Patent Publication Number: US-6983887-B2

Title: Promotional apparatus for calculating characteristics of subjects using two input variables

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to product and service promotion and, more particularly, to the promotion of healthcare-related products and services. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The use of promotional items has proliferated in today&#39;s increasingly competitive marketplace, where companies are constantly seeking new and more effective ways to market their products and services. In the healthcare industry, physicians and other healthcare providers often receive promotional articles from vendors of healthcare-related products, such as pharmaceutical products. These promotional articles often include “everyday” items, such as writing pads, calendars, and pens, and typically have promotional information (indicia) printed thereon. For example, pharmaceutical companies often provide physicians with writing pens and pads having the name of a particular pharmaceutical product printed thereon with the hopes that the pens and pads, when used, will help remind physicians to prescribe the pharmaceutical product. 
   Unfortunately, often because of lack of distinctiveness, many promotional articles provided to healthcare providers become “lost-in-the-shuffle” with other promotional articles. Thus, there is a need for distinctive, more effective promotional products directed to physicians and other healthcare providers. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the above discussion, a promotional apparatus for use in determining a characteristic of a person or other subject, such as a body mass index number, according to embodiments of the present invention, includes a housing having a panel with an edge portion, an intermediate portion, and a window formed in the intermediate portion. A member is movably secured to the housing such that a peripheral portion of the member extends from the housing adjacent the panel edge portion as the member is moved relative to the housing. Indicia that indicates incremental units of a first characteristic is disposed on either the panel edge portion or the member peripheral portion. Indicia that indicates incremental units of a second characteristic is disposed on the other one of the panel edge portion or the member peripheral portion. For example, if the apparatus is used to determine body mass index numbers for a person, indicia that indicates units of incremental weight is disposed on either the panel edge portion or the member peripheral portion. Indicia that indicates units of incremental height is disposed on the other one of the panel edge portion or the member peripheral portion. 
   The panel edge portion and member are configured such that the indicia of the respective first and second characteristics maintain an adjacent relationship as the member is moved relative to the housing by a user. Indicia that indicates incremental units of a third characteristic is disposed on the member and is viewable through the window. Movement of the member by a user to align an incremental first indicia unit with an incremental second indicia unit causes display of a third indicia unit via the window. For example, in the body mass index embodiment, movement of the member by a user to align an incremental weight indicia with an incremental height indicia causes display of a body mass index number via the window. 
   According to other embodiments of the present invention, a promotional apparatus includes a clam-shell housing having opposite, spaced-apart first and second panels. The first panel includes an arcuate edge portion, an intermediate portion, and a window formed in the intermediate portion. A wheel is disposed between the first and second panels and is rotatably secured to the housing such that a peripheral portion of the wheel extends from the housing adjacent the first panel arcuate edge portion. Indicia that indicates incremental units of a first characteristic (e.g., weight, etc.) is disposed on either the wheel peripheral portion or the first panel arcuate edge portion. Indicia that indicates incremental units of a second characteristic (e.g., height, etc.) is disposed on the other one of the first panel arcuate edge portion or wheel peripheral edge portion. The wheel is rotatably secured to the housing such that the first and second respective indicia maintain an adjacent relationship as the wheel is rotated relative to the housing by a user. Indicia that indicates incremental units of a third characteristic (e.g., body mass index numbers, etc.) is disposed on the wheel and is viewable through the window. Rotation of the wheel by a user to align an incremental first indicia unit (e.g., height, etc.) with an incremental second indicia unit (e.g., weight, etc.) causes the display of a third indicia unit (e.g., body mass index number, etc.) via the window. 
   Embodiments of the present invention can serve as promotional devices directed to the marketing of various pharmaceuticals and healthcare products and services, as well as various other products and services. For example, promotional indicia directed to weight loss products and services may be displayed on embodiments of the present invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification, illustrate key embodiments of the present invention. The drawings and description together serve to fully explain the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a promotional apparatus, according to embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a front plan view of the promotional apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is cross-sectional view of the promotional apparatus of  FIG. 2  taken along lines  3 — 3 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the promotional apparatus of  FIG. 1  attached to a wall and illustrating one-handed operation by a user. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention now is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
   In the drawings, the thickness of lines, layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “attached” to another element, it can be directly connected or attached to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly attached” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. 
   The terms “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal” and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only. 
   As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
   In the illustrated embodiments, the promotional apparatus described below is directed to a body mass index calculator. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to body mass index calculators. Embodiments of the present invention may be utilized to calculate any characteristic based on the alignment of adjacent scales of two variables. In addition to height and weight, other exemplary scales may include, but are not limited to, age, time, gestation periods, blood pressure, pulse rate, cholesterol, and various other vital signs and measurements of characteristics of a subject, without limitation. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1–2 , a promotional apparatus  10  that can be used to calculate a body mass index number for a person, according to embodiments of the present invention, is illustrated. The illustrated apparatus  10  includes a clam-shell housing  12  having opposite, spaced-apart first and second panels  14 ,  16 . The first panel  14  includes an arcuate edge portion  18 , an intermediate portion  20 , and a window  22  formed in the intermediate portion  20 , as illustrated. A wheel  24  is disposed between the first and second panels  14 ,  16  and is rotatably secured to the housing  12  such that a peripheral portion  26  of the wheel  24  extends from the housing adjacent the first panel arcuate edge portion  18 , as illustrated. 
   The illustrated first panel  14  has a generally ovate shape with a generally planar surface  14   a . Also, the panel arcuate edge portion  18  has a beveled configuration. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the illustrated configuration of the housing  12  and first panel  14 . The first panel  14  may have various shapes and the surface  14   a  (or portions thereof) may have non-planar configurations. 
   Promotional indicia  21  is disposed on the first panel  14 , as illustrated. Various types of promotional indicia including, but not limited to, lettering, designs, characters, logos and other symbols, may be utilized in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The term “lettering” as used herein includes, but is not limited to, alphabetical characters and alphanumeric characters. Moreover, promotional indicia may be utilized virtually anywhere on the housing  12  and the wheel  24 . Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the illustrated location and configuration of indicia  21 . 
   The window  22  formed in the first panel  14  has an arcuate configuration in the illustrated embodiment. In addition, an edge portion  22   a  of the window  22  has a beveled configuration. However, window  22  may have various shapes, sizes and configurations according to embodiments of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, an arrow  23  is disposed on the window edge portion  22   a  and is used to facilitate indication of a body mass index number displayed via the window  22 , as will be described below. 
   In the illustrated embodiment, indicia  30  that indicates units of incremental weight is disposed on the wheel peripheral portion  26 , and indicia  32  that indicates units of incremental height is disposed on the first panel arcuate edge portion  18 . However, weight indicia  30  and height indicia  32  may be reversed according to other embodiments of the present invention. That is, weight indicia  30  may be disposed on the first panel arcuate edge portion  18 , and height indicia  32  may be disposed on the wheel peripheral portion  26 . The wheel  24  is rotatably secured to the housing such that the incremental weight indicia  30  and incremental height indicia  32  maintain an adjacent relationship as the wheel is rotated relative to the housing by a user. 
   In the illustrated embodiment, the portion of the panel arcuate edge portion  18  displaying the height indicia  32  and the wheel  24  have substantially the same radius of curvature. This allows the weight indicia  30  and height indicia  32  to maintain the illustrated adjacent relationship as the wheel  24  is rotated relative to the housing  12  by a user. 
   Indicia  40  that indicates incremental body mass index numbers is disposed on the wheel  24  and is viewable through the window  22 , as illustrated. Rotation of the wheel  24  by a user to align a particular weight (indicia  30 ) with a particular height (indicia  32 ) causes the display of a body mass index number via the window  22 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, a user has aligned a weight of 120 lbs (indicia  30 ) with a height of 5′ (indicia  32 ) and the body mass index number  23 . 5  is displayed via window  22 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , a threaded post  42  extends outwardly from surface  14   b  of the first panel  14 , as illustrated. Wheel  24  includes a journal portion  43  adapted to engage post  42  and rotate about post  42 , as illustrated. A threaded member  44  (e.g., a screw, bolt, etc.) extends through the journal portion  43  and threadingly engages the threaded post  42  to maintain the journal portion  43  and post  42  in engagement. As would be understood by those skilled in the art, the wheel  24  can be rotationally secured to the housing  12  in any number of ways. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the illustrated configuration. 
   Still referring to  FIG. 3 , a magnet  50  is attached to the housing second panel  16  and is configured to magnetically secure the apparatus to a surface of iron or steel, such as the surface of a weight scale, the surface of a refrigerator, etc. When magnetically secured to a surface, the apparatus  10  can be easily operated with one hand by a user. Moreover, the magnet  50  allows the apparatus  10  to be easily positioned at any height (e.g., eye level) for a user. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the use of a magnet to secure the apparatus  10  to a surface. Various methods of securing the apparatus  10  to a surface including, but not limited to, adhesives, hook and loop fasteners, etc., may be utilized. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , the apparatus  10  is illustrated being secured to a wall  60  (or other generally vertical surface). When attached to a wall, a user can easily rotate the wheel  24  relative to housing  12  with one hand. 
   The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.