inner telescopic component  33  and to the center of the testing apparatus  10 . Accordingly, the storage unit  31  can be evaluated to ascertain, for example, whether the temperature at each of the corners of the storage unit  31  is the same as the temperature at the center of the testing apparatus. 
     The logging devices  28  of the testing apparatus  10  are serially networked together and each logging device  28  has a unique serial address. The logging devices  28  may be networked together via accordion style wiring. Accordingly, only one conductive connection, from one of the logging devices  28 , is needed to connect the logging devices  28  to other devices, such as a display or a data storage device. Accordingly, only one conductive connection  35  extends through a port  37  of the storage unit  31 . 
     In an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the logging devices  28  each have conductive portions and the linking members are made from a conductive material. Accordingly, the coupling of the linking members  14 ,  30  to each other to form a testing apparatus  10  in accordance with the present invention also forms an electrical network. When the conductive portion of a logging device  28  is coupled to the linking members  14 ,  30 , the logging devices are connected into the electrical network formed by the linking members  14 ,  30 . 
     Shown in  FIG. 6 , a testing system  38  is provided that includes the testing apparatus  10 , a read or read/write device  40 , a processor  42 , a display  44  conductive connections  46 , and a data storage device  48 . During operation of the testing system  38 , when the testing apparatus  10  is placed in, for example, a storage unit, the logging devices  28  record the data corresponding to the environmental conditions within the storage unit, such as temperature, humidity, and/or the presence of gases, and time and/or date stamps when the test data is recorded. The recorded data is downloaded from the testing apparatus  10 , upon removal of the testing apparatus  10  from the storage unit, utilizing a read or read/write device  40  that is electronically coupled to a logging device  28 . The read or read/write device  40  reads the test data from the logging device  28 . 
     A processor  42  is coupled to the read or read/write device  40  via a conductive connection  46  and is utilized to manipulate or compile the test data. The recorded data is downloaded to the processor  42  after it is removed from the storage unit and, accordingly, the need for a port or opening in the storage unit to bring conductive wires into a storage unit is eliminated. 
     In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the read or read/write device  40  is positioned inside of the storage unit. The read or read/write device  40  may be, for example, coupled to the storage unit, integrated within the storage unit, or coupled directly to the testing apparatus  10  without being coupled to the storage unit directly. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention the testing apparatus  10  communicates directly with the processor  42  via a single conductive connection  46 . However, because the logging devices  28  are serially networked, only a single conductive connection  46 , such as a conductive wire, is required to be brought into the storage unit from a processor  42 , for downloading the recorded test data from each of the logging devices  28  to the processor  42 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the display  44  is coupled to the processor  42 , such that the recorded data can be viewed in real-time. The data may also be stored in the data storage device  48  for use at a later time. 
     Accordingly, because only one conductive connection  46  is required to be brought inside of the storage unit to connect the logging devices  28  to the processor  40 , the number of conductive connections  46 , such as conductive wires, entering the storage unit is reduced. Thus, the opportunity for air to enter the storage unit through the port or opening for the entry of external conductive connections is no longer variable. Accordingly, the amount of electric field generated from the incoming connection is reduced. Therefore, the amount of heat generated by the conductive connection  46  and its effect on the temperature inside of the storage unit is reduced. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a least one of the logging devices  28  is an iButton, such as the Thermacron iButton® model DS 1921 manufactured by Dallas Semiconductor of Dallas, Tex., herein incorporated by reference. The Thermacron IButton integrates a thermometer, a clock/calendar, a thermal history log and memory that stores information. The Thermacron iButton may be utilized to record temperature data at particular moments in time or during intervals of time. The stored information may be accessed directly from the Thermacron iButton, the processor  42  and/or the data storage device  48 . 
     A write device, for example, read/write device  40 , may be utilized to write information to a logging device  28 , such as instructions for when to record the temperature data. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the read/write device is an iButton reader, such as Blue Dot receptor, model DS/1402 by Dallas Semiconductor. 
     The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.